You may have spotted in the farming press that in April 2022, AHDB is holding a vote asking all eligible levy payers from Beef, Lamb, Dairy, Pigs and Cereals sectors – how each would like their respective Levy to be used. However, only those who register to vote can do so in April!
AHDB is giving producers the opportunity to communicate where you would like this compulsory Levy to be spent and where you would you like the emphasis to be placed. Product promotion, market development and export, consumer engagement and advocacy for the industry, research, knowledge exchange?
From a health perspective some of AHDB projects/outputs which you may have come into contact with include:
- Challenge Sheep
- AHDB monitor farms
- Live to dead days at beef and sheep abattoirs
- Performance recording – AHDB’s SIGNET manages the performance recording for the majority of UK Sheep and Beef breeds
- Ram Compare Project comparing performance between terminal sire breeds on commercial situations
- FarmBench and Stocktake – cost of production for all sectors
- Dairy Herd Genetics reports
- The Colostrum is Gold Campaign
Key things to know:
1.) Who can vote?
a. Cereals & Oilseeds: Any business that paid a cereal buyer levy, a cereal processor levy, the cereal grower levy or the oilseed grower levy in the UK
b. Beef, lamb and pork: Any farmer that kept pigs, sheep or cattle in England, any processor that slaughtered pigs, sheep or cattle in England, or any exporter that purchased pigs, sheep or cattle in England for export
c. Dairy: Any milk producer in Great Britain
2.) There is one vote per sector i.e. if you have sheep and beef that’s two votes per business.
3.) The closing date to register to vote is the 31st March 2022. You can register online at www.ahdb.org.uk/shape-the-future It takes less than 5 minutes to register
Whatever your aspirations for the direction of AHDB, the crucial thing is to communicate that straight to AHDB in the April Vote.
Emily Gascoigne – Synergy Farm Health, Veterinary Surgeon MA VetMB DipECSRHM MRCVS
RCVS Recognised Specialist in Sheep Health and Production
