Farmers Weekly Podcast Ep 240: Defra plan to reduce UK farmland

In this episode, we look at government plans to reduce the area of UK farmland – and use it instead to restore nature and create wildlife habitats.

The government’s Land Use Framework for England – which is out for consultation – will earmark different areas of land for different uses.

Objectives include food production, building 1.5 million homes this parliament, and helping to mitigate climate change.

We examine what this means for key areas such as the Fens, with a visit to the Fenland Soil Conference in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

With beef prices reaching record highs, we look at the prospects for the sector for farmers – and the price of steak for consumers.

And as the battle over inheritance tax continues, we look at how banks say they are trying to support growers and livestock producers.

This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom.

To contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.