All the latest farming news

Angela Eagle comes home to roost as Defra secretary

Seasoned politician and MP for Wallasey Angela Eagle has been appointed as the new environment secretary, marking a return to Defra just five weeks after she left the department. She…

British Sugar announces plans to close Cantley factory

British Sugar has announced plans to cease beet processing at its Cantley factory in Norfolk at the end of next season, shrinking its operation from four factories to three. The…

Surrey farmers offered £35,000 innovation grants

Surrey farmers and growers are being offered 100% county council grants worth up to £35,000 as part of a scheme aimed at encouraging on-farm innovation. Surrey County Council has £500,000…

TB target ‘doesn’t feel doable’, says Welsh first minister

First minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has admitted Wales’ target of eradicating bovine TB by 2041 “doesn’t feel doable” at present, as he pledged an evidence-led approach to tackling the disease.…

Red meat sector risks losing critical mass – AHDB director

Britain’s shrinking cattle and sheep herds are putting the red meat supply chain at risk of losing the “critical mass” needed to remain competitive, the new AHDB Beef and Lamb…

Calls grow for UK dairy strategy as farm pressures mount

The UK dairy industry needs a clear long-term strategy to improve resilience and reverse the decline in farm numbers, according to farming leaders speaking at the Royal Welsh Show. Farmers’…

Video: Hawkstone Farmers Choir wows Royal Welsh Show

Fresh from their historic Britain’s Got Talent victory, the Hawkstone Farmers Choir received a rapturous Welsh welcome as they performed before thousands in the Main Ring on the opening day…

New PM Andy Burnham urged to prioritise food security

New prime minister Andy Burnham’s promises to stabilise and rekindle the UK economy must include food and farming, with a particular emphasis on food security, farm leaders have insisted. Entering…

Farm paperwork mountain under spotlight at Royal Welsh

NFU Cymru has issued a fresh call for a review of agricultural regulation, using this year’s Royal Welsh Show to spotlight the volume of paperwork facing Welsh farmers. To illustrate…

Multi-year farm budget brings certainty for Wales

The Welsh government has pledged more than £1bn over the next three years for farming to provide longer-term certainty under the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). The commitment, announced by rural…

Gruffydd pledges partnership with farming industry

Welsh rural affairs minister Llyr Gruffydd has pledged to work in partnership with the farming industry as the new Plaid Cymru minority government sets out its approach to agriculture, insisting…

Natural aphid control gets boost from biological spray

A new biological product that attracts beneficial insects to crops to improve aphid control is available to growers. Developed by BASF, the product, known as Apthena, contains the natural pheromone…

Farm Safety Week targets hidden toll of serious injuries

Farmers are being urged to give life-changing injuries the same attention as fatalities, as new figures underline agriculture’s persistently poor safety record. The call marks the start of the 14th…

BYD targets pickup market with 430hp Shark plug-in hybrid

Chinese carmaker BYD has revealed full details of its first double-cab pickup, promising heady performance and a stacked spec in return for £47,290. The Shark is of the plug-in hybrid…

Victoria Atkins: Why Westminster needs more farming people

A farmer’s resilience, practical outlook and problem-solving approach could teach politicians valuable lessons, according to Conservative shadow Defra secretary Victoria Atkins. Speaking to the Women in Agriculture Network on Thursday (16…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Why strategic soil sampling is key to PCN control

As harvest approaches, potato growers are being urged to prioritise accurate soil sampling to support more informed potato cyst nematode (PCN) management decisions for future crops. PCN remains one of…

MACHINERY MAINTENANCE

TNS pitches for all-makes servicing with attractive discounts

Eastern counties farm machinery dealer Thurlow Nunn Standen (TNS) is pitching to handle servicing and repairs for older tractors of any make and model, not just the Agco products it…

NEWS

This Week in Farming: Wheat up, pork down and two new motors

Welcome back to This Week in Farming, your one stop shop for the best Farmers Weekly content from the past seven days. First, here’s your markets (opens as PDF), with…

YOUNG FARMERS

Beef farmer uses Miss Manchester title to promote industry

A young beef farmer has spoken of her determination to use her Miss Manchester title to promote British farming and challenge outdated stereotypes about women in agriculture. Clare Hopwood, 25,…

BALERS AND WRAPPERS

Compostable bale net accompanies Case IH baler updates

A solution to the age-old issue of how to conveniently – and responsibly – dispose of bale net is on its way from CNH in the form of biodegradable netting.…

WEATHER

Helicopter delay fuels family's wildfire anguish

A farming family living beneath the Rhinogydd wildfire says it feels "forgotten" as flames continue to threaten grazing land, livestock and protected habitats while they wait for helicopter support to…

NEWS

Tributes paid as NFU Livestock Board's David Barton passes away

News has emerged that NFU Livestock Board chairman David Barton passed away unexpectedly while loading cattle on his farm in Gloucestershire on Thursday (16 July). Paying tribute, NFU president Tom…

FARM POLICY

Dartmoor ponies removed from stocking rate calculations

Farmer and countryside groups have applauded a government decision to exclude Dartmoor polies from stocking rate calculations when it comes to meeting agri-environment scheme conditions, but say further refinement is…

WEATHER

Forage and water fears grow as Welsh dry spell bites

Farmers in parts of Wales are facing worsening water shortages, failing forage crops and grazing pressures as prolonged hot, dry weather intensifies. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) confirmed on Thursday (16…

HARVEST

Harvest Highlights: Crops suffer in East and 2am wheat harvest

Harvest is proving a very mixed affair. Some farmers are reasonably happy with both yields and quality, and others think it will be a year to forget. See also: 5…

LAND MARKETS

Clutch of south-west farms and Cumbria holding hit market

The south-west of England offers the pick of this week’s new launches, including a livestock farm with a sizeable range of accommodation. Meare Court Farm, near Taunton, is a highly…

SPRAYERS

Bigger, quieter cab for Amazone Pantera 4504 sprayer

Amazone hopes to lure more sprayer operators into its Pantera 4504 self-propelled by introducing a bigger and quieter cab. Inside, there has been a thinning of physical controls on the…

COMMUNITY

FUW raises £65,000 for Wales Air Ambulance

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has raised £65,000 for Wales Air Ambulance – equivalent to the cost of 18 missions – after three years of fundraising led by members…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Wheat prices show welcome signs of improvement

Feed wheat prices have shown an encouraging upturn in recent days, prompted by tightening supply predictions and interruptions to shipping in the Black Sea region. Latest reports from the US…