Please note, the following updates come directly from Defra, and are not written by Land App.
This month, Defra have made the following announcements:
Bluetongue virus update: 98 cases confirmed in the 24/25 vector season to date
Bluetongue zone changes and situation update:
Following the detection of further cases of bluetongue virus BTV-3 in the East Riding of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire area and indications of local transmission, the Temporary Control Zone was lifted and replaced with an extended Restricted Zone (RZ) on 17 September 2024. The RZ in Kent was also extended to include all of Kent, East Sussex and more of Greater London following the detection of more cases in the area.
On 21 September 2024, following the identification of cases close to the edge of the bluetongue RZs and in accordance with our policy of seeking to contain and slow the spread of disease, the two RZs were merged and extended. The new restricted zone now also covers all of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, all Greater London, Surrey and West Sussex. Further information on these restrictions is available on GOV.UK.
Surveillance continues as given the current temperatures and midge activity, which spread the disease, there is a high risk of onward spread in the UK.
Keepers of cattle, sheep, camelids and other ruminants must remain vigilant, report any suspicion of bluetongue immediately and follow the restrictions on animal and germinal product movements that apply. Animals must only be moved where it’s absolutely necessary. More information on the restrictions and licences that apply is available on GOV.UK.
Livestock keepers are urged to speak to their vet and to check the bluetongue interactive map and the guidance available on GOV.UK for more information.
Information about BTV-3 vaccinations is also available on GOV.UK.
Get involved – Defra needs your input to improve digital services
Defra is looking for farmers, growers and land managers to join a Defra Farming and Countryside user research panel to help improve guidance and services on GOV.UK. Find out more information and how to take part in research sessions.
Being part of the Defra Farming and Countryside user research panel would mean that you’d receive invitations for different types of research. Some sessions are a casual chat, as the Defra team want to gain your thoughts and feedback to then create a new service, some might be testing a prototype, some could be filling in a survey.
Typically, the user research team would email with an opportunity around once a month to see if you’re interested and available to take part. Sessions generally range from 30 – 75 minutes. This Defra Farming and Countryside user research panel is open to farmers or land managers. If you know any contacts that might want the opportunity to work with Defra on building better services for farmers, feel free to share this link:https://defragroup.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_byGvZLurq3CMkGG
If you have any questions or comments, please contact FCPUserResearchTeam@defra.gov.uk
A new Floods Resilience Taskforce
On Thursday 12 September, Defra announced that the new Floods Resilience Taskforce had convened for the first time. The Taskforce includes central government, Local Resilience Forums, emergency responders and the National Farmers Union (NFU), among others.
The aim of the taskforce is to turbocharge the development of flood defences and bolster the nation’s resilience to extreme weather. They will protect land, rural homes, and businesses from flooding and co-ordinate flooding preparation between central government and the agencies on the ground, and to bolster the nation’s resilience to extreme weather.
