What you need to know

30 June 2011 is the last date for applying for Grandfather Rights for conventionally reared meat chickens
We encourage all conventionally reared meat chicken keepers to undergo formal training to meet legal requirements. Grandfather Rights may be granted if experience of keeping chickens meets certain criteria and can be used as equivalent to formal training. After 30 June no more applications will be processed.

Applications sought for Chair and external members of the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England (AHWBE)
The deadline for applications for the position of Chair is 7 June 2011, and the deadline for applications for the position of External Board Members is 8 July 2011.
Further information about Responsibility and Cost Sharing is available.

New Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2011
The new legislation will simplify controls, reduce administrative burdens and cut costs to farmers and other businesses while maintaining existing high levels of protection to public and animal health.

Cases of illegal tail-docking in dairy cattle in England
Dairy hygiene inspectors and vetinerary inspectors from the AHVLA have recently seen a small number of cases from herds in England, where tails of calves were docked in the mistaken belief that it improved hygiene. Tail docking is banned on welfare grounds and surgery to remove part of the tail of cattle must only be performed by a vet as a therapeutic action in response to injury or disease.

Environmental Stewardship Payment Timing Tool
Following the changes to timings of ES Payments as a result of an EU audit, Natural England have developed a simple tool to help agreement holders, agents and partners work out the new timings of ES revenue payments for existing and new agreements.

What you may have missed

Defra releases PLANET 3.1
A new systems-based approach to fertiliser recommendations for grassland is now available in the PLANET software.

Seasonal tips for farmers in Entry Level Stewardship
Find out more about the four main areas to consider during the spring months for your ELS agreement options.

Results published for Survey of Land Managed under Campaign for the Farmed Environment
Enter our competition to test your knowledge of cross compliance rules
Direct link to the quiz site

Find out about Defra’s current formal written consultations