defra secretary

Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Atkins told Parliament that more farmers had recently taken their own lives following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget changes to Inheritance Tax

Politicians have argued the US-UK trade deal has provided more uncertainty for British farmers

The NFU has asked the Treasury for support in five key areas including a UK-wide £5.6 billion annual budget, a cross-government biosecurity plan, and a review on the clawback solution for changes to Inheritance Tax

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown analyses the fall out from the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), with the Farming Minister telling MPs that farmers were not given notice on closure as it would have led to a 'further spike in applications'. The National Trust says Defra's decision to close SFI to new applications will leave farmers facing a 'four month funding gap'. And she takes a look at the NFU's farmer confidence survey which is reportedly at an 'all time low'

North East Fife MP Wendy Chamberlain writes about the family farm tax, changes to Universal Credit, mental health in farming, Defra Secretary Steve Reed, NFU Scotland, tenant farmers and the cost pressures facing the sector

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown takes a look at the main news stories this week, with the family farm tax dominating the headlines from NFU conference, and the PM facing criticism for breaking his promise on ensuring solar farm developments would not be at the expense of tenant farmers following the appeal decision at Emma and Rob Sturdy's farm. She also looks ahead to next week, with another farmer rally in Westminster on Pancake Day over the impact of the family farm tax on the elderly and terminally ill

When asked what political barriers there were to the Treasury adopting the clawback solution put to Treasury officials last week, Mr Bradshaw said the Government was looking for an ‘economic moment', referencing the Autumn Budget later this year

Defra Secretary Steve Reed said farmers and land managers who had been the ‘pioneers of nature-friendly farming', would now ‘finally get a fair price for their work'

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown gives the main headlines from NFU conference, takes a look at the details of the Defra Secretary's speech, what farmers and industry representatives thought, and what's next for the family farm tax campaign?