AHDB

For many livestock farmers, 2026 has been a challenging year. A dry spring and prolonged hot weather have put grass growth under pressure across much of the UK. Large areas of England are now officially in drought, with concerns growing around forage supplies, crop growth and livestock water availability. While no grassland system is drought-proof, years of research and on-farm experience suggest that diverse swards can help businesses cope better with increasingly variable weather conditions.

British dairy farmers have had a tough year with commodity prices followed by farmgate prices plummeting since August 2025 as a response to global milk oversupply. Average farmgate prices have fallen to 34ppl, with many well below that, meaning income will be well below the cost of production for many farmers on market related price contracts. But where are markets now and what can we expect in the months ahead?

The European Commission has updated their short-term outlook for 2026. This article dissects the key statistics and forecasts for the beef, lamb and pork sectors. Key points EU beef and veal net production is forecast to drop 2% from 2025 in 2026f, with import volumes increasing and export volumes declining. Pork net production is forecast to remail relatively stable, increasing by 0.3% year on year in 2026f. Imports are expected to drop 3% while exports fall 0.5%.

While weather has always influenced farming, this year’s exceptionally dry summer has highlighted just how vulnerable agricultural businesses can be to climate extremes and the need to plan for them. From crop production and livestock management to fire prevention and disease risks, many farmers are feeling the effects of the drought firsthand. Let’s look at some of the issues facing farmers and what it means.

Our role is to help the industry respond with confidence, through trusted evidence, practical support, stronger markets and collective leadership. As part of that commitment, we are reviewing our leadership structure so that accountability, specialist expertise and delivery sit closer to sector priorities and levy payer needs. As a result, three senior roles are at risk of redundancy and we are consulting individually with the colleagues affected.

Now in its eleventh year, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is leading this year’s campaign, working alongside AHDB, Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) and the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC). The campaign will also be supported by the National Sheep Association (NSA), the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), NFU Scotland, the Ulster Farmers’ Union and Red Tractor – as well as a wide array of industry supporters and stakeholders.

After a pandemic-driven boom, the takeaway and delivery market is showing signs of decline. However, sales through delivery apps continue to grow, supported by loyal and highly engaged users.

This week's view of grain and oilseed markets, including a summary of both UK and global activity. Figure 1. UK feed wheat futures prices, Nov-26 contract (£/tonne) UK feed wheat futures reversed some of the prior week’s gains, following the sentiment of the global market. Nov-26 UK feed wheat futures (green line with markers, Figure 1) dropped 3.25/t (-1.6%) last week to close Friday at £196.50/t. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) decreased from 75 on 24 July to 70 on 31 July.

In today’s environment, the pig industry is under constant scrutiny. Whether the discussion is about animal health, environmental impact, welfare standards or food security, there is a growing expectation that our sector can demonstrate progress, respond to criticism and communicate confidently with those outside the industry. That’s where AHDB’s communications and press team comes in.

For the second consecutive year, combines have entered fields significantly earlier than normal, with many farmers across the South and East of England completing harvest two to three weeks ahead of the long-term average. Anthony Hopkins, our new Director of Cereals and Oilseeds, said: "Across much of the UK, combines have been rolling earlier than usual this year, with many farmers working through the night to avoid the most extreme daytime temperatures.