Arable

The latest version of the Agriculture Bill was published by the Government last week. But what in it is new, and what are the next steps? Abi Kay has spoken to Defra to get the inside track.

The potato industry is facing many challenges in terms of import and retail competition, growing the crop and recruiting skilled labour.

The NFU and Friends of the Earth (FoE) have joined forces to push for environmental, animal welfare and food safety standards to be protected after Brexit.

Using RNA interference (RNAi), a biological process which disrupts the production of an organism’s proteins, Syngenta is looking at a biocontrol method which kills target species but has no impact on any other organism.

Withers Fruit Farm has successfully challenged a judicial review against Herefordshire Council, which sought to overturn planning permission for the construction of 11 blocks of polytunnels on 37 hectares of farmland.

Strengthened powers to tackle supply chain unfairness have been included in the new Agriculture Bill, which returned to Parliament this week.

Essex farmer and advocate of no-till farming Simon Cowell hopes that the new decade will bring Government support for growers to pursue sustainable farming practices more widely.

Growers who have paid royalties for farm saved seed but have been unable to sow it, mainly due to adverse autumn weather conditions, can apply to their seed processor for a refund.

An ag-tech start-up looking for crowdfunding for ‘weed zapping’ robots reached its target of £700,000 within just two days of launching the campaign.

Investment to achieve good returns from spring oilseed rape is more about spending time, rather than money advocate Oxfordshire growers Nigel and Margaret Lawrence.