Funding

Latest figures from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) show almost 99 per cent of eligible farmers under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) have received payment by February 29, a 1.4 per cent improvement on last year.

A Treasury plan to slap higher duty on red diesel for farm vehicles has been branded ‘madness’ by a leading farm group.

UK farmers could benefit from new onshore wind energy subsidies, following the Government’s latest ruling which allows projects to compete for contracts to generate clean power.

The Labour Party has warned offering lump sum payments to help older farmers retire will not necessarily give new entrants access to land, and may drive consolidation in the sector.

The Tenant Farmers’ Association (TFA) has called on the Chancellor to reject his adviser’s suggestion that the UK does not need farmers.

Selling on the deadweight gives control to buyers, but if all slaughter stock was sold at auction, competition and prices would almost certainly increase, says Neil Farmer, an arable and sheep farmer from the Herefordshire-Worcestershire border.

An agricultural charity is encouraging people between the ages of 18 and 35 to apply for its 2020 scheme, which provides financial backing and mentorship to entrants looking to start out in the farming industry.

A larger pot of £3.5 million has been committed to the ring-fenced fund shared between the levy boards in England, Scotland and Wales in the coming year.

Defra Secretary George Eustice defended the Government’s response to the flooding crisis after farmers told the NFU Conference ’inaction’ had put businesses in jeopardy.

The liquid milk market is broken and the whole supply chain is no longer sustainable, believes NFU Dairy board chairman Michael Oakes.