Politics

The prime minister has announced a series of row backs on the government’s net zero plans, covering electric cars, new boilers and home upgrades, as well as a proposal to tax meat consumption.

The National Sheep Association is highlighting the importance of British consumers having access to high quality, affordable British food, that also benefits the countryside and farming communities.

As poor weather has made for a particularly challenging harvest, Defra has extended the application window for CS Mid Tier agreements until mid-September.

New oil burners are set to be banned in homes not connected to the gas grid by 2026, which campaigners warn will force rural communities to make costly upgrades to electric alternatives.

The government has been accused of sabotaging UK food producers by imposing further delays to import checks on fresh farm produce arriving from the EU, maintaining an uneven playing field for British farmers.

A new report by the Efra Select Committee has accused the government of failing to take food security seriously enough, and urged it to change its definition to include affordability and access to food.

The British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) has called on the UK government to maintain its leading edge over the EU in precision plant breeding by ramping up investment in research and innovation and moving forward with plans to bring gene edited products to market.

NFU Scotland has welcomed John Davidson as its new chief executive this week, marking the appointment of the 11th individual to assume the role in the past 110 years.

Farming groups have welcomed the Senedd’s decision to vote in favour of the historic Agriculture (Wales) Bill this Tuesday (27th June), which will be key to supporting farmers and sustainable food production in the face of climate change.

The first-ever Wales Agriculture Bill that sets out the course of future support for Welsh farmers is due to enter its final stage of scrutiny today (Tuesday 27th June) and will be voted on by members of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) later this evening.

The ‘new and improved’ Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 will start accepting applications from August, with an expanded list of actions and more flexibility, Defra has revealed.

Changes to ELMS will offer improved access for upland farmers, as well as improved options under Countryside Stewardship for 2023.