This week’s NFU news reel

09 September 2026 3 minute read
NFU President Tom Bradshaw speaking to press

NFU President Tom Bradshaw speaking to the press huddle at the NFU MP reception on Back British Farming Day. Photograph: Miranda Parry

From Back British Farming Day to warnings that the ‘super’ El Niño is going to throw wild weather at the UK, to the impacts of rural crime, the NFU and its members have continued to put the key issues affecting British farming in front of national audiences this week.

With interviews on GB News, BBC Radio Live and LBC, and quotes in the national press, take a look at some of the place we’ve been making our voices heard this week.

446 pieces of total coverage

287 mentions across all broadcast

53 pieces of national print, TV and radio coverage

“We can’t rely on the rest of the world to feed us.”

NFU President Tom Bradshaw in The Times

Back British Farming Day

The launch of the NFU’s new ‘Ready to Grow: Unlocking British Farming's Economic Potential' report generated plenty of media coverage on Back British Farming Day with NFU President Tom Bradshaw interviewed across the airwaves.

His morning broadcast round included BBC Radio 5 Live’s Wake Up to Money,  Times Radio Early Breakfast Show, LBC and LBC News. Tom was also interviewed on GB News and by Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Meanwhile, NFU Chief Economist Jack Watts was interviewed on Radio 4’s Farming Today.

The report was picked up by The Times, Daily Telegraph and Daily Express, all quoting NFU President Tom Bradshaw, as well as by some of the country’s leading regional newspapers such as The Yorkshire Post and Eastern Daily Press.

Extreme weather warning

Climate experts have warned that a ‘super’ El Niño is going to throw wild weather at the UK over the coming months.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw was quoted in the Daily Telegraph calling for more support for agricultural businesses, while the NFU was mentioned in the Daily Mail.

Tom was also interviewed for a feature in The Spectator about the current challenges facing British farmers following prolonged dry weather and drought.

NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins featured in an analysis piece in The Times about how this summer’s extreme weather impacted Britain, including harvest.

National Rural Crime Action Week

NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt was quoted in an article in The Sun about sheep being stolen from Jeremy Clarkson's farm saying incidents of rural crime leave farmers with fear, stress and anxiety.


Regions in the spotlight

NFU East members Jimmy Russo and Lee Stiles from Lea Valley Growers Association spoke to BBC News Online about the summer’s drought and said the heatwaves had destroyed up to 40% of their pepper crop, calling it a “disastrous” year.

NFU Skipton & Clitheroe Group Secretary Sam Bradley was interviewed by 5 News this week for a feature on the spread of the Bluetongue virus.

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This page was first published on 17 June 2026. It was updated on 09 September 2026.


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