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

Politics
Soaring energy costs spark fresh food security fears, survey finds

Soaring energy costs spark fresh food security fears, survey finds

Government blocks massive 840MW solar farm over farmland concerns

Government blocks massive 840MW solar farm over farmland concerns

New £9m nature farming scheme opens in Northern Ireland

New £9m nature farming scheme opens in Northern Ireland

Scottish beef farmers warn 400-day calving rule threatens payments

Scottish beef farmers warn 400-day calving rule threatens payments

Tenant farmers challenge Defra's £1.94m wildlife estate funding

Tenant farmers challenge Defra's £1.94m wildlife estate funding

Farm borrowing costs set to rise as Bank of England hikes interest rates

Farm borrowing costs set to rise as Bank of England hikes interest rates

Dairy
Just 28% of vets confident profession can handle major disease outbreak

Just 28% of vets confident profession can handle major disease outbreak

Dairy industry urges Defra to back new bovine TB tests

Dairy industry urges Defra to back new bovine TB tests

Plant-based dairy swaps could raise risk of nutrient shortfalls, scientists warn

Plant-based dairy swaps could raise risk of nutrient shortfalls, scientists warn

New bovine TB strategy adopted as 20,000 cattle slaughtered in a year

New bovine TB strategy adopted as 20,000 cattle slaughtered in a year

Arla and Tesco suspend dairy farms after shocking welfare allegations

Arla and Tesco suspend dairy farms after shocking welfare allegations

UK livestock disease defences under strain as outbreaks surge, MPs warned

UK livestock disease defences under strain as outbreaks surge, MPs warned

Poultry
Another poultry farm hit by bird flu as Norfolk outbreak confirmed

Another poultry farm hit by bird flu as Norfolk outbreak confirmed

Two new bird flu outbreaks hit poultry farms in Yorkshire and Lancashire

Two new bird flu outbreaks hit poultry farms in Yorkshire and Lancashire

Poultry farmers face litter crisis as three biomass plants risk closure

Poultry farmers face litter crisis as three biomass plants risk closure

Bird flu outbreak strikes Lincolnshire duck farm, triggering poultry cull

Bird flu outbreak strikes Lincolnshire duck farm, triggering poultry cull

Geopolitical turmoil threatens UK poultry industry, trade expert warns

Geopolitical turmoil threatens UK poultry industry, trade expert warns

Bird flu hits Scottish Borders farm as 10km restriction zone imposed

Bird flu hits Scottish Borders farm as 10km restriction zone imposed

ITFarmer
Soaring energy costs spark fresh food security fears, survey finds

Soaring energy costs spark fresh food security fears, survey finds

Ofwat unveils £8m fund to boost water resilience across British farms

Ofwat unveils £8m fund to boost water resilience across British farms

£28m up for grabs to tackle soil and water challenges facing UK farming

£28m up for grabs to tackle soil and water challenges facing UK farming

AI job fears push young people towards hands-on careers, survey finds

AI job fears push young people towards hands-on careers, survey finds

New cattle reporting system clears key hurdle ahead of 2027 rollout

New cattle reporting system clears key hurdle ahead of 2027 rollout

Nearly 80% of farmers surveyed open to gene-edited crops

Nearly 80% of farmers surveyed open to gene-edited crops

Pigs
Pig farmers losing nearly £25 per animal as production costs surge

Pig farmers losing nearly £25 per animal as production costs surge

Thousands of pigs risk farm backlog as government support stalls

Thousands of pigs risk farm backlog as government support stalls

Dairy farmer secures contract changes after confidential intervention

Dairy farmer secures contract changes after confidential intervention

Pig movements and pork exports at risk as industry reviews ASF defences

Pig movements and pork exports at risk as industry reviews ASF defences

Farm costs soar 8.6% as prices paid to farmers fall

Farm costs soar 8.6% as prices paid to farmers fall

Government moves to ban CO2 pig stunning over animal welfare fears

Government moves to ban CO2 pig stunning over animal welfare fears

Environment
Farm wildlife schemes give struggling butterflies a vital boost

Farm wildlife schemes give struggling butterflies a vital boost

Government blocks massive 840MW solar farm over farmland concerns

Government blocks massive 840MW solar farm over farmland concerns

Ofwat unveils £8m fund to boost water resilience across British farms

Ofwat unveils £8m fund to boost water resilience across British farms

Fly-tipper caught red-handed by dog walker's drone on country lane

Fly-tipper caught red-handed by dog walker's drone on country lane

Farm measures could cut river pollution by 22%, study finds

Farm measures could cut river pollution by 22%, study finds

New £9m nature farming scheme opens in Northern Ireland

New £9m nature farming scheme opens in Northern Ireland

Arable
Farm wildlife schemes give struggling butterflies a vital boost

Farm wildlife schemes give struggling butterflies a vital boost

Government blocks massive 840MW solar farm over farmland concerns

Government blocks massive 840MW solar farm over farmland concerns

Arable farmers could see quarter of Red Tractor requirements scrapped

Arable farmers could see quarter of Red Tractor requirements scrapped

Ofwat unveils £8m fund to boost water resilience across British farms

Ofwat unveils £8m fund to boost water resilience across British farms

Farm measures could cut river pollution by 22%, study finds

Farm measures could cut river pollution by 22%, study finds

UK milling wheat quality hits record high despite drought-hit harvest

UK milling wheat quality hits record high despite drought-hit harvest

Crime
Fly-tipper caught red-handed by dog walker's drone on country lane

Fly-tipper caught red-handed by dog walker's drone on country lane

Trio to appear in court over suspected Essex hare coursing

Trio to appear in court over suspected Essex hare coursing

Thames Valley rural crime crackdown delivers £4.2m in recoveries

Thames Valley rural crime crackdown delivers £4.2m in recoveries

Waste gangs face fresh crackdown as farmers battle costly illegal dumping

Waste gangs face fresh crackdown as farmers battle costly illegal dumping

Police probe mass rave as 2,000 descend on rural Hampshire land

Police probe mass rave as 2,000 descend on rural Hampshire land

Police hunt thieves after 150 litres of red diesel stolen in Suffolk

Police hunt thieves after 150 litres of red diesel stolen in Suffolk