Funding

Scottish Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has accused the Treasury of plotting to cut payments to farmers under the guise of environmentalism.

There were many unpredictable and unprecedented events in 2020, but what does 2021 have in store for farmers? Sustain’s head of sustainable farming, Vicki Hird, explores what could be on the horizon.

Controlling fixed costs will be key as agriculture moves away from direct payments

A farm budgeting model has revealed the true financial cost to all sectors from the loss of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in England

Farming Minister Victoria Prentis has said the UK Levelling Up Fund and the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) will take into account the specific needs of rural communities.

Like politicians, the general public have short memories, and however strongly they felt last year about ‘getting Brexit done’, realities that hit them in the pocket will lead to far more unrest than being sick of Brexit headlines, says FUW’s head of policy Dr Nick Fenwick.

Four years on from the EU referendum, Abi Kay takes a look at the Brexit promises made to farmers, and whether they are being realised.

The Scottish and Welsh Governments are giving their farmers more time to prepare for big policy changes than Defra in England. It is small, family farmers who will pay the price for this rush to abolish direct support, says Labour Shadow Defra Secretary Luke Pollard.

Defra Secretary George Eustice’s claim that the sheep sector may not need no-deal support is a travesty, says Ceredigion Plaid Cymru MP Ben Lake.

Farmers in Wales can expect to keep direct payments until at least 2022 under new plans outlined by the Welsh Government as it moves towards a Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).