trade

Strange claims about trade deals with other countries increasing UK farmers’ use of insecticides must be taken with a pinch of salt, says Adam Speed, head of communications at the Crop Protection Association (CPA).

With the chance of reaching a good trade deal with the EU slipping away, we may soon need to start knitting parachutes for a cliff edge exit in December, says Matt Legge, a sheep, beef and pig farmer from the Isle of Wight.

UK agricultural exports are facing the prospect of crippling EU tariffs from the end of this year, with the Government said to be ‘close to abandoning hope’ of reaching a trade deal with the bloc.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has said the UK Government’s internal market proposals are a ‘significant step backwards’ for devolution.

The NFU has expressed its disappointment that MPs rejected an opportunity for Parliament to ratify future trade deals which will affect the farming industry.

The Government’s decision to set up a Trade Commission should have cooled down the debate on food standards, but instead it has heated it up, says Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City, University of London and author of Feeding Britain.

Farmers should not worry about Brexit, but the coronavirus, which could kill off many small agricultural shows and sever the rural community’s links with wider society, says Dave Herbert, a South Welsh smallholder producing eggs and poultry.

As the UK prepares to sign trade deals with several countries, including the USA, concerns have grown that the food service sector may move to take advantage of low standard imports in future. Abi Kay reports.  

The pig market continues its run of stability, with sales underpinned by domestic demand, relatively tight supply and export demand.

Like all markets around the UK, here at Leek we have had to adapt to the new regulations as a result of Covid 19 to continue trading.