budget

Minister defends Labour's agricultural policies as he faces bruising first Efra Committee appearance

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown looks back at the top news stories of the week, including the Chancellor's Spring Statement, the Defra Secretary facing criticism for visiting only four farms since Labour's General Election win, concerns around the end of funding for Producer Organisations within the soft fruit sector, and King Charles and the Prince of Wales out and about supporting British farming. She also looks ahead to next week, when the Farming Minister will make his first appearance before the Efra Committee to answer questions on the SFI suspension and ongoing industry concerns

This week's opinion from throughout the world of agriculture: Andy Welford, a dairy farmer from Scaling, near Saltburn, offers his views on the Inheritance Tax fallout

Simon Britton, of Knight Frank, said struggling 'upland farmers' could benefit from a redesign of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme but arable and lowland livestock farms may need to 'reconsider expectations'

SFS, Inheritance Tax, and agriculture budget were the main topics discussed with Wales' First Minister Eluned Morgan during a visit to a family sheep farm in Ceredigion

An emergency roundtable on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) has been held this afternoon (March 17) between Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner and farming organisations

TFA representative George Renner said despite indication from Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner at an ‘emergency' industry roundtable that a ‘stripped back version' of SFI would be available this summer, commitments from the Minister were still ‘very woolly'

The Tenant Farmers Association said the Government's decision to make area-based payments without considering evidenced claims has resulted in more severely affected farmers losing out on compensation 'with no means of recourse'

Ulster Farmers' Union said the failure to allocate separate funding for TB control, particularly to support wildlife intervention measures, was a 'missed opportunity'

This week's opinion from throughout the world of agriculture: Farmer and meat retailer from Towcester, Northamptonshire - Ben Aveling