Funding

The Welsh Government has unveiled a raft of measures to help farmers negotiate the challenges facing the future of the industry as it moves away from the EU Rural Development Programme (RDP).

Concerns have been raised about the ‘clarity’ and ‘practicality’ of Government guidance in relation to how the Sustainable Farming Initiative (SFI) will apply to areas of common land.

A £30 million-drive to boost on-farm innovation and productivity in England has been announced by Defra Secretary George Eustice.

Farming projects designed not only to boost nature, but also to attract private investment are set to benefit from grants of up to £100,000, it has been announced.

A new £200 million Agri E Fund has been launched by Virgin Money to support farmers in their net zero transition.

Farmers looking to diversify could cash-in on a new £8.8 million fund designed to support domestic tree planting.

Defra has been asked by the Prime Minister to cut the number of civil servants it employs as part of a fresh efficiency drive.

Defra has announced it intends to send direct payments to farmers in two instalments to help with cashflow, as input costs soar.

A combination of changing agriculture policies and high input costs risk putting the best farmers in England out of business, a leading rural charity has warned.

A combination of changing agriculture policies and high input costs risk putting the ‘best farmers’ in England out of business, a leading rural charity has warned.