Politics

Defra is planning to introduce a new ‘stepping stone’ scheme to bridge the gap between BPS and ELMs, but it should not weaken the resolve to introduce a long-term policy, or delay the timetable, says Vicki Hird, head of sustainable farming at Sustain.

Backing British farming is a verb – not a day for passive praise or casual thanks. MPs must prove they back British farmers all year round, says Labour’s Shadow Defra Secretary Luke Pollard.

Defra is planning a new ‘stepping stone’ scheme to bridge the gap between the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and the new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme.

NFU PRESIDENT Minette Batters refused to take a seat on the Trade and Agriculture Commission because she did not want to be bound by the confidentiality agreement all members had to sign, Farmers Guardian has learned.

Farming organisations have issued a plea to dairy farmers to respond to the government’s consultation on dairy contracts which closes on September 15

Arguably the value of trade in farmed products has never been so important for Britain’s farmers.

A massive three-quarters of rural people believe crime in the countryside has increased over the past year, according to new research.

The Countryside Alliance has called on the BBC to apply its new impartiality rules to environmental activist and presenter Chris Packham.

In the tough times ahead, I hope farmers will see there is more to gain from working together than from being king of your own sandcastle, says arable farmer and NFU Sugar Board member Tom Clarke.

Lots of things have gone wrong in the Brexit talks with the EU, but the nation needs farmers to pull through, no matter what comes next, says Oliver Dowding, apple juice producer and agricultural spokesman for the Green Party in the south west.