Farmers Weekly Podcast Ep 177: Spotlight on Conservative farming policies
Therese Coffey, secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs delivers her speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester © Parsons Media This week, former government minister Jacob Rees-Mogg outrages British farmers by saying he would allow hormone-treated Australian beef into the UK.
We visit the Conservative Party conference in Manchester and scrutinise the government’s policies for agriculture and UK farming.
See more: 4 things we learned from Conservative conference
As farmers face a huge hike in levy rates paid to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, we ask: can any increase really be justified?
On the markets, we’ve all the latest commodity prices.
We’re also considering how much land do we need for farming? Is it really possible to look after nature and produce enough food?
And we get in the boat with two farmers preparing to row across the Atlantic this winter for charity – see thebrightsidesrow.com.
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom, with additional reporting by Philip Clarke.
You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.
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Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
This is the second year of ‘Put Down Roots’ – Defra’s national tree planting campaign – which encourages farmers and landowners to create woodland using Woodand Creation grants.Â
This year the campaign spotlights the England Woodland Creation Offer, which is administered by the Forestry Commission, plus a variety of regional grants delivered by various Woodland Creation partners across England.
The campaign highlights the benefits of woodland creation; including improving land, enriching biodiversity and the wider environment, and the potential to generate additional income.
To find out more about the Woodland Creation grants and support, visit www.gov.uk/woodland-creation
Or for information on how to get paid for wider environmental benefits, consider the Sustainable Farming Incentive:
www.gov.uk/guidance/funding-for-farmers
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