Agricultural news from around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Politics
Defra weighs SFI27 changes after backlash over 2026 scheme

Defra weighs SFI27 changes after backlash over 2026 scheme

Tenant farmers urged to expose farm finance barriers

Tenant farmers urged to expose farm finance barriers

Autumn budget must pull farms out of 'survival mode', NFU warns

Autumn budget must pull farms out of 'survival mode', NFU warns

Welsh farmers win higher payments and extra month to spread slurry

Welsh farmers win higher payments and extra month to spread slurry

Farm groups condemn 'race for the fastest click' after SFI26 closure

Farm groups condemn 'race for the fastest click' after SFI26 closure

Rural campaigners urge Andy Burnham to deliver 'rural reset'

Rural campaigners urge Andy Burnham to deliver 'rural reset'

Dairy
Milk processors should be treated as critical infrastructure, says Dairy UK

Milk processors should be treated as critical infrastructure, says Dairy UK

Bluetongue surge strains vaccine supplies as test delays double

Bluetongue surge strains vaccine supplies as test delays double

More than 50 dairy farms trial new ways to reduce greenhouse gases

More than 50 dairy farms trial new ways to reduce greenhouse gases

Red Tractor proposes one-third cut to Beef & Lamb requirements

Red Tractor proposes one-third cut to Beef & Lamb requirements

Drought-hit farms urged to tackle winter forage shortfalls now

Drought-hit farms urged to tackle winter forage shortfalls now

Lincolnshire's Corringham herd takes top Holstein title

Lincolnshire's Corringham herd takes top Holstein title

Poultry
Thai poultry audit sparks call for tougher UK import standards

Thai poultry audit sparks call for tougher UK import standards

Avara Foods unveils £100m investment in UK poultry

Avara Foods unveils £100m investment in UK poultry

Retailers back British beef and poultry amid Brazilian import concerns

Retailers back British beef and poultry amid Brazilian import concerns

Major £6m investment transforms Cambridgeshire poultry site

Major £6m investment transforms Cambridgeshire poultry site

FSA reports 'very significant' rise in heat-stressed livestock at abattoirs

FSA reports 'very significant' rise in heat-stressed livestock at abattoirs

Imported eggs investigated after nearly 550 salmonella cases

Imported eggs investigated after nearly 550 salmonella cases

ITFarmer
Police launch 'first-of-its-kind' rural crime drone scheme

Police launch 'first-of-its-kind' rural crime drone scheme

AI welfare cameras rolled out across 46 M&S dairy farms

AI welfare cameras rolled out across 46 M&S dairy farms

Gen Z support for British farmers stronger than expected

Gen Z support for British farmers stronger than expected

Northern Ireland first in UK to roll out cattle EID

Northern Ireland first in UK to roll out cattle EID

Farm tech projects could win up to £3m in new Defra fund

Farm tech projects could win up to £3m in new Defra fund

AI trial listens for early welfare warnings in laying hens

AI trial listens for early welfare warnings in laying hens

Pigs
British red meat exports hit £1.1bn as US demand surges

British red meat exports hit £1.1bn as US demand surges

UK vets put on alert over unusual pig disease found in Europe

UK vets put on alert over unusual pig disease found in Europe

Pig producers seek emergency aid as losses hit £50 a head

Pig producers seek emergency aid as losses hit £50 a head

FSA reports 'very significant' rise in heat-stressed livestock at abattoirs

FSA reports 'very significant' rise in heat-stressed livestock at abattoirs

UK red meat exports jump as dairy trade slips

UK red meat exports jump as dairy trade slips

UK pig sector 'on a precipice' as producers cut herds

UK pig sector 'on a precipice' as producers cut herds

Environment
Farm funding transforms 5,100 hectares across South Downs

Farm funding transforms 5,100 hectares across South Downs

Scottish farmers handed bigger role in national flood plan

Scottish farmers handed bigger role in national flood plan

Third consecutive small wheat harvest puts UK market under pressure

Third consecutive small wheat harvest puts UK market under pressure

More than 50 dairy farms trial new ways to reduce greenhouse gases

More than 50 dairy farms trial new ways to reduce greenhouse gases

Welsh farmers win higher payments and extra month to spread slurry

Welsh farmers win higher payments and extra month to spread slurry

Farm groups condemn 'race for the fastest click' after SFI26 closure

Farm groups condemn 'race for the fastest click' after SFI26 closure

Arable
Dry conditions leave major UK crops below five-year average

Dry conditions leave major UK crops below five-year average

Third consecutive small wheat harvest puts UK market under pressure

Third consecutive small wheat harvest puts UK market under pressure

Final call for farmers seeking up to £2m in peat funding

Final call for farmers seeking up to £2m in peat funding

UK farms face £10bn climate loss risk without stronger defences

UK farms face £10bn climate loss risk without stronger defences

British growers face up to £169m hit from potato crop losses

British growers face up to £169m hit from potato crop losses

UK farmers join major push for more home-grown protein crops

UK farmers join major push for more home-grown protein crops

Crime
Activists convicted over theft of lambs from Sandringham Estate

Activists convicted over theft of lambs from Sandringham Estate

Farmers warned as thieves target pick-ups, quads and tools

Farmers warned as thieves target pick-ups, quads and tools

Animal Rising trio on trial over Sandringham lamb removal

Animal Rising trio on trial over Sandringham lamb removal

Tractor driver jailed after fatal A40 crash

Tractor driver jailed after fatal A40 crash

Police hunt dog owner after 35 sheep killed in Devon attacks

Police hunt dog owner after 35 sheep killed in Devon attacks

Hare coursing spreading beyond traditional hotspots, NFU warns

Hare coursing spreading beyond traditional hotspots, NFU warns