2022: What made the farming news in September and October?

Our review of 2022 agricultural news continues with a look at September and October.

In the headlines, the farming industry pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September after a long reign, the Rock Report on tenant farmers was published and Farmers Weekly hailed the winners of the Farmers Weekly Awards and Britian’s Fittest Farmer.

See also: Queen Elizabeth II: Farming memories in pictures

September

Pork import ban

Defra announced a ban on non-commercial pork imports to help protect Britain’s pig sector against the highly infectious African swine fever (ASF).

From 1 September, pork or pork products weighing more than 2kg were banned from being imported into Britain, unless produced to the EU’s commercial standards.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency said pork being imported from an ASF-affected country by the public was the most likely way the virus could reach the UK.

Passing of Her Majesty the Queen

The farming industry united to pay heartfelt tributes to Her Majesty the Queen, the UK’s monarch for the past 70 years, who died aged 96 on Thursday 8 September.

NFU president Minette Batters said: “The Queen’s deep connection to the countryside has been valued enormously by farmers and has left a remarkable legacy that will continue for generations.”

© MAG

Dairy protests

Vegan activists were criticised by police for causing an estimated £80,000 worth of damage at a dairy factory protest. Members of Animal Rebellion targeted Muller’s Willenhall dairy in the West Midlands in the early hours of Tuesday 6 September.

A group used cordless drills to puncture 200 HGV delivery truck tyres, West Midlands Police said.

Britain’s Fittest Farmer

BFF under 40s winners Jacalyn Dunlop and Eifion Roberts © MAG/Colin Miller

A fiercely fought competition on Saturday 17 September saw four winners crowned in this year’s Britain’s Fittest Farmer finals, a Farmers Weekly initiative aiming to kick-start the conversation around physical health and mental wellbeing.

Jacalyn Dunlop and dairy farmer Eifion Roberts were the men’s and women’s under-40s winners.

While joint first place in the new over-40s category went to cheesemaker Graeme Slater and arable and poultry farmer Lucy Sheffield.

Zac Goldsmith

Zac Goldsmith was sacked as environment minister by the then prime minister Liz Truss as part of her cabinet reshuffle.

Lord Goldsmith, a close ally of former prime minister Boris Johnson, made a strong stand for environmental issues and was an outspoken critic of the badger cull. He also supported tougher restrictions on live animal transport.

Agriculture Bill in Wales

The new Agriculture (Wales) Bill, which was published in draft form on Monday 26 September, included a proposal to make an important amendment to the 1986 Agricultural Holdings Act.

This would give tenants the right to object to their landlord’s refusal to allow them access to the new Sustainable Farming Scheme in Wales. But this won’t apply to farm business tenancies.

October 

London Marathon

Farmers and rural workers swapped boots for trainers and headed to the capital to run the London Marathon on Sunday 2 October, raising thousands for charity.

Farm Africa, a charity that provides vital support to help farmers produce more and get a fairer price, was once again well supported by rural runners.

Stephany Armstrong of Farm Africa said: “It’s always fantastic to see farmers supporting fellow farmers.”

Dairy farmer Freddie Hewitt after crossing the finishing line © Freddie Hewitt

Rock Report

Better opportunities for tenant farmers to take part in Defra’s emerging Environmental Land Management scheme (without requiring landlords’ permission), and a revamp of “outdated” tenancy legislation were among the key recommendations from the Tenancy Working Group published in mid-October.

The so-called Rock Report – named after Baroness Kate Rock who chaired the group – now has to be digested by Defra ministers to see which of the 70 recommendations will be taken forward to improve the lot of tenant farmers in England.

Farmer of the Year

Northern Ireland pig farmer David Fulton was crowned this year’s Farmers Weekly Farmer of the Year, picking up his award at the annual ceremony in the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, on Thursday 6 October.

Mr Fulton runs an 180-head birth-to-bacon indoor unit at Carricknakielt Farm in Magherafelt, County Londonderry.

Judges were particularly impressed by Mr Fulton’s strategic management of risk and his drive to keep improving his business. He also won Pig Farmer of the Year.

Northern Ireland pig farmer David Fulton was crowned this year’s Farmers Weekly Farmer of the Year © Steffan Hill

Lamb exported to US

The first shipment of UK lamb exported to the US in two decades was sent by meat processor Dunbia from its site in Carmarthenshire in early October.

Market access for British lamb was granted earlier this year, following the lifting of a US Department of Agriculture ban, which had been in place for more than 20 years due to disease concerns.

Beavers released

NFU Scotland (NFUS) expressed its anger at plans by NatureScot to release more beavers into the Scottish countryside. The government agency said it had identified more than 100,000ha of new potential release sites.

But NFUS complained that the 1,000-plus beavers already released had caused widespread damage to crops and land. Union president Martin Kennedy likened the threat to farmers’ livelihoods to Brexit.

Avian flu

Government vets imposed an avian influenza prevention zone across the whole of Britain on 17 October as cases of the virus in poultry flocks continues to soar.

The official risk level was raised from “medium” to “high” and birdkeepers were told to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks.

Illegal meat

The discovery of illegal meat in lorries at Dover port intensified concerns about the threat of an outbreak of deadly African swine fever breaching the UK’s shores.

Over a 24-hour period, 21 lorries were searched and found to contain illegal meat imports. This included 2.5t of illegal pork, plus raw animal products loosely stored in carrier bags and tissue without temperature control.