Politics

We cannot rely on this Government to deliver for UK agriculture – farmers must step up and get involved if we’re to secure a decent future, says Oliver Dowding, arable farmer and agricultural spokesman for the Green Party in the south west.

Defra Secretary Theresa Villiers wants to ban farrowing crates post-Brexit, but without support from Government and retailers, such a move would threaten UK pig farming’s future, says Zoe Davies, NPA chief executive.

Strengthened powers to tackle supply chain unfairness have been included in the new Agriculture Bill, which returned to Parliament this week.

MP Graham Stuart has called for the Home Office, Defra and the Ministry of Justice to come together for a special summit to tackle the ‘blight’ of hare coursing.

Defra Secretary Theresa Villiers has promised to look at the availability of abattoir facilities as part of the Government’s plan to reduce the amount of time livestock spend in transit.

A new piece of legislation which will allow the Government to continue to pay farm subsidies in 2020 is expected to be passed by the end of this month, according to a Defra spokeswoman.

The fight between Welsh Government and the UK Government over funding for farmers is likely to intensify in 2020, says Plaid Cymru Shadow Rural Affairs Minister Llyr Gruffydd.

Theresa Villiers’ performance at OFC proved she does not ‘get’ farmers, or care about the impact the Agriculture Bill will have on them, says agricultural recruiter Phil Garnham.

As we enter a new decade, farmers need details on how the UK’s post-Brexit trade and policy arrangements will affect them, says Conservative peer Anne McIntosh.

UK political discourse has become more tribal in recent years, but the Government should be aware that society is united on one thing – the need to protect standards after Brexit, says Sue Pritchard, director of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC).