Politics

The closure of CF Fertilisers Ince plant in Cheshire is a further blow to farmers already suffering from soaring fertiliser costs, NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw has said.

The Welsh Government should seriously consider reintroducing a derogation allowing grassland farms to spread up to 250kg per hectare of nitrogen, Senedd members have said.

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

A great opportunity is there for the taking, but will the Labour Government in Cardiff Bay take it?

Taxpayers’ money will be wasted and environmental targets missed if the Government does not put farmers and food production at the heart of its post-Brexit policy, an industry expert has warned. 

Concern over a shortage of large animal vets is mounting, as farmers left without access to livestock specialists accuse Government of merely paying ‘lip service’ to the problem.

Defra Secretary George Eustice has denied accusations that the Subsidy Control Act will allow the UK Government to slash direct support payments made to Scottish farmers.

Industry leaders have expressed hope that the upcoming Food Strategy will mark a ‘turning point’ in Government policy, after Ministers were reported to be considering introducing targets for domestic food production.

Sir Robert Goodwill has been elected chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, following a ballot in the House of Commons on May 25.

State-by-state trade deals with the US could be moving a step closer, after it emerged that Defra secretary George Eustice had recently visited the country to assess its farming systems.