UK farmers are dropping arable crops for dairy herds, as milk prices rise. High fertiliser costs are pressuring cereal grower profits in England and Scotland, while profit margins narrow. Fertiliser prices declined but remain excessively steep for many, and many cultivators cope. In Scotland, wildfires near Aviemore forced evacuations and kept firefighters on alert in dry weather, the heat has also parched the land. The blazes hit local farms and raised safety issues, local communities monitor. Paul Burke now leads England’s Horticulture Council after taking over as chair, he took over from his predecessor. Some West Midlands growers are sowing trees instead of wheat, as part of a shift. Low subsidies and high bills make growing crops challenging for many families facing rising costs. Near Westmeath, a beef farmer will expand forestry as arable farming declines, aiming to offset income loss.