Menu

All articles about Farm policy

Find out about UK and EU government agricultural policy and what it means for farmers. Be the first to hear the news on Defra’s plans for farm payments and subsidies post Brexit, and environmental schemes and funding. Hear how the NFU, AHDB and farm industry leaders’ lobby the government to help shape farm policy.

Advice and tips

FARM POLICY

Tips to survive and thrive amid falling BPS payments

The UK agricultural sector is undergoing the biggest policy shake-up in 60 years, and government support for farmers is facing a radical overhaul. Defra has started its new Environmental Land…

MACHINERY

Q&A: Using CCTV - what farmers need to know

Farmers are increasingly turning to CCTV to protect their farm from thefts. New technology has made it easier than ever to set up camera surveillance, but the rules around data…

See all

Case studies

ARABLE

What the Budget means for new Arable Insights farmer panel

As farmers head to Westminster to protest at Budget measures affecting their businesses, including the unwelcome changes to inheritance tax, we look at the practical implications of the new regime…

DIVERSIFICATION

Field to plate - diversification on Japanese farms

Japan’s food culture is built on strong regional associations and loyalties, alongside superb quality and freshness.  However, accelerating rural depopulation, falling farm incomes, concerns over food security and a crippling…

BUSINESS

Farming without subsidy - New Zealand's experience

UK farmers must seize the opportunity of Brexit to ramp up productivity and become more competitive, industry leaders have been told. Former New Zealand agriculture minister Sir Lockwood Smith suggested…

ENVIRONMENT

Wild bird project – a blueprint for future farm support?

Farmers in the South West have helped to save a rare farmland bird in a 25-year collaboration with the RSPB.  Farmers and the RSPB don’t always see eye to eye,…

See all

Insights

FARM POLICY

Can Reform UK be trusted to deliver for farming?

As the UK enters a new political era, many British farmers are feeling politically homeless, disillusioned by the policies of the mainstream parties. With local elections fast approaching, Reform UK,…

FARM POLICY

One year on... how has Welsh farm policy changed?

Triggered by poor communication from the government, a disregard for the science and a lack of clarity on support, farmers’ emotions boiled over in February 2024, with protests taking place…

FARM POLICY

Interview: Irranca-Davies, rural affairs minister for Wales

As cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs, the range of subjects landing in Huw Irranca-Davies’s mailbox is a varied one. But it is certain that bovine TB is…

FARM POLICY

Inheritance tax in the spotlight at FW Question Time

How a change of tactics is called for as the Treasury digs in over inheritance tax was the key focus at the latest Farmers Weekly Question Time event, hosted by…

See all

News

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Emergency SFI meeting scheduled with Defra farming minister

An emergency roundtable meeting with farming organisations has been scheduled for Monday 17 March to discuss Defra’s decision to pull the plug on new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) applications. Farming…

FARM POLICY

MPs challenge Defra minister over SFI funding claims

Claims made by Defra that it had to close the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2024 scheme because it had run out of money have been called into question by MPs…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Land agents offer advice in light of SFI suspension

The abrupt closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme to new applications has left many farmers in England grappling with unexpected cashflow concerns. Defra says the scheme’s budget has…

FARM POLICY

Calls for Defra budget transparency after SFI closure

Tens of thousands of English farmers are facing a cashflow crisis after Defra abruptly closed the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2024 scheme to new applications, triggering outrage across the farming…

See all

Opinion

OPINION

Editor's View: What NFU coronation says about our sector

Why has only one person put themselves forward to be president of the NFU? Nominations for the race closed a few weeks ago with the current deputy president, Tom Bradshaw,…

NEWS

Charlie Flindt: We need to talk about deer numbers

It has been obvious for some time that we need to talk about deer – or, more specifically, the explosion in their numbers. There can’t be a farmer or landowner…

FARM POLICY

Eustice: I’ll ensure money coming out of BPS goes to farmers

George Eustice is the secretary of state at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Here he sets out his arguments why the new Environmental Land Management scheme is…

NEWS

Eustice: Creative solutions needed to cut dependence on AN

George Eustice is the secretary of state at Defra. Here he sets out his arguments for why more imaginative thinking is needed to reduce farming's dependence on inorganic fertiliser. My…

See all

Podcast

NEWS

Trade deals and tree planting debated at FW Question Time

Issues surrounding trade deals, imports, and farming policy were debated in front of a full auditorium at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) in Cirencester for the final Farmers Weekly Question…

See all

Video

FARM POLICY

London rally: Farm leaders vow to continue IHT fight

Farm leaders have pledged to continue their fight against the government’s plans to introduce a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural assets, vowing to keep up the pressure until Sir Keir…

TAX

Farmers take tractors to supermarkets in IHT protest

Hundreds of frustrated British farmers are taking their tractors to supermarket car parks across the country today (Friday 17 January) in a bold display of frustration over government policies they…

FARM POLICY

Video: Oxford protesters stand up against IHT policies

Protesters sent a clear message to Defra secretary Steve Reed as he gave a speech to farmers today at the Oxford Farming Conference. As Mr Reed outlined his long-term vision…

FARM POLICY

Video: 600 tractors make a statement against farm tax policy

More than 600 tractors sent a message to MPs on Wednesday 11 December as farmers continued in their efforts to change the government's inheritance tax and business property relief policies.…

See all

Webinar

BREXIT

What is the future of farming post Covid and post Brexit?

The long-term success of British farming depends on the sector becoming more internationally competitive, says renowned economist Sean Rickard. Post Brexit, the government will be doing trade deals with countries…

See all