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The Welsh Government has published the 2016 guidance booklet for Greening.  Although the rules remain largely the same there have...
11 August 2015

Dairy Crisis

As farmer protests continue across the UK, it is hard to see where any immediate relief in the dairy industry...
10 August 2015

Russia Tightens Ban

After extending the ban on imports of many food items Russia has gone one step further. Under the Russian decree...
The 'Future of Scottish Agriculture- a discussion document' has been published (http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0047/00479616.pdf). The document looks at the key opportunities and...
Red Tractor has confirmed its plans to move to lifetime assurance across the beef supply chain, however the move could...
The Welsh Government has launched four grant schemes under the Rural Development Programme for Wales. The table below indicates the...
30 July 2015

July Arable Update

The harvest has begun in many parts of England.  Good ear-fill weather preceding harvest is thought to have provided the...
Those who submitted an Active Farmer certificate, completed by an accountant or solicitor, are having the originals returned.  The RPA...
The area planted to potatoes this year has dropped 6.6% compared to 2014.  This data comes from the first estimate...
A new initiative aims to match new entrants to agriculture with retiring farmers so that they can set up joint ventures. ...
Arla Foods amba is to cut the milk price paid to its members from the 3rd August.  The price for...
27 July 2015

BPS 2016

DEFRA and the RPA are already thinking about the BPS system for 2016.  What we wrote last month has been...
Despite a number of Calls for Applications already being opened (and subsequently closed), the 27th July saw the Growth Programme...
The Terms and Conditions for agreements under the new Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) have finally been published.  They can be...
23 July 2015

French Farm Aid

The French Government has announced a support package for its farming industry claimed to be worth up to €600m.  The...
The renewables sector has been cast into uncertainty following the publication of two consultations on future policy by the Department...
The British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) has published the royalty rates for farm-saved seed for the 2015/16 season.  These...
An emergency application for farmers to use Neonicotinoid seed treatments on oilseed rape has been approved.   However it will be limited...
Four new schemes will be launched shortly under the Welsh Rural Development Programme; Rural Community Development Fund - aimed at improving...
The latest Global Dairy Trade Auction on the 16th July saw prices fall by 10.7%; the largest fall since April...
DEFRA has confirmed a case of avian flu (H7N7) has been found in Lancashire.  A 3 kilometre protection zone and...