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Blue tongue campaign - Claire Waring finds out about the current plans for mass vaccination
BLUE tongue disease is caused by a virus, spread by biting midges. It affects ruminants, including alpacas, and was confirmed in East Anglia on September 28, 2007. At 2pm on March 19, there were 110 premises where blue tongue had been confirmed.

Land prices up in South West
Buyers for farms in England are outnumbering sellers by 30:1, pushing arable land prices up by 40% over the last year.

Pig producers told what consumer wants
Young pig producers gained a valuable insight into what influences consumers when they buy pork and where the burgeoning markets are likely to be in the future at the first West Country young pig producers dinner held in Exeter recently.

Lamb quality holds up
The quality of lambs slaughtered and classified in English abattoirs has held up remarkably well over the past year in the face of the serious marketing disruptions caused by foot and mouth disease and Bluetongue movement restrictions.

• Search for caring countryside manager
• Foul smell in the air
• Land owners throw down the gauntlet

National news