All news articles FARM POLICYNFU20: New team elected to steer union through BrexitHertfordshire farmer Stuart Roberts has been elected NFU deputy president, ousting Guy Smith who served for six years as an NFU officeholder. The NFU's biennial officeholder elections – which also… CRIMENFU20: Stock theft and fake pesticides among crimes on riseCounterfeit pesticides, incursions by activists, and livestock theft are all among the rural crimes on the rise in the UK. According to NFU Mutual the annual cost to farmers is… FARM POLICYNFU20: Eustice rules out three-crop rule derogationDefra minister George Eustice has ruled out a relaxation of the three-crop rule to help flood-hit farmers – despite describing it as ridiculous, barking and bonkers. The controversial Brussels rule… WEATHERPoll: The cost of wet winter on farmsThe winter of 2019-20 is heading to be one of the wettest on record since national records began, according to the Met Office. Since last autumn, persistent spells of powerful… NEWSNFU20: British farm standards must not be underminedFarm leader Minette Batters has repeated her assertion that British food standards must not be undermined by a flood of imports post-Brexit. Speaking at the NFU's 2020 conference in Birmingham,… FARM POLICYDefra confirms reductions in support for farmersBasic Payments will be reduced by 5-25% next year for farmers in England, the government has confirmed. Farmers who receive up to £30,000 will see their payment reduced by 5%,… WILDLIFEFarmers urged to back move away from lead ammunitionShooting groups want an end to the use of lead and single-use plastics in shotgun ammunition for live quarry shooting within five years. Nine organisations have joined forces to back… WEATHERNew flood warnings issued for northern farmsFarmers in northern England are being warned to expect further flooding this week with further heavy rainfall in the forecast. Hundreds of homes and swaths of farmland across the UK… POULTRYEustice refuses to rule out ban on chlorinated chickenFarmer groups and opposition MPs are demanding that guarantees on import standards be written in to the Agriculture Bill currently going through parliament, amid concerns the government is prepared to… NEWSOpinion: Alternative pesticides are set to become mainstreamThe rise of the ‘ethical consumer’ has created conflicts around the use of traditional pesticides in agriculture. People are becoming increasingly concerned about the chemicals that they’re ingesting, as well… NEWSFarmers to receive cash bonuses for clean water deliverySevern Trent’s Farm to Tap scheme has reported improvements in water quality, with no metaldehyde failures at its treatment works. The water company works with 4,000 farmers across its catchment… NEWSOpinion: Consumers deserve more than 'bottom dollar' food“This government will respond to the needs and wants of the British people; that is how a democracy should work, that is what Brexit is all about.” So responded James… NEWSFW Opinion: Eustice appointment is a 'double-edged sword'Government reshuffles are often a heady mix of the predictable and the unexpected – and last week's ministerial merry-go-round was no exception. The sacking of Defra secretary Theresa Villiers came… WEATHERFarm leaders appeal for relaxation of three-crop ruleAn urgent relaxation of the three-crop rule is needed to prevent flood-hit farmers being unfairly penalised, say industry leaders. Thousands of farmers battling widespread flooding remain unable to get on… FARM POLICYFarmer confidence hit by Brexit and flooding, says NFUBrexit uncertainty, rising costs and devastating floods have seen confidence among farmers drop once again. According to the latest NFU member survey, the short-term confidence index, covering prospects for the… WEATHERVideo: Farmer appeals for 'common sense' after crop floodedWorcestershire grower Michael Lewis' recently drilled crop of spring wheat has been ruined by the floods. After wet weather scuppered his chances of drilling wheat last autumn, Mr Lewis took… WEATHERVideo: Farmers in race to save in-lamb ewes from floodsA farming family in Herefordshire devastated by heavy flooding have described the race against time to save heavily in-lamb sheep from drowning. When lambing sheds housing 250 ewes began to… NEWSFarming charities expect calls to rise in aftermath of stormsFarming charities are preparing for a big upturn in requests for help in the wake of Storms Ciara and Dennis. The latest deluge will compound the practical, financial and emotional… More articles
