Steve Reed

More than 40 organisations, including River Action and RSPCA, pen open letter to Steve Reed urging Defra to back British farming

Mr Bradshaw said winning the fight on the family farm tax will only be achieved through two ways, maintaining public support and pressurising the Treasury with their own backbench MPs

Defra said the Government had inherited the laboratories in 'poor condition' and warned the current state of the facilities posed a 'significant risk to Britain's farmers and human health'

MPs will hold the first evidence session of this inquiry next week, scrutinising the potential impacts of proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said there are sheep farmers who have 'wholeheartedly thrown themselves into the SFI pilot', whose agreements have now ended with no certainty over continuation into SFI and fears over budget cutbacks

James farms Dairy Shorthorns east of Kendal, Cumbria, with his parents Kathleen and Henry, wife Michelle and sons Robert and Chris. The fifth generation to farm at Strickley, he is also vice-chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network

Responding to Defra putting on hold 76 capital grant items, NFU deputy president David Exwood said: "The messaging of this is confusing – farmers and growers are being asked to adopt measures to improve the environment but have been left in the lurch without access to the key grant schemes which will enable them to do this"

According to Defra, around 13,000 farmers were impacted by severe wet weather, including Storms Henk and Babet, between October and March last year

Defra confirmed 76 grant items have been impacted. For farmers who have applied for a grant that is temporarily withdrawn, their application will be put on hold and will be contacted early next year

The NFU has expressed ‘extreme concern' to reports the scheme is now unlikely to open until mid-2025