Total sales of antibiotics have fallen to the lowest level since 1993, says Defra’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

The Veterinary antimicrobial resistance sales and surveillance report (VARSS) shows that sales of antibiotics for use in food-producing animals fell by 18% between 2016 and 2017 (a low of 37mg/kg). Sales dropped by 40% between 2013 and 2017.

UK chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss praised the industry for progress so far, saying: “This is the result of year-on-year improvement in training, stewardship, stockmanship and disease control.”

According to the VMD, as well as the overall reduction, the report shows a further drop in sales of the highest-priority antibiotics that are critically important for human health.

This includes a 94% reduction, compared with 2016, in the use of colistin, an antibiotic of last resort for use in people.

Women in agriculture Scottish conference

The Women in Agriculture Scotland Conference will take place on Tuesday 6 November.

Speakers include, Joyce Campbell, Sutherland sheep farmer and co-chair of the Scottish Government women in agriculture taskforce; Julia Latto, as well as Darlene Braithwaite of Scottish Enterprise.

There will also be a panel discussion including Oxford Farming Conference Director, Sally Williams and Robert Neill, AgriScot chair (and Farmers Journal Scotland contributor). The conference is being held at the RBS conference centre, EH12 9SB from 10.30 to 2pm. Tickets cost £10.

Work of the Scottish Land Commission

The Scottish Land Commission is hosting free events for people wanting to find out about its work, including land availability for new entrants, land reform and land-use decision-making.

The sessions are taking place in Tongue on Tuesday 6 November (Kyle Centre, 7pm); in Airdrie on Thursday 15 November (Springfield Community Centre, 7pm); in Glenlivet on Wednesday 28 November (Village Hall, Glenlivet) and in Penicuik on Thursday 29 November (Ladywood Leisure Centre, 7pm).

New edition of Farm Management Handbook

Farmers keen to ‘plan for the unexpected’ are being encouraged to get hold of the latest Farm Management Handbook, available in print and for free online.

According to the Farm Advisory Service, the book, which is written by SAC Consulting contains up-to-date crop and livestock enterprise data and financial figures.

It also includes advice on vegetable crop margins, forage crops and diversification as well as updated guidance on the Rural Aid and Renewable Energy Schemes.

To order a copy or to find out more, visit www.sruc.ac.uk/fmh or call the Rural Business Unit on 0131-603 7525.