All the latest farming news TRACTORSBluewhite driverless retrofit transforms sub-100hp tractorsAn Israeli-American start-up has developed a retrofit kit that allows small tractors to work entirely autonomously, principally for spraying permanent crops such as vines and orchards. Given Bluewhite's focus is… NEWSMan jailed for £130k transatlantic tractor scamA fraudster involved in a transatlantic tractor scam worth more than £130,000 has been jailed, from High Street, Dudley, in the West Midlands, was jailed for one year and nine… NEWSThis Week in Farming: Protest plans, drilling and PompeiiWelcome back to This Week in Farming, your one-stop shop for great Farmers Weekly content from the past seven days. First, here’s your latest market data, and its another week… FARM POLICYWelsh government welcomes removal of ringfenced ag fundingWelsh cabinet secretary for rural affairs Huw Irranca-Davies has prompted anger after saying he “welcomed” the UK government’s removal of ring-fenced agriculture funding for the devolved nations. As part of… FARM POLICYFears grow of further budget pain for farmersConcerns are mounting within the farming community as the government prepares for its spring spending review, which could further undermine support for UK agriculture. Fears are growing that more financial… NEWSLabour challenged to publish assessment on 'family farm tax'Labour ministers have been challenged by opposition MPs to release a full impact assessment on its inheritance tax (IHT) reforms for UK farms. The UK government estimates that around 500… LAND MARKETSMidlands farms offer privacy and versatilityTwo family farms, one an arable holding and the other down to grass, are looking for new owners as they launch this week, both offering privacy. Hill Farm, a 338-acre… NEWSSheep farmer faces huge legal bill after CPS abandons caseA Welsh sheep farmer faces paying a huge legal bill of several thousand pounds after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) withdrew their case against him. Bryn Roberts was prosecuted by… HEALTH AND WELLBEINGFCN urges farmers to get early cancer signs checked by GPThe Farming Community Network (FCN) has launched a new campaign, in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, to encourage the early detection of cancer. FCN’s Nip it in the Bud campaign… NEWSFarmers plan tractor convoy demo at Welsh Labour conferenceAngry Welsh farmers are planning to stage a tractor convoy protest to coincide with the Welsh Labour Party conference in Llandudno, North Wales. The demo is being organised by the… NEWSFarmers told to register in advance for London mass rallyFarmers are being urged to register in advance for next week’s independent farmers' rally in London, which is set to take place on Tuesday 19 November. The organisers are asking… FEED AND NUTRITIONMaize dry matters fall 3% in varied yearA slow growing season has been blamed for a 3% fall in maize dry matter levels in a nutrition company’s published forage sampling data. Trouw Nutrition GB’s first 750 analyses… BUSINESSSteep farm income fall questions ability to pay IHTLatest Farm Business Income (FBI) figures from Defra for the harvest year 2023-24 confirm the sharp decline in profitability that many farmers have suffered, calling into question the sector’s ability… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade lifts further above £6/kg carried by tight supplyFestive demand has taken off for the lamb sector, with processors appearing keen to stock up ahead of Christmas. Some abattoirs have been quoted at up to 650p/kg in the… TAXScotland's first minister calls farm tax grab 'unacceptable'Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, has attacked the recent decision by chancellor Rachel Reeves to restrict agricultural property relief (APR) on inheritance tax as “unacceptable”, while future funding for Scottish… PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTSDefra to bankroll delayed payments for flood-hit farmersThe UK government is ramping up support for flood-hit farmers with new investments, including significant funds for internal drainage boards (IDBs) and a refreshed approach to funding distribution. Defra’s Farming… BARLEYNew winter malting barley variety gets full brewing approvalHigh-yielding winter barley variety Buccaneer has gained full approval for brewing – a welcome addition to what was an otherwise limited approved malting variety list. Buccaneer now joins Craft, Electrum… CROP WATCHCrop Watch: Dry spell sees farmers catch up with drillingThe spell of dry but dull weather has allowed farmers to catch up with wheat drilling, with some November seed-beds looking better than those last month. This week, our agronomists… PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTSDefra scraps EOI requirement for the SFI schemeDefra has scrapped the expression of interest (EOI) requirement for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme, meaning farmers in England can now apply directly online for the expanded 2024 SFI… LIVESTOCKBluetongue control zone extended in England, lifted in WalesThe bluetongue restriction zone has been extended in England to include the Isle of Wight after the disease was identified in a cow on the island, but in Wales controls… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESOSR plantings at 40-year low as sector looks for solutionsThe viable UK rapeseed area for 2024-25 is forecast to be the smallest in the past four decades, with industry estimates pegging it at 215,000ha ahead of next year’s harvest.… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESUK barley export volumes confined by quality concernsLower nitrogen levels for the 2024 barley crop and a stronger sterling could lead to less demand from export markets. Results from the AHDB's 2024 Cereals Quality Survey found that… NEWSPolice appeal after suspected hare coursers ram farmersA police investigation has been launched after suspected hare coursers carried out a disturbing attack on a farm near Amesbury, Wiltshire. The suspects reportedly rammed the farmer’s vehicle multiple times,… NEWSFormer Labour aide says UK ‘doesn’t need farmers’The proposal to scale back inheritance tax (IHT) relief on farmland is mired in fresh controversy, with a former Labour special adviser insisting that farming is an industry “we could… DAIRYAmazon boss injects £7.3m into cattle methane vaccine projectAmazon founder Jeff Bezos has invested millions of pounds into a pioneering project aimed at developing a vaccine that would reduce methane emissions from cattle. Researchers at the Pirbright Institute… BPSBPS cuts 'probably' needed to save farming budget - BradshawSteep cuts in direct payments to farmers in England are probably the price that had to be paid for Defra to be able to maintain the agricultural budget, NFU president… NEWSSummary: Farmer demos and petitions against Budget measuresBritish farmers are organising a series of tractor demonstrations and rallies to protest against recent government measures they view as detrimental to the UK food and farming sector. The action… TAXCLA modelling shows dire financial impact of IHT changesFinancial modelling on the proposed changes to UK farmland inheritance tax (IHT) suggests a typical 200-acre arable farm could be forced to sell 20% of its land solely to settle… COMMUNITYFarmers thank public for support at Lord Mayor’s paradeBritish farmers and growers have thanked the public for their support in the annual Lord Mayor’s Show, with a parade through central London highlighting their essential role in food production… More articles
