All the latest farming news DAIRY5 new products to improve dairy efficiencyRising costs, tighter environmental rules and ongoing pressure on margins are driving manufacturers to focus increasingly on technologies that help producers work smarter. That may be through improving cow health,… FARM POLICYDefra to end cage egg production and lift lamb welfareTwo public consultations with the aim of phasing out enriched cages for laying hens, and ending castration and tail docking of lambs without pain relief, are being launched by Defra… FARM MAINTENANCEKirogn tracked mini trimmers tackle hedges in small spacesWhere hedges need a good trim but access is more than a bit tight, French machinery manufacturer Kirogn could have the answer. The team at Chichester Farm Machinery in West… NEWSThis Week in Farming: OFC, tax tips and Mitsubishi's returnWelcome back to another edition of This Week in Farming, your one-stop shop for the best Farmers Weekly content from the past seven days. Before we get started, a quick… NEWSMember of public killed by excavator on farmA member of the public has died after being struck by an excavator being operated in a farm field in Bedfordshire. Initial notifications indicate that the man was hit by… MAIZE DRILLSPuro precision drill set to join Pottinger rangePottinger’s acquisition of Italian drill maker Matermacc has borne its first fruit, with the Austrian firm having recently unveiled a prototype precision seeder in its trademark red-and-white livery. The working… LAND MARKETSFarmland prices fall 5% as confidence wanesThe average price of bare agricultural land across England and Wales fell by an average of 5% in 2025, though the signs are that the market did flatten in the… NEWSStorm Goretti batters farms across BritainStorm Goretti has wreaked havoc across the UK, battering farming communities with record-breaking winds, heavy snow and widespread power cuts. The Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for… DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICESRABDF warns of further producers leaving dairy sectorThe UK dairy sector is braced for further consolidation following a sharp fall in milk prices which has left many producers being paid less than the cost of production. Robert… LIVESTOCK DISEASESDaera to fund bluetongue pre-movement testing costsThe Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) has confirmed limited financial support for bluetongue pre-movement testing, easing livestock movements from Northern Ireland’s Temporary Control Zone (TCZ). Daera says… 4X4S2.4-litre Mitsubishi L200 pickup to go on sale this summerMitsubishi has selected the new Series 7 L200 double-cab pickup to spearhead its return to Britain, following a near-five-year hiatus. The Japanese maker sold 180,000 of them during its previous… TAXFurther farm IHT changes ruled out by ReynoldsDefra secretary Emma Reynolds has ruled out any further government amendments to its controversial farm inheritance tax (IHT) reforms, telling farmers and industry bodies the policy is now settled. Speaking… ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMESDefra sets out two-window SFI return in 2026English farmers have been given long-awaited clarity on the future of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), after Defra confirmed the scheme will reopen in 2026 through two application windows, with… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESEU suspends fertiliser tariffs and seeks to halt carbon taxThe EU Commission has committed to making fertiliser more affordable for farmers in the bloc, following an extraordinary meeting of EU agriculture ministers on 7 January. It has introduced a… FARM POLICYDynamic trade alignment with EU possible by next yearA closer trading relationship between the UK and EU for agricultural goods could be ready for implementation by the middle of next year, according to trade specialists. Dynamic alignment with… BUSINESSNFU demands more clarity on SFI 2026 reopeningThe NFU has warned that farmers urgently need more detail on Defra’s plans to reopen the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFI), despite confirmation that two application windows will open in 2026.… WILDLIFERestoring nature should be kept simple, OFC delegates toldKeep it simple and make sure that it pays are key to nature-friendly farming success, delegates at the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) were told on Thursday (8 January). Addressing a… CLOTHINGNew Bekina wellies and Uvex safety boots offer more comfortFancy starting the new year in fresh footwear? Belgian outfit Bekina reckons its latest StepliteS FlexGrip wellies are a must-have for discerning dairy farmers keen to keep their feet both… FARM POLICYFreer trade with EU likely as SPS deal gathers momentumNegotiations between Westminster and Brussels to establish a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) area are gathering momentum, with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer eager to forge closer trading ties as part… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESGlobal wheat surplus keeps prices in check into new yearA large global wheat surplus continues to dominate market sentiment despite other geopolitical drivers, keeping wheat prices at persistently low levels. May 2026 UK feed wheat futures started the new… DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICESUplift at GDT auction offers hope amid falling milk pricesA jump in wholesale dairy values at the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction on 6 January will come as welcome news for dairy farmers, following an exceptionally challenging few months… CRIMEArmed police respond after sheep killed in dog attackArmed police attended a Cheshire farm near Macclesfield just before Christmas after receiving reports that a dog had mauled sheep, prompting a large-scale response and an ongoing witness appeal. At… BUSINESSChafer and Horstine rescued from administrationBritish crop sprayer manufacturer Chafer Machinery is being revived by new owners who hope to get production under way again early next month. Chafer and sister company Horstine were placed… FARM POLICYCarmichael urges government to release farm tax analysisAlistair Carmichael MP has warned that government changes to farm inheritance tax still fall short, urging ministers to publish the full impact assessment behind the policy amid ongoing concerns about… STAFF MANAGEMENTAg businesses compete to hire skilled farm managersA shortage of experienced farm managers has left businesses trying to outbid each other in order to attract the best staff. Agricultural recruitment consultancy De Lacy Executive has noticed a… NEWSSophie Throup appointed next NFU director generalSophie Throup has been appointed to succeed Terry Jones as director general of the NFU, taking up the role in the spring. Ms Throup will join the NFU from Myton… HEALTH AND WELLBEINGRural charity in new tie-up with two major banksThe Farming Community Network (FCN) has teamed up with leading banks NatWest and Lombard to help spot people living and working in rural areas struggling with mental health. NatWest and… WORKSHOP SKILLSWin a share of £2,550 in FW's Farm Inventions CompetitionIf you’ve been burning the midnight oil building a new machine, modifying an existing implement to transform its performance, or developing a neat gadget that saves time, money or hassle,… NEWSVideo: Farmers stage midnight blockade of supermarket depotsFarmers have staged a surprise overnight blockade of three major supermarket distribution centres in Northamptonshire, demanding higher farmgate prices and accusing retailers of squeezing producers while prices rise for consumers.… More articles
