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All articles about Farm policy

Find out about UK and EU government agricultural policy and what it means for farmers. Be the first to hear the news on Defra’s plans for farm payments and subsidies post Brexit, and environmental schemes and funding. Hear how the NFU, AHDB and farm industry leaders’ lobby the government to help shape farm policy.

Advice and tips

FARM POLICY

How to host MPs on farm and influence ag policy

With MPs currently enjoying their Easter holidays, now might be the ideal time for farmers to invite them to their farms and showcase the challenges they face, while discussing the…

FARM POLICY

Tips to survive and thrive amid falling BPS payments

The UK agricultural sector is undergoing the biggest policy shake-up in 60 years, and government support for farmers is facing a radical overhaul. Defra has started its new Environmental Land…

MACHINERY

Q&A: Using CCTV - what farmers need to know

Farmers are increasingly turning to CCTV to protect their farm from thefts. New technology has made it easier than ever to set up camera surveillance, but the rules around data…

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Case studies

ARABLE

What the Budget means for new Arable Insights farmer panel

As farmers head to Westminster to protest at Budget measures affecting their businesses, including the unwelcome changes to inheritance tax, we look at the practical implications of the new regime…

DIVERSIFICATION

Field to plate - diversification on Japanese farms

Japan’s food culture is built on strong regional associations and loyalties, alongside superb quality and freshness.  However, accelerating rural depopulation, falling farm incomes, concerns over food security and a crippling…

BUSINESS

Farming without subsidy - New Zealand's experience

UK farmers must seize the opportunity of Brexit to ramp up productivity and become more competitive, industry leaders have been told. Former New Zealand agriculture minister Sir Lockwood Smith suggested…

ENVIRONMENT

Wild bird project – a blueprint for future farm support?

Farmers in the South West have helped to save a rare farmland bird in a 25-year collaboration with the RSPB.  Farmers and the RSPB don’t always see eye to eye,…

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Insights

FARM POLICY

NI farm policy shift creates challenges for livestock sector

Support for farm businesses in Northern Ireland is going through a transition period, away from the old Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) system of support and towards a Farm Sustainability Payment…

FARM POLICY

NVZ review: Welsh farmer frustration continues with rules

Since 2021, farmers in Wales have had to contend with the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations. These designated the whole of the country as a nitrate vulnerable…

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

NI Sustainable Agriculture Programme – all you need to know

Farmers in all four UK countries are under pressure from their respective governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but livestock producers in Northern Ireland (NI) are perhaps shouldering the greatest…

ENVIRONMENT

Clean energy 2030 – a government at loggerheads with farmers?

The UK government has ambitious plans to increase national energy production to reduce reliance on imports and move towards 100% clean energy by 2030. But for this to become reality,…

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News

ELM

Fears grow over cuts to nature-friendly farming budget

The UK government is facing mounting pressure to clarify its position on the future of nature-friendly farming after reports emerged that the budget for Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes could…

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

Thousands of farmers to benefit from £30m HLS uplift

Farmers in England’s Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme will receive a £30m payment increase backdated to January 2025, but experts warn urgent action is needed to support them and accelerate…

FARM POLICY

Wales urged to learn lessons from England’s SFI blunders

A senior Welsh government civil servant has urged Welsh ministers to learn from the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) challenges faced in England, stressing the need for better management of the…

FARM POLICY

Parliamentary group seeks views on new agri-tech strategy

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science & Technology in Agriculture has launched a two-month call for evidence to support its 30:50:50 Innovation Agenda. It aims to increase domestic food production…

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Opinion

OPINION

Editor's View: What NFU coronation says about our sector

Why has only one person put themselves forward to be president of the NFU? Nominations for the race closed a few weeks ago with the current deputy president, Tom Bradshaw,…

NEWS

Charlie Flindt: We need to talk about deer numbers

It has been obvious for some time that we need to talk about deer – or, more specifically, the explosion in their numbers. There can’t be a farmer or landowner…

FARM POLICY

Eustice: I’ll ensure money coming out of BPS goes to farmers

George Eustice is the secretary of state at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Here he sets out his arguments why the new Environmental Land Management scheme is…

NEWS

Eustice: Creative solutions needed to cut dependence on AN

George Eustice is the secretary of state at Defra. Here he sets out his arguments for why more imaginative thinking is needed to reduce farming's dependence on inorganic fertiliser. My…

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Podcast

NEWS

Trade deals and tree planting debated at FW Question Time

Issues surrounding trade deals, imports, and farming policy were debated in front of a full auditorium at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) in Cirencester for the final Farmers Weekly Question…

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Video

NEWS

Video: Farmers To Action stages ‘Say No to Labour’ protests

More than 1,000 tractors and farmers across the UK put aside their busy spring schedules – drilling, lambing and calving – to take part in a nationwide protest against what…

FARM POLICY

London rally: Farm leaders vow to continue IHT fight

Farm leaders have pledged to continue their fight against the government’s plans to introduce a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural assets, vowing to keep up the pressure until Sir Keir…

TAX

Farmers take tractors to supermarkets in IHT protest

Hundreds of frustrated British farmers are taking their tractors to supermarket car parks across the country today (Friday 17 January) in a bold display of frustration over government policies they…

FARM POLICY

Video: Oxford protesters stand up against IHT policies

Protesters sent a clear message to Defra secretary Steve Reed as he gave a speech to farmers today at the Oxford Farming Conference. As Mr Reed outlined his long-term vision…

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Webinar

BREXIT

What is the future of farming post Covid and post Brexit?

The long-term success of British farming depends on the sector becoming more internationally competitive, says renowned economist Sean Rickard. Post Brexit, the government will be doing trade deals with countries…

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