The Andersons Centre

Latest News

13 May 2015

Vivergo Buy Out

Associated British Foods (ABF) has purchased BP's stake in the Vivergo bioethanol operation on Humberside.  ABF is taking on the...
The directors of the Swiss-based plant technology Syngenta have rejected a takeover approach from the US company Monsanto.  The offer,...
8 May 2015

BPS Rush

Latest figures from the UK administrations show that there is a long way to go with BPS applications.  With just a...
8 May 2015

Record Beet Yield

The 2014 beet crop resulted in the highest ever average yield.  Final results for last year (2014-15 campaign) show that total...
In a much-needed development, Gleadell is set to complete one of the largest ever export cargoes of wheat.  A ship...
Global dairy commodity prices continue on their downwards trend.  The latest Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction onthe 5th May saw the...
First Milk has announced a shake-up of its business to try and restore profitability.  Around 70staff will be made redundant...
30 April 2015

Welsh RDP Approved

The Welsh Government has received informal approval for its Rural Development Programme.  This comes via a 'letter of comfort' from...
DEFRA is indicating that farming profitability fell by a surprisingly small amount in 2014.  Provisional figures for the last calendar year...
The official wheat stock level that underpins the UK supply and demand balance sheet is under review as being too...
27 April 2015

Updated BPS Guidance

A number of documents have been updated or added to the ever-lengthening list of BPS guidance in England. Updated RLE1...
23 April 2015

Common Land

Following a legal challenge, those farming common land may be able to claim higher support payments.  DEFRA has concluded that...
23 April 2015

Meat Market Update

Beef Prime cattle prices have come under pressure as supply outstrips demand with reports, once again, of some disruption at...
23 April 2015

GM Animal Feed

EU Commission proposals on the import of GM crops have managed to upset almost everyone - the feed and farming industry,...
22 April 2015

Savills Buys Smith Gore

Savills is to buy Smiths Gore in a deal worth £40m.  Smiths Gore was founded in 1847 and has its...
21 April 2015

BPS Updates for England

Greening Workbook The RPA has published a 'Greening Workbook' on its website at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/422907/Greening_workbook_vFINAL.pdf .  It is designed to guide...
20 April 2015

Tractor Sales Down

Uncertainty in the CAP, lower output prices and a drop in farm incomes have been blamed for a slump in tractor...
17 April 2015

TB Update

The provisional incidence rate of bovine TB in GB cattle was 3.9% in January 2015, down from 4.5% in January...
The big idea in the Fischler Reforms that brought in the Single Payment in 2005 was the conceptof 'decoupling'.  This...
17 April 2015

AHA 1986 Amendments

As is often the case at the end of a Parliament, a number of measures are pushed through at the...
17 April 2015

Insect Farming

A new pan-European group has been formed to promote the use of insects in farming.  The 'International Platform of Insects...
17 April 2015

Deer Farming

A new report highlights lack of finance and technical knowledge as key factors holding back the growth of the domestic...