The NFU has asked the Treasury for support in five key areas including a UK-wide £5.6 billion annual budget, a cross-government biosecurity plan, and a review on the clawback solution for changes to Inheritance Tax
In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown reports on the Muller farmers who will be compensated 'in full' after they were forced to dump their milk due to a number of breakdowns at the Skelmersdale site, the CLA's warning to Chancellor Rachel Reeves not to 'sell out' British farming in any deals or agreement as she arrives in Washington for trade talks, and news that contracting prices are set to rise by an average of 5.7% in 2025
In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown looks back at the top news stories of the week, including the Chancellor's Spring Statement, the Defra Secretary facing criticism for visiting only four farms since Labour's General Election win, concerns around the end of funding for Producer Organisations within the soft fruit sector, and King Charles and the Prince of Wales out and about supporting British farming. She also looks ahead to next week, when the Farming Minister will make his first appearance before the Efra Committee to answer questions on the SFI suspension and ongoing industry concerns
In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown unpicks the Chancellor's Spring Statement after she stood firm on the family farm tax, Defra Secretary has only visited 4 farms since Labour's General Election, with his ministers for flood and nature not visiting any, and livestock farmers are being encouraged to sign up for free vet visits through the TB Advisory Service (TBAS) before the service’s funding ends
While Ms Reeves was quick to quell any rumoured tax rises, she did not back down on the measures introduced in the Autumn Budget, including the family farm tax
It has been rumoured Defra's budget could be on the ‘chopping block' in the Comprehensive Spending Review
In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown reports on yesterday's emergency roundtable meeting on SFI, with the Farming Minister criticised for providing lack of clarity on the what the future redesign of SFI will look like, and for showing a lack of empathy for those farmers who missed out on SFI. She also reports on farmers defending Scottish Minister Mairi Gougeon and criticising the level abuse she received online, as she announced she is stepping down from her post after more that half of her life in politics. And don't forget to sign up to our free webinar on Inheritance Tax ( March 27), where an expert panel will be unpicking any updates from the Spring Statement the day before
TFA representative George Renner said despite indication from Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner at an ‘emergency' industry roundtable that a ‘stripped back version' of SFI would be available this summer, commitments from the Minister were still ‘very woolly'
A guide to next steps for farmers following Defra's decision to stop further scheme applications