AHDB Food & Farming Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board

In this simulcast to promote AHDB's brand new podcast series, Agonomics with David & Jack, economists David Eudall and Jack Watts look at why pork market prices have been stable so far this calendar year. Could an extended run for Gareth Southgate's squad at Euro 2024 create a spike in demand?

And while it's all quiet on the pig front, the same can't be said for the grain markets as we enter a critical and volatile time of the year with the harvests across Europe. So, all eyes on Germany... and Russia and Ukraine this summer!

Plus, David reveals which former Loose Women panellist is already a fan of the show. And find out why a Katie Perry song holds fond memories for Jack.

Anyway, back to the important stuff:
Q1 2024 Pork cost of production | AHDB
Pig to feed wheat price ratio | AHDB
Warmest May on record benefited UK crop growth: Grain market daily | AHDB

If you want to get in touch with the Agonomics team, please email: agonomics@ahdb.org.uk

We bring you some of the highlights from the British Pig & Poultry Fair that took place at the NEC, where contingency planning for African Swine Fever (ASF) was among the topics of AHDB's theatre sessions.

Reporter Martin Winch catches up with our Head of Animal Health and Welfare, Dr Mandy Nevel, to talk more about ASF, as well as getting word from recently appointed Pork Sector Council Chair, Glen Nimmo, and Head of Education, Roz Reynolds.

Useful links
Contingency planning in the face of African swine fever | AHDB
Education | AHDB
The British Pig & Poultry Fair (pigandpoultry.org.uk)

Feedback
We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis, or email us with your thoughts, comments and suggestions: foodandfarming@ahdb.org.uk 

We have launched a multi-million-pound project to address the intense pressure faced by farmers to deliver on environmental targets by showcasing the importance of on-farm environmental baselining.

Joining Lisa Bray to talk about pilot that will help demonstrate the real environmental impact of British agricultural products is AHDB's CEO, Graham Wilkinson, and Livestock Science and Environment Director, Chris Gooderham.

Useful links
Environment Baselining Pilot | AHDB
The environment: farming and agriculture | AHDB
Environmental Land Management Schemes | AHDB

Feedback
We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis, or email us with your thoughts, comments and suggestions: foodandfarming@ahdb.org.uk 

Johne's disease is a contagious bacterial infection that affects the intestinal tract of cattle and other ruminants and is most commonly acquired in young animals.

In this episode knowledge exchange manager James Hague is joined by Pete Orpin from the Action Group for Johne’s, Sarah Tomlinson, AHDB’s lead veterinary science expert, and farmer Caroline Williams to discuss the importance of detection and control of the disease.

Useful links
Johne's Disease | AHDB
Managing and treating Johnes | AHDB
Quarterly screening helps control Johne’s disease | AHDB

Feedback
We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis, or email us with your thoughts, comments and suggestions: foodandfarming@ahdb.org.uk

Lifting the lid on the world of dairy genomics is AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager Alan McFadzean.

Alan's joined by strategic dairy farmer John Bailey and veterinary surgeon Dr Neil Eastham to find out what they have achieved by embracing tools like the Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI).

Useful links
Dairy breeding and genetics | AHDB
Breeding indexes and traits | AHDB
Profitable Lifetime Index £PLI | AHDB

Feedback
We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis, or email us with your thoughts, comments and suggestions: foodandfarming@ahdb.org.uk 

Using genetics, rather than selecting animals purely on their visual characteristics, is likely to lead to a more productive and profitable suckler herd. So why do so few beef farmers use them?

AHDB's Beef and Lamb team caught up with our Lead Animal Genetics Expert, Harriet Bunning, and suckler farmer James Dixon to discuss what factors should be considered when choosing your best breeding animals.

Useful links
Maternal Matters: Using EBVs and Indexes for selection in the suckler herd | AHDB
Choosing bulls for Better Returns | AHDB
National beef evaluations | AHDB

Feedback
We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis, or email us with your thoughts, comments and suggestions: foodandfarming@ahdb.org.uk