3 agri-tech centres merging to drive farming innovation
Farmers Weekly Three of the UK’s four agri-tech centres are to merge into a single entity to drive a more joined-up approach towards new farming technologies and innovations. The three to merge are Crop Health and Protection (Chap), the Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock (Ciel) and the Agricultural Engineering, Precision and Innovation (Agri-EPI) Centre. […]
Four things we learned from Conservative conference
Farmers Weekly The Conservative Party’s annual conference took place in Manchester this week. There were no new set piece farming policy announcements from Defra secretary Therese Coffey, but Farmers Weekly did pick up several interesting nuggets. Trichinella testing set to be ditched A requirement to test breed pigs for Trichinella may be axed, according to […]
AHDB seeks 20-33% rise in farmer levy contributions
Farmers Weekly Farmers and processors face paying an extra 20-33% in levies to fund the AHDB from next year, if the latest proposals from the four sector councils are accepted by government ministers and the devolved administrations. The hoped-for increases were set out by the AHDB on Wednesday 4 September (see “AHDB levy rates – […]
Farming snubbed in review of shortage occupation list
Farmers Weekly The agriculture and horticulture industries have been overlooked in the first major review of the government’s Shortage Occupation List (SOL). There are currently no agricultural roles included in the list and the recommendation from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is that this should not change, at least for the near future. See also: […]
100,000 rural homes to get improved broadband access
Farmers Weekly A Conservative campaigner and Sussex councillor has warned that complacency on the rural vote is one of the biggest risks for the party at the next general election. Lizzie Hacking, who also chairs the Conservative Rural Forum, told a Countryside Alliance event at the party conference in Manchester that support was ebbing away […]
Complacency on rural vote ‘biggest risk’ to Tories
Farmers Weekly A Conservative campaigner and Sussex councillor has warned that complacency on the rural vote is one of the biggest risks for the party at the next general election. Lizzie Hacking, who also chairs the Conservative Rural Forum, told a Countryside Alliance event at the party conference in Manchester that support was ebbing away […]
Jacob Rees-Mogg’s pro-Aussie beef comments spark reaction
Farmers Weekly Farm leader Minette Batters has accused Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg of seeking to destroy British agriculture after he backed imports of hormone-fed Australian beef. Speaking during a Rally for Growth at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Sir Jacob said: “I want hormone-injected beef from Australia. “I’ve eaten beef in Australia, it was […]
Farmers Weekly Podcast Ep 176: Lim Dems pledge support for farming
Farmers Weekly This week, the Liberal Democrats are making some bold pledges for farming should they form the next government. We find out what it could mean for your farm business – and find out whether the Lib Dems stand a chance of winning the next general election. See more: Video – Trade and food […]