In brief

DEFRA CONSULTS ON HOLDINGS ACT

DEFRA IS consulting on two additional proposals to its reform of the agricultural holdings act 1986. The first is an amendment to the proposal to simplify succession on retirement. The second is a new proposal on variation of rent. Those wishing to reply need to do so by April 29. For more details see www.fwi.co.uk/tenancy

FRENCH GROWERS GET VIOLENT

FRENCH WINE growers have used dynamite to blow up two of the government”s department of agriculture offices. The group known as the Regional Winegrowers Action Committee wants to draw attention to the income crisis affecting its sector. The offices were in the south of France – Montpellier and Carcassonne. A third explosion destroyed an official vehicle outside a department office in nearby Nimes.

COMPENSATION CHANGES REJECTED

DEFRA HAS published a summary of the 26 replies to its consultation seeking to review the way in which compensation is paid for cattle affected by bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, BSE and enzootic bovine leukosis. Due to the limitations of the proposed system, most respondents favoured the current system of individual valuation.

BIRD DECLINE REVERSED FOR SOME SPECIES

FIGURES PUBLISHED by DEFRA show that the long-term decline in farmland birds has stabilised and has reversed for a number of species in recent years. The long-term decline since 1966 has halted, stabilising since 2000, and there are now signs that some populations may be increasing.