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Bluetongue zone extended
The Bluetongue Protection Zones has been extended and merged from today, following the delivery of additional doses of Bluetongue vaccine.

Get ready for the Royal Welsh Smallholder and Garden Festival this weekend
SMALLHOLDERS and country enthusiasts from all over Britain will be coming together on the weekend of the May 17-18 at the RWAS Showground, Builth Wells, Wales for the now eagerly awaited annual Royal Welsh Smallholder and Garden Festival.

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
• Lamb quality holds up
• Search for caring countryside manager

National news