All from last 24 hours CONTRACTOR COMMENTContractor Comment: Diversification key for DRA FabbFirst in the hotseat for this new series of Contractor Comment is Dan Fabb, proprietor of eponymous Cambridgeshire outfit DRA Fabb. Q: How did you get into contracting? I worked… TENANCIES AND RENTSCall to delay £67m Tulchan Estate sale over tenant rightsThe Scottish Tenant Farmers Association has called for the sale of the 8,800ha Tulchan Estate in Moray to be delayed as tenants say they were denied their legal pre-emptive right… NEWSFarage vows to replace SFS and cut farm red tapeReform UK leader Nigel Farage has pledged to replace Wales’ Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) and cut farm red tape as the party launched its Senedd election manifesto. Speaking at the… NEWSMinisters ease bluetongue restrictions on cross-border tradeCross-border livestock trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland can resume from Friday 6 March after ministers authorised reciprocal derogations allowing cross-border movements of bluetongue-susceptible animals. The decision… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESSmall abattoirs at ‘dangerous tipping point’A Welsh abattoir owner has warned the UK’s network of small slaughterhouses is at a “dangerous tipping point”, as rising regulatory costs threaten to force more local facilities out of… PIGSHow a scoring tool can help close gaps in pig biosecurityBiosecurity is the foundation of disease control on pig farms and a powerful driver of performance. But despite its importance, it can feel abstract on farm, leaving producers unsure what… OPINIONEditor's View: Iran war is yet another food security threatWith less than a week having passed since the US and Israel started bombing Iran, the nation remains gripped by every fresh headline about the conflict and how the effects… ARABLEPrime wheat for stress with one addition to your T0 tank mixBy the time stress is visible in a wheat crop, it can be too late to intervene. Trials from a dry 2025 season show that the biostimulant Scyon offers a… AGRICULTURAL TRANSITIONBNG changes: What landowners need to knowIn recent months, government proposals on biodiversity net gain (BNG) have become a hot topic for both developers and landowners alike. Introduced as a mandatory requirement in England in early… MARKET OPPORTUNITIESArable Insights farmers doubtful about Profitability ReviewFarmers on this year’s Farmers Weekly Arable Insights panel are sceptical that Baroness Minette Batters’ Farming Profitability Review for Defra will significantly affect their future profits. A formal response from… LAND MARKETSMonths of rain hold back spring launchesMonths of sustained rainfall are casting a shadow over many aspects of agriculture, including the farmland market. Spring is always a busy season for new launches and 2026 was set… WILL'S WORLDWill's World: Unions, reunions and casual sock-watchingI’m writing this in a trendy café at a bustling Birmingham New Street Station. I like Birmingham a lot. The people are warm and friendly (the lady behind the counter… ARABLEAdvice on protecting farm kit and avoiding GPS theftsThe most recent figures from rural insurer NFU Mutual show an encouraging drop in insurance claims for stolen GPS units, which decreased 71% between 2023-24, from an estimated £4.2m to… PARASITIC DISEASESNematodirus forecast tool puts focus on targeted treatmentSheep farmers are being urged to avoid blanket worming and instead combine a revamped nematodirus hatching forecast with on-farm risk assessment to protect their lambs. Independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Frustration as on-farm butchery plans refusedI hope everyone is well. I was hoping I could share some positive news, but it hasn’t worked out that way. The biggest frustration for me is that the factors… HEALTH AND WELFARENewcastle disease risk to UK poultry raised as disease spreadsVeterinary experts at Defra have raised the risk status for Newcastle disease in poultry from “low” to “medium” as the disease continues to spread in continental Europe. Newcastle disease is…
