Editor’s View: Government needs ‘quiet regenners’ to succeed
Farmers Weekly A group of farming and environmental organisations has written to the Welsh government, expressing deep concern regarding the lack of Glastir support in place for 2024. While the Welsh government committed in 2021 to a two-year extension of the Glastir Advanced, Commons and Organic contracts, and last year agreed to roll over the […]
Welsh farmers face ‘funding cliff-edge’ if Glastir not extended
Farmers Weekly A group of farming and environmental organisations has written to the Welsh government, expressing deep concern regarding the lack of Glastir support in place for 2024. While the Welsh government committed in 2021 to a two-year extension of the Glastir Advanced, Commons and Organic contracts, and last year agreed to roll over the […]
Anger after Natural England confirms Penwith Moors as SSSI
Farmers Weekly Farmers in west Cornwall fear for their future after Natural England (NE) confirmed plans to turn Penwith Moors into a heavily protected nature conservation area. The government body confirmed more than 3,000ha in West Penwith as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), after amending the total area at its board meeting in […]
Farmers consulted on hedgerow cutting dates and buffer strips
Farmers Weekly Farmers and contractors in England are being asked for their views on hedgerow protection, including whether there is still a need for 2m buffer strips and whether the dates for hedgetrimming should be changed. A new Defra consultation explains that, currently, hedgerow management is linked to cross-compliance – the conditions farmers must meet […]
Farm leaders reject claims retailers aren’t ‘profiteering’
Farmers Weekly Claims from several of the UK’s major retailers that they are not engaged in “grotesque profiteering” have been rejected by farm leaders. Bosses from the “big four” – Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons – faced accusations of “price pegging” and that they were operating as a “cartel” during a testy hearing of the […]
Farming needs £4.4bn a year, not £3.5bn, say green lobby groups
Farmers Weekly Tougher environmental targets and higher costs to achieve them mean a substantial increase in Treasury funding for farm support is needed, according to a new report from green lobby groups. Commissioned by the RSPB, the National Trust and the Wildlife Trusts, and launched at the Groundswell regenerative farming festival in Hertfordshire, the report […]
NFU calls on Defra to honour prime minister’s farming promises
Farmers Weekly The NFU has called on Defra to do more to honour farming and food security commitments made by Rishi Sunak prior to becoming prime minister. NFU president Minette Batters said that Mr Sunak made some really important commitments during an NFU hustings in August last year and that she is absolutely determined to […]
AI technology monitors wildlife in farm biodiversity project
Farmers Weekly Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf has said the government must “clearly consider” reducing meat and dairy consumption to meet climate targets. Mr Yousaf was asked by Farmers Weekly at the Royal Highland Show whether he agreed with calls from the Climate Change Committee, which advises all UK governments on tackling climate change, that […]