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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

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

Inheritance tax in the spotlight at FW Question Time

How a change of tactics is called for as the Treasury digs in over inheritance tax was the key focus at the latest Farmers Weekly Question Time event, hosted by…

FARM POLICY

New NFU Scotland top team faces key farming challenges

Scotland’s agricultural sector is undergoing a pivotal shift, moving away from the EU’s common agricultural policy framework to a more tailored system of support. This transformation aims to balance environmental…

FARM POLICY

NFU Scotland elections: Runners and riders reveal plans

The NFU Scotland presidential elections come at a critical time for farming as Scotland’s agricultural policies undergo dramatic shifts in the wake of Brexit. As the country finalises its post-Brexit…

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

Outlook 2025: Farm policy and support in England and regions

Across the regions, all eyes will be on farm support being offered in existing and new schemes. In 2025 Wales and Scotland will continue to receive BPS with England seeing…

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News

TAX

Bradshaw warns IHT threatens Defra's farming growth goals

NFU president Tom Bradshaw has warned that the government's plans for farm inheritance tax (IHT) threaten the future of UK family farms, claiming it would “suck the oxygen” out of…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Defra unveils £30m HLS uplift and capital grants reopening

Defra secretary Steve Reed has announced a £30m increase in payment rates for existing Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements and the reopening of the capital grants scheme this summer. The…

FARM POLICY

Defra secretary unveils HLS payment rises and key reforms

Defra secretary Steve Reed has unveiled a number of key policy reforms, including an increase in payment rates for the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme, at the NFU conference in…

NEWS

Extra £15m for rural affairs budget in Wales

An additional £15m has been allocated to the rural affairs budget in Wales for the next financial year, split between tackling river pollution (£5m) and rural investment schemes (£10m). The…

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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

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…

FARM POLICY

Video: 600 tractors make a statement against farm tax policy

More than 600 tractors sent a message to MPs on Wednesday 11 December as farmers continued in their efforts to change the government's inheritance tax and business property relief policies.…

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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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