July 14, 2026
 

Scotland's pig sector declares worst crisis in 50 years as Spain's ASF outbreak floods European pork market

The Scottish government has released a £2 million emergency support package, but industry leaders warn losses of £1 million per month are rendering independent producers unviable.

Independent pig farmers in Scotland are facing what industry leaders describe as the worst crisis in more than 50 years, as an African swine fever outbreak in Spain has halted exports to China and created a European pork oversupply that has pushed wholesale prices well below production costs.

The Scottish government has released a £2 million emergency support package allowing qualifying independent producers to claim the difference between their actual selling price and 85% of the weekly Standard Pig Price (SPP). The SPP has been sitting at around £1.75 per kilogram, but smaller producers have been receiving as little as £1 per kilogram. The scheme applies retrospectively to losses incurred since March and runs until August.

Danny Skinner, who farms near Insch in Aberdeenshire with around 450 sows, said he is losing approximately £40 per pig sold - equivalent to around £10,000 per week. The support package would reduce that loss to approximately £25 per pig. "We are still majorly going to be in debt. We're very grateful for something but it's not going to be the answer to our problems at the moment," he said.

The Scottish government estimates the industry is losing approximately £1 million per month. The total sow population has fallen by around 15% since the start of 2026 and four producers have already exited the sector. Pig farming does not qualify for government agricultural subsidies in the UK, compounding the financial pressure on independent operators.

NFU Scotland president Andrew Connon said the situation was "totally unsustainable." "We need to see a fair price for the product. At the moment it's well below the cost of production and that's why the industry's in such a sorrowful state," he said. The pork supply chain supports approximately 2,200 jobs in Scotland.

Rural Affairs Secretary Gillian Martin said she would like to offer more support but cited a challenging fiscal environment. She has written to the UK government calling for improved border biosecurity measures to prevent ASF from entering the country. Industry observers warned that a prolonged period of below-cost pricing would accelerate producer exits and increase Scotland's dependence on imported pork products.

- BBC