All the latest farming news NEWSThis Week in Farming: Land use, red diesel and IHT latestWelcome back to the latest edition of This Week in Farming, your one-stop shop for the best content from Farmers Weekly in the past seven days. First, here’s your markets… MARKETS AND TRENDSFSA small abattoir fee cut proposal divides industryThe Food Standards Agency (FSA) has proposed giving the smallest abattoirs in England and Wales up to a 90% discount on official inspection charges, a move aimed at easing regulatory… STAFF MANAGEMENTNorthern Ireland farmworkers set for pay riseFarmworkers in Northern Ireland are to receive pay increases worth roughly between 4-8%, depending on their grade. The announcement follows a meeting of the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) at the… CULTIVATORSAmazone Catros harrow gets factory-fitted slurry distributorA new Pro version of Amazone’s Catros compact disc harrow comes with a factory-fitted slurry distribution system that allows buyers to complete shallow cultivations and apply nutrients in the same… PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTSDefra seeks solutions on expiring CS agreementsThousands of English farmers face uncertainty in 2026 with Countryside Stewardship (CS) Mid Tier agreements set to expire, raising concerns about continuity of support under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).… HEALTH AND WELLBEINGWhy farming in pain needs a culture shiftPhysical pain and discomfort are often treated in farming as something to push through rather than something to address, according to the latest Farmers Weekly Level the Field survey. Responses… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTRetail supplier Enterprise Foods goes into liquidationGlasgow-based retail supplier Enterprise Foods, trading as Localist - The Food Merchant, has reportedly been placed into liquidation and ceased trading on 18 March. The firm had acted as an… BOVINE TBTB at lowest levels in England for nearly two decadesBovine tuberculosis in England’s cattle herds has fallen to its lowest levels since the mid-2000s, according to official statistics for the 12 months to December 2025. The latest quarterly figures,… BUSINESSMole Valley Farmers returns to profit after two tough yearsMole Valley Farmers has turned a profit for the first time in three years, as it recovers from a challenging trading environment. The agricultural supply business made an operating profit… LAND MARKETSEssex and Devon holdings offer diverse incomesTwo farms with productive land, large period houses and income-generating diversifications are new to the market in England as the shift in seasons kick-starts a fresh wave of spring launches.… NEWSMajor illegal ‘smokies’ trader admits offencesA key figure in the illegal “smokies” trade has admitted a string of offences following an investigation by the Food Standards Agency’s National Food Crime Unit (NFCU). Carmello Gale, 71,… ENVIRONMENTWelsh government launches gamebird release evidence reviewThe Welsh government has launched an independent call for evidence on gamebird release, signalling a further step towards tighter regulation of the sector. In a written statement published on 17… SPRAYERSSam-Dimension provides ultra-accurate weed maps for sprayersGerman ag-tech company Sam-Dimension is bringing its “ultra-high resolution” weed detection system to the UK. Its quadcopter drone can cover 1ha/min along a planned flightpath, with images captured at sub-2mm… FARM POLICY10 things farmers need to know about Defra’s land use planEngland’s first Land Use Framework, published by Defra on 18 March 2026, promises that the same finite land area can deliver more of everything at once: food, nature, housing, clean… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESMiddle East conflict keeps wheat markets elevatedGlobal grain markets remain volatile with heightened tensions in the Middle East adding support to prices, despite large supplies globally. Unlike the disruption at the start of the Ukraine war,… FLY-TIPPINGFly-tippers to be forced to clean up mess under new rulesFly-tippers could soon face tougher penalties under new government plans aimed at tackling illegal dumping of waste. Offenders will be fined and made to clean up mess as part of… FARM ENERGYSmall wind turbines planning to be axed under new proposalsThe government has proposed removing planning permission requirements for small on-site wind energy projects on farms, in a bid to end dependence on fossil fuel markets. The new proposals from… PIGSBanning CO2 pig stunning will place high cost on industryNew analysis by the AHDB has highlighted the significant extra costs and disruption that could result from a ban on the use of carbon dioxide in pig abattoirs. Currently 90%… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTFarmers in Wales asked to re-register with Farming ConnectFarmers in Wales who use Farming Connect will need to re-register to continue accessing support services following changes by the Welsh government to the way farmers and rural businesses access… BUSINESSUncertainty and IHT tighten Scotland’s farm letting marketScotland’s agricultural letting sector is contracting further amid rising uncertainty, shorter leases and looming tax changes, according to the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV). The CAAV said long‑running pressures… PEST MANAGEMENTPotato and sugar beet aphid insecticide gets new formulationsA popular insecticide for aphid control in potatoes and sugar beet crops has two new formulations available this season. The liquid and granule formulations will replace the previous powder formulation… LIVESTOCK DISEASESFarmers advised to vaccinate against bluetongue as cases riseLivestock farmers are being advised to vaccinate their animals against bluetongue, as vet and industry leaders warn the coming “season” could be the worst yet since the disease appeared in… MOWERSClaas Disco 1100 plain disc mower gets crop swathing augersBuyers of Claas’s big Disco 1100 plain butterfly disc mowers can now spec a Direct Swather system on the back. It comprises a pair of augers that grab crop straight… FARM POLICYFood production pledge in Defra land plan questionedDefra’s long-awaited Land Use Framework pledges to maintain food production while also supporting housing, infrastructure, energy, and nature – but industry leaders say farmers will need clarity on what is… ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMESThousands of commoners face SFI and CS exclusionThousands of upland farmers in England face exclusion from future agri-environment schemes after Defra confirmed there is no mechanism to include common land in 2026 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) or… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESRed diesel prices spike by 60% as supplies remain tightRed diesel prices in the UK have skyrocketed following conflict in the Middle East, with prices lifting by more than 60% in the past month. Prices collected by Farmers Weekly… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESUK finished pig prices fall to three-year lowFinished pig prices have fallen by 13p/kg since the start of the year, reaching their lowest levels since the industry backlogs of 2022. The Standard Pig Price stood at 184.6p/kg… LIVESTOCK MARKETINGDiverse cattle tracing systems could undermine disease controlMeat industry representatives have warned that the development of separate livestock movement recording systems in England, Scotland and Wales could undermine the effectiveness of a previously unified traceability system. But… FARM POLICYNFU and green NGOs seeks greater protection from importsThe NFU has joined forces with the RSPCA and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to demand that the government draws up a set of “core standards” for animal… More articles
