Efra Committee

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

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown reports on a letter sent by the Efra Committee chair, Alistair Carmichael to the Farming Minister calling on the Government to focus on five key areas to improve fairness and resilience in the food supply chain. Later today Mr Carmichael will be presenting his food supply chain fairness bill in Parliament. And the absence of rural crime in the Government's Crime and Policing Bill has been branded 'unacceptable' by a Liberal Democrat MP

Alistair Carmichael asked for clarification when IPAFFS , Defra's IT system import of products, animals, food and feed system was successfully updated and operating as intended to reflect the policy change made on January 10 in response to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak

Efra chair Alistair Carmichael said the Defra Secretary and the Farming Minister should be the ‘voice of farmers within Government but they are clearly not being listened to' over the family farm tax

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?

NFU Cymru brought together farmers and representatives from rural businesses across mid-Wales for a display showcasing the far-reaching impact of the proposed changes to Inheritance Tax

The event, organised by NFU Cymru Brecon and Radnor members, will involve a rally to demonstrate how the proposed changes to Inheritance Tax will impact the entire Welsh rural economy

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown takes a look at industry concerns following the Government's decision to refuse the emergency application of the use of neonicotinoid pesticide, Cruiser SB, on sugar beet in England for 2025, farmers are urged to be extra careful as Storm Eowyn hits the UK, and the Efra chair calls for an urgent meeting with Prime Minister to look at 'potential mitigations' to the inheritance tax reform

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Carmichael said that ‘deep concern' is fuelling low confidence and morale levels in the agricultural and wider rural community and that he would like to meet with the PM urgently to discuss ‘potential mitigations'

Howes Percival partner Stuart Maggs, said it was ‘disingenuous' to suggest the only people impacted by this policy are the ones having to pay tax, highlighting many farmers who will spend ‘thousands if not tens of thousands' on legal fees in response to the policy change