AgriSearch hosts flock conference

Flock health, ewe nutrition and breeding will be among the main topics covered at a conference for sheep farmers organised by AgriSearch.

Flock Focus 2026 takes place at the Glenavon Hotel, Cookstown on Wednesday 28 October, starting at 7pm and running though to 9.45pm.

Among the speakers are Welsh sheep consultant, Dr Nerys Wright and English sheep vet, Phillipa Page. They are joined by Perthshire sheep farmer Neil McGowan.

Attendance is free. To book a place, visit www.agrisearch.org.

Fivemiletown cull report due this autumn

An independent review of the events in and around a controversial cull of 51 cattle by DAERA on a farm outside Fivemiletown in June, is due to be completed by the end of October.

The review is being undertaken by former Irish chief vet, Dr Martin Blake. In a letter sent to the Stormont Agriculture committee, Dr Blake confirmed the anticipated completion date for his report, but also noted that evidence gathering “is taking longer than expected”.