Oat growers are being asked to provide more detailed environmental data as processors and brands seek to strengthen supply chains following a run of weather-hit harvests. Grain trader Robin Appel Ltd has partnered with Soil Association Exchange to measure 15 supplying farms against 40 metrics. The initiative reflects growing... Read more
Farmers could use the gap created by an early harvest to identify loss-making land before committing seed and inputs to another cropping season. Yield maps can reveal areas that repeatedly fail to cover costs. Analysing several seasons together can indicate whether margins could be improved by tweaking crop management,... Read more
Disease tolerance cuts barley risk
Arable 27/08/2026
Genetic tolerance to barley yellow dwarf virus could become a standard feature of UK winter barley to protect yields while reducing reliance on insecticides. Strong results for new two-row winter barley LG Catapult suggest BYDV tolerance can be delivered without sacrificing yield. The trait could become increasingly important as... Read more
Harvest latest: Losses could reach £390m
Arable 27/08/2026
Britain is heading for one of its worst harvests on record after drought and repeated heatwaves cut cereal yields and potentially wiped hundreds of millions of pounds from farm revenues. The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) estimates that this year’s cereals and oilseeds crop could lose up to... Read more
Farm leaders are pressing the government to underwrite interest-free crisis loans as drought, disease and rising costs leave businesses short of the cash needed to plant crops and replace livestock. The proposed Keep Britain Growing Loan would target viable businesses hit by exceptional losses. Farm organisations say urgent support... Read more
Growing uncertainty over tax, farm policy and profitability is prompting landowners and farmers to favour shorter tenancy agreements. The average length of new Farm Business Tenancies (FBTs) fell to its lowest level since 2021 during 2025, suggest new figures. At the same time, fewer Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA) tenancies... Read more
Growing demand for higher-quality food is set to create new opportunities for farmers as consumers place greater value on nutrition, protein and provenance. A new Savills Spotlight on Food report says climate risk, changing policy and tighter margins are accelerating change across agriculture. It argues future profitability will depend... Read more
Restaurants and eateries are being urged to buy more British pork – and provide clearer information on where their food comes from. The National Pig Association (NPA) says doing so will help to restore confidence in a pig industry facing mounting financial pressure caused by an oversupply of pigs,... Read more
Pig producers are being advised to review fly pressure in housing as prolonged warm weather creates ideal conditions for populations to build. Dave Reece, Lodi UK pest control technical adviser, says fly numbers can rise rapidly during warmer periods, particularly where muck and moisture provide the ideal breeding environment.... Read more
Strong consumer demand for eggs is increasing pressure on producers to improve efficiency while maintaining flock health, with nutrition emerging as a key tool to extend laying cycles and reduce production costs. That was the message from the Norvite Poultry Conference, where farmers, nutritionists and poultry specialists examined how... Read more