1+ mon, 3+ week ago   (668+ words) Farmers are facing an early and difficult harvest as worsening dry conditions push eight areas of England closer to drought. The National Drought Group met on Tuesday (21 July) as exceptionally low rainfall placed growing pressure on crops, rivers and public…...

1+ mon, 3+ week ago   (719+ words) Farming leaders have urged new prime minister Andy Burnham to make food security and tenant reform early priorities as he begins shaping his programme for government. Mr Burnham described his arrival in Downing Street today (20 July) as a “circuit breaker…...

4+ week, 1+ day ago   (618+ words) Ministers are being urged to act as bluetongue and drought pile pressure on livestock farms, bringing animal losses, mounting veterinary bills and shortages of grazing, feed and water. The Tenant Farmers Association says members are reporting increasing pressure as they…...

3+ week, 17+ hour ago   (675+ words) Farmers could struggle to plant next year’s crops after drought, disease and rising costs pushed businesses to crisis point, industry leaders have warned. Farming organisations say the worst drought in 50 years has hit harvests, grass growth and field crops, while…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago   (786+ words) The government is facing growing calls to provide interest-free emergency finance as farmers struggle with severe cash flow pressures caused by drought, bluetongue, high input costs and weak commodity prices. Agricultural advisers and tenant farming representatives warn that otherwise viable…...

2+ mon, 2+ week ago   (1186+ words) The government has promised a 25-year reset for English farming, but industry leaders have warned that ambition alone will not protect farm businesses from high costs, low margins and extreme weather. Defra’s Farming Roadmap 2050 sets out plans to make English…...

1+ mon, 1+ week ago   (372+ words) Britain’s earliest harvest in two decades has exposed the toll of another scorching, dry season, with cereal yields falling below average across many farms. The first Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Harvest Report of 2026 shows combines entered fields earlier than…...

5+ mon, 4+ week ago   (680+ words) Farm incomes across England are forecast to drop sharply for most sectors in 2025/26, as lower crop prices, volatile yields and further cuts to support payments squeeze farm profits. New figures from Defra, published on 12 March, suggest earnings will decline across…...

10+ mon, 4+ week ago   (487+ words) The National Sheep Association (NSA) has urged the government to revisit controversial inheritance tax reforms, warning that the proposals risk undermining family farms just weeks before the chancellor delivers the autumn budget. With the statement due on 26 November, the NSA…...