New licence for bluetongue vaccine

The process for accessing bluetongue vaccines in NI has been simplified, DAERA has announced. Vaccines for BTV-3 have moved from specific licences to general licences, which means case by case approval from DAERA is no longer required.

Under the new general licence, farmers still need a veterinary prescription and records of each animal vaccinated must be kept by the farmer for at least five years. “The introduction of a general licence is a practical next step in the management of BTV 3,” said Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir. “By reducing the administrative burden, it will make it easier for farmers to access vaccines and make informed decisions to protect their animals.”

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More fuel protests

More fuel protests are being planned for various locations across NI on Friday 24 April.

It follows on from a series of demonstrations by slow-moving tractors and lorries on roads across NI on Tuesday. The protests about fuel costs led to traffic disruption in several locations, including the Sydenham bypass in Belfast and the Ballygawley roundabout in Tyrone. The planned locations for next week’s demonstrations include supermarket distribution centres, as well as Larne Harbour and Belfast International Airport.

IFJ/LMC conference

The annual spring conference run by the Irish Farmers Journal in association with the Livestock and Meat Commission will take place on 17 April at the Glenavon House Hotel, Cookstown. The event will open from 9am, ahead of a 9.30am start and runs through until lunchtime, with the main speaker being Michael Haverty, a partner and senior research consultant at the Andersons Centre. The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Go to: www.ifj.ie/springconference2026.