07/08/2026
So worrying for so many farmers 😢
we’re on the waiting list for the vaccine ..
This week we have spoken to the children about a virus that is sweeping across the UK that can be fatal to sheep, cows and goats. Today we have brought all our sheep home from their summer grazing so we can keep a closer eye on them all over the next few months and hopefully catch and treat any that are poorly (hopefully none!)
Every one of those red triangles represents another confirmed case of bluetongue and the reality is that this map is around a couple of weeks behind where the disease actually is, as there's a delay between testing and results. It’s hard not to look at it and wonder what the next few months will bring.
The south of England has been hit really bad but here in the midlands there is a slight sense thag we are swimming in shark infested water and unfortunately we are surrounded!
Sometimes I don’t think people realise just how much farmers have on their minds. Many parts of the country are crying out for rain after months of dry weather (us included), grass growth has slowed dramatically, winter forage stocks are already becoming a concern for some, and now Bluetongue continues to spread. The vaccine is almost impossible to get hold of and not 100% effective, and because it’s spread by infected midges, there is only so much anyone can do.
Farming has always been an industry that relies on hope as much as hard work. Hope for rain. Hope for healthy animals. Hope that diseases stay away. Hope that all the months of hard work aren’t undone by something completely outside your control.
Here’s hoping the weather changes, the disease slows down, and everyone gets a bit of luck for a change. 🤞🐄🐑.