This Week in Farming: Defra shake-up, dealerships and drills
Emma Reynolds arrives at Defra © Sam Ross/Defra Welcome back to This Week in Farming, the best content from Farmers Weekly over the past seven days.
Kicking off with the markets (opens as PDF), most prices have dipped a touch this week, with small reductions for finished beef, sheep, wheat, barley and oilseed rape.
Now on with the news…
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New faces at Defra
Defra waved off “City Steve” and welcomed Emma Reynolds this week, following a major cabinet reshuffle on 5 September.
Ms Reynolds has been appointed as the new Defra secretary, in place of Steve Reed, who has assumed the role of housing secretary.
The new Defra secretary got straight to work, meeting with NFU president Tom Bradshaw on her first day in the office to hear the NFU’s views on farm support, trade and tax policy.
Just two days later, their paths crossed again with Ms Reynolds attending an NFU reception in London for Back British Farming Day on 10 September.
At the event, she pledged to make Defra a “growth department”, and declared farming was “at the heart” of Britain’s economic renewal, but failed to address the elephant in the room – inheritance tax.
Ms Reynolds will lead the first ever all-female team at Defra and will be joined by Dame Angela Eagle, who replaces Daniel Zeichner as farming minister.
Dame Angela has an extensive parliamentary record on social justice, marine conservation and coastal protection; however, her background in farming appears more limited.
Speaking during a Westminster debate in March 2022, she said: “I cannot say I am an expert in all things agricultural or farming.”
This should not necessarily be a barrier, with this week’s editorial by FW News and opinion editor Philip Clarke outlining that competence and delivery is what really matters in the role.
Sussex-based farmer and opinion writer Stephen Carr offered his own thoughts on how the new Defra ministers could work to patch up the government’s troubled relationship with farmers.
Peaks and troughs
Riding on a high currently is James Witty from Yorkshire, who won the world ploughing championships near Prague, Czech Republic, on 5 and 6 September.
Farmers were also being celebrated this week, with an NFU survey revealing that farming had once again been ranked the UK’s second most-respected profession.
Auction markets have seen a better trade for breeding ewes during September, with prices up on the year.
Retail chain M&S has been on the charm offensive, announcing a £7m investment in farming and an increased focus on sourcing British meat.
It is tougher times for cereal growers though, with wheat markets still struggling and a global glut of grain forecast to put pressure on prices moving forward.
A lack of forage provisions remain a worry for beef and dairy farmers, so deputy livestock editor Shirley Macmillan has sought advice on eking out forage supplies for winter.
Finally, spare a thought for the 149 employees at Rea Valley Tractors who have been made redundant, after the machinery dealership entered administration.
Lowdown on livestock
In the livestock section this week, the team delve into why pneumonia is hitting more young grazing suckled calves and warn that tick-borne diseases are on the rise.
Meanwhile, hundreds of cows are reported to have either died or been culled following a number of cattle botulism cases linked to contaminated feed.
Farming groups warn that illegal meat imports could also pose a disease threat, after the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee concerning quantities of meat and dairy products are entering the UK unlawfully.
A fresh wave of bluetongue has been reported across England, with 29 confirmed cases on farm since July 2025.
In cheerier news, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has launched a strategy to address potential vaccine shortages, which has been widely welcomed.
The dairy sector has also launched the next phase of its GB Calf Strategy, which follows existing progress by industry with a significant increase in dairy beef calf registrations.
Arable Insights
A round up from FW’s Arable Insights farmers determined that this year’s harvest was “average at best” for most.
Looking forward, wheat growers are being advised to plan integrated yellow rust management strategies this autumn, following the significant reductions in resistance ratings for some popular varieties.
The FW arable team also looked at how environmental schemes are affecting the UK arable area.
Drill special
The machinery team has been out reviewing drills and exploring the latest add-ons. Find the write-ups in full here:
- Mounted Horizon toolbar drill proves versatile option
- Wider 7.2m and 8m models join Kuhn’s Megant tine drill range
- Tine Toolbar Drill outperforms trailed discs in the wet – and dry
- Claydon introduces smaller, single-tank SFH2000 front hopper
- Horsch Pronto 9 DC gets bigger hopper, better seed placement
Finally, in the Business section, Suzie Horne has looked at how rural residential landlords can prepare for changes in lettings, while the Land page focuses on a number of smaller farms and grassland blocks on the market.
Farmers Weekly podcast
Don’t forget to tune in to the Farmers Weekly podcast. You’ll find it anywhere you listen to podcasts, or listen free on the FW website.
In this week’s episode, thousands of farmers face a cliff-edge when their countryside stewardship agreements expire – with nothing to replace them.