Farm Business

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

Industry experts have warned Defra’s plan to offer English farmers an advance on their direct payments to help with soaring input costs is merely a ‘sticking plaster’.

As a lack of rainfall across Europe cause concerns for crops, Cedric Porter takes a look at the impact of the weather on global market.

Synergies between the UK and Australia on conscious consumption could open opportunities for the small and medium sized businesses looking to export produce under the Australia-UK free trade agreement.

Record farmgate prices across many parts of the world show beef demand remains firm, despite environmental activists calling for a fall in consumption.

In the pages of last week’s Farmers Guardian Buy and Sell section there was an abundance of dairy herd dispersals advertised. It was indicative of the current state of that sector, with people looking to cash in while prices for stock are high and larger herds continue to add head count.

Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has warned further delays to the introduction of EU import checks, which were due to begin in July, are a risk to biosecurity and could disadvantage Welsh farmers.

The Governments appetite for trade deals, coupled with the impact of policy changes, suggests a deliberate agenda to undermine family farms and displace UK food production, FUW president Glyn Roberts has said.

Tributes have been paid to Holstein UK chief executive Sue Cope who has died at the age of 54 following a ‘short but courageous’ battle with illness. 

Conflict of interest concerns have been raised by farmers after the chair of Red Tractor, Christine Tacon, made the decision to stand for election to the Co-op board.