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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

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…

FARM POLICY

Analysis: Why the Treasury has it so wrong on impact of IHT

Fresh analysis from the NFU has set out exactly why the union believes Treasury claims that only about a quarter of farm businesses will ever be caught by its inheritance…

FARM POLICY

Analysis: Where does the Budget leave farming?

Rural charities have been urging struggling farmers to make use of their services, following a difficult Budget for the industry.  Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a series of measures last week…

NEWS

 Uncertain future for upland farms as Budget looms

A perilous future awaits hill farmers in some of England’s most isolated communities if public spending on agriculture is cut in this month’s Budget, says a leading charity. Friends of…

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News

NEWS

NFU leaders deliver 270,000-strong petition to Downing St

NFU president Tom Bradshaw and NFU Cymru president Aled Jones, representing the four UK farming unions, have handed over a petition at 10 Downing St, signed by more than 270,000…

FARM POLICY

Efra chairman urges PM to review family farm tax plans

Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael has urged the government to broaden its consultation on changes to farm inheritance tax, calling for a “sensible debate” to protect family farms while targeting…

FARM POLICY

Government urged to support UK growers due to brassica shortage

Potential shortages of cauliflower and broccoli this spring have left the Labour government facing calls to provide more support to UK growers. During a debate in the House of Lords…

FARM POLICY

OBR casts doubt on government’s farm IHT figures

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has raised concerns over the UK government’s controversial plan to introduce farm inheritance tax, suggesting that the proposed policy may not generate the revenue…

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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

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.…

FARM POLICY

Video: Farmers have their say on Budget plans in mass rally

Farmers Weekly reporters were on the ground at the farming rally in Westminster on Tuesday 19 November 2024 and spoke to protesting farmers, and their supporters, about their concerns over…

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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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