A spoonful of sugar? Whereas Mary Poppins was happy to sing about the best way to take your medicine, a statement on 11th March this year from the Chief Medical Officer was far more chlling. Professor Dame Sally Davies announced that “Global action is needed to tackle the catastrophic threat of antimicrobial resistance, which in 20 years could see any of us die following minor surgery”! Veterinary and Technical Services "Securing a Healthy Future" This strategy for our veterinary and technical services describes the essential functions required of AHVLA looking ahead five to ten years, to understand what is likely to change and what may be constant. This timescale transcends political changes and immediate pressures on public finances and is important because of the nature of the threats we face and the capabilities we need to maintain and safeguard our national interest. The risk of Lyme disease to countryside users With more people working or recreating in the countryside, there is a need for land-based organisations to manage potential risks. We explore the role of risk communication as a tool for preventing staff or the wider publics contracting Lyme disease. Through interviews with representatives of land-based organisations and content analysis of information they provide, we focus on the relationship between organisational attitudes towards Lyme disease and the information they provide. While there is an appetite for a consistent approach to communicating about Lyme disease, we found that there is currently no clear agreement over the level of information that should be communicated, how and to whom. Moreover, how organisations approach risk communication in practice is variable. Birds of Prey poisoning incidents 2012 Shows the distribution of incidents of confirmed poisoning reported to SASA for 2012 only. Commitment of Traders - 25th February 2013 The S&P Agri Index rose 0.3% as managed money reduced its net long position across all commodities except Liffe Robusta. Net long positions by managed money declined 160,116 contracts to 194,612 contracts−the lowest level since March 2009. This was the second consecutive week of managed money net long positions declining by over 100,000 contracts, and only the second time on record (which began September 2006). Report: Transforming the Food & Agri Supply Chain The operating environment for F&A companies is becoming increasingly complex as new external influences compound traditional pressures like rising agri commodity prices. In this report, Rabobank addresses the flaws in the current F&A supply chain structure that leave the sector ill equipped to respond to this new complexity. It calls for the industry to transform the way supply chains are organized, by adopting longer-term supply agreements and, cooperative relationships with upstream and downstream partners. The report identifies the dedicated supply chain model as the best next step for F&A companies. This structure has the potential to revolutionize the F&A industry by making it more productive, innovative, safe and sustainable; all of which will be vital if the sector is to deliver food security to a future global population of 9 billion. Sainsbury Pharmaceutical Survey Introduction Letter Letter distributed to Sainsbury suppliers asking for details of any pharmaceuticals used on farm Commitment of Traders - 12th February 2013 The S&P Agri Index fell 0.3%, reversing three weeks of gains as managed money increased its net long position in agri commodities by 56,752 contracts to 472,503 contracts. Softs and oilseed prices were stronger than grain and livestock prices. NFU Poultry Highlights for 8th February 2013 The NFU Poultry Highlights newsletter for the 8th February 2013 'Over-Cornsumption' Supports Higher Corn Price Outlook We believe price weakness in old crop CBOT Corn offers a buying opportunity as soft export demand is more than offset by US feed consumption, which appears to be running at a pace well above the level needed to reach USDA’s forecast.   · Contractions in animal numbers have been smaller than expected, with declines in cattle numbers offset by moderate increases in other sectors. · Stocks of non-corn feedstocks in the US are at multi-decade lows, reducing the possibility to substitute away from corn in feed rations. · Declining demand for US corn for ethanol and export will not provide enough supply to prevent the need for further rationing of feed use · Hog and poultry producers are expected to maintain animal numbers as the profitability outlook improves into mid-2013, although nearby margins remain mixed.