Farmer Focus: Vaccine is best hope against bluetongue

Well, how things have changed. The country is facing one of its driest summers on record and the countryside is turning various shades of brown.

Having heavier ground, we are still green, although we have taken third cut off as it wasn’t doing much. It’s had slurry and fertiliser and is growing slowly.

See also: Advice as drought pressures dairy forage stocks

About the author

David Luxton

David Luxton farms with his partner Sarah Haworth on her family’s 101ha all-grass farm on the north Devon/Cornwall border. They run a 200-cow housed Holstein Friesian herd averaging close to 11,000 litres, milking through three robots on a guided system. A further 28ha are rented for growing grass and maize

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A little drink would be good though. And there doesn’t appear to be any significant rainfall in the long-range forecast – it’s becoming very serious.

With crop yields back, and winter forages already being fed, I fear we are heading into a tough winter. Another advantage of our heavier ground is our maize, which is currently looking exceptional, at 3m tall and with decent-sized cobs on the plants.

However, the biggest challenge here in Devon and Cornwall at the moment is bluetongue. We decided to vaccinate in the spring, but something has gone through the cows and knocked them for a couple of days.

Was it bluetongue or something else? We don’t know and they have since recovered. We are going to do a booster in a few weeks’ time, as there is some question over how long the cover will last.

The sheep farmers seem to have been hit worst of all, not knowing what they are going to find every day when they go and check their stock.

All I can say is please vaccinate. I fear this is virus is now endemic so will become a regular vaccine alongside all the others we do.

As an industry, we seem to go from one challenge to another, which is seriously putting food security at risk. I just hope the new prime minister starts to take that threat seriously.

I know the NFU are making sure these two major issues facing us are being heard about at the highest level in government – they are doing a lot behind the scenes to help us.

That aside, I always mention this, but please check in with your neighbours, some of whom are currently under huge physical, financial and mental strain.

If they won’t talk to you, there are several organisations out there all who want to help in various ways – the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, Farm Community Network, Yellow Wellies, Exmoor Hill Farming Network, even NFU First Call – so point them in the right direction for help.