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Forage and water fears grow as Welsh dry spell bites
Farmers Weekly Farmers in parts of Wales are facing worsening water shortages, failing forage crops and grazing pressures as prolonged hot, dry weather intensifies. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) confirmed on Thursday (16 July) that north and south-east Wales have moved from “normal” to “prolonged dry weather” status, the first step in its drought plan. Wales
Suicide prevention campaign targets farming communities
Farmers Weekly A new suicide prevention campaign is encouraging farmers to look out for one another and have open conversations about mental health. Launched by suicide prevention charity Papyrus at the Great Yorkshire Show on Tuesday (14 July), the “Go to the gate, chat to a mate” initiative aims to raise awareness of the support available to […] The post S
Helicopter delay fuels family’s wildfire anguish
Farmers Weekly A farming family living beneath the Rhinogydd wildfire says it feels “forgotten” as flames continue to threaten grazing land, livestock and protected habitats while they wait for helicopter support to become available. The wildfire, which began on Sunday (12 July) near Harlech in north Wales, has scorched over 800ha, destroying grazing, farm f
FUW raises £65,000 for Wales Air Ambulance
Farmers Weekly The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has raised £65,000 for Wales Air Ambulance – equivalent to the cost of 18 missions – after three years of fundraising led by members across Wales. The cheque was presented by FUW president Ian Rickman during a visit to the charity’s Dafen base in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, bringing to a […] The post FUW raises
Ffermio Bro budget rises after strong farmer demand
Farmers Weekly A Welsh government scheme supporting nature-friendly farming has allocated almost all its first-year funding after attracting strong interest from farmers across protected landscapes. Ffermio Bro, launched by the Welsh government in May 2025, has committed £1.52m of its £1.6m capital budget to projects in Wales’ national parks and national lan
Farmer collaboration fund opens with £30m backing
Farmers Weekly Farmers will be able to apply for a new £30m government fund this autumn aimed at encouraging collaboration to cut costs and strengthen farm businesses. Launched by Defra at the Great Yorkshire Show on Thursday (16 July), the Farmer Collaboration Fund will support farmer-led groups working together to tackle shared challenges through knowledge
HCC launches campaign to boost demand for Welsh red meat
Farmers Weekly Welsh red meat levy body Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) has launched a £300,000 campaign encouraging shoppers to choose PGI Welsh Lamb and PGI Welsh Beef by looking for the official product logos. The levy body’s “Naturally Local. Look for the Logo” campaign is the first major initiative under its new strategic action plan and aims […] The post HCC laun
TB fears force agriculture show to cancel cattle classes
Farmers Weekly Concerns about bovine TB have forced an agricultural show to cancel its cattle classes, highlighting the ongoing impact of the disease on farming in Wales. Organisers of Llanilar Show say the decision follows a routine annual TB test at Castle Hill Farm, near Aberystwyth, where a small number of inconclusive reactors were identified. The anima
Farmer cleared over fatal farm burglary shooting
Farmers Weekly A Derbyshire farmer who shot dead a suspected burglar during a break-in at his Peak District farm has been cleared of all criminal charges. Derbyshire Police were called to reports of a burglary at a property on Eccles Road, Whaley Bridge, at about 1.20am on 1 May 2024. Farmer Rob Lomas, who is in his […] The post Farmer cleared over fatal far
Farmland sales rise despite political uncertainty
Farmers Weekly Political uncertainty is continuing to shape England’s farmland market, despite more farms coming up for sale than at any time in almost 20 years. While the government’s Farming Roadmap has provided greater clarity for agriculture, Strutt & Parker head of estates Sam Holt expects trading conditions to remain uneven. “The more influential facto
Search begins for new Welsh farm safety ambassadors
Farmers Weekly Farmers across Wales are being urged to become farm safety ambassadors to help reduce life-changing accidents and encourage safer working practices across the industry. The Wales Farm Safety Partnership (WFSP) has launched a recruitment drive ahead of Farm Safety Week (20-24 July), which this year focuses on the people rather than statistics a
UK-Switzerland trade deal to boost food exports for farmers
Farmers Weekly British farmers are set to gain improved access to the Swiss market, worth an average of £195m a year between 2019 and 2022, after a new trade deal cut tariffs on key food and drink exports. The agreement announced by Defra on Monday (13 July) gives UK agri-food and drink exporters improved access to the […] The post UK-Switzerland trade deal
Three-quarters of SFI26 Window 1 funding now allocated
Farmers Weekly Three-quarters of the funding available through the first application window for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI26) has now been allocated, prompting Defra to urge eligible farmers to apply soon before it runs out. An update published on Monday (13 July) said 75% of the £60m budget for Window 1 had been committed based on applications [
Pressure mounts for ‘method of production’ food labelling
Farmers Weekly Meat industry groups are resisting attempts by animal welfare campaigners to enforce mandatory labelling showing how farmed animals are reared, saying such an approach is too simplistic. Global animal welfare charity Four Paws UK has called for compulsory method of production (MoP) labelling after launching a report that argues the current sys
Farmers help out as wildfires spread
Farmers Weekly Farmers, gamekeepers and emergency services are battling wildfires across northern England and Wales as prolonged dry weather and suspected arson fuel a series of blazes. Three grassland fires in North Yorkshire on Sunday (12 July) are believed to have been started deliberately, while firefighters remain on Conwy Mountain in North Wales after
Cash pressures steer farmers towards smaller tractors
Farmers Weekly Constrained finances in the arable sector appear to be influencing tractor-buying decisions, with farmers opting for smaller machines despite an overall rise in registrations. Latest figures from the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) show registrations increased across most power bands during the first six months of 2026, although deman
Norfolk farmers launch trail to showcase diversification
Farmers Weekly Five north Norfolk farming businesses have joined forces to encourage more visitors onto farms by creating a new attraction trail showcasing rural diversification. The initiative links businesses offering pick-your-own flowers and fruit, a maize maze, pumpkins, Christmas trees and locally brewed beer, with an illustrated map (opens as PDF) enc
Rescue service gives troubled working dogs a second chance
Farmers Weekly Visitors to this year’s Game Fair will have the chance to meet a Scottish rescue service dedicated to giving working dogs facing euthanasia a second chance. The Working and Gundog Rehabilitation Rescue Service takes in working and gundog breeds with severe behavioural problems and, where possible, rehabilitates them for life in a suitable work
Arable farmer plans padel diversification to secure farm future
Farmers Weekly A fifth-generation arable farmer has applied for planning permission to Sunderland City Council, to build an indoor padel tennis centre, saying diversification is essential to safeguard the long-term future of the family farm. Tania Cox has submitted plans for six padel courts and a café on the family’s farm at Offerton, near Sunderland in Cou