Politics

Farming support schemes are set to be disrupted this month after more than 400 staff at the Rural Payments Agency voted to strike.

High costs, economic turmoil and extreme weather were all features of 2022 that are set to feature again in 2023

Farmers hoping for a quiet 2022 following several years upheaval due to Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic were left disappointed. Abi Kay takes a look back over the past 12 months.

Academics have called on the Government to publish an annual report on the state of the UK’s food security.

Farming support was protected in headline terms in the Scottish Budget presented by Finance Secretary John Swinney last week.

The Government has set out a raft of legally binding targets, including a 40 per cent reduction in on-farm nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants and a 16.5 per cent increase in woodland cover, to help boost the natural environment.

Ministers have been accused of allowing England to free ride on Scotland and Wales to meet climate targets for farming.

Ministers have been accused of allowing England to ‘free ride’ on Scotland and Wales to meet climate targets for farming.

Industry bodies have welcomed an announcement from Government that 45,000 seasonal workers will be allowed into the UK for the 2023 growing season.