DEFRA

Over the coming days, the conflicts in the Black Sea and Middle East and harvest reports are likely to influence prices.

Cereal supply and demand in the UK

The Hereford Cattle Society has welcomed a High Court decision confirming that Traditional Herefords will remain a sub-population of the Hereford breed rather than being recognised as a separate breed.

Court backs Hereford Cattle Society in landmark ruling for breed governance

AutoSpray Systems, the CAA-recognised training provider behind the UK's largest network of agricultural drone pilots, has partnered with the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) to launch The Young Farmers Spray Drone Scholarship.

Scholarship launched for next generation agri-drone careers farmers

NFU President Tom Bradshaw

Farming unions demand urgent action over Brazilian meat imports

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart

MP urges DEFRA to protect beef industry from Brazilian imports

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart

MP urges DEFRA to protect beef industry from Brazilian imports

Carla Lockhart has written to Dame Angela Eagle requesting a meeting and inviting her to Upper Bann

MP invites DEFRA Secretary to Upper Bann

Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser to the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV).

‘EU reset a real risk to farming’, warns CAAV

Tom Bradshaw, NFU president

Local agri-food sector to benefit from UK-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement

Nigel Bennet with a farmer

Pig farmers are taking active steps to strengthen biosecurity

Bin Your Gum

Mid Ulster awarded additional funding to tackle the sticky issue of chewing gum

Northern Ireland beef farmers produce food to some of the highest standards anywhere in the world

Northern Ireland beef farmers produce food to some of the highest standards

A racing pigeon

Robin Swann raises concerns on continued delay in Racing Pigeon movements

North Antrim MP Jim Allister

Cheap egg imports could damage UK industry, MP warns

Kenton Hilman, Ulster Bank; Emma Reynolds MP, DEFRA Secretary of State; Suzanne Wylie, NI Chamber, and David Cunningham, RUAS President

Guest enjoyed a panel discussion compered by podcaster Jim Fitzpatrick

Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser to the CAAV

CAAV calls for a Soil Improvement and Resilience Scheme
The Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) is urging the government to introduce a one-off Soil Improvement and Resilience Scheme following disruptions from the Gulf War.
Darryl Armitage

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Transition period after UK-EU SPS agreement rejected in Government’s response

Upper Bann's Carla Lockhart MP

Government urged to urgently ‘crack down’ on imported eggs

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has welcomed the government's decision to extend the visa concession for temporary sheep shearers until 30 June 2026, but expressed serious concern that the exemption is set to end there.

Swann welcomes one-year sheep shearing extension but warns of 2026 cut-off

Carla Lockhart MP

Almost 34T of illegal meat intercepted at the Port of Dover in January

Farming Life news

Met Office science helps protect UK plants from rising pest risks

New regulations mandating classification and price reporting for sheep carcases in England come into force this week, bringing the sector in line with beef and pork and ensuring farmers are paid more fairly for their livestock at slaughter.

Sheep carcase classification rules to deliver fairer prices for farmers

Tractors outside the Oxford Farming Conference

In pictures: Farmers protest outside the annual Oxford Farming Conference

Sophie Throup has been appointed to succeed Terry Jones

Sophie Throup has been appointed to succeed Terry Jones

Carla Lockhart MP with Baroness Minette Batters.

‘Management of Farm Profitability Review unacceptable': Lockhart

Phil Stocker

NSA says impounded lamb has now been released to return to UK

TUV leader Jim Allister

Allister warns of threat to the NI fishing industry over herring quota cuts
North Antrim MP Jim Allister has written to the Defra Secretary of State to express concern at proposals to slash the Irish Sea herring TAC to ‘unsustainable levels’.
By The Newsroom

Carla Lockhart MP

Fears grow of serious disruption on vet medicine supplies

Robin Swann MP (South Antrim, Ulster Unionist Party)

DAERA Minister urged to bring forward legislation on bTB vaccine use

Carla Lockhart MP

Equine owners saddled with certification costs as MAS funding is pulled by DEFRA

Carla Lockhart, MP for Upper Bann

Unrestricted flow of illegal meat and dairy products into the UK

Dairy cows at grass

UK Dairy Carbon Network appoints farms to lead emissions reduction efforts

Fire fighters dealing with a large grassfire on an upland moors in Wales. (Photo: Richard Whitcombe)

NSA highlights farmers’ frontline role in combating wildfires

Tom Elliott

Call for common sense on machinery moving into NI

James Neilson-Clark from rural property consultancy, Lister Haigh

Farmers urged to take advantage of grant funding for new equipment now

Charles Raine, Director of youngsRPS, "latest Government announcement only offers farmers temporary relief."

SFI concession offers temporary relief – but long-term certainty still needed, s...

UFU president William Irvine

The UFU says it will be seeking engagement with DEFRA and DAERA

Former NFU President and farmer, Baroness Minette Batters has been appointed to lead a review of farm profitability.

Baroness Batters appointed to provide recommendations on farm profitability

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Investment in biosecurity needed as diseases threaten British food and farming

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Applications for Dairy Carbon Network will close on Monday 31st March

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First case of Bird Flu detected in sheep in the UK

DEFRA announces a host of grant updates for farmers

DEFRA announces host of grant updates for farmers

NFU president Tom Bradshaw

No new applications accepted to Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)

The South of England Show is set to return from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th June 2025 at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, West Sussex

The popular South of England Show is set to return this June

Partners in the UK-DCN Northern Ireland Farmer Network (from left to right) Sam Strain, AHWNI; Gill Gallagher, NIGTA; Ian Stevenson, Dairy Council NI; Jason Rankin, AgriSearch.

AgriSearch are recruiting twenty dairy farmers

Partners in the UK-DCN Northern Ireland Farmer Network (from left to right) Sam Strain, AHWNI; Gill Gallagher, NIGTA; Ian Stevenson, Dairy Council NI; Jason Rankin, AgriSearch.

AgriSearch are recruiting twenty dairy farmers

DUP Upper Bann’s Carla Lockhart MP.

“DEFRA tries to maintain that robust controls are in place, but they are not!”

ADOPT (Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies) is part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, which since 2021 has run 21 competitions across a total of 270 projects, committing £139m of Defra funding and attracting £51m of private investment

Farmers at the forefront of innovation: New support hub launched for ADOPT Fund

Tractors out in force in Westminster today

Watch - Tractor horns put on a 'baby shark' protest in London

Dr Sam Strain (CEO, AHWNI), Martin Mulholland (DAERA), Professor Gerry Boyle (Chair of AgriSearch), Don Morrow (CAFRE), Professor Elizabeth Magowan (Director AFBI), Gill Gallagher (CEO NIGTA), Professor Steven Morrison (Head of Sustainable Livestock Systems AFBI), Ian Stevenson (CEO Dairy Council NI) and Jason Rankin (Strategy Manager AgriSearch).

Consortium will lead project called the ‘UK Dairy Carbon Network’

Dr Sam Strain (CEO, AHWNI), Martin Mulholland (DAERA), Professor Gerry Boyle (Chair of AgriSearch), Don Morrow (CAFRE), Professor Elizabeth Magowan (Director AFBI), Gill Gallagher (CEO NIGTA), Professor Steven Morrison (Head of Sustainable Livestock Systems AFBI), Ian Stevenson (CEO Dairy Council NI) and Jason Rankin (Strategy Manager AgriSearch).

AFBI led project launched to promote sustainable dairy farming

Robin Swann MP. (Pic: Freelance)

Swann to present family farm tax petition to Parliament on behalf of NI farmers

Robin Swann MP in the House of Commons

Swann to present Family Farm Tax petition to Parliament on behalf of Northern Ir...

Defra’s decision to ban imports of German livestock in a bid to protect the UK from Foot and Mouth Disease doesn’t apply in Northern Ireland. (Pic: stock image)

UK ban on German imports following FMD outbreak 'does not include NI'

Rare centuries old slate fences are features of the farming landscape in the central Lake District at Hawkshead

Shard fences stand tall again in Hawkshead and Lickle Valley

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