AGP Executive Report

Back British Farming Day: UK MPs and farming groups used the Westminster event to warn that food self-sufficiency is falling and imports are rising, calling for faster government action to protect domestic production. EU Budget Fight: Spain’s PNV MEP Oihane Agirregoitia says the 2028-2034 EU budget is “improvable,” urging new revenues and stronger funding for cohesion, fishing and infrastructure rather than cuts. Wildfire Grazing Plan: Portugal wants EU money to pay for grazing goats, sheep and cows in high-risk wildfire areas, using animals to clear flammable shrub and cut fire damage. Animal Health: Kenya stepped up measures against transboundary livestock diseases, including African Swine Fever outbreaks, while trying to keep cross-border movement routes open for pastoralists. Food & Trade: Brazil beef exports hit record value and volumes in H1 2026, but analysts warn Q3 could bring more volatility as China demand and quotas tighten and EU import bans bite. Farming Tech: A UK report highlights how connected machinery and remote diagnostics are speeding harvest support when combines break down.

Settlement Trade Sanctions: The UK says it will ban goods and services linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, targeting specific companies and individuals; France has now confirmed it will end trade with settlements alongside a wider coalition. Black Sea Food Risk: Zelenskyy warns Russia’s blockade of the Black Sea grain corridor could trigger a global food crisis, with grain prices falling inside Ukraine but major knock-on effects for import-dependent countries. Dairy Cost Pressure: US dairy prices edge up in August, but margins face headwinds as feed costs rise and Black Sea disruptions keep grain logistics tight. EU-Ukraine Energy Retaliation: Zelenskyy says Ukraine is ready to respond if Russia strikes the national power grid this winter, while pushing for step-by-step talks including an energy truce. Biofuels Deal: Bayer and Neste have finalized an agreement to scale low-carbon biofuels feedstock via winter canola expansion. EU Poultry Welfare: The EU prepares new poultry welfare rules. Farm Weather Strain (UK): Suffolk farmers report drought-hit yields and renewed pressure from food imports. Agritech/Policy: The EU is moving on agri-food research and innovation priorities, while governments weigh AI for administrative roles.

EU Settlement Sanctions: The UK, followed by France and Canada, is moving to ban trade in goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, targeting specific companies and services tied to settlement expansion. Animal Welfare in Spain: Mercadona’s main egg supplier, Huevos Guillén, says it will invest €200m to go fully cage-free across its farms and supply chain within four years. Livestock Showcase in France: Sommet de l’Élevage returns in Clermont-Ferrand (Oct 6–9), spotlighting French and European genetics, animal health and a bigger machinery zone. UK Bluetongue Alert: Confirmed bluetongue cases in the UK have doubled in three weeks, with AHDB urging vaccination and warning the outbreak peak may come late September. CAP Pressure in Ireland: Irish farmers’ groups warn parts of Connacht could lose hundreds of millions under current CAP proposals, pushing for changes ahead of negotiations. Food Retail Innovation: REWE is selling “fresh from the roof” lettuce grown on-site above a Berlin supermarket, aiming to cut transport and boost local supply. Energy Costs for Farms: Ireland’s agriculture sector is calling for faster fuel support as green diesel prices surge and contractors warn of breaking point. Agrifood Policy & Trade: Poland and Ukraine are discussing ways to boost agricultural exports via EU “solidarity lanes” as drone attacks and logistics constraints continue.

CAP Budget Clash: Ireland’s IFA warns farmers “cannot be sacrificed” in EU budget and CAP talks, saying proposed cuts could push CAP payments to about €130/ha and cost the sector up to €400m a year from 2028–2034. Animal Health & Trade: Bulgaria’s agriculture minister opened the grape harvest in Sandanski’s Struma Valley, highlighting favourable weather and tighter checks on imports and intra-EU deliveries of grapes and seasonal fruit/veg. Livestock Integrity: Gardaí and Europol targeted a suspected cross-border horse-trafficking network, alleging forged horse passports and microchip manipulation, with searches across multiple EU countries including Ireland. Farmgate Pressure: A study on European farm economics points to rising costs and weaker prices hitting pig farmers, while broader reporting flags margin squeeze and farmers pulling back on spending. Biodiversity & Water: Conservation work in Europe’s wider farming belt is echoed by Iowa-style wetland restoration logic—reconnecting waterways to cut nutrient runoff and support wildlife—while UK red kites show how targeted protection can drive major recovery. Policy Watch: EU agriculture ministers face ongoing political and budget pressure as member states push for faster action on competitiveness and farm support.

Cereal Biofungicide Deal: Syngenta and Amoéba sealed an exclusive EU/UK/Ukraine/Switzerland distribution partnership for a next-gen biocontrol fungicide targeting septoria and yellow rust, with registrations expected from Q3 2028 and spring 2029 sales. UK Farm Income Pressure: IFA met Ireland’s finance ministers ahead of the budget, urging more funding for farm schemes (TAMS, ANC) and retention of unallocated fuel-scheme money to offset soaring fertiliser and production costs. Animal Transport Enforcement: The Dutch regulator NVWA moved against Irish calf transporters over welfare breaches, citing long journeys with insufficient fluids for very young calves. Dairy Sector Stress: Reports point to an exodus of dairy farms as price pressure persists, with 60 farms facing “price trapped” conditions. Mar Menor Fight: Murcia’s Mar Menor protection law is set for change after a first parliamentary step, sparking anger from farmers and environmental groups over how sanctions affect subsidy access. Heat and Water Strain: Copernicus-linked analysis says June–August was the hottest on record for 1.3bn people, underlining drought and heat impacts on European agriculture. Irrigation Hardware Trade: A China-based sprinkler maker highlights EU export reach, reflecting continued demand for irrigation equipment as water stress grows. Food Security Push (UK): NFU research and farmers’ calls on Back British Farming Day warn UK self-sufficiency is falling and urge homegrown food targets. Cattle Genetics Curiosity: A genome study of Hong Kong’s feral cattle shows how isolation and adaptation shaped a distinct livestock population—useful for understanding resilience and breeding history.

Water & Climate Adaptation: Azerbaijan’s COP29 climate lead Mukhtar Babayev says adaptation must be tied to water management, warning droughts are lasting longer while floods are more severe and water demand is rising fast across farming, cities, industry and energy. Grain Markets: MATIF wheat hit a September peak then eased, with traders watching Black Sea export moves, El Niño risks and Europe’s already-hit maize situation; opportunities for selling at higher prices are being flagged. Dairy Watch: European dairy prices are mostly steady, but attention is turning to whether farmers have enough winter feed after drought cut forage in France and lowered EU maize output. Sheep Pricing: Irish sheep trade shows signs of life, yet factory base quotes are holding, with most groups around €8/kg and some firmer mart prices. Feed Industry Sustainability: FEFAC’s Feed Sustainability Charter 2030 progress report highlights steps toward climate neutrality, responsible sourcing and resource efficiency, alongside EU protein and livestock strategy priorities. Ukraine Food Security: Mercy Corps warns Black Sea attacks and disrupted transport are creating a farm-to-market shock, leaving Ukrainian farmers with less cash and storage shortfalls.

Food Security Pressure (UK): A new NFU report says Britain’s self-sufficiency has fallen in 10 of 11 everyday foods over 30 years, with imports up 70% and much cereal and livestock production running at a loss, prompting calls for ambitious homegrown targets. Heat & Drought Impacts (Europe): Farmers in England report harvest losses after extreme heat and drought, while wider drought conditions are squeezing water supplies and crop yields. Cereal Bio-Control Deal (EU): Syngenta and Amoéba signed an exclusive distribution partnership for a next-generation biocontrol fungicide aimed at wheat diseases, as Europe’s crop protection toolbox shrinks. Aquaculture Shock (Hungary): Drought and low inflows triggered a major fish kill at a large Hungarian fishpond complex, highlighting how water stress can hit both food output and protected wetlands. Agri-Business M&A (Baltics): Estonia’s Infortar agreed to buy Lithuania’s Litagra, expanding milk and adding poultry farming to create a larger dairy heavyweight. Trade & Politics (EU/UK/Canada): Britain, France and Canada moved to ban imports from Israeli West Bank settlements, escalating diplomatic tensions with Israel.

Food Prices Under Pressure: The UN FAO says global food prices rose in August to the highest since late 2022, driven by Europe’s heat and drought, Black Sea trade disruption, and Middle East tensions—pushing grain to three-year highs and cutting its 2026 cereal output forecast. Heat Hits European Farming: Italy logged its hottest summer since 1950, with drought and heat stressing agricultural regions; France’s champagne production is forecast to fall nearly in half after extreme weather. Wine Sector Shock: France’s wider wine output is also expected to drop sharply, with Champagne and Burgundy hit hardest by early harvests and crop losses. EU Policy Push: The European Commission set out a 2040 strategy for agri-food research and innovation, aiming to steer innovation for the long run. Animal Health Watch: France faces new salmonella fallout after pumpkin-seed-related cases, adding pressure to food safety monitoring. Trade Tensions Spill Over: UK-led settlement trade bans are expanding, with Israel retaliating by closing the British consulate—an issue that also touches agricultural exports.

UK-Israel Trade Reset: Britain says it will announce a ban on goods made in Israeli West Bank settlements, framed as support for a two-state solution, with the US expected to oppose and Israel already reacting. Heatwave Impacts on Wine: France is forecasting its weakest wine output in 30 years, with Champagne hit hardest as drought and extreme heat push harvests earlier and cut volumes sharply. Food Prices Under Pressure (Spain): Northern Spain shoppers are seeing higher prices for fruit, vegetables, meat and eggs, with farmers pointing to a mix of heat effects plus energy, transport and supply-demand changes. Water Stress (UK): Hosepipe bans remain in force across 10 English water regions, affecting around 30 million people despite heavy late-August rain, as reservoir storage stays low. Farm Sector Pricing (Bulgaria): Bulgaria’s fruit and vegetable sector is calling for “fair value” rules that protect producers’ costs and require markups, arguing retail-only controls miss the real drivers across the supply chain. Agri Business Expansion (Baltics): Estonia’s Infortar is buying Lithuania’s Litagra to expand milk, crops and poultry production, adding thousands of animals and more farmland. Farm Machinery (EU): Claas has launched a new Arion 5 Cmatic tractor range (145–180hp) aimed at compact, manoeuvrable field work.

Heatwave-hit wine: France’s Champagne output is forecast to plunge by about 48% in 2026 versus the 2025 average, with the wider French wine harvest down 6% and expected to be the lowest in three decades, as drought, hail and early heat-driven harvesting bite. Food safety: The US issued a Class I recall for imported Italian pork guanciale (about 1,500 pounds) after Listeria was found in routine testing; no illnesses reported so far. EU CAP access: The European Commission says no CAP payments are made to farmers in parts of Cyprus not controlled by the Republic, citing administration under the island’s 2023–2027 CAP Strategic Plan and ongoing foot-and-mouth measures. Farm cashflow & climate: Barry Callebaut and Arla launched a farm-level dairy emissions partnership using farm data plus incentives, while the Commission also suspended Agrofert subsidy payments in Cyprus-related and broader enforcement coverage. Baltic grain pressure: Latvia plans a 300% tariff on transit of Russian and Belarusian grain through Latvia, with checks and lab cooperation aimed at blocking grain linked to occupied Ukrainian areas.

Heat & drought hit European farming: France expects one of its worst wine harvests in 30 years, with production forecast at 33.9m hectolitres after summer drought and heatwaves scorched vines and cut yields; Champagne and Burgundy-Beaujolais are also set for sharp drops. CAP & young farmers: Ireland’s IFA president Francie Gorman argues CAP young-farmer support should favour lump sums over per-hectare top-ups, warning that area payments can inflate land prices instead of helping new entrants invest. Farm resilience under extreme weather: A UK farm management pocketbook update says profits were strong in 2025, but chronic pressures are mounting—especially weather extremes, higher fertilizer, labour and energy costs. Wildfires worsen air quality: The UN’s WMO warns that heatwaves and wildfires are undermining air-quality gains as smoke boosts harmful PM2.5 exposure, with health impacts rising even where industrial emissions have fallen. EU policy logistics: EU agriculture ministers meet in Dublin with traffic and drone restrictions in place around the venue. Conservation with an agriculture link: Turtle doves have been released in Hampshire’s South Downs as part of urgent efforts to restore habitats for a species in steep decline.

Food Safety Shock (France): France recorded 81 Salmonella cases linked to pumpkin seeds, traced to a processing facility in Lot-et-Garonne, triggering recalls mainly via Grand Frais while investigators continue to pinpoint the contamination source. Heat & Farm Losses (UK): Record heat and drought have scorched flower fields, forcing growers to pull out of markets because they “have got nothing to sell,” with concerns that imports may fill the gap. Livestock Disease Watch (UK): The UK updated bluetongue guidance as BTV-3 cases rise to 995 for the 2026–27 season, with vaccination urged amid ongoing spread risk from midges. CAP & Policy (EU): CAP future discussions took place with an EU Commissioner at a Dublin farm, keeping focus on how the next policy cycle will support farmers. Farm Economy & Inputs (Germany/Europe): German farmers are shouldering losses as drought, extreme heat and scant rain become routine, adding pressure to already tight margins. Trade & Regulation (EU): EU action on Brazilian meat and honey imports over antimicrobial rules continues to reshape agri-food trade flows and compliance priorities. Water & Resilience (Europe): Drought is also driving calls for faster irrigation and water infrastructure, with Ireland highlighting urgent needs as weather extremes intensify.

EU Drought Response: France has unveiled a €1bn farm aid package after record heatwaves and drought, as drought hits farming and adds pressure to already stretched budgets. Trade Shock for Farmers: The EU’s suspension of Brazilian meat and honey imports over antimicrobial concerns is escalating a dispute, with UK livestock groups warning cheaper imports could undercut standards and undermine disease-control progress. Animal Health Watch: UK farmers are bracing for bluetongue spread, with one farmer urging vigilance as outbreaks move and vaccine availability/prices become a concern. Invasive Species Alert: North East Lincolnshire residents are told to remain vigilant after an Asian hornet sighting in Immingham, with the threat to bees highlighted. Food System Stress: Research links climate-driven harvest declines and conflict risk, pointing to how extreme weather and disrupted supply chains can fuel instability. Market Signals: Global food prices are reported at the highest since 2022, while Russia’s grain export delays are squeezing supply and export revenues. Local Adaptation: Nepal’s flood recovery planning includes damage to agricultural land and hydropower projects, with reconstruction funding expected to rely on donors.

Climate & Food Prices: The UN FAO says world food prices rose in August to the highest since late 2022, driven by extreme heat and drought in Europe, Black Sea shipping worries, and El Niño risk—pushing grain to three-year highs and lifting sugar and other staples. Weather Shock for Farmers: A “super El Niño” is forecast to intensify, with warnings it could push tens of millions more into hunger; for farming regions, timing and rainfall swings could be especially damaging. EU Farm Support & Incomes: Greece’s PM Mitsotakis unveiled a tax-and-wage package ahead of elections, including zero income tax for low-income farmers and measures aimed at easing cost-of-living pressure. Pesticide Compliance Push: Nigeria’s NEPC trained 70 smallholders in Adamawa on safe pesticide handling and storage, citing EU rejections tied to residue exceedances. Animal Health & Rural Livelihoods: Greece also flagged livestock farmers’ strain from outbreaks including sheep and goat pox and foot-and-mouth disease.

Drought Pressure on EU Farms: Visegrad countries (Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia) urged the EU to act fast with unified drought relief after sharp yield drops and feed shortages, warning dairy and breeding are at risk. Heatwave Fallout in France: France announced a €1bn package to help drought-hit farmers after record heat, as the wider European summer strain continues to hit grass and livestock conditions. Food Safety Alert: France reported a salmonella outbreak linked to pumpkin seeds, with 81 cases across regions and product recalls underway. Trade Shock for Agriculture: EU suspends Brazilian meat imports over antimicrobial concerns, escalating a dispute that could ripple into European supply and prices. Global Food Prices Jump: FAO said global food prices hit the highest level since late 2022, citing weather disruptions and war-related supply pressures. UK Poultry Consolidation: A report claims just a few firms dominate UK poultry supply, raising concerns about vertical integration and pressure on farmers. Aquaculture Health (Israel): Israeli scientists found carp can resist a deadly virus, a potential boost for carp farmers ahead of Rosh Hashanah demand.

Drought relief in focus: France has unveiled a €1bn+ package for drought- and heat-hit farmers, aiming to speed payments, support the most vulnerable farms, and help cover costs like seeds and fodder. Regional drought pressure: Visegrad Four farm bodies (Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia) urged the EU to act fast as extreme drought cuts fodder yields and threatens livestock and food security. Animal health alert: Ireland confirmed a new bluetongue case in Wexford and reiterated vaccination guidance for herds, urging farmers to report unexplained deaths. Food price squeeze: The UN FAO says global food prices rose in August to the highest since late 2022, driven by Europe’s heat and drought plus war-linked supply disruptions. Security meets farming tech: A UK report warns British agriculture is exposed to “hidden security risk” from internet-linked machinery, including potential spying via Chinese chips. Trade shock for EU meat: EU suspends Brazilian meat and honey imports over antimicrobial concerns, with Brazil signaling possible reciprocal measures.