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This project is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development 2007-2013: Europe investing in rural areas

Events

Dates of Sector specific workshops:

There is already strong industry engagement at many sector specific working groups, run by the NFU, EBLEX, BPEX, National Sheep Association and National Beef Association and the Milk Development Council etc. The intention is to work in collaboration with some of these bodies to ensure that the specific views and issues of the sector groups are captured, whilst at the same time not duplicating what is already happening in the region.

Five sector specific workshops were run in late spring/early summer 2009 in order to assess the priorities for the dairy, beef, sheep, poultry and pig sectors. At each workshop was Dr Nick Bell from the University of Bristol Vet School, who acted as the facilitator. Richard Stanbury, SWHLI's Chair and Nick Cork, Project Manager also attended all the workshops, and it was ensured that a sector specific vet was always in attendance. The workshops were well attended, with 81 people attending the workshops as a whole, 46 of them farmers and 11 vets.  

Please click on the links below to view the minutes from the relevant meeting:

Please contact the SWHLI office for more information.

Cross Sectoral Workshop

The SWHLI cross-sectoral consultation event and workshop was held on 11th March 2009 at Westpoint Arena in Exeter. 118 people attended in total with around 40 farmers from all sectors and around 20 vets. The SWHLI RAP were delighted to see so many turnout for the event and the high level of enthusiasm and commitment to the importance of the SWHLI project was clearly demonstrated by all who attended.

For an agenda please click here

Also available are PDF's of the speakers presentations:

For those who did not attend the delegates were split into groups of no more than five per table and asked to write down their thoughts on specific questions relating to the consultation document on task sheets. 

Please click here for the consultation document.

Please click here for Task Sheet One, Task Sheet Two and Task Sheet Three; these are unedited transcribed copies of what was written on the day. There will be a summary and analysis of these available shortly.

Market Research Tender Awarded

Identified in the region's Sustainable Farming and Food Delivery Plan, 'Changing Landscapes, Changing Outlooks', is the aim "to improve the health and welfare of the livestock sector leading to a reduction in the economic impact of diseases for businesses and related supply chains".

Furthermore, in recognition of the importance of the livestock sector to the South West region, the South West Regional Development Agency has committed a budget of £12.17m for the South West Healthy Livestock Initiative (SWHLI), the overall aim which is to 'achieve an uplift in the profitability of the South West livestock industry by improving health and welfare among farmed animals'. SWHLI is a commissioned theme of the South West's Regional Implementation Plan for the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).

The first stage of the development programme, and for which this tender refers, is a farmer and veterinary surgeon consultation on the priorities for disease control programmes in the South West and to identify what knowledge transfer mechanisms, training programmes and services, farmers would find of value.

The South West Healthy Livestock Initiative Programme Manager, on behalf of the SWHLI Regional Advisory Panel is pleased to announce the ADAS have been awarded the tender for the Market Research component of the programme.

Bluetongue

A South West Regional Bluetongue Training and Awareness Programme for Land Based Livestock Businesses, began this year with the majority of events being planned for Spring 2009. The objective is to raise awareness of the risk and the methodology of prevention and control of Bluetongue within the Livestock Sector.