This Week in Farming: Bluetongue, bird flu, and budget cuts

Welcome back to This Week in Farming, your comprehensive round-up of the best Farmers Weekly content from the past seven days.

Temperatures have been approaching 30C and crops are feeling the heat, but also spare a thought for the hardy competitors at this year’s FW’ Britain’s Fittest Farmer qualifiers who have been out hurling bales and flipping tyres in the Lincolnshire sun.

First, here’s your markets (opens as a PDF) with wheat prices still in the doldrums, though luckily ex-farm prices have started to earn a premium over futures contracts.

On to the news!

Feeling blue

Bluetongue has hit the headlines again, with the Welsh government opting to enforce a hard border with England from 1 July.

Farmers, auctioneers and meat processors have all vented their frustrations with the additional costs and paperwork expected as a result. Despite this, financial support for bluetongue testing has been ruled out.

In this week’s leader column, News editor Philip Clarke brands the decision to impose a hard border as “futile” and warns it will come at a cost to industry.

Worryingly, there are further concerns for livestock farmers in Wales due to the loss of abattoirs.

Any Welsh farmers planning a quick exit, however, may want to think it though, as it emerges that 18 tractors were caught speeding under Wales’ 20mph law in the past year.

The poultry sector may also be feeling a little blue this week following confirmation that bird flu has made an unwelcome return.

Depleted Defra

Rachel Reeves’ Spending Review on 11 June was “cautiously welcomed” by farming organisations when it was announced.

Now the dust has settled in Westminster, more figures have emerged and the caution from industry appears justified, with Defra’s farming budget set to drop sharply.

Finances may have tightened for Defra, but regulations remain abundant, with new statutory guidance tightening the rules around autumn muckspreading.

Meanwhile, Former Conservative MP (and farmer) Julian Sturdy has left the world of Westminster behind to take up the position as chair of Red Tractor cereals board.

In cheerier news

The sheep sector has bounced back, with spring lambs returning above £7/kg at abattoirs.

There was welcome news for pig producers as well, with meat processor Pilgrim’s offering 20-year pig contracts in a bid to provide more security for producers and encourage investment on farm.

Livestock farmers can also breathe a sigh of relief following a recommendation from the Food Standards Agency to retain the Small Abattoir Discount on meat inspection charges, adding some support to the sector.

Finally, a farm management and safety app has been revamped to help workers log hours, manage fuel use and stocks, and carry out vehicle checks.

Highland Showstoppers

At the Royal Highland Show on 19 June, Scottish rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon vowed to protect livestock numbers and confirmed the current Scottish government had no policy or future intentions to cut numbers.

A £14m capital grants fund was also unveiled by the Scottish government, offering grants of up to £20,000 at a 100% grant rate.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee chairman and Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael made an appearance and used the opportunity to call for a cross-UK farm policy reset and a more collaborative approach between the devolved nations.

Cereals round-up

The FW arable team returned from the 2025 Cereals Event in Lincolnshire with their notebooks full of the latest product launches and industry developments.

This included articles on a digital agronomy service with SFI compliance, a farm mapping app from New Zealand coming to the UK, a new precision farming service, and a call for pulse growers to take part in on-farm trials.

It was confirmed at Cereals that Syngenta plans to reduce its plant breeding programme in the UK.

New kit was also being unveiled at the event, with an upgraded Fendt Rogator 600 sprayer on display and Opico relaunching a power harrow drill.

Attendees at Cereals were able to have their thirst quenched in the hot weather by ample supplies of Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone beer, perhaps offering a taste of next year’s event at Diddly Squat Farm.

This year’s host, Lincolnshire farmer Andrew Ward, had his own Wardy’s Waffle bar, but its launch was somewhat overshadowed when its giant inflatable blimp broke free, heading across the showground and into the Lincolnshire skies.

Listen to the podcast

Don’t forget to tune in to the FW Podcast, with Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom.

You’ll find it anywhere you listen to podcasts, or free to listen to on our website.