AGP Executive Report

Bluetongue Update: Defra and APHA have refreshed guidance as BTV-3 spreads, reporting 995 cases in the 2026-27 season and 2,356 suspected premises under investigation, with vets urging farmers to vaccinate quickly as midges and warmer conditions raise transmission risk. Energy & Farming Risk: Reports say the UK is set to greenlight the controversial Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, ending a long legal pause—an issue farmers will watch as energy policy feeds into costs and wider supply-chain stability. Farm Tech & Skills: Government has opened a new competition for agricultural innovation projects, while separate coverage highlights the push to train the people who can actually use modern farm tech. Rural Economy & Resilience: A piece on rural Wales argues policy must start with wider economic growth needs—not just farming—alongside housing, skills, transport and connectivity. Food & Trade Links: Standard Chartered and UKEF discussed ways to deepen the UK-Bangladesh trade corridor, including agribusiness and seafood financing. Market Notes: Breaky Bottom, a landmark English vineyard, is on sale for £4m after the death of pioneer winemaker Peter Hall. Weather Watch: Forecasts point to warm highs in the high 20s before rain returns, with El Niño flagged as a driver of more volatile conditions.

English Wine Boost: Essex winemakers say early grape harvest in the Crouch Valley could mean a strong year for English wine, with heatwaves driving growth and sales momentum. Farm Resilience & Water Stress: Farmers are warning that drought and water shortages are threatening UK food security, while calls grow to capture winter water and tackle rising input pressures. Livestock & Disease Watch: Bluetongue fears are rising in parts of the UK and Ireland, with movement rules easing in Scotland as outbreaks are monitored. Food Supply Anxiety: Multiple reports flag growing disruption risks to the UK food supply, alongside warnings to stock up amid extreme weather concerns. Planning Pressure on Rural Land: Councils are weighing housing proposals on farmland and green belt, including a Meriden petition against up to 185 homes and North Yorkshire plans for new homes delayed. Heritage Hospitality Conversion: Wiltshire approved a change of use for Hazelbury Manor to hospitality, turning a 500-year-old estate into a hotel while aiming to protect heritage assets. Community Farming Events: Harvest and rural events continue to draw crowds, including a harvest festival in the West Midlands and ongoing support for farm-linked charities.

UK Farm Policy & Health: Farmers in Dumfriesshire are watching bluetongue spread after heat and drought, with calls for practical herd-health planning rather than blanket compulsory vaccination. Animal Health & Movement Rules: Scotland has updated bluetongue livestock movement rules, while Sussex farmers are urged to vaccinate as cases rise. Farm Business & Skills: The Oswin Project has expanded its prison bakery at HMP Northumberland, adding places for inmates to gain food-safety and baking qualifications, with ingredients sourced locally where possible. Regenerative Farming & Drink Industry: Hawkstone and Wildfarmed have launched Hawkstone Wildthing Lager, scaling a regenerative-farming story across Tesco, pubs and direct-to-consumer. Rural Planning Pressure: A Welsh family running Roots Farm in a caravan has been told they can’t live there beyond a further 12-month reprieve, despite the land being used for agriculture. Food Security & Supply Chain Risk: Growers warn water shortages are threatening Britain’s food security, as drought impacts forage and yields. Mental Health in Agriculture: The Hawkstone Farmers Choir has donated £100,000 to rural mental health and farming charities, including Mind and the Farming Community Network. Livestock Breeding & Shows: Windleden Farm’s young tup and family-run moorland flock are building show success, with local classes and young handlers in focus.

Drought Support for Farmers: England’s drought response package is set to help growers access water, keep livestock fed where grass has failed, and protect payments tied to environmental agreements, with on-farm storage like reservoirs also in scope. Bluetongue Watch: Ministers and farming groups are pushing for clearer controls as cases keep emerging, including movement-rule easing in Scotland from September 10 and calls for farmers to prepare for wider spread. Rural Crime Focus: North Wales Police is running Rural Crime Action Week (Sept 6–11) to tackle rural and wildlife crime, with show and community engagement and encouragement to report offences. Food Waste Rollout: Fenland District Council begins free food waste collections on Sept 7, with caddies delivered to tens of thousands of homes to cut bin smells and boost recycling into energy and fertiliser. Solar Expansion: Highland Council approved a 9.9MWp solar farm at the former Longman landfill site, despite objections over green space and Common Good land impacts. Livestock Theft Spotlight: Jeremy Clarkson says 11 sheep were stolen from Diddly Squat, while the NFU warns the loss could hit farmers’ cash flow and confidence hard. Local River Pollution Debate: A River Summit in Henley brought politicians, water firms, farmers and campaigners together on river pollution, biodiversity and household bills.

UK Agriculture & Food Policy: Scotland’s farming firms are reporting stronger profitability, with combined revenue up to £3.8bn and margins widening across the Agriculture 50 ranking, led by Duncan Farms’ rapid growth in free-range eggs and reinvestment in farms and packing. Animal Health: A new bluetongue case has been identified in Co. Wexford, with officials urging farmers to consider vaccination and to submit unexplained deaths for lab testing as BTV-3 continues circulating in Great Britain. Rural Business & Innovation: Duncan Farms’ “field-to-fork” model is highlighted as it scales free-range egg production through its own farms and partner producers, supported by long-term retailer supply deals. Horticulture Trade: An Italian horticultural delegation has completed a UK visit focused on nursery and ornamental plant business links, including meetings at the Four Oaks Trade Show in Cheshire. Community & Rural Support: Aberdeenshire’s RHASS initiative has raised £290,000 for rural charities, including RSABI support for people in Scottish agriculture and funding toward a new cattle washing facility at the Royal Highland Show. Farm Safety: A Monmouthshire farm owner has been fined after a worker died in an ATV overturning incident, with the case citing lack of seatbelts, training, and safety checks.

Organic English wine boom: Organic viticulture in England is rising fast (reported 15%–20% a year), with growers like Oxney Estate in East Sussex leaning into cover crops, composting and soil health to cope with extreme weather. Drought resilience for grazing land: East Anglian farmers are being urged to plan for hotter, drier summers at “Out in the Drought East” (Sept 9), focusing on long-rotation grazing, avoiding overgrazing and reducing bought-in feed. Food supply nerves: A Labour minister has urged UK households to stock up on days of supplies after “supersize” El Niño warnings, citing risks to power, water and food availability. Farm safety and rural pressures: Somerset Council has sold off hundreds of acres of farmland over three years to fund services, while Gloucestershire cereal grower ECB Farming Limited was named in minimum-wage underpayment enforcement. Livestock theft spotlight: Jeremy Clarkson says 11 sheep were stolen from Diddly Squat, with police investigating. Wales drought response: The Wye Water Summit (Oct 1) will tackle drought impacts on rivers and farms, including water and nutrient management steps. Skills for the next generation: National Trust’s new “Grow Wild” Saturday Club (ages 13–16) will teach conservation and regenerative farming-linked activities at its rural skills centre near Swindon.

Weather & Risk: Forecasters warn a rapidly strengthening El Niño could “supersize” winter impacts across the US and the UK, raising the odds of flooding, drought, extreme heat and big snowfall shifts. Livestock Health: Scotland is easing bluetongue movement rules from September 10, while vets and farmers keep pushing for practical controls as the hidden cost of the disease bites. Policy & Trade: MPs urge Andy Burnham to reverse 2024 inheritance tax changes hitting farms, as the sector faces drought, disease threats and supply-chain pressure; meanwhile, EU moves on Brazilian beef are framed as a major test for UK farming and antimicrobial resistance rules. Climate Action: Northern Ireland’s environment minister says there can be “no rolling back” on climate action after record-breaking summer heat. Agri-Tech & Energy: Anesco secured Lombard financing for three UK renewable projects (solar and storage), adding momentum to the energy transition farmers will feel through grid and land-use pressures. Aquaculture Debate: A UN-backed push to expand fish farming is criticised for relying on grinding wild fish into feed, raising concerns for marine fisheries and coastal communities. Planning & Land Use: A cemetery expansion in Cookham is stalled by a housing plan on the same land, highlighting how development decisions can derail rural services.

EU Summit Watch: Andy Burnham says his priority for the upcoming EU talks is a “good deal” on farming and steel, warning the bloc’s steel rules have hit UK industry hard. Drought Support: RABI has opened a £2,000 emergency drought grant for eligible farm households in the South West from Sept 7, aiming to help with living costs as dry weather bites. Livestock & Biosecurity: Northern Ireland moves ahead with cattle EID tagging, while Scotland updates bluetooth movement rules as cases rise. Food & Farming Tech: Gene-edited fruit is edging toward UK supermarket shelves, including vitamin D-enriched tomatoes and longer-season strawberries, pending approvals. Farm Economy & Weather: Reports highlight the scale of yield pressure and the wider hit from extreme heat and drought on UK harvests. Rural Community: Fairford’s High Five Project expands its children’s charity support after a successful fundraiser. Agri Jobs & Industry: A major poultry processing plant is proposed near Grimsby, targeting up to 1,400 jobs.

EU-UK Farming Talks: Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he wants a “closer relationship with Europe” as the EU-UK summit approaches, with “all these issues on the table” over the risk of cheap Brazilian beef undermining UK producers. Market Pressure: Bond traders warn Burnham could trigger a Liz Truss-style market reaction unless he sets out credible plans for how spending will be funded. Skills for Horticulture: Harper Adams University wins a £5m Leverhulme grant to launch a Transformative Farming doctoral programme aimed at closing skills and research gaps in the UK agri-food system. Farm Support & Collaboration: A £30m fund opens to back farmer collaboration, while Warwick Farmers Day raises money for the Farming Community Network to support rural families facing business and personal pressures. Livestock Health Watch: Bluetongue rules are being updated and eased in parts of Scotland, with farmers urged to prepare for wider spread. Weather & Risk: Britain’s record-hot summer underlines ongoing drought and heat stress on yields, with farmers planning around shorter seasons and lower outputs.

Pesticide Poisoning Crisis: A new study commissioned by Pesticide Action Network estimates 402–433m unintentional acute pesticide poisonings of farmers and farm workers worldwide each year, with about 11,000 deaths annually and most fatalities in India. Wild Salmon Decline: UK wild Atlantic salmon numbers are down sharply, with one Dorset chalk-stream (River Frome) seeing adult returns fall from about 3,000 a year in the 1980s to just 314 last year, raising alarm for rivers across Wales and Scotland. Energy Bills vs Net Zero: The household energy price cap rises from 1 October to £1,723, while critics argue net zero has failed to cut bills for both families and energy-hungry manufacturers. Food Security Pressure: MPs warn microplastics are building up in UK soils and the food chain, urging legally binding targets and a national strategy to protect agricultural land and nutrition. Water for Farming: In India’s Cauvery delta, Mettur Reservoir sluice gates opened after weak rains to restart Samba cultivation and drinking water supply—an example of how timing and inflows can make or break farming seasons. Rural Heritage & Community: Hunton Steam Gathering and Westmorland County Show line-ups highlight working rural traditions, while local events like the Crafty Baa expansion show how countryside businesses keep growing.

Food Safety & Trade Rules: UK agriculture minister Martin Heydon says imports into Europe must meet Irish/EU food safety standards, calling SPS “non-negotiable” as he points to EU action on Brazilian beef as a potential opening for Irish beef. Scottish Food Costs: Scotland’s SNP price-cap plan on essentials faces pushback; ministers admit shops may stop stocking capped items or shift costs elsewhere, with warnings it could hit farmers and product availability. Heat & Harvest Pressure: The Met Office reports Britain’s hottest summer on record, with drought and wildfires driving up food-price pressures; AHDB says harvest is largely finished but yields remain disappointing and quality varies, especially in northern areas. Meat Prices Watch: AIMS finds UK supermarket prices for fresh British meat and poultry were broadly flat in August, with small movements and no change versus August 2025 overall. Livestock Health: Bluetongue rules are being eased in parts of Scotland, while farmers are urged to vaccinate as cases rise. Rural Community Support: A Northamptonshire social enterprise, No Fuss Meals for Busy Parents, is recognised as a top small business, using food and farming to support families. Agrarian Values in the Spotlight: Wendell Berry, a major agrarian writer and critic of industrial agriculture, has died at 92.

Harvest Watch: AHDB says UK Harvest 2026 is nearly finished, but yields remain disappointing after a prolonged dry spell; progress is slower in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England due to wetter conditions and higher crop moisture, with big variability in both yield and quality. Food Prices & Inputs: A retail trade body index shows in-store inflation hit 1.5% year-on-year in August, with higher energy costs feeding into food prices and fresh produce inflation easing only slightly; the months ahead look tough for households. Meat Trade Pressure: Four UK farming unions renew calls for a UK-wide ban on Brazilian meat products of animal origin from Sept 3, warning it could affect public health, farm businesses and consumer confidence. Local Farming & Community: St Mary’s Hospice used the Hawkshead Agricultural Show to boost its South Lakes presence, linking rural isolation support with local community outreach. Wildlife & Coasts: A guide to Scotland’s native oysters highlights Loch Ryan’s managed, sustainable harvest approach, with the species still threatened and needing careful protection. Farm Safety: A watchdog report reaffirms the firearms licensing system is “not fit for purpose” after the Keyham mass shooting, pointing to systemic failings in the licensing process.

Climate & Water Stress: Europe’s farmers are adapting to drier summers, with UK growers also warning that drought is reshaping what they can plant and how they manage water and cashflow. Solar Planning Backlash: A fast-tracked Lincolnshire solar farm approved as an NSIP is drawing local anger over land-use impacts, while residents elsewhere are pushing back on major solar proposals. Renewables Pipeline: RenewableUK says the UK’s onshore wind pipeline has hit a 50GW milestone, with Scotland still dominating capacity. Animal Health & Biosecurity: UK research highlights challenges in protecting flocks from HPAI, as farmers and vets continue to plan for disease pressure. Food & Farming Trade: EU moves on Brazilian beef exports are being framed as a win for European consumers and farmers, feeding into ongoing UK/Irish concerns about meat imports. Wildlife Recovery: Wild beaver kits have been born in Norfolk for the first time in centuries, raising hopes for a permanent local population. Farm Safety: Reports continue on serious farm accidents, including deaths after falls into slurry/silage tanks, underlining the need for tighter on-farm safety.

Solar Planning Clash: Norfolk’s Droves Solar Farm hearings resume in September over farmland loss, heritage and glare risks, with the Ministry of Defence also raising concerns about RAF Marham radar interference. Energy & Jobs Pressure: Scotland’s floating offshore wind pipeline faces new uncertainty as unions warn energy strategy could delay or cancel projects, threatening contracts and green jobs. Food Price Politics: Scotland’s SNP food price cap plan is being attacked by retailers and farmers as “unnecessary” and “ineffective,” with warnings it could push up costs instead of easing bills. Water Stress & Rural Impact: Somerset Levels residents and farmers back a petition against a massive Bridgwater data centre, citing drought and water demand fears. Drought & Wildfire Costs: A new report highlights how Europe’s scorching summers are reshaping national budgets, with drought and wildfires driving rising public spending. Livestock Health Watch: Bluetongue restrictions and vaccination rules are still evolving, with vets and farmers urging clarity as outbreaks spread. Farm Safety: Inspectors in NSW’s fruit sector issued dozens of safety notices after modern slavery concerns, underlining ongoing pressure on labour-hire practices. UK Farming Community: A new push urges young people into Welsh farming, alongside calls for better support for seasonal workers.

Energy & Rural Landscape: Campaigners in Perthshire are furious about plans for an “energy park” at Abercairny Estate near Crieff, with eight wind turbines (up to 200m blade tips) proposed near Meallbrodden Loch—locals warn it could damage tourism and the area’s appeal. Climate & Farming Pressure: The UK Energy Secretary says communities “will not forgive us” if climate action stalls, pointing to heatwaves, wildfires and drought impacts on farmers, alongside a temporary barbecues ban and support package for dry-weather losses. Seasonal Worker Housing: Scotland’s seasonal farm worker visa system is under fire again, with unions and labour groups urging First Minister John Swinney to deliver national housing standards after reports of squalid, dangerous accommodation. Weather Disruption: Met Office yellow thunderstorm warnings are in force across much of the UK, with heavy rain and strong winds raising flood and travel disruption risks. Agri-Community Updates (NI): Lagan UFU members reflect on a busy summer and highlight local show wins in barley competitions, while planning winter meetings and technical updates. Livestock & Markets: Bluetongue remains a live concern as restrictions and vaccination rules continue to shift for affected livestock areas.

Drought pressure on farms: The NFU says Britain’s worst drought in 50 years has pushed growers to a financial crisis point, with low harvests and failed crops raising fears for next year’s food supply unless government support steps in. Water and infrastructure debate: A fresh row over water use is heating up as Scotland weighs new data centre plans, with claims about demand sparking concern from communities already dealing with drought. Livestock health and bluetongue costs: Farmers are warning that bluetongue restrictions are adding major expense, and calls are growing for stronger help to cover fallen-stock collection and disposal. Farm business and skills: Building Futures has been extended to March 2028, keeping free apprenticeship support going for small and medium employers. Rural food wins: New Forest Shortbread and Hockey’s Farm Shop are among Great Taste award winners, underlining how UK farm shops and producers are turning quality into global recognition. Equine endurance spotlight: An England rider and her horse are set for national-level Competitive Endurance after a standout 80km run, with strict vet checks front and centre. Local planning churn: Wiltshire planning notices include proposals for up to 600 homes plus conversions and changes of use, keeping rural land-use decisions in focus.