National Sheep Association

Farmer speaks out following escalation in dog attacks

‘Closing the Welfare Gap: Why the UK Must Apply Its Animal Protection Standards to Imports' report has been praised for its ‘apt timing' with trade negotiations being brought into focus

One farmer revealed they had 44 sheep killed in a single dog attack, while another farmer had 23 sheep killed by a dog

National Sheep Association (NSA) chief executive Phil Stocker shares his thoughts following a meeting on March 17 with Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner and other industry leaders to discuss the closure of SFI

More needs to be done to raise public awareness, say campaigners

Industry leaders from across agriculture shared their hopes for the sector in 2025, and the challenges that lie ahead over the next 12 months

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said without a ‘resolution’ on Inheritance Tax, the issue is likely to continue to ‘hang over the industry’ in 2025, preventing British agriculture moving forward

Farmers are encouraged to complete the survey, which can be found on the NSA website .The deadline for the survey is February 21 2025

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said there are sheep farmers who have 'wholeheartedly thrown themselves into the SFI pilot', whose agreements have now ended with no certainty over continuation into SFI and fears over budget cutbacks

Many farmers want to see a ‘fundamental change' in Red Tractor and will be ‘suspicious' of the assurance body's attempt of ‘papering over the cracks' with enhanced communication efforts