2023: What made the farming news in November and December?

Our review of 2023 in agricultural events concludes with a look at November and December, when storm damage, flooding, sector neglect, bluetongue, toy tractors, rural spending cuts, Landscape Recovery, sugar beet, exports and demands for fairer treatment were all hot topics.

See also: Video: Farmer jailed for River Lugg damage defends his actions

November

With Storm Ciaran compounding the previous damage caused by Storm Babet, and large areas of farmland under water again, the NFU sent an open letter with 1,750 signatures to government demanding proper compensation for farmers and greater spending on flood defences.

Grassroots farmers blamed the Environment Agency for failing to clear rivers of debris and silt over decades.

In an exclusive interview with Farmers Weekly, Herefordshire farmer John Price, now freed from jail for working on the River Lugg illegally, insisted he had helped, not hindered efforts to prevent flooding.

He also revealed how he had lost £39,000 in a machinery scam, having attempted to buy a second hand combine.

Fairness in the supply chain was back on the agenda, as Defra announced an investigation into contractual relationships in the egg sector.

A House of Lords report told ministers to “get on” with their promised review of the horticulture sector, while broiler growers wondered why their sector was being neglected.

Therese Coffey resigned as Defra secretary (or was she sacked?) to be replaced by Steve Barclay – the ninth MP to hold the post in just 10 years.

Victoria Vyvyan replaced Mark Tufnell to become the first Cornish and female president of the Country Land and Business Association.

NFU president Minette Batters was given an honorary doctorate by Bournemouth University.

And Graham Wilkinson of Arla Foods was revealed as the next chief executive of AHDB, to replace Tim Rycroft.

Welsh farmers were told they would face additional pre-movement testing for bovine TB in the new year, while the government restated its opposition to badger culling.

Livestock farmers in Kent were put on high alert as bluetongue disease made an unwelcome return after a 16-year absence.

Avian influenza was also back, with a turkey unit in Lincolnshire the first commercial flock of the “season” to succumb to the disease.

Defra launched a new £1m dairy export package.

The Competition and Markets Authority cleared the acquisition of Scotbeef’s abattoir and meat processing business in Scotland.

British Sugar and NFU Sugar still failed to agree terms for next year’s beet crop.

October tractor registrations reached their highest level since 2016, while a collection of toy tractors made a small fortune when put up for sale by machinery auctioneers Cheffins.

One 1933 Ferguson “Black” model fetched over £13,000

Cumbrian farmer Billy Swainson survived a heart attack, having read about the symptoms in our Farm Doctor series. “My initial thought was indigestion,” he said.

December

News of further cuts in rural spending set alarm bells ringing in Scotland.

On top of a £33m cut previously announced – money that Scotland was awarded under the 2019 Bew Review, but had never actually received – Scottish finance minister Shona Robison shaved another £28m from the 2023-24 budget.

NFU Scotland wrote to first minister Humza Yousaf, demanding to know when that money would be returned.

Welsh farm leaders were also up in arms about the £37.5m taken from their budget in 2023-24, demanding it be reinstated.

A joint letter was sent to first minister Mark Drakeford, signed by NFU Cymru, the Farmers’ Union of Wales, the Tenant Farmers Association Cymru, CLA Cymru and RSPB Cymru, among others, pointing out that the entire rural budget of £482m is just 2% of total Welsh government spending.

Defra pressed on with the rollout of its Environmental Land Management scheme, announcing that £25m is to be ploughed into 34 new Landscape Recovery projects, involving 700 farmers and 200,000ha.

Geoff Sansome from Natural England said Landscape Recovery could eventually account for 25% of the rural budget in England.

The NFU appointed specialist consultancy Campbell Tickell to carry out its governance review of Red Tractor, though questions remained as to exactly how independent it would be.

The high cost of developing the Greener Farms Commitment was also called into question, when Farmers Weekly revealed that almost £300,000 has been spent already on the proposed scheme.

National Sheep Association chief executive Phil Stocker described the amount as “shocking”.

© Petert2/Adobe Stock

Labour shadow Defra secretary Steve Reed promised a more “respectful attitude” towards countryfolk from his party at a CLA conference.

The government tabled new legislation to end live animal exports, except for showing and further breeding. More cases of bluetongue were found in cattle in Kent and Norfolk.

Over 100,000 people signed a petition, put together by Riverford Organics founder Guy Singh-Watson, demanding fair treatment of farmers in the supply chain.

A date has now been set for a full debate in parliament. Retailer Morrisons became the first to offer a “Buy British” only section to its online shopping website.