This Week in Farming: Business risk, searing heat and shiny kit

Welcome to the latest This Week In Farming, where we collate some of the best content from the past seven days to provide a useful snapshot of what is going on in our industry.

First, here are your markets (opens as PDF).

There’s some slightly better news for pig producers, as the Scottish government chipped in £2m in direct aid for independents. It remains to be seen if other administrations will follow suit… 

Now, on with the show.

About the author

Philip Clarke

Philip Clarke is Farmers Weekly’s news editor, overseeing the news and business sections, as well as leaders, letters and opinion pieces. Having studied agricultural economics at university, he has worked in agricultural journalism for 30 years, with a particular interest in agri-business and farm policy.  

Contact:

Email: philip.clarke@markallengroup.com

Read more articles by Philip Clarke

The business of farming 

Farming certainly comes with plenty of risk, not least from signing up to contracts that you might later regret, as deputy editor Abi Kay explains in this week’s lead story in the magazine.

The squeeze on margins is also means some farming businesses will have to do things differently, as business editor Suzie Horne explains in her look at ongoing farm management challenges.

Market volatility is, of course, a fact of life, with the resumption of hostilities in the Gulf triggering an unexpected upturn in the oilseed rape market. It’s not so clever in the barley market, however, where buyers are sitting on their hands as harvest pressure builds. 

At least the calf market is showing continued buoyancy, and even the tractor market has recovered from the doldrums of 2025.

Remember, you can find all our market price information on FWi.

Rhagolwg o Sioe Frenhinol 2026

Next weekend sees the start of the Royal Welsh Show at the Llanelwedd showground in Powys.

In anticipation, news reporter Anne Dunn has pulled together an overview of the current political scene as it affects Welsh farming, together with a preview of the event. One of the highlights is bound to be the Hawkstone Farmers Choir who will be performing at the show on Monday 20 July.

Sticking with the Welsh theme, it’s good news for young Welsh farmer Gethin Hughes, who secured his first tenancy following an appearance on S4C’s Ffermio.

And there was more good news for rural residents resisting ugly pylons in the countryside, as they won a High Court case against Green GEN Cymru over survey access.

The heat is on…

With temperature records being broken again, harvest is well and truly under way. Even the first wheat crops are now in some barns in the South and East. 

Inevitably, there has already been a spate of fires linked to harvest, though one Cambridgeshire farmer has been plagued by suspected arson attacks.

Farm safety is, of course, another key consideration at harvest, with the NFU delivering a sobering warning of the risks.

The searing heatwave has pushed David and Emma Anthony’s big square balers into overdrive as customers started cutting grass on an industrial scale in late June.

And arable reporter Louise Impey looks at how drought conditions are driving farming change in central Europe.

Meanwhile, energy secretary Ed Miliband has been relishing the extra sunshine hours, approving another solar mega-farm in rural Nottinghamshire this week.

Farm support policy update

The popularity of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 in England continues, with Defra confirming 50% of of the available £60m in the first application window has already been taken.

Defra secretary Emma Reynolds told the Efra select committee this was not a surprise, with the next 75% milestone likely to be hit soon.

Meat suppliers argue that changes are needed to allow legume fallows to be fed to livestock, rather than ploughed into the soil. 

Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland farmers will soon be able to apply for grants of up to £25,000 under a new £40m technology investment scheme.

And in Wales, the Farmers Union of Wales has called for greater recognition of farm assurance certification within their Sustainable Farming Scheme. 

New kit round-up

Thinking of upgrading your combine harvester? Machinery editor Oli Mark has been taking a detailed look at upgrades to John Deere’s flagship X9 combines, including a wider header and extra grain carrying capacity. 

Meanwhile, Claas has launched revamped versions of its 800-series machines, with three new variants – the Axion 8.240, 8.270 and 8.290 – replacing the previous four-model line-up.

And, with a look towards the coming cultivation/drilling season, Kverneland’s 6m f-drill toolbar can now lay seed and fertiliser simultaneously, thanks to the addition of a second distribution head.

At the other end of the scale, Stihl has introduced a new range of tool batteries that charge quicker, last longer and deliver more power.

Listen to the FW Podcast

Don’t forget to listen to the latest Farmers Weekly Podcast, with all the usual insight and commentary from Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom.

You’ll find it anywhere you get your podcasts, or listen free on the FW website.