Trade and Market Developments: In Brussels, EU farm ministers struck a preliminary deal with Ukraine on agricultural trade. Under the agreement, Ukraine will regain some access to EU markets for less-sensitive products (e.g. fermented milk, grape juice) while traditional free-trade quotas are largely restored (reuters.com, reuters.com). Reuters noted on 4 July that the EU will sharply cut import quotas on Ukrainian grains and sugar to address farmer concerns: wheat will be capped at ~1.3 million tonnes and sugar at ~100,000 t (up from 2016 levels but down 70–80% from wartime liberalisation) (reuters.com, reuters.com). Barley, poultry, butter and other products also have new quota limits, and member states can invoke safeguards if imports surge. Ukraine must align more with EU sanitary standards by 2028 in exchange for these concessions.

Commodity markets responded to ample supply forecasts. European wheat futures eased as the season’s harvest progressed: AHDB reports UK feed-wheat futures fell ~4% in late June, dragged down by heavy Northern Hemisphere crops and a strong euro (ahdb.org.uk, ahdb.org.uk.) The EU’s MARS crop monitor raised its 2025 wheat/barley yield forecasts (up 1–2% from last month) (ahdb.org.uk). Similarly, rapeseed futures (Nov-25 delivery) gave back recent gains – a 5% weekly drop – after reaching multi-year highs in mid-June (ahdb.org.uk). These declines were partly attributed to steady biodiesel mandates in Brazil/US (increasing demand for soy oil) and a stronger euro reducing export competitiveness (ahdb.org.uk). Market drivers: higher global grain stocks (argentina, Brazil harvests) and abundant EU crops are keeping prices under pressure (ahdb.org.uk, ahdb.org.uk).

Livestock Health Alerts: European animal health authorities reported several notable outbreaks. In France, the agriculture ministry confirmed the country’s first Lumpy Skin Disease case at a cattle farm (Savoie region) on 30 June (reuters.com). The viral disease (blisters, lowered milk yield) is endemic in North Africa and recently hit Italy. France immediately imposed a 50 km movement ban around the outbreak to contain it (reuters.com). Meanwhile African Swine Fever (ASF) remains a threat in Eastern Europe. Poland announced its first 2025 farm ASF case (20 June, 1 311 pigs in Pomerania) (swineweb.com) . Over 2 300 Polish wild boar tested positive so far, and Poland’s farm outbreaks are up ~47% year-on-year (swineweb.com, swineweb.com). EU-wide, Q1 2025 saw ~4 400 wild boar cases and 168 domestic outbreaks (swineweb.com, swineweb.com) In response, EU governments urge strict biosecurity to prevent spread.

Crop Pest & Disease Alerts: Key pest pressures emerged in early July. Agricultural experts warn that potato late blight (Phytophthora) is evolving rapidly across Europe. A late June Europatat webinar emphasized that new blight strains are outpacing existing resistant potato varieties and fungicides (spudsmart.com, spudsmart.com). Scientists (EuroBlight, Bayer) urged EU-wide coordination: ramp up monitoring of pathogen strains, invest in breeding (stacked R-genes), and preserve effective fungicides before resistance spreads (spudsmart.com). Without quick action, late blight could severely impact EU potato yields and farm incomes.

Vineyards are also on alert. In Spain’s Valencia region experts issued a high-risk alert for downy mildew (Plasmopara) in late June (wikifarmer.com). Growers were advised to apply copper-based fungicides promptly and repeat sprays after rain to protect fruit set. In France (Centre-Val de Loire), authorities ordered mandatory insecticide treatments against the leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus, the vector of Flavescence Dorée phytoplasma (wikifarmer.com). This grapevine disease causes yellowing and vine decline, so emergency control is required during early berry development.

Other reports (from national advisory services) note rising European corn borer activity in German maize and surging sugar-beet leafhopper populations (vector of yellowing viruses) under warm, dry conditions. Farmers are urged to scout fields closely and, if thresholds are reached, consider Trichogramma wasp releases or targeted insecticides for corn borer, and selective spray for leafhoppers.

EU Policy and Cooperation: The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) beyond 2027 is a top agenda item. In Brussels this week, MEPs held a debate expecting calls for a larger CAP budget and more “incentive-based” schemes (e.g. eco-payments), instead of merging farm aid into a single EU fund (europarl.europa.eu). Parliament’s AGRI Committee will vote on its future-CAP report on 7 July, ahead of the Commission’s next multiannual financial framework proposal (due mid-July) (europarl.europa.eu). Separately, EU agriculture ministers – joined by counterparts from the African Union – met in Rome on 27 June for the 6th AU–EU Agriculture Ministerial. They agreed to deepen cooperation on sustainable farming, value-chain investment and research. Notably, the EU (via IFAD) announced a new €26 million fund to train and strengthen African farmers’ organisations (agriculture.ec.europa.eu). Both sides stressed joint priorities (soil health, climate resilience, trade facilitation) and even signed onto the EU’s Mission Soil initiative (agriculture.ec.europa.eu)

Meanwhile, farm lobby groups are gearing up for the July budget push. Several Eastern Member States (led by the Czech Presidency) backed a demand to protect traditional meat product names (e.g. ‘steak haché’) from being used by plant-based or lab-grown substitutes – a signal they want EU law to safeguard farmers’ product labels (farm-europe.eu). And across Europe, farmer organisations have warned they will mobilise if CAP payouts are cut or restructured (amid upcoming budget negotiations) (politico.eu).

Summary of Key Points:

• Trade: EU-Ukraine deal restores selective access but imposes tight quotas on wheat, sugar, etc. (wheat ~1.3Mt, sugar ~100kt) (reuters.com). Safeguards remain to curb surges.
  
  
• Markets: Late June futures fell – UK feed wheat ~4% down, Paris rapeseed ~5% drop – as global harvests and a strong euro ease prices (ahdb.org.uk). EU MARS yield updates and robust South American crops weighed on prices.
  
  
• Livestock Health: First-ever Lumpy Skin outbreak confirmed in France (Savoie) (reuters.com); Poland reports first 2025 ASF farm case (1,311 pigs) (swineweb.com). Authorities imposed movement bans and are monitoring wild reservoirs.
  
  
• Crop Pests/Diseases: Potato late blight is evolving rapidly; experts urge pan-EU action on resistant varieties and fungicides (spudsmart.com). Vineyards in Spain/France face mildew threats (downy mildew, flavescence dorée) requiring preventive sprays (wikifarmer.com). Corn borer and leafhopper pressures have also been noted in Germany and elsewhere.
  
  
• Policy: EU institutions prepare for a new CAP (2028–34) with farmers seeking more budget and flexibility (europarl.europa.eu). AU–EU ministers in Rome pledged joint investment in sustainable agri-food systems, launching new training funds for African farmers (agriculture.ec.europa.eu). Trade protection remains in focus: several states have called for continued safeguards on farm imports and product names.
  
  

Each of these developments has implications for farm-level decisions and EU strategy. Managers should note tightening import rules (especially on Ukrainian grain), shifting commodity price trends due to global supply, and emerging pest pressures that may require closer monitoring or crop protection. On the policy side, stay alert to the coming CAP reform proposals (expected mid-July) and possible changes to subsidy and regulation frameworks, as well as international cooperation initiatives that may open new markets or funding opportunities (reuters.com, agriculture.ec.europa.eu).