The National Farmers’ Union of Scotland (NFU Scotland) has said its autumn conference will focus on securing a profitable and sustainable future for Scottish agriculture.

The NFU Scotland conference will take place on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at the Carnegie Conference Centre, Halbeath Road, Dunfermline.

With the recent launch of the Scottish government’s Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill, NFU Scotland said it will focus on the need to secure a profitable and sustainable future for Scottish agriculture and the role of policy and regulation in delivering it

The event will see a mix of speakers in person and online who will discuss and debate what future agriculture policy will look like from a Scottish, UK and European perspective.

The event will start at 9:30a.m, with registration from 8:45a.m. It will finish up at 3:00p.m.

NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy said: “We’re delighted to have such a great mix of speakers already confirmed for our annual autumn conference which is always an excellent platform for lively discussion and debate. 

“Securing the appropriate policy and regulation is key to the success of a sustainable and profitable future for Scottish agriculture that delivers for Scotland’s farmers and crofters and plays an integral part in delivering the nation’s ambitions on climate change, biodiversity and rural communities. 

“It is also important we look and learn from our neighbours both within the UK, in Europe and further afield. 

“The line-up for our autumn conference provides an exciting opportunity for our members to hear and question how Scotland is progressing and what other countries are experiencing, thinking and applying.”

Speakers

The first session, The Scottish policy landscape, will be chaired by NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy and will kick off at 10:00a.m on the day of the conference.

The session will feature Mairi Gougeon, the cabinet secretary for rural affairs, islands and land reform, who will discuss the role of the Scottish government in supporting a profitable agricultural sector.

Then, before taking a Q&A session, Kennedy will discuss the union’s policy priorities for a sustainable and profitable future for Scottish agriculture.

Session two will begin at 11:30a.m, chaired by one of NFU Scotland’s vice presidents.

The session, A UK perspective, will feature NFU president Minette Batters who will speak what the future for farmers in England looks like.

1:45p.m will see shadow minister for environment, food and rural affairs, Daniel Zeichner, discuss the future of agriculture policy.

Session three will then kick off shortly after at 2:15p.m, chaired by a vice president of NFU Scotland.

The European perspective session will feature Jenny Brunton of the British Agricultural Bureau (BAB) to discuss the future of EU farm policy.

Following Brunton’s presentation, Ronja Björkqvist of the European Council of Young Farmers will discuss a farmer’s perspective on EU policy direction.

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Ahead of this year’s autumn statement, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has written to Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt to ask him to provide the “ever-increasing” certainty that the farming sector seeks.

NFU president Minette Batters’ overarching message to the chancellor ahead of the autumn statement was that running a food and farming business at the moment is “tough”.

Hunt is set to unveil his autumn statement to the House of Commons on November 22, 2023.

Batters said the need for stability and certainty in the agricultural sector is “fundamental to enabling long-term business investment decisions”.

“At this year’s autumn statement, the chancellor could really inject some much-needed stability and confidence into the UK’s food and farming sector,” she said.

“As well as delivering short-term certainty, the NFU’s asks will also help build the foundation for a long-term farming framework, incorporating both public and private finance, to deliver the country’s environmental, productivity and food security needs.”

Energy, ELMs and tax

Batters said that, over the last two years, the UK government has had to intervene to support domestic and commercial consumers access affordable gas and electricity.

“Whilst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been a clear catalyst and driver of energy market volatility, the market infrastructure for commercial energy has facilitated extra risk,” she said.

“The NFU is calling for a HM Treasury review into long-term energy contracts in the commercial sector and improved transparency in this market, making it easier for businesses to select which provider/contracts suit their needs.”

The union is also calling on Hunt to “remove the uncertainty” over the tax treatment of agricultural land entered unto environmental schemes, especially under the UK government’s own Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs).

Currently, agricultural property relief (APR) is available on agricultural land whether used by the owner or a tenant.

“Whilst many of the options available under ELMs in England would not result in land ceasing to be in agricultural use, there is some uncertainty around some options,” Batters said.

“We gathered views from our members and responded to the consultation on APR, stating that the government must remove this uncertainty – or risk undermining the confidence in and uptake of these schemes, as well as the government’s own environmental ambitions.”

Where income tax is concerned, Batters said that she is worried that the requirements imposed on NFU members will be “disproportionate, administratively burdensome and extremely costly”.

“We are asking for concerns around quarterly updates and Basic Period Reform to be addressed and for specific easements be applied to a minority of businesses including removing the quarterly update requirement,” she said.

Environmental markets and the future

Environmental markets are an emerging area of interest to farmers but are currently poorly defined and largely unregulated, Batters said.

“The NFU believes a HM Treasury led cross-government taskforce is best placed to ensure the regulation and oversight of environmental markets in the UK is fit for purpose.

“In order to ensure UK farmers can tap into the potential of new environmental markets, the government must devise effective governance mechanisms as soon as possible.”

Additional topics in Batters’ letter include asks on:

• The slurry infrastructure grant;
• Capital allowances for both incorporated and unincorporated businesses to help incentivise low-carbon investments;
• A further round of the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), with a longer timeframe and expansion to all rural communities.

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The UK government’s Food and Drink Export Council (FDEC) is set to hold its first ever meeting in Perth, Scotland, next month.

The meeting, which will be held on Wednesday, November 8 during International Trade week at the Black Watch, is aimed at Scottish food and drink businesses already exporting that wish to expand and grow their exports.

The free to attend event will consist of interactive sessions on creating strategic export plans, understanding export markets and identifying and building relationships with overseas partners.

The FDEC is a collaborate expert committee comprised of representatives from the Scottish government, UK government, industry and other devolved administrations focused on boosting UK food and drink exports.

UK government minister for exports and co-chair of the FDEC, Malcolm Offord, said:

“This event will be a big help to any Scottish food and drink exporters who are looking to expand their sales abroad.

“We know there is huge demand internationally for the high-quality food and drink we produce here in Scotland, and the FDEC are looking to do all that we can to help businesses take advantages of the opportunities that are out there.” 

Scottish exports

The meeting is being delivered in partnership between the Department for Business and Trade and Scottish Development International (SDI) on behalf of the FDEC.

Global head of trade for consumer industries at SDI, Ewen Cameron, said: “Scotch whisky is the number one UK food and drink export, with Scottish salmon the UK’s leading food export.

“Scotland has a vital role to play in the success of UK food and drink exports, with this council meeting providing a platform to embed an appreciation and awareness of our strengths with council members and showcase some of our leading exporting companies.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with other council members, and bringing SDI’s deep knowledge of international growth opportunities, strong relationships with our portfolio of exporters, and effective international networks to deliver economic growth across all regions of Scotland.”

Chief executive of Seafood Scotland and founding member of the FDEC, Donna Fordyce, said the event is a perfect opportunity for Scottish food and drink businesses to learn more about export expansion.

“We know that many Scottish food and drink businesses are already exporting successfully in overseas markets,” she said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from your peers, find out what works – and what doesn’t – and build your overseas network too.

“This event will enable businesses to accelerate and refine their exporting ambitions in a welcoming and trusted environment.

“We will also be sharing expertise on how to reduce the administrative burden of exporting abroad, something we know will be very welcome.”

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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a new interactive map of reported wild bird mortality and findings of avian influenza in wild birds and wild mammals.

The department has also launched an interactive dashboard allowing the public to explore findings of bird flu in wild birds from the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) surveillance programme.

The map and dashboard will be updated weekly, the department said. Collection information and test results may show as pending for recent reports.

Anyone wishing to view the map can customise it by selecting from the layer list which map elements they want to display.

A time slider can also be used to display data from a selected time period.

Bird flu in wild birds

Defra has practical information to support land managers, the public, and ornithological and environmental organisations in their response to the growing threat of bird flu.

The mitigation strategy for bird flu in wild birds in England and Wales explains how these groups, together with the government and its delivery partners, can reduce the impact on wild bird populations whilst protecting public health, the wider environment and the rural economy.

Landowners, local authorities and other organisations are advised to download and print bird flu posters to display on site when there is a risk of bird flu, or if bird flu has been detected in the area.

Dead wild birds can be reported via Defra’s website.

Kept birds

In the UK there were 207 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 strain in the 2022 to 2023 outbreak season:

• 160 cases in England;
• 38 cases in Scotland;
• Eight cases in Wales;
• One case in Northern Ireland.

There have been 294 cases of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in England since the outbreak started in October 2021.

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Wales’ total ban on the use of snares and glue traps comes into force from today (Tuesday, October 17).

Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths, announced the ban on September 26 and said that it will prevent “indiscriminate suffering” to animals.

From today, the use of snares and glue traps is illegal in Wales, and anyone found guilty of using a snare could face imprisonment or an unlimited fine or both.

Speaking on the ban coming into force today, Griffiths said: “This is an historic day for animal welfare. We strive for the very highest standards of animal welfare in Wales, and the use of snares and glue traps are incompatible with what we want to achieve. 

“Many animals will now be spared the most terrible suffering as a result of this ban. I’m proud Wales is the first of the UK nations to introduce such a move. 

“The banning of snares and glue traps is not about preventing predator or rodent control. There are other more humane ways to do this,” she said.

Animal welfare

Griffiths thanked all the Welsh government’s partners for working to bring about the ban on snares and glue traps, and said she is looking forward to continuing to ensure that Wales has the “very highest standards of animal welfare”.

Wales rural and wildlife crime coordinator, Rob Taylor, said: “I welcome the introduction of the ban here in Wales today.

“These traps are indiscriminate and over the years I personally, have seen various non-target species, such as badgers and cats caught in snares and suffering terrible injury.

“After today anyone caught using a snare or glue trap in Wales could face a fine or imprisonment, so we advise people to be aware of this new law and act accordingly,” Taylor warned.

Senior public affairs manager at RSPCA Cymru, Billie-Jade Thomas, said: “We very much welcome the ban on snares and glue traps coming into force today.  

“Both have the potential to cause immeasurable suffering to animals. Too often, our officers have dealt with animals in severe pain and misery at the hands of these devices; which are cruel, indiscriminate and totally unnecessary.

“The lives of many animals will be saved including wildlife, pets and farm animals such as sheep and lambs.”

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The National Pig Association (NPA) has today (Friday, October 13) called for the UK government to implement a number of steps to prevent and prepare for an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).

The trade association for UK pig farmers said the sector is concerned by the “constant delays in implementing proper border checks” on EU meat imports.

The NPA also said it is concerned at a lack of preparedness in the event that ASF does reach the UK pig herd.

In a briefing to MPs, the NPA said it has called for:

• No further delays on checks for goods entering the UK from the EU;
• Improved and increased border controls for meat imports (sniffer dogs etc. at ports/airports/Eurotunnel and postal hubs);
• Better communications, including messaging at points of entry, to emphasise the risks of bringing in meat products;
• A review of APHA resource and available expertise to ensure it has the capability to respond quickly and effectively to notifiable disease outbreaks;
• A plan for regionalisation with trading partners to ensure that unaffected parts of the UK could still export pork in the event of an outbreak.

“ASF continues to spread in Europe with the last few months seeing the arrival of the virus for the first time in Sweden and cases in domestic pigs for the first time in Northern Italy, while various countries in the Balkans have been battling major outbreaks,” the NPA said.

“The British pig sector’s concerns have been exacerbated by the constant delays in implementing proper border checks on EU meat imports, the latest of which has put the introduction of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) back from October until well into next year. 

“In a response to a letter from NPA chairman Rob Mutimer, Farming Minister Mark Spencer gave no intention of introducing new checks in the meantime.”

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The National Farmers’ Union of Scotland (NFU Scotland) has said its key concerns around the creation of any new national parks is that they “will not prioritise farming or food production”.

The union’s environmental resources policy manager, Sarah Cowie, wrote in her latest blog that the Scottish government made no mention of agriculture, food production or agri-tourism in its statement on the process of appointing a new park or parks.

Yesterday (Thursday, October 12), the Scottish government began its search for the country’s next national park – inviting communities and organisations to submit their proposals.

“The key concerns NFU Scotland has around the creation of any new national park is that it will not prioritise farming or food production, even though agriculture is likely to be the predominant land use in any new park,” Cowie said.

“Disappointingly, in the statement the Scottish government released to announce the process of appointing a new park or parks, there is no mention of agriculture, food production or agri-tourism despite these being key pillars and drivers of the rural economy.

“With justification, our members are concerned that the wider impacts of national parks on their businesses aren’t being taken into account.”

National parks

NFU Scotland said its members believe the same objectives for national parks can be achieved through other existing means, such as economic development agencies, regional land use partnerships and tourism bodies.

“For farming businesses to be profitable and sustainable, they have to invest and grow, and there are real concerns that national parks are just another layer of bureaucracy which won’t deliver for those living and working in the area,” Cowie said.

The union said its members have evidence of overcrowding, congestion, irresponsible access, livestock attacks by dogs and other antisocial behaviour within national parks.

“While NFU Scotland accepts the benefits of public access, it must be managed in a balanced way with support available for land managers where there are issues,” it said.

Cowie said the union believes a balance can be struck if all views are listened to and “not just those who are fully supportive of the proposals”.

“The key step the Scottish government must take to strike this balance is to ensure lessons are learned from the mistakes of the current two national parks,” she said.

“This means farming and food production must be prioritised, the local community has meaningful involvement in decision-making, and the national park authority is properly resourced.

“Only then can there be any chance of avoiding the negative impacts that we’ve outlined.”

Submissions

The deadline for submissions for aspiring national parks is February 29, 2024. 

The Scottish government said that, for the first time, nominations for a new park will be driven entirely by local communities and organisations.

To meet the criteria, groups must be able to demonstrate:

• Outstanding national importance due to natural or culture heritage;
• A distinctive character and coherent identity;
• How national park status would meet the specific needs of the area;
• Evidence of local support for the proposal.

Cairngorms national park authority board convener, Sandy Bremner, said: “This is a great opportunity for communities in Scotland to join the family of national parks to tackle some of the biggest challenges around nature loss, climate change and community development.

“National park status can bring enormous benefits to a region. It offers a heightened focus on the protection and enhancement of the area’s natural and cultural heritage.

“It can attract vital support to hard-pressed communities, and bring people together to achieve inspirational change.”

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Scotland’s chief statistician has released first estimates of the 2023 Scottish harvest – revealing that the total cereal production is expected to be around 3 million tonnes.

The statistics, released today (Thursday, October 12), predict that cereal production will remain in line with the ten-year average despite “significant challenges” during the year, the Scottish government said.

These challenges include high input costs and poor weather conditions.

Early estimates for yields of barley, oats and oilseed rape are below 2022 levels, but similar to the ten-year averages.

While the yield for oilseed rape is predicted to decrease by 6%, the production is to reach its highest value in 20 years.

A predicted increase of around 13% in growing area may result in production values “well above” the ten-year average, the government said.

The predicted yield for wheat is also below last year’s figure, but is higher than the ten-year average.

“However, industry experts reported farmers are noticing varying quality in the spring barley harvest due to the poor weather conditions,” the Scottish government said.

Harvest figures

Harvest estimates are based on first soundings of the 2023 harvest at the end of September.

The final results will be released in December after the harvest has finished in Scotland.

Estimates are based on harvest yields given by a panel of experts at a Crop Report Meeting and provisional land use areas from the June Agricultural Census.

Final land use areas will be published in the Results of the June Agricultural Census.

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Wales’ chief veterinary officer (CVO), Dr Richard Irvine, has said it is “more important than ever” to maintain the very highest levels of biosecurity and to stay vigilant for avian influenza (bird flu).

The Welsh government has warned bird keepers to stay vigilant for bird flu and to maintain strict biosecurity measures throughout autumn and winter.

Bird keepers must keep their flocks safe by following stringent biosecurity measures and adhering to high levels of hygiene, it said.

While bird flu has continued to affect wild birds over the summer, the winter migration period brings a heightened risk to kept birds, the government said.

Irvine said vigilance and strict biosecurity measures provide the best protection against another large outbreak of the highly pathogenic disease.

“Rigorous and scrupulous hygiene and biosecurity measures offer the best protection for kept birds against avian influenza,” he said.

“Whether keepers have a few birds or a thousand, it is vital the very highest standards of biosecurity are maintained at all times.

“Vigilance is also key. It’s important you report any signs or suspicion of avian influenza in your flock immediately.”

The CVO also thanked birdkeepers for their efforts to date in keeping their flocks safe from bird flu.

Advice for Welsh keepers of poultry and captive birds on how to keep their flocks safe is available on the Welsh government’s website.

Bird flu in Wales and the rest of the UK

The latest case of bird flu reported in Wales was in April of this year at a site near Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Powys.

In the United Kingdom, there have been 207 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 since October 1, 2022.

Eight of these cases have been confirmed in Wales.

160 of the cases were detected in England, 38 in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland.

There have been 294 cases of bird flu in England since the H5N1 outbreak started in October 2021.

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Statistics from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) latest livestock survey has shown English sheep flock numbers to be at their lowest in 12 years.

The Defra survey shows the English sheep flock has declined 3.2% year-on-year, totalling 14.5 million heads in June 2023 – this is the lowest recorded population since 2011.

The female breeding flock saw a reduction of 116,000 heads (-1.6%) to stand at nearly 7 million heads in June 2023.

Looking at this by category, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) said there was a “notable increase” in breeding ewes intended for slaughter, up 8.8% compared to the same period last year.

This was countered by declines in the number of ewes intended for first time breeding (-8.3%) and ewes intended for further breeding (-1.3%).

While a decline versus last year, the number of ewes for further and first-time breeding was relatively level with numbers recorded in 2021.

“Declines were also seen in the rest of the English flock, driven by a reduction of 4.9% (364,000 head) in lambs aged under a year old, compared to the June 2022 survey,” AHDB said.

“Ram numbers did see a slight increase of 1.2% year-on-year alongside an increase of 3.5% of other sheep one-year-old and over.

“These reductions continue the general trend in the total English flock seen since 2017.”

AHDB said industry challenges are well documented, including:

• Input cost fluctuation;
• Changes to direct payments;
• Agricultural policy and government support schemes;
• Consumer purchasing trends.

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Alternatives to tree planting can achieve equivalent reductions in emissions while also delivering a broad range of benefits, the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has said.

The union has outlined these benefits at the Plaid Cymru conference, which takes place today (Friday, October 6) and tomorrow (Saturday, October 7) in Aberystwyth.

Hosting a fringe event today, the FUW said tree planting is just one of the many ways in which net Welsh carbon emissions can be reduced.

The FUW highlighted that in 2019, Welsh energy production was responsible for 10,953,000t of CO2 emissions.

Offsetting this, union’s officials stressed, would require around 1.1 million hectares of land to be planted with trees.

FUW president Ian Rickman said: “If all current Welsh emissions were to be offset by tree planting, this would require an area around twice the size of Wales to be planted with trees.”

Rickman said there are a number of alternatives that can be adopted on-farm to achieve the equivalent reduction in emissions and that many can have multiple benefits – not only for individual farms but also on Welsh society in general.

“These could include renewable energy production, other forms of carbon storage and sequestration or improving livestock efficiency,” he said.

“As we move towards the final consultation phase of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), we want to see a scheme that looks at farming and climate change as a collective rather than in isolation.

“For instance, planting trees and offshoring our food production to places with far worse emissions and environmental standards will actually make matters worse on a global level.”

Trees

Delegates heard from the FUW that for large numbers of farms, meeting the 10% tree cover requirement would severely impact on their viability and capacity to produce food, while for certain categories of farm meeting such a requirement would be impossible.

Under current proposals, this would prevent them from being able to access any form of support through the SFS, the union said.

“We know that the Welsh government recognised a number of farm types and land categories where meeting this threshold would not be possible – but far more concessions are needed if large numbers of farm businesses are to avoid severe impacts,” Rickman said.

“Tree planting is just one of the many ways in which net Welsh carbon emissions can be reduced.

“We want to see an SFS that has flexibility so farmers can engage with a scheme that works for their businesses and achieves the outcomes Welsh government are looking for.”

The FUW also highlighted that, under its plans, the Welsh government also aims to see Wales meet 100% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2035.

However, as demand for electric vehicles and other alternatives to fossil fuels increases, electricity demand is also set to increase, the union said.

FUW head of policy, Dr Nick Fenwick, said: “It’s estimated that this will increase demand for electricity in the UK by around 10% of current UK production by 2030, rising to between 20% and 33% by 2050 and increasing production of hydrogen for use as an alternative to fossil fuels in certain vehicles will also increase demand for electricity (which is used to create hydrogen).”

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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking views on using remote video veterinary inspections in avian influenza (bird flu) disease control zones.

A veterinary inspection is required for the movement of poultry or poultry products from premises in bird flu disease control zones.

At present these take place by a vet visiting a premises to inspect the bird prior to movement. However, in November 2022, a temporary amendment of rules allowed visual veterinary inspections to be conducted remotely using video for movements to slaughter.

This temporary measure expired on April 16, but Defra is now seeking views on making it permanent, under specific circumstances and with appropriate safeguards in place to mitigate the risk of disease spread.

It has opened an informal, online consultation which will run for four weeks, closing on October 31. Individuals and organisations are welcome to respond, however the consultation is directed at veterinarian and veterinary organisations that have a role in inspecting poultry and bodies that may work with the government or industry as part of animal disease e control.

The consultation applies to England only.

Defra said that the ongoing bird flu outbreak had led to “considerable pressures” on private veterinary resources, in part due to the need for these visits.

These checks are necessary in order to reduce the risk of the disease spreading.

Defra said that the trial period of remote video inspections between November 2022 and April 2023 was successful in reducing veterinary pressures, and saved travel time and costs for private vets to and from premises.

Some keepers were in favour of remote video inspections as it reduced the frequency of vet visits to the site from a biosecurity perspective, however others preferred physical vet checks because remote inspection required keeper time to perform the video inspection and was therefore an increased burden on them.

The consultation gives three options: Not changing legislation to allow remote video inspections; allowing these inspections prior to the movement of birds to slaughter only; allowing them in support of licensed movements.

The second option is preferred by Defra.

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The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to reject a proposal to install a solar farm and battery storage system on tenanted farmland in Old Malton, North Yorkshire.

It has also written to members of the North Yorkshire Strategic Planning Committee asking them to vote against the proposed application at a meeting on October 10.

44.52ha of the 52.86ha earmarked for the development are currently being farmed under a tenancy agreement.

The land has been farmed by the Sturdy family for decades and their tenancy is regulated under the terms of the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986.

“It would be a travesty if this application was allowed to succeed,” TFA chief executive, George Dunn, said.

“Acceptance of this application would go against current public policy on food security, maintaining best and most versatile agricultural land, improving landscape and biodiversity, and protecting the resilience of the tenanted sector of agriculture.

“Notwithstanding the security of tenure referred to above and the legitimate expectation that Mr. and Mrs. Sturdy would have had to enjoy that security into the future, should the Fitzwilliam Trust Corporation prove successful in its attempt to gain planning consent for change of use under this application, Mr. and Mrs. Sturdy would face an incontestable notice to quit of the land subject to their tenancy,” he added.

Solar farm in Old Malton

The Sturdy family has been campaigning to “save” their tenanted land for months, primarily via their website and social media channels under the name ‘Save Old Malton Countryside’. These explain the situation and encourage people to submit objections.

The planning permission has 499 objections, and 42 supporting comments.

In their own objection document to Ryedale District Council, the family said:

“The application for the new solar farm and battery storage, if permitted, will have life-long and life-changing consequences for us and our children,” they said in their objection document to the proposal.

“My grandfather, father and myself have farmed the land at Eden Farm for almost 70 years. In 1971, the year in which I was born, my father, John Sturdy, took on an Agricultural Holdings Act Tenancy with FTC,” Robert Sturdy said.

“This tenancy is a three generation tenancy of which I am the second generation. It is a tenancy for my lifetime and for my children’s, should either of them wish to pursue a career in farming.

“I would not want all this hard work and investment, which has seen very significant improvements to the farm and the environment, to be lost as a result of the application.

“I am a long-standing protected tenant and should be protected from the consequences of a non-agricultural planning permission particularly where the ability to obtain planning permission is much easier for solar development than other forms of development, as it is viewed as a ‘temporary’ development in planning terms.”

Harmony Energy submitted a planning application for a solar farm and battery energy storage system to Ryedale District Council on February 26, 2023.

On its website, the company has said: “We recognise the financial impact the development would have on the tenant.

“This is why we are contributing half the annual compensation package being made available – a substantial figure which is payable annually index-linked for 40 years. This is multiple times the value of statutory compensation.”

In a statement to Agriland, it added that the proposed development cannot be located elsewhere, “as for large-scale solar farms to connect to the national grid, there must be a technically and financially viable connection available, with grid capacity and Northern Powergrid having been secured and a nearby substation being the only suitable local one”.

“Renewable energy is critical in creating a sustainable future for everyone, ensuring the future security of the UK’s energy supply, whilst helping to meet global targets to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change,” it added.

“They aren’t only beneficial for the environment, but the more unsubsidised developments we can create, the more they will help reduce energy bills for all, at a time when energy bills have increased dramatically primarily due to increasing fossil fuel costs.

“We are proud to be a Yorkshire-based energy firm, delivering renewable energy, providing benefits and supporting high-skilled jobs. These projects will create further employment and assist the UK’s net zero and energy security ambitions.”

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The Scottish region of the National Sheep Association (NSA) has said it is glad that the Scottish livestock sector’s “long wait for clarity” is over with the publication of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill.

Last week, the Scottish government tabled the new bill to change how farmers and rural communities receive support in Scotland.

The draft Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill would allow the Scottish government to form a new support framework and provide financial and other assistance.

The payments framework would incentivise low-carbon approaches to improve resilience, efficiency and probability in the sector.

NSA Scottish Region said it welcomes the Scottish government’s approach to enabling low carbon, efficient, productive, resilient farming businesses – but hopes that, as the detail of the bill becomes clearer, it is not the case that “policymakers have been blinded by low carbon only and failed to recognise that food production will never be emission-free”.

NSA Scottish Region coordinator, Grace Reid, said: “NSA Scottish Region is keen to see a farm approach that recognises that agricultural businesses plan years ahead.

“The direction of policy and future support schemes need to be transparent, so sheep farmers know what is coming in the long-term and feel appreciated for the critical work they carry out on a daily basis.

“Businesses have had to operate in the dark while we wait for this bill and we need transparency and a clear sense of direction as we proceed from here.”

Reid said the NSA has a duty to protect the “positive practices” in which its flocks already deliver for the wider environment.

“Keeping food and farming at the centre of all future policy decisions is imperative, ensuring the environment is prioritised through farming rather than replacing it,” she said.

“Our future generations will look back at this opportunity to change legislation and it is vital we do not compromise their ability to deliver sustainable food production, enhance the resilience of farming practices and meet environmental and climate change goals.”

A ‘practical approach’

The NSA Scottish Region said a key priority for the association is that the implemented powers and policy of the bill are fair, simplistic, easy to understand and have a “practical approach”.
 
“Following the two Scottish government consultations, which NSA Scottish Region responded to in full, we will now begin to look in detail at what is included within this bill and engage with our sheep farming members on its content,” Reid said.

“I urge all members to take part in the next phase of public participation, which has promised to provide a way to help design and develop the new framework included within the Agricultural Reform Programme.

“Topics such as changes to the 2025 Basic Payment Scheme, Whole Farm Plan, regions and measures are to be covered.”

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The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has said it will showcase why British food and farming needs to be a priority for all political parties at this year’s party conferences.

The union said it is “more important than ever” for political parties to back British farming ahead of the next general election.

The NFU said it will once again have a presence at both the Conservative Party conference (today, October 2) in Manchester and the Labour Party conference (October 9) in Liverpool.

The union said its interactive stand at the conferences will include:

• A gator utility vehicle;
• A glasshouse to demonstrate the “importance of growth” in the horticulture sector;
• A “typical” British landscape featuring sheep, trees, hedges and wildflower borders to “reflect the work farmers do to care for the environment”.

NFU president Minette Batters said: “It’s more important than ever for political parties to back British food and farming.

“The nation’s food security has rarely been more prominent than in the past few years, and with the challenges we’ve faced it’s clear that we need to reassess how we value food and farming.

“Let’s not forget, this is a sector which forms the backbone of our rural communities, our much-loved countryside and our food and drink industry, which is worth more than £100 billion to the national economy and employs four million people.”

Batters said party conferences are a chance for the NFU to showcase all that British farming delivers, but also for MPs, peers, councillors and party members to show their support for a sector which “gives so much to the nation”.

“What we do is important to every single person who eats food,” she said.

“With a general election fast approaching, all parties need to carefully consider the long-term future of farming and how they will help boost homegrown food production. Because British food cannot fail.”

The NFU said the party conferences come against the backdrop of years of uncertainty in the farming sector, as soaring production costs, global market instability caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine, extreme bouts of weather and delays to new farm payments have all put pressure on homegrown food production.

NFU policies

The NFU will ask the political parties to include certain policies in their upcoming manifestos.

These policies include:

• Establish a new food security index and target, including a statutory duty to monitor and report on domestic food production levels annually;
• Clear commitment to a budget that underpins sustainable domestic food production, delivers for the environment and supports all land tenures;
• A smooth and seamless transition to new support schemes that are open to all farmers and growers, less bureaucratic and ensure profitable long-term food-producing businesses;
• Ensure every new policy or regulation includes a ‘food impact assessment test’;
• Produce an enhanced policy-focused government food security report annually that looks beyond food supply and supermarket shelves to assess the short-, medium- and long-term viability of the food sector;
• Increase the powers and resource of the Groceries Code Adjudicator and maintain a commitment to keep it independent of the Competition and Markets Authority;
• Identify opportunities to increase our market share of foods we can produce sustainably, including a commitment to source 50% of food into the public sector from British farms;
• Hold an annual food summit at No.10 to ensure food security remains high on the political agenda;
• Make changes to the planning system to ensure permitted development for infrastructure including glasshouses, reservoirs and slurry stores for the purposes of growing and processing fruit, vegetables, crops and livestock;
• Boost a range of incentives to reduce agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions, by driving productivity, improving energy efficiency, and reducing the impact of inputs like feed, fertiliser and fuel, while producing more climate-friendly food and increasing green energy use;
• Reward for farmers for maintaining, protecting and enhancing our natural environment so everyone can experience the mental health benefits of access to our beautiful countryside;
• Responsible management of public access to the countryside so it can be enjoyed by everyone while recognising that much of it is an active working environment.

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The Scottish government has tabled a new bill to change how farmers and rural communities receive support in Scotland.

The draft Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill would allow the Scottish government to form a new support framework and provide financial and other assistance.

The payments framework would incentivise low-carbon approaches to improve resilience, efficiency and probability in the sector.

If passed, minister will be required to prepare a five-year Rural Support Plan, detailing farming, forestry, and rural development support. 

The legislation would also give ministers the power to change, extend or end Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) legislation as it applies in Scotland, and make changes to retained EU laws.

The bill would also allow the Scottish government to introduce training requirements for farmers and other workers. The regulation of animal identification is also updated.

An intention of the Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill is to give Scotland more power during the transition between new schemes and the CAP, which is managed and funded at EU level.

Commenting on the launch of the draft bill, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon said: “Our vision is for Scotland to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

“Introducing this new bill to parliament is a significant milestone in reforming the support systems that will empower Scotland’s farmers and crofters to cut climate emissions and restore nature, helping us achieve that vision.

“I understand that the sector needs flexibility now and in the future to respond to the pressures and challenges that we will face,” she added.

“As we move forward our bill will allow for adaptive support for farmers, crofters and land managers in the near, medium and long-term future.

“We will take the time necessary develop the detail of our policy with the people directly affected by it.”

The Scottish government is also launching a call today (Friday, September 29) asking the sector to participate in interviews, surveys, online and in-person workshops, over the coming months to help shape future support and how it is delivered.

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The amount of agricultural land in England stands at 8.8 million hectares, or 68% of all land, according to new statistics from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The agricultural land use in England release contains the estimates of crop areas, land use and land ownership on commercial agricultural holdings in England on June 1, 2023, from the June Survey of Agriculture.

The utilised agricultural area (UAA) includes all arable and horticultural crops; uncropped arable land; land used for outdoor pigs; temporary and permanent grassland; and common rough grazing.

The total croppable area accounts for over half (55%) of the total UAA in England, and saw little change between 2022 and 2023 – remaining at just under 4.9 million hectares.

Permanent grassland accounts for an additional 40% of UAA and has decreased by 2.9% to 3.5 million hectares in 2023.

The area of agricultural land owned in England decreased by 0.5% to just under 6.2 million hectares in 2023.

Land rented in for a year or more fell by 0.9% and now stands at just under 2.9 million hectares.

Crops

The total area of arable crops saw a 1.3% decrease between 2022 and 2023, falling to just under 3.7 million hectares.

Cereals account for the majority (70%) of the total arable crop area, covering just under 2.6 million hectares in 2023.

The area of wheat decreased by 5.3% to 1.58 million hectares, whilst barley increased by 2.2% to 799 thousand hectares.

The area of oilseed crops increased by 3.4% to 369,000ha in 2023. Oilseed rape accounts for 93% of this area and rose by 6.1% to 342,000ha in 2023.

Potatoes decreased by 12%, falling to 82,000ha in 2023.

The remaining arable crops covered 670,000ha. Field beans and maize together account for almost two thirds of this area. Fields beans rose by 1.2% while maize saw a larger increase of 7.5% between 2022 and 2023.

The area of horticultural crops covers 117,000ha of land, a decrease of 6.3% compared to 2022.

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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced £12.5 million in funding for the development of robotic technologies for sustainable farming.

19 projects will receive a share of the Defra funding through the Farming Futures Automation and Robotics competition.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer announced the funding today (Thursday, September 28) with the aim of boosting productivity, food security and sustainable farming practices in the UK.

Some projects that will avail of the funding include:

• A system to accurately predict and enhance quality of strawberry yields, reduce waste and optimise labour and harvesting schedules;
• A system to digitally map and monitor vineyards using drones, robots and sensors;
• A navigation system for field-based robotic vehicles to improve accuracy and reliability and enable safe navigation in farmyard and field operations. 

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said: “Farmers are always forward-looking, and innovation is key to driving a resilient, productive and sustainable agriculture sector that puts food on our tables. 

“The government stands firmly behind agri-tech innovation as the cornerstone of modern farming practices.

“By providing opportunities, funding and a supportive ecosystem within the sector, we aim to empower farmers, drive innovation and create a sustainable and prosperous future for agriculture across the UK.” 

Farming Innovation Programme

At the World Agri-Tech Summit in London, Spencer outlined the range of competitions under the Farming Innovation Programme that aim to support farming sector investment in new technology.

This includes £10 million currently on offer through the third round of the Small R&D Partnerships competition to help businesses develop a new farming product and service and take it to commercialisation on the open market.

It also includes £4.5 million in funding through the Feasibility Studies Competition to support businesses and researchers through the testing phase of an idea that will improve the productivity, sustainability and resilience of farming.

All the funding for these competitions comes through the Farming Futures Automation and Robotics competition, which is part of Defra’s £270 million Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) and is delivered by Innovate UK.

The FIP has funded 17 competitions since opening in October of 2021.

Challenge director at Innovate UK, Dr Katrina Hayter, said: “Robotics and automation are crucial drivers in addressing the challenges posed by a growing global population and the need for sustainable practices in various sectors, including agriculture.

“By fostering innovation and research, we empower our farmers, growers, foresters and businesses to not only enhance productivity and economic growth but also to lead the way in sustainable practices.

“These projects are a testament to our commitment to improving environmental outcomes and reducing carbon emissions, ensuring a brighter and more sustainable future for our agricultural and horticultural communities.”

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Wales has introduced the first total ban on the use of snares and glue traps in the UK.

Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths announced the ban today (Tuesday, September 26) and said it will come into force on October 17, 2023.

From this date, the use of snares and glue traps will be illegal in Wales, and anyone found guilty of using a snare could face imprisonment or an unlimited fine or both.

The Welsh government said this is to help prevent “indiscriminate suffering” to animals.

Griffiths said: “The use of snares and glue traps are not compatible with the high animal welfare standards we strive for here in Wales. These methods can cause a great deal of suffering and harm to all animals.

“The banning of snares is a Programme for Government commitment and we have been working towards this day for a long time with partners and stakeholders. 

“Many animals, including those which were not the intended target of the snare, will be spared suffering as a result of this ban.”

Griffiths said banning snares is about preventing “inhumane methods” being used, and does not prevent predator control using other methods.

“There are also many more humane ways to control rodents than through the use of glue traps,” she said.

“I’m pleased Wales is leading the way on this issue, and we will continue to strive for high animal welfare standards.”

Snare and glue trap ban

The Welsh government said snares cause a great deal of suffering to animals and are indiscriminate, as they harm species they are not intended for such as otters, dogs and cats.

“An animal caught in a snare can endure acute pain and suffering,” the government said.

“Similarly glue traps cause suffering to the trapped animal, including the rodent it was intended for and other animals such as cats. 

“If pets such as cats are caught in a glue trap it can tragically lead to the animal being put to sleep as a result of the injuries sustained.”

The Welsh government said that, while rodent control is “essential where prevention has failed”, more humane and targeted methods are available in place of snares and glue traps.

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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has proposed a new digital system to remove paper processes from the bovine registration system.

The department has launched an eight-week consultation on an updated system, which will run until November 15, 2023.

The proposals would mean that the British Cattle Movement Service – which allows the government to identify and locate livestock in the event of an animal disease outbreak or food safety incident – would become digitalised.

The aim of the proposals, if implemented, is to make the system easier to navigate and less time consuming for keepers.

“These changes will enable the government to trace disease more quickly and effectively and help safeguard national public health and food safety,” the UK government said.

“This will also strengthen the UK position in international markets.”

Bovine registration

Biosecurity Minister Lord Benyon said: “By registering their cattle, farmers and keepers play an important role in protecting the national herd from insidious diseases such as bovine TB and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).

“I urge all those with an interest to respond to this consultation to help ease unnecessary administrative burdens and take advantage of digitisation, to make registration of cattle much easier.”

The UK government said it has engaged closely with industry to understand the difficulties of the current system, which also covers bison and buffalo – and how they can be resolved.

As well as the introduction of bovine electronic identification (BeID), other new proposals include a “fairer and more proportionate regulatory framework” and greater flexibility such as for late registration of calves, so that farmers do not suffer financially by having them excluded from the food chain, the government said.

This consultation forms part of the wider Livestock Information Transformation Programme, which will replace the existing domestic traceability databases with one multi-species platform.

“Bovines will have a new database that will make tracing individual animals quicker and easier, which will help to reduce the harm caused by a disease outbreak,” the government said.

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Applications for the Habitat Wales Scheme can be made from this Friday (September 29), the Welsh Minister for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, has announced.

Griffiths said contracts under the new agri-environment scheme will commence in January of 2024.

The Habitat Wales Scheme will be an interim scheme to ensure a “seamless transition” from the end of Glastir in December 2023 until the anticipated start of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) in 2025.

Griffiths said the scheme is an important part of Wales’ response to the nature emergency.

“It offers an opportunity to maintain and increase the area of habitat land under management across Wales and will be available to all eligible farmers, including Glastir Advanced, Commons and Organic farmers,” she said.

“It will ensure the work which has taken place through Glastir will continue and is extended as we work towards the introduction of the Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2025.”

‘Difficult financial situation’

Griffiths said members will be aware of the “incredibly difficult financial situation” that Wales is facing, which is having an impact across all portfolios.

“Our financial position is up to £900 million lower in real terms than we expected at the time of the last spending review in 2021, due to very high inflation and energy prices and the mismanagement of the economy by the UK government,” she said.

“As you’ll be aware, the cabinet has been working throughout the summer to do everything we can to mitigate these budgetary pressures.

“Once this work has been completed, I will be in a position to confirm the budget for the scheme.”

Griffiths said the Welsh government is opening the scheme now so that farmers who are interested can see the scheme details and proposed payment rates and apply, ready for contracts to begin in January.

“I would encourage anyone interested in continuing Wales’ proud tradition of agri-environment participation, which aims to benefit our native biodiversity and combat climate change, to give full consideration to applying to the Habitat Wales Scheme, once the application window opens,” she said.

Concerns

Earlier this month, the Welsh branch of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU Cymru) voiced concern that current Glastir contract holders could be left “worse off” as a result of the transition to the new Habitat Wales Scheme.

The union’s rural affairs board has said farmers are fearing the transition to the new environment scheme as it could result in loss of income.

Chair of the NFU Cymru rural affairs board, Hedd Pugh, said: “In a letter to the minister last month, NFU Cymru stressed the need to provide a stable and well-planned transition from current to future schemes.

“We have welcomed Welsh government’s reassurances that it intends to make this period of change as easy as possible for farmers through offering a fair transition over several years and making sure there is no cliff edge in funding.

“However, our concern is that Welsh government appears to have made a decision of such significance without comprehensive impact assessment and economic modelling. This is deeply concerning.”

Pugh said thousands of farmers with Glastir contracts face the prospect of a significant loss of income from the end of the year with Welsh government unable to provide any reassurance that the new, interim scheme will match levels of income currently received through Glastir.

“This is far from a ‘fair transition’,” he said.

“For contract holders, Glastir is a critical component of farm business incomes, including supporting the organic farming sector in Wales.

“With farm input costs through the roof and interest rates soaring, the loss of Glastir leaves farmers currently under contract in a worrying situation.”

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The UK government’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is seeking an international project support officer.

The vacancy is the grade of a higher executive officer in the VMD’s international office.

The VMD said the role is varied and fast-paced and the chosen candidate will sit centrally within its international office.

They will work within both the UK Food and Agriculture Organisation’s reference centre for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the VMD training centre with an approximate 50:50 split, subject to demands of each programme of work, the VMD said.

The annual salary range for the role is £33,827-£36,606 with pension scheme. Annual leave entitlement commences at 25 days.

Those interested in the role should apply via the UK government’s website before the closing date for applications – October 17, 2023.

The VMD said the primary purpose of the role of international project support officer is to facilitate the organisation and delivery of training and international activities.

These duties will be carried out in addition to maintaining the day-to-day functions of the international office.

“As a project support officer you will work closely with other members of the international office, including our training centre and reference centre leads,” the VMD said.

Veterinary Medicines Directorate

The VMD promotes animal health and welfare by assuring the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines.

It is an executive agency of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and contributes to its objectives related to the protection of public health and meeting high standards of animal welfare.

Its work also supplements that of the Food Standards Agency to protect and improve the safety of food in the UK.

The VMD employs around 165 people – a mixture of scientific and administrative staff – who work at offices near Addlestone, Surrey.

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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking a candidate to fill the role of head of water delivery.

The chosen candidate will be responsible for the high quality and effective running of the Plan for Water Delivery Programme.

The annual salary range is £49,403 – £61,392 and the head of water delivery will also receive a Civil Service pension.

Those interested in applying for the role should apply via the UK government’s website before the closing date for applications, which is Monday, October 2, 2023.

Responsibilities

On the role of head of water delivery, Defra said it is a “key role in one of the highest profile divisions in Defra”.

“You will lead regularly updating the Defra Secretary of State, No.10 Delivery Unit, and Defra’s Executive Committee,” the department said.

“You will work very closely with policy teams, be proactive to find solutions to unblock issues, and understand the subject water policy subject matter to spot the interdependencies.

“You will be responsible for the overall strategy for improving the water system. This includes analysing the contribution of actions towards our water goals and outcomes, developing and maintaining the theory of change for delivering clean and plentiful water, as well as engaging closely with Defra’s Arm’s-Length Bodies, the public and external stakeholders.”

Candidates applying for this role will be based at one of the Defra hubs. The core Defra hub locations are:

• York – the Kings Pool;
• Newcastle – Lancaster House;
• Bristol – Horizon House;
• London – 2 Marsham Street.

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Bus fares in rural areas of England have dropped by 11%, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has said.

Defra said the drops in fares are due to the £2 fare cap, which was introduced in January of this year.

The ‘Get Around for £2‘ scheme was originally scheduled to end on March 31, 2023, but was extended until October 31, 2023.

After October 31, it will then run at £2.50 until November of 2024.

Yesterday (September 21, 2023), new statistics from the Department of Transport (DfT) showed the overall price of bus fares in England, outside London, has dropped by 7.4% between June 2022 and June 2023, mainly due to the extension of the scheme.

The £2 fare cap has cut travel costs, particularly in rural areas, where buses are crucial for so many people to get around, with the average fare dropping by 10.8% in rural and non-metropolitan parts of England, Defra said.

Minister for Rural Affairs, Lord Benyon, said: “We are putting the needs of people and businesses in rural areas at the heart of policy-making.

“Bus services are a vital part of this, as a lifeline for communities and in supporting local businesses in our rural economy.

“By easing the cost of transport in some of our most remote areas, we can help bring people together and build on the wider work we are doing to help rural communities thrive.”

Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “Our ‘Get Around for £2’ scheme has slashed overall bus fares for millions across England, as we continue to help people save money on travel, boost transport connections and grow the economy.

“Whether you want to visit loved ones, head to work or attend a medical appointment, taking the bus continues to be a vital link for people to get around.”

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The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee has launched an inquiry to explore the relationship between education and land-based industries.

It also wants to analyse the effectiveness of current primary, secondary, further and higher education in “embedding awareness and equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary”. 

The deadline for submissions is 11:55p.m on Friday, November 3, 2023.

The committee said it will examine existing and potential initiatives aimed at promoting the career opportunities in land-based sectors and will consider any examples of best practice for this.

This includes both in the UK and abroad, and it will consider what more can be done to facilitate new entrants into land-based industries, including people from non-rural backgrounds and those considering a career change.

The committee said it will also consider the accessibility and availability of land-based courses and how equipped institutions are to teach them.  

The EFRA Committee is seeking views that address any or all of the following issues:

• How can the understanding and awareness of career opportunities in land-based sectors be improved among children and young adults?;
• How effective is the education system at supporting young people seeking careers in land-based sectors?;
• What more can be done to facilitate new entrants, including those from non-rural backgrounds, into land-based sectors, including those considering a career change?;
• Are colleges offering land-based education accessible and available to those seeking to enrol in courses? Are there gaps in coverage and if so, how can these be addressed?;
• Do colleges offering land-based education have the appropriate facilities and funding to enable effective teaching? What more can be done to make this teaching more effective?;
• What role should schools, colleges, universities, and local and central government play in promoting and supporting careers in land-based sectors?;
• How can more children, young people and adults be provided with opportunities to see the career opportunities in land-based sectors first-hand? Are there examples of initiatives doing this successfully?
• Are there domestic or international examples of best practice in successfully promoting educational opportunities and careers in land-based sectors?

Making a submission

Written evidence must address the terms of reference, but the EFRA Committee stresses that submissions do not have to address every point. 

The committee will decide whether to accept each submission. If a submission is accepted by the committee, it will usually be published online.

It will then be available permanently for anyone to view. It can’t be changed or removed. If there is a name or any personal information included in the submission, that will normally be published too.

The committee asked potential contributors to consider how much personal information they want or need to share. 

“If you include personal information about other people in your submission, the committee may decide not to publish it. Your contact details will never be published,” the EFRA Committee said.

“Decisions about publishing evidence anonymously, or about accepting but not publishing evidence, are made by the committee. 

“If you would like to ask the committee to accept your submission anonymously (meaning it will be published but without your name), or confidentially (meaning it won’t be published at all), you can make this request when you upload your submission.”

The committee said it has discretion over which submissions it accepts as evidence, and which of those it then publishes on its website.

“We may anonymise or redact some of your submission if it is published. The committee may decide to accept evidence on a confidential basis,” it said.

“Confidential submissions remain available to the committee but are not published or referred to in public. All written evidence will be considered by the committee, whether or not it is published.

“If your evidence raises any safeguarding concerns about you, or other people, then the committee has a duty to raise these with the appropriate safeguarding authority.”

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The UK government has announced an additional £1 million in funding for training courses in forestry and arboriculture across England.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Forestry Commission announced the funding yesterday (Thursday, September 21) and said it was due to “exceptional demand”.

The funding joins the £675 million from the UK government’s Nature for Climate Fund and is primarily aimed at those considering changing their careers to one in forestry or arboriculture (tree cultivation), as well as those already working in the sector.

Defra and the Forestry Commission said the funding will create more green jobs and boost the workforce of 30,000 even further.

The new funding will cover training courses in a range of areas, including:

• Chainsaw operation;
• Operating heavy machinery;
• Planning and planting new woodland;
• Deer management;
• Marketing and selling timber;
• Aerial tree pruning; and
• Branch removal.

The Forestry and Arboriculture Fund

Formerly known as the Forestry Training Fund, the Forestry and Arboriculture Fund has received “exceptionally high uptake” since its launch in February this year, with over 150 short course training providers having registered to offer courses and 1,100 training places already funded for the next two years, Defra said.

The fund has now been extended to cover arboriculture courses, with £250,000 ringfenced specifically for courses which cover the care, management and safety of amenity trees, through skills such as aerial tree pruning, branch removal, and assisted felling. 

Forestry Minister, Trudy Harrison said: “As tree-planting and woodlands across the country increase, so must our forestry workforce. 

“We are committed to growing the sector and increasing green jobs which will be made possible through this significant funding of Forestry and Arboriculture courses, as we continue to ensure at least 16.5% of the country is covered in trees by 2050.”

Forestry Commission chief executive, Richard Stanford said: “England’s forestry sector plays an essential part in creating resilient forests and woodlands which improve our natural environment, helping meet net zero carbon emissions, provide a sustainable source of home-grown timber and boost people’s health and wellbeing.

“The additional funding provided through the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund, will ensure that more people across the country, from all backgrounds, are able to build and diversify their skills in forestry.

“I encourage anyone looking to join the sector or upskill to apply today.”

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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited students at Writtle University College today (Thursday, September 21) to discuss food and the farming sector.

The Essex-based college recently saw its students in the UK’s first ever regenerative agriculture course graduate with their degrees.

Today, Sunak joined the university’s engineering apprentices for a lesson on tractor maintenance before talking to students studying agriculture and animal science degrees.

Director of higher education at Writtle University College, Caroline Flanagan, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Prime Minister to WUC.

“We have been teaching land-based courses for 130 years and we’re proud to introduce the next generation to a rewarding, fast-moving industry which draws upon exciting scientific advancements, and which has a huge part to play in delivering environmental sustainability.”

Apprentices in land-based service engineering spoke to Sunak about their workshop, while demonstrating their understanding of agricultural machinery.

Writtle University College said said these students are part of a partnership launched last year by it and and CNH Industrial which seeks to address the skills gap for specialist engineers within the agriculture sector.

Other students showcased a flock of New Zealand Romneys and shared the course work being done on regenerative agriculture at the university.

Regenerative agriculture

Last week, the first people in the UK to undertake an Honours Bachelor’s degree in regenerative agriculture graduated.

The degree was launched by Writtle University College in 2020.

The college said that the regenerative agriculture course responds to the “importance and immediacy” of the challenges facing global agriculture.

Dr Anya Perera of Writtle University College congratulated the graduates and labelled them as the “thought-leaders of the future”.

“They take a progressive approach to farming production systems that encompasses sustainable practice and responds to political, economic and scientific change,” she said.

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The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has called for clear labelling on animal products to stop “misleading” the public.

The RSPCA said consumers are being “denied the chance” to make informed choices about the food they eat and called for the UK government to act by introducing mandatory labelling on all animal products.

The charity’s ‘Change Starts With The Choice‘ campaign aims to see mandatory labels put on meat and dairy products to provide “transparency” for the public on the way the animals have been reared.

The RSPCA’s head of public affairs, David Bowles, said there is little information available to consumers to show them how farm animals have been reared.

“Instead, the public can be shown images of rolling green hills and animals in the sunshine which can be incredibly misleading and not reflective of reality in many cases,” he said.

“This is especially true of intensive farming practices which still account for around 70% of all land farming in the UK.

“No one wants to unwittingly contribute to low animal welfare, and support practices that they don’t agree with.”

Bowles said the public has a right to clear and consistent labelling so they can make an “informed choice” about the products they buy – including produce imported from abroad.

“Positively, there is support for mandatory labelling not only from consumers but from the retailers selling the products and the farmers who are committed to higher welfare farming practices and deserve to have that commitment recognised; so the time has clearly come for the UK government to act,” he said.

RSPCA survey

A new survey carried out by the charity revealed that more than four out of five people (81%) think having a level of knowledge about the condition the animals have been reared and kept in is important when purchasing products.

79% believe that they can improve animal welfare through their purchasing habits. 

The survey also revealed that 61% of the UK population would only buy higher welfare options if there was clearer labelling on products, the RSPCA said.

“However, most animal products in the food industry are not currently required to have mandatory labelling that indicates how the animal was reared,” it said.

“This means that people can’t make informed decisions about what to buy and struggle to know whether farm animals have had a good, or better, life.”

The RSPCA said it believes improved labelling should also apply to imported products which would help to safeguard and differentiate British farmers against low welfare imports which could flood supermarket shelves as a result of recent trade agreements.

Despite a cost of living crisis, the survey also revealed that 53% of people would pay more for food with clear labelling on how the animal was reared.

“This demonstrates just how important it is to consumers that they can buy products from animals that have been cared for to higher welfare standards, such as those products labelled RSPCA Assured, organic or free range,” the RSPCA said.

Bowles said consumer buying behaviour with eggs proves that, given the choice, the public want to purchase “higher welfare food”.

“It is therefore long overdue that labelling is extended to all animal products,” he said.

“We want to see decision-makers commit to introducing mandatory method of production labelling on all animal products.

“And we are urging the UK government to launch a consultation on this issue as a first step to ensure everyone’s voices are heard and real change can happen.”

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has scrapped a proposal to tax meat as part of the government’s new plan to meet net zero.

In a speech this afternoon, the Prime Minister confirmed: “I’m also scrapping the proposal to make you change your diet – and harm British farmers – by taxing meat.”

However, this was never put forward as an official proposal.

This is one of many changes to the government’s approach to meeting net zero announced today (Wednesday, September 20).

Other measures that have been scrapped include taxes to discourage flying; sorting rubbish into several different bins; expensive installation upgrades; and compulsory car sharing.

The government has also extended deadlines to transition to clean energy.

“That means you’ll still be able to buy new petrol and diesel cars and vans until 2035, in line with countries like Germany and France,” Sunak said today.

“It also means we’ll never force anyone to rip out their old boiler for an expensive heat pump, which for a family living in a terraced house in Darlington, could cost up to £10,000.”

Sunak said these reversals are possible because the UK has already “overdelivered” on previous targets to date.

“Given this progress, reaching our targets does not need to come unnecessarily at the expense of people facing higher costs – and that’s why today we can ease the burden on working families,” he said.

“We will continue to meet our international agreements,” the Prime Minister added.

Good for rural homes?

Country Land and Business Association (CLA) president Mark Tufnell has welcomed the U-turn on mandatory installation upgrades.

“We strongly support efforts to improve the environment, but some of these proposals were simply unachievable and counterproductive,” he said.

“Due to the nature of their construction, many rural properties cannot be suitably upgraded. 

“Forcing many landlords to spend at least £10,000 on works with no guarantee such investment would actually improve carbon emissions risked damaging the supply of rural housing during a cost-of-living crisis – we know many good, responsible landlords have already sold up.

“The proposed 2026 ban on off-grid oil boilers would have affected one million – largely rural – households, targetting the highest-hanging fruit first as it would have come nearly a decade before a similar ban on new gas boilers. While heat pumps are an option for some, they are not feasible or cost-effective for all.”

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£250,000 has been made available to Scottish crofters in the latest round of the Scottish Government’s Croft House Grant Scheme.

The aim of this funding is to help crofters and their families to build their family home or make vital improvements to their croft house, safeguarding their future.

“Crofters are vitally important to our rural and island communities. They play an integral role contributing to the long-term sustainability of these often fragile areas,” Environment Minister Gillian Martin said.

“The Croft House Grant enables crofters to achieve the full potential of their crofts while generating economic success, something that I have seen firsthand on a recent visit to Argyll.

“It is also a vital source of funding for people who have aspirations to live on a croft but may struggle to afford it.”

The Croft House Grant Scheme approved over £400,000 to 15 crofters this year, eight of which are part of Scotland’s island communities.

Funding may be used for – but is not limited to – major repairs; internal improvements; rebuilding work; and energy efficiency improvements.

According to the latest data from the Register of Crofts (ROC), there were 16,785 registered crofters in Scotland in 2022.

53% of ROC survey participants made less than £10,0001 in 2022, and 38% made no income.

The average income was £4,538 and the median was calculated as £500.

One in ten crofters who had invested in their croft during the 2019-2022 period reported additional income because of the investment. The median reported additional income has fallen from £1,500 in 2018, to £1,000 in 2022.

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141 hen harrier chicks have fledged in England this year, making 2023 the seventh year in a row that numbers have increased.

The statistics were released today (Saturday, September 16) by Natural England and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

In 2023, 54 nests were recorded (up from 49 last year), of which 36 were successful (34 last year). This represents an average of 3.9 chicks per successful nest. 

Northumberland had the highest number of nesting attempts with 17 in total, and the highest increase on the year before where nine nests were recorded.

The Yorkshire Dales and Nidderdale area also remained a strong hold, Natural England said, with 15 nests recorded in 2023.  

The increase in hen harrier chicks successfully fledging means that 2023 is another record year, Natural England said, following 119 chicks recorded from nests in County Durham, Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland and Yorkshire in 2022. 

There are now more hen harriers in England since they were lost as a breeding species around 200 years ago.

Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper, said:  “The continuing year on year increase in the number of hen harriers fledging from English nests is fantastic to see, and shows how through partnership work it is possible to reverse nature’s decline, even in the most challenging of circumstances.

“The encouraging numbers we see again this year are testament to the volunteers, landowners and partner organisations who have worked so hard to support and monitor these birds. 

“Today’s news is, however, overshadowed by continuing illegal persecution, which despite all the good practice among many landowners still stubbornly persists.”

Juniper said much more needs to be done to protect these birds and Natural England remains committed to stamping out the “despicable killing” of them.

“We will continue to work hard, improving monitoring and conservation management to achieve long term recovery,” he said.

Brood-managed chicks

The fledglings recorded this year includes 24 brood-managed chicks, taken from six nests on grouse moors and reared to fledging in captivity.

The brood management programme is an experiment to see if removing hen harrier chicks from grouse moors for rearing in captivity for later release reduces conflict with game shooting and reduces persecution sufficiently to allow populations to recover.

Natural England said it is committed to a full scientific investigation of this technique and the brood management trial has recently been extended to further understand the impact this has had on their conservation. 

Despite this progress, Natural England said the illegal killing of birds of prey remains a “serious and ongoing issue” which it is working alongside the police and National Wildlife Crime Unit to tackle. 

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GSC Grays has said the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), despite its problems and delays, may prove to be a “game changer” for farmers.

Rural director at the rural land and property specialist, Greg Ricketts, said the scheme has the potential to boost income for farmers and help them improve their farming technique.

The SFI is currently accepting expressions of interest and will start accepting applications from September 18.

“For some farm businesses, SFI 2023 could be a real game changer in terms of income generation and farming technique,” Ricketts said.

“Perhaps the real beneficiaries will be lowland grass farms which, according to Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), are set to experience a 53% decrease in farm profitability between 2022 and 2023 due to increased input costs and reduced Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments.

“The government have thought seriously about the initiative and are looking to roll out payments for practices which improve productivity, reduce costs, and reduce reliance on support payments.”

Ricketts said that this is likely to result in farmers having to make “quite significant changes” to their businesses, and that carrying on as they have been farming is not likely to be a realistic option for many.

“It would result in more casualties if farmers chose not to change but it also provides farmers with a springboard to create a business that, over time, will be financially viable without the need to be waiting for the annual government payment,” he said.

Herbal leys

Some grassland farmers have already started to introduce herbal leys, GSC Grays said, but did not want the complexity of trying to put in 13 different species as required under a Countryside Stewardship legume and herb rich sward (GS4).

“Under SFI, herbal leys (SAM3) need only two grasses, two herbs and two legumes, allowing farmers to adapt their farming system slightly,” the agency said.

“This means they receive a payment greater than the basic payment (BPS) which they have received historically,” Ricketts said.

“More importantly, in our opinion, there is a focus on profitable production with reduced dependency on feed, fertiliser and fuel inputs and cost which achieves a more profitable system.

“At GSC Grays, we have seen situations where most of the farm is established with herbal leys (£382/ha) where the SFI scheme could deliver a significantly greater overall return than the previous BPS system.”

Initially, Ricketts said there might be some reduction in productivity of livestock but, if balanced correctly against the reduced inputs, the system could still be more profitable going forward than it has been.

“I appreciate the (above) example is at the extreme end of SFI options available, but it highlights the overall potential of SFI to certain farm types,” he said.

“Even where implementation of SFI is not quite as extreme as our example above, there are options for introduction of legumes into grassland swards (£102/ha) and low input grass (£151/ha) which all grassland farmers should be looking at.

“For arable farmers, whilst the payments per hectare may not be quite as great as for grassland, there are still opportunities available where businesses can be adaptable. To benefit from SFI arable farmers must consider their wider rotations.”

SFI options

Ricketts said many farming businesses, because they have been receiving the BPS, have been farming in ways that “do not leave an acceptable margin”, but have continued to do so because the BPS “bailed them out”.

“Now each business needs to assess whether what they are doing is leaving an acceptable profit after all costs are taken into account,” he said.

“If it does not, they need to ask why they are doing it and should they be looking at alternative options.

“The issue on farms now is determining what to put into the SFI options for each individual farm, rather than the application process itself. This is where some specialist advice and guidance from farm business consultants might be required.”

GSC Grays said it expects further announcements about the additional standards that will become available in 2024 by the end of this year, with the full suite of SFI options available by January 2025.

“We also believe that the scheme will evolve over time and the objective of farmers should be to develop farming systems which are profitable without support,” it said.

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Farmers will have additional time to complete their Countryside Stewardship 2024 applications as long as they were started before the deadline of today (Friday, September 15).

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed the additional time today, stating that any farmer struggling to meet the deadline will still be able to benefit from the scheme.

Defra said last month that, following feedback from farmers, the application window for the 2024 Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements was extended by four weeks until today to give more time for farmers and landowners to submit their applications on online.

For all farmers and landowners who started their application by this deadline or who submitted land changes with the intention to apply, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will support them to ensure they have sufficient time to complete these, Defra said.

Since the deadline was extended, over 600 further applications have been received, bringing the total number of Countryside Stewardship 2024 applications to 6,000. 

This builds on the 33,000 Countryside Stewardship agreements successfully in place across England for 2023 – a 94% increase in since 2020.  

Countryside Stewardship runs alongside the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and landscape recovery schemes.

Food and Farming Secretary, Thérèse Coffey, said: “I want as many farmers as possible to be able to sign up to our successful Countryside Stewardship scheme which is boosting food production, protecting the planet, and supporting farmers to run profitable businesses.   

“This is why I extended the initial deadline for Countryside Stewardship 2024 and am making sure that anyone who started their application by the deadline will be given the time and support to complete this.”

Countryside Stewardship

Defra said the UK government continues to listen to feedback from farmers on its schemes – including the Countryside Stewardship.

“Improvements to the Countryside Stewardship scheme have included increasing payment rates on both revenue and capital items; simplifying and improving options to make them more workable on the ground; and making administration around applications and payments more efficient,” it said.

“Further improvements to the system are also in train, including greater flexibility over when farmers can apply and how they manage their agreements, with improved access for tenant farmers and increased access to Higher Tier options and agreements; and the introduction of Countryside Stewardship Plus to encourage the right things being done in the right places, enable local join-up to deliver bigger and better results and facilitate testing of innovative payment mechanisms such as payment by results. “

SFI

On Wednesday (September 13), the government confirmed that farmers who have a live Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 (SFI) agreement before the end of the year will receive an accelerated payment – worth 25% of the annual value of their agreement – in the first month of their agreement.

Defra said the payment date has been brought forward “in recognition of the challenges faced with inflation and rising input costs”.

The department announced at the end of August that farmers could start registering their interest for the scheme from August 30, and that applications would begin to be accepted from Monday, September 18.

Farmers are able to be in the Countryside Stewardship and the SFI at the same time as long as the actions are compatible, and they are not being paid for the same action twice.

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The National Farmers’ Union of Scotland (NFUS) has asked the UK government to consider the consequences that its “lax approach” to introducing post-Brexit border controls could have in relation to African swine fever (ASF).

The union is issuing a warning about border controls following the discovery of ASF in Sweden for the first time earlier this month.

NFUS pigs committee chair, Jamie Wyllie, said: “Without proper border checks and enforcement, we have little chance of stopping this disease.

“Recent confirmation that it is to further delay border controls on animal and plant products imported from the EU, with the process now expected to start at the end of January 2024 and be completed in October next year, is seriously disappointing and continues to leave pig producers exposed to the introduction of ASF.

“The UK government still insists ASF is a medium risk when reporting disease but without border controls and the disease still spreading in Europe, NFU Scotland believes this should be moved to high.” 

ASF

The NFUS issued a reminder to producers and the public on steps they should be taking to prevent ASF from reaching the UK.

“ASF is a disease that affects only pigs, but were it to arrive in the UK, it would have a devastating impact on our pig herd,” the NFUS said.

Because of this, it said, it is reiterating three messages:

• For the public: Don’t bring pork products into the country for personal consumption or resale;
• For farmers: Revisit your biosecurity measures around visitors and food waste;
• For the UK government: “Protect our Borders”.

Wyllie said the growing threat of ASF on mainland Europe continues to “loom over all pig producers in the UK”.

“The impact and severity on our pig herd, were ASF to reach these shores, cannot be underestimated,” he said.

“At farm level, biosecurity remains our first line of defence and producers need to consider who and what they allow on their farm.

“For the public, we urge them to comply with the requirement that no pork products should be brought into the UK for personal consumption.”

Sweden’s first ASF case

Sweden’s National Veterinary Institute confirmed earlier this month that a case of the highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs was found from a sample of a dead wild boar found southeast of Fagersta – 145km from Stockholm.

The country’s National Veterinary Institute (SVA) said seven wild boars have been found dead in the Fagersta area since August 25, 2023.

SVA said it is currently not clear how the disease came to Sweden, but that it is assumed it has been introduced through human activity and not wild boar.

Lena Hellqvist Björnerot of the Swedish Board of Agriculture said: “The contingency plan we have had for a long time is now being implemented.

“We are also taking note of experiences from other countries that have been in a similar situation.”

SVA said relevant authorities are now working intensively to localise, contain and control the infection.

Results from samples of more dead boar have not been released yet, however, SVA said the carcasses that have been found and sampled are within the core area where the positive cases have already been detected, so there are no carcass findings that “change the picture” of the outbreak.

ASF in Europe

Prior to ASF being recorded in Sweden, according to the International Disease Monitoring report for Europe in August, outbreaks of ASF in domestic pigs have been reported in:

• Serbia (353);
• Bosnia and Herzegovina (326);
• Romania (102);
• Croatia (95);
• Russia (8);
• Italy (4);
• Moldova (4);
• Ukraine (4).
• Latvia (3);
• Poland (2).

Cases of ASF in wild boar have been reported in:

• Latvia (200);
• Poland (106);
• Italy (31);
• Hungary (22);
• Serbia (17);
• Germany (8);
• Czech Republic (7);
• Romania (3);
• Russia (3);
• Bosnia and Herzegovina (3);
• Republic of North Macedonia (2);
• Ukraine (1).

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), ASF has become a “major crisis” for the pork industry in recent years and is responsible for massive losses in pig populations and drastic economic consequences.

“Currently affecting several regions around the world, and with no effective vaccine, the disease is not only impeding animal health and welfare but has also detrimental impacts on biodiversity and the livelihoods of farmers,” it said.

WOAH said the disease can have a mortality rate of 100%.

The is currently no effective vaccine against ASF. It does not pose a threat to human health, but can be easily spread by humans across country borders.

“The virus is highly resistant in the environment, meaning that it can survive on clothes, boots, wheels, and other materials. It can also survive in various pork products, such as ham, sausages or bacon,” WOAH said.

“Therefore, human behaviours can play an important role in spreading this pig disease across borders if adequate measures are not taken.”

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The Welsh branch of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU Cymru) has voiced concern that current Glastir contract holders could be left “worse off” as a result of the transition to the new Habitat Cymru scheme

The union’s rural affairs board has said farmers are fearing the transition to the new environment scheme as it could result in loss of income.

The Habitat Cymru scheme is set to replace Glastir Advanced, Commons and Organic area-based contracts which come to an end in December 2023 ahead of the introduction of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) in 2025.

The scheme is expected to provide a payment per hectare of eligible habitat land including habitat land previously under management in 2023; additional mapped habitat land, not currently under paid management; as well as maintaining environmental support for common land.

The Welsh government’s interim habitat scheme for 2024 was top of the agenda at NFU Cymru’s rural affairs board, which met earlier this month, the union said.

Chair of the NFU Cymru rural affairs board, Hedd Pugh, said: “In a letter to the minister last month, NFU Cymru stressed the need to provide a stable and well-planned transition from current to future schemes.

“We have welcomed Welsh government’s reassurances that it intends to make this period of change as easy as possible for farmers through offering a fair transition over several years and making sure there is no cliff edge in funding.

“However, our concern is that Welsh government appears to have made a decision of such significance without comprehensive impact assessment and economic modelling. This is deeply concerning.”

Pugh said thousands of farmers with Glastir contracts face the prospect of a significant loss of income from the end of the year with Welsh government unable to provide any reassurance that the new, interim scheme will match levels of income currently received through Glastir.

“This is far from a ‘fair transition’,” he said.

“For contract holders, Glastir is a critical component of farm business incomes, including supporting the organic farming sector in Wales.

“With farm input costs through the roof and interest rates soaring, the loss of Glastir leaves farmers currently under contract in a worrying situation.”

Pugh said NFU Cymru believes that the Welsh government should consider offering Glastir extensions for 2024 with the new interim habitat scheme offered to non-Glastir contract holders.

“The maintenance of current funding levels for farming through the Basic Payment Scheme in 2024, alongside the provision of adequate funding for agri-environment is going to be essential to maintaining the confidence of the industry ahead of Welsh government’s proposed introduction of the Sustainable Farming Scheme from 2025,” he said.

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British red meat and dairy products will take “pride of place” in front of an international audience at Anuga, a global trade fair for the food industry, this year.

This is according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), which be joined by 13 British red meat exporters at the Meat Hall at Anuga in Cologne from October 7-11, 2023.

14 dairy exporters will also be on the British dairy pavilion in a collaboration between AHDB and the UK government.

The trade fair follows the introduction of the new UK Subsidy Control Act which enables AHDB to feature the term “British” and the union flag more prominently in its promotional work.

AHDB head of international trade development, Jonathan Eckley, said AHDB is excited to showcase the union flag at Anuga 2023 and highlight the “exceptional quality” of British red meat and dairy products.

“Our participation reflects the commitment to deliver on the objectives to develop international markets for our producers, provide valuable market analysis and insights, and promote the reputation of our products to foreign buyers,” he said.

“We aim to lay the groundwork for every British producer to see how important exporting is in underpinning the future of their farmgate returns.

“Anuga presents a unique opportunity to further strengthen existing partnerships, establish new connections, and bolster the reputation of British red meat and dairy in the global marketplace.”

Anuga 2023

At the event, visitors will have the opportunity to taste quality red meat and dairy products that are naturally and sustainably produced by British farmers, AHDB said.

According to the board, Anuga 2023 is the most important event in the calendar this year for the global food industry, and is expected to attract in excess of 100,000 visitors from around the world.

In addition to the exporters, four farming influencers have also been given the opportunity to attend the trade fair with the aim of gaining valuable insights into the workings of global trade and promote British pork, beef, lamb and dairy.

AHDB senior exports manager, Lucy Randolph, said: “Anuga illustrates how the collaborative approach between industry, AHDB and government can help our exporters seize the opportunities presented on the global stage.

“This collaborative approach will build on the government’s commitment earlier this year to invest £2 million to boost its programme of global trade shows and missions, £1.6 million for the GREAT food and drink campaign and a new £1 million bespoke export support fund for the dairy sector.

“We welcome the government’s commitment which will complement AHDB’s £8million annual investment in exports to facilitate trade and grow our reputation as a producer of quality, safe and wholesome food.”

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The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has said more needs to be done on the issue of farm support, as farmers are facing a “cashflow crisis”.

The union said it is welcoming a number of recent government announcements on farming and growing, but warns that this is not enough.

Earlier this month, the NFU said farmers are facing a “bleak end to 2023” due to delays in the roll out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).

It called for the government to “do the right thing” and bridge the financial gap in farm support caused by the changeover in support schemes from the old Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) to SFI.

Serious challenges have been mounting with significant delays to the start of the SFI, which should have been up and running to deliver payments by December, the NFU said.

NFU President Minette Batters said: “We have heard a number of welcome announcements this week, and credit where it’s due, farmers will be pleased government has listened to them.

“But the backdrop to these pieces of good news is that many farmers continue to face a bleak end to the year, with money they were promised, and rely on, not coming.

“While we have been working hard to prepare for changes to the essential support schemes that support farming and environmental management, delays in the rollout of the new scheme, coupled with reductions in the current scheme, mean most farmers have been unable to access the new SFI while facing significant holes in their finances from the withdrawal of BPS.”

SFI

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced at the end of August that farmers could start registering their interest for the scheme from August 30, and that applications would begin to be accepted from Monday, September 18.

However, the NFU said the SFI should have been up and running to deliver payments by December, but “critical delays” in the roll out of the scheme mean most farmers are unable to access it.

“Under the current plans the SFI is open to the few and not the majority,” Batters said.

“The lack of budget transparency in Defra makes it almost impossible to know where the BPS money, initially earmarked for SFI in 2023-24, has gone.

“In the short-term, we need the government to bridge the gap it has created in taking away one set of payments before delivering access to their replacements by ensuring farm support payments made in December are not capped as currently planned.”

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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Environment Agency, and water services agency Ofwat may have broken environmental law, according to an investigation by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).

This possible failure is in relation to the regulation of combined sewer overflows (CSO), which the OEP had been investigating following a complaint alleging failures to comply with legal duties relating to the monitoring and enforcement of the management of sewage. 

The OEP believes that there may have been failures to comply with environmental laws by all three of the public authorities and has issued Information Notices to each of them setting out the details of those possible failures. 

The three authorities have two months to respond to the notices by setting out their response to the allegations and what steps, if any, they’ll take in relation to them.

Environmental Audit Committee chair, Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP, said this investigation confirms committee findings from January 2022.

“In January 2022 the Environmental Audit Committee reported that there were ‘multiple potential points of failure in the regulatory arrangements for monitoring, governance and enforcement of water quality’,” he said.

“The OEP’s information notice today, issued after a thorough investigation, tends to confirm this sorry state of affairs.”

Investigation

Helen Venn, OEP’s chief regulatory officer, believes that the issue at its core is misinterpretation of “key points of law”.

“The core of the issue is that where we interpret the law to mean that untreated sewage discharges should generally be allowed only in exceptional circumstances, such as during unusually heavy rainfall, it appears that the public authorities may have interpreted the law differently, permitting such discharges to occur more often,” she said.

“This then has consequences for the regulatory activity that follows. The guidance provided by government to regulators, and the permitting regime they put in place for the water companies, possibly allow untreated sewage discharges to occur more regularly than intended by the law without risk of sanction.

“This is what has created the possible failures to comply that we have identified. 

“Clarifying this point will ensure future efforts to improve water quality are built on a solid foundation. We will consider the responses from all three public authorities in detail before deciding next steps,” she added.

Three public authorities

A Defra spokesperson has said that while it does not agree with the OEP’s initial interpretations, it will continue to work “constructively” with the OEP on this issue.

“The volume of sewage discharged is completely unacceptable,” the spokesperson added

“That is why we are the first government in history to take such comprehensive action to tackle it, driving forward more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement – and it’s why we are introducing a legally binding target to reduce storm overflows.”

“We welcome this investigation from the Office for Environmental Protection and we share their ambition to drive improvements in water quality,” a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said.

“We will always take action against companies that do not follow the rules or those that are deliberately obstructive. We have secured fines of over £150 million and are conducting our largest ever criminal investigation into potential permit non-compliance at sewage treatment works.”

An Ofwat spokesperson also welcomed the OEP’s considerations, “particularly on the clarity of responsibilities for the protection of the environment and we will work with them as their investigation moves forward”.

“Our position at Ofwat remains clear, water companies’ performance on the environment is simply not good enough,” the spokesperson added.

“We will keep pushing for the change and the improvements that the public rightly expects and where we can learn lessons or do things better, we will do so.”

Alleged environmental law failures

For Defra, the potential failures relate to the requirements of urban waste water legislation, water quality legislation, and Defra’s duty to make enforcement orders where sewerage companies fail to comply with their own duties to effectually deal with sewage.

For the Environment Agency, the potential failures relate to the requirements of urban waste water legislation and the Agency’s resulting role in devising guidance, setting permit conditions for CSOs, and reviewing and enforcing of such conditions.

For Ofwat, the potential failures relate to its interpretation of sewerage undertakers’ duties to effectually deal with sewage and Ofwat’s duty to make enforcement orders where sewerage undertakers fail to comply with such duties.

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The launch of a new National Centre in Scotland will reduce health inequalities and improve the delivery of healthcare services in rural communities, the Scottish government announced today (Friday, September 8).

The National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care is expected to launch next month and will seek to improve the capability of remote, rural and island primary care and enhance the delivery of community-based services.

The centre will be supported by funding of £3 million from 2023-2026. NHS Education for Scotland will lead work to establish the centre with an initial focus on the provision of primary care.

The centre will work with NHS boards virtually and locally to improve rural workforce and retention and develop new and innovative services to help deliver better results for patients.

It will look at innovative ways to upskill staff to help ensure people receive care as close to home as possible, the government said.

Announcing the plans, Health Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Rural and island communities have their own unique challenges when it comes to providing high quality healthcare.

“It is therefore essential that we do everything we can to make sure that these challenges are properly considered and addressed.

“Establishing this centre is a significant undertaking and will help us ensure that people living in rural communities can receive the care they need close to home.”

Matheson said he expects the centre to start by identifying approaches to improve rural primary care staff recruitment and develop the skills of remote and rural staff.

“We hope these measures will increase capacity to deliver care close to home for patients and ensure healthcare inequalities some rural communities currently face are significantly reduced,” he said.

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The Scottish government has today (Friday, September 8) announced £5 million in funding for its councils to develop nature networks across the country.

These networks will help tackle the nature and climate crises, the government said, and follows the launch of a consultation earlier this week on the proposed acceleration of nature recovery and regeneration in the country.

After the ‘Tackling the Nature Emergency: Consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity‘ closes on December 14, 2023, the Scottish government said targets for nature recovery could be put into law in line with those for climate change.

This new £5 million in funding for councils will allow local authorities to develop new woodlands, hedgerows, wildflower meadows and ponds, as well as restoring and joining together existing natural habitats.

The Scottish government said nature networks provide the opportunity to create and improve active travel spaces, mitigate flood risk and give spaces for people and communities to enjoy the natural environment.

Minister for local government empowerment and planning, Joe FitzPatrick, said: “We are facing twin climate and nature crises, and we have a responsibility to protect our natural environment for future generations.

“Local authorities have a key role to play through their engagement with communities to identify shared priorities and the projects that will best allow these to be met.

“The additional £5 million from the Nature Restoration Fund will allow councils to develop nature networks and build on the good work already delivered through support from the fund to support new, or to enhance existing, approaches to restoring biodiversity.”

Nature recovery

FitzPatrick said one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss is changes to how land is used, which causes habitats to be lost and/or broken up.

“Remaining habitats are often isolated and less resilient, meaning they struggle to support healthy plant and animal populations in the way they once did,” he said.

“If we are to reverse declines in biodiversity, it is vital to address this by developing robust networks for nature across Scotland.”

Chief executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Jo Pike, said the Scottish government has recognised that nature is in crisis and that concerted action is needed.

“We welcome the focus on nature networks as a way of stepping up our approach to bringing about nature’s recovery,” she said.

“Since 2019, the Scottish Wildlife Trust has been working with the City of Edinburgh Council, with input from a host of community organisations, to develop the Edinburgh Nature Network, which is the first of its kind.

“Every local authority is different but we hope that the methodology, which focuses strongly on local circumstances, will provide a sound foundation for work across Scotland.”

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The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has said it and its members need honesty from the Department for Environment, Food and and Rural Affairs (Defra) on the delivery of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).

The TFA said it held meetings today (Thursday, September 7) with Farming Minister Mark Spencer and the chief executive of the Rural Payments Agency (RPS), Paul Caldwell.

In the meetings, the association for UK tenant farmers said it called for urgent measures to either significantly improve the opportunity for farmers to get involved with the SFI or deliver other measures which recognise the “severe cash flow crisis” affecting farm businesses across England.

The TFA said it has scheduled a further meeting with Spencer on September 14 to review progress.

The association’s call echoes that of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), which recently urged Defra to “bridge the gap” it has created by taking away one set of payments, but not delivering access to their replacements on time.

TFA chief executive, George Dunn, said “We are encountering huge frustrations amongst TFA members over the lack of progress in rolling out the new schemes in Defra’s Agricultural Transition Plan (ATP) that will replace the 50% of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments set to be lost by the end of next year.

“For farm businesses already being hit by the impact of significant inflation in inputs and a downturn in market returns, lack of progress in the delivery of the ATP means robust business planning for the medium to long term has become virtually impossible.

“Additionally, Defra’s ability to meet its own environmental targets will also be negatively impacted.”

New payment schemes

Dunn said it is “hugely disappointing” that the department is unable to respond to the farming community’s appetite for new payments schemes.

“The announcement from Defra on Saturday (August 26) that expressions of interest for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2023 can now be lodged with claims active from September 18 is better news, but it leaves some key questions,” he said.

“With the Countryside Stewardship application window already extended, we need assurances that there will be sufficient capacity within the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to deal with both strands of work alongside its business-as-usual workload.

“Defra and the RPA must now move at pace to provide a straightforward mechanism to allow significant early uptake of SFI. As we have done all along, we will continue to provide robust scrutiny and challenge to Defra and the RPA to ensure they deliver.

“However, we need honesty now. If the pace of necessary implementation cannot be assured, this will be massively damaging to the cash flow of many farm businesses throughout the length and breadth of England and reneges on the promises made to the farming community that new public payments for public goods schemes would be put in place as BPS payments fell away. In this situation the inevitable conclusion is that, until the picture improves, this year’s Basic Payment Scheme reduction should be reversed and further planned reductions put on hold.

Dunn said farmers need a clear view of the way ahead, beyond the next election, setting out a forward plan for the ATP on a scheme-by-scheme basis.

“SFI will not be appropriate for all farm businesses and therefore we need to ensure that all the elements of the ATP are taken forward to achieve maximum benefit for individual farm businesses and for the delivery of public benefits,” he said.

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The Scottish government has today (Thursday, September 7) launched a consultation asking for views on its plans to accelerate nature restoration and regeneration in the country.

After the ‘Tackling the Nature Emergency: Consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity‘ closes on December 14, 2023, the government said targets for nature recovery could be put into law in line with those for climate change.

The consultation sets out the key elements of Scotland’s overall Biodiversity Framework, including:

• Scotland’s Biodiversity Strategy – published in draft form in December 2022 – setting out goals of halting biodiversity loss by 2030 and reversing declines by 2045;
• The first 5-year Delivery Plan to implement this strategy;
• A set of principles to guide the delivery of key commitments to conserve 30% of land for nature by 2030 and expand ‘nature networks’ across Scotland;
• Proposals for the upcoming Natural Environment Bill, including the introduction of statutory nature recovery targets which will be binding on government in the same way that climate change targets require ministers work towards meeting net zero targets; and
• Changes to National Parks legislation to strengthen the leadership role of National Parks in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises.

Biodiversity Minister Lorna Slater said: “We are at a tipping point for nature – it is in decline across the globe with around 1 million species already facing extinction.

“In Scotland alone, we have seen a 24% decline in abundance of wildlife since 1990; if we don’t take urgent action, nature in Scotland will continue to decline and important species will be lost forever.

“This week we have published our programme for government which recognises that the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss are global challenges of unprecedented proportions.”

Slater said restoring nature will reduce carbon emissions, and tackling the climate crisis is essential if Scotland is aiming to prevent extinctions.

“A nature-positive Scotland creates great opportunities that will benefit people and communities throughout the country and particularly in rural areas,” she said.

“We want to work with everyone – with local government, local communities, organisations and environmental experts – to protect our precious natural environment for future generations.

“We are especially keen to hear the views of the stewards of our land and seas – farmers, gamekeepers and fishers who have the knowledge and skills to drive the transformation that is needed.”

Consultation and farmers

Director of policy for the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland (NFU Scotland), Jonnie Hall, said: “As with climate challenges, active farming and crofting are critical to this nation’s biodiversity ambitions.

“With more than 70% of Scotland’s land under agricultural management, farmers and crofters have a unique role in the stewardship of our habitats and wildlife.”

Hall said rural Scotland is a working landscape, with food production and economic activity being driven by sustainable land management. 

“For nature to flourish, we need to enable those who manage our land to deliver multiple outcomes,” he said.

“Enhancing our natural environment is clearly in the public interest and will deliver an array of public goods. But that cannot be sustained at private cost. 

“We have the clear opportunity to ensure our agricultural landscapes deliver the right outcomes for food production, climate, biodiversity and rural communities and a balanced approach to delivering on all four fronts is critical.”

Hall said the union will encourage Scottish farmers and crofters to participate in the consultation as it offers an opportunity to “shine a light on all the great work already being undertaken on farms and crofts” as well drilling down on the full range of reasons that lie behind any biodiversity loss.

Director of the Scottish branch of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Anne McCall, said the consultation is welcome as it will aid in the delivering of change for nature and people.

“We welcome the Scottish government’s ambition to drive forward and scale up action for nature – action which evidence tells us is needed now more than ever,” she said.

“We are at a crossroads, but this consultation gives me hope as it kickstarts a process that is the biggest opportunity for nature in Scotland that I’ve seen in my 25-years working in conservation.

“This is not just a big moment for nature, it’s important for every person in Scotland. Nature underpins our health, wellbeing, the air we breathe, water we drink, food we eat and much of our economy. Restoring nature will deliver many benefits including creating new jobs.”

McCall said RSPB will consider the government’s proposals in detail and “will no doubt have suggestions”.

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The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has said that farmers are facing a “bleak end to 2023” due to delays in the roll out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced at the end of August that farmers could start registering their interest for the scheme from August 30, and that applications would begin to be accepted from Monday, September 18.

However, the NFU said the SFI should have been up and running to deliver payments by December, but “critical delays” in the roll out of the scheme mean most farmers are unable to access it.

NFU president Minette Batters said: “We now know that farmers will not be paid this year, despite assurances that they would be.

“With farm input costs through the roof and interest rates soaring, this leaves farmers in a perilous place.

“The old scheme goes, the new one’s not ready, and farm businesses are caught in the middle. That’s not fair and we are calling on ministers to recognise that and make it right.”

The NFU said the delays in SFI have coincided with “major reductions” to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) – the scheme that SFI is set to replace – and that this leaves farmers facing “a double whammy in the run-up to Christmas”.

“It’s Back British Farming Day next week; a celebration of farming and growing, of great food, of our countryside and of people who make a huge contribution to the UK economy,” Batters said.

“It would be great if government could have some good news on this for farmers then.”

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said the government understands the challenges that farmers face and “always listen to their concerns”.

“The improvements that we’ve made to our farming schemes over the last 12 months – with increased payment rates and greater flexibility – are evidence of that.

“The Sustainable Farming Incentive has already received thousands of expressions of interest from farmers over the last week ahead of applications starting from September 18, and we are actively considering how we respond to the issues raised by the NFU.”

‘Bridge the gap’ in payments

Batters said the union is asking for the UK government to “bridge the gap” it has created by taking away one set of payments, but not delivering access to their replacements on time.

The union said it is calling on ministers to halt any further reduction in existing farm payments – which it said are due to fall by another £720 million this year – until the problems with SFI are resolved.

The NFU said that, although farmers could register an expression of interest in SFI on August 30 and then await an invitation to apply – meaning the scheme was technically open – the reality is “very different”.

“Consequently, payments farmers were relying on will not come this year and will come to only a handful of farmers in the early part of 2024,” the union said.

“By comparison, the old EU farm payments scheme, known as BPS, had 83,000 claimants.”

NFU vice president David Exwood said: “Paying farmers this year was one of the government’s own key tests for delivery of the scheme.

“With the scale of the roll out of SFI 23 still unclear and with many farmers still not sure what they need to do to apply, the current situation needs to be resolved quickly.”

“Government needs to pause BPS reductions until it can fairly deliver their replacements, otherwise it is farming businesses and farming families which are left bearing the cost.”

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A company making tractors that run on hydrogen made on-farm from renewables has received a share of £11 million in funding.

Dolphin N2 is one of 12 manufacturing projects to receive government grant funding through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), to accelerate product development in the UK.

With industry match-funding, projects will receive a total of £22.7 million to develop innovative automotive products within 12 months.

Other winners include White Motorcycle Concepts, which is developing a fully operational, rapid-charge first responder motorcycle for use by emergency services, and Wrightbus which is accelerating the development of zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell electric coaches.

“From farm tractors fuelled by hydrogen to rapid-charge first responder motorcycles, these projects receiving funding today show we are not short of innovators in this country,” Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said.

“By supporting growth in the industries of the future, including through better regulation, we are delivering on our plan to get the economy growing and make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business.”

Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani added: “The UK automotive sector is at the cutting edge of exploiting innovative technologies. These have the potential to create jobs, grow the economy and accelerate how we reach net-zero.

“This package of funding will help industry and government work together and take decisive action in targeting areas where the UK is leading the way.

“We are providing over £50 million of government funding to support 30 groundbreaking projects. This government has shown time and time again that we are committed to creating the right conditions to make the UK the best location in the world to manufacture.”

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The National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) has urged those in the horticultural sector to take part in its seasonal worker visa scheme review.

Chair of NFUS’ horticulture working group, Iain Brown, is calling on all those who make use of seasonal labour to participate in the review.

“Labour is essential to the horticultural industry in Scotland and most of those who are employed on our farms come from overseas,” Brown said.

“Brexit changed the way people were recruited and made accessing seasonal migrant labour much more difficult.

“The Covid pandemic and the tragic war in Ukraine made a challenging situation recruiting seasonal staff much worse. Things have improved, additional visas made available under the scheme have helped, but there is still a lot of room for improvement.”

NFUS has been calling for a review of the seasonal workers visa scheme and a review, being conducted by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), is now underway.

“In the long-term, we will always have a need for seasonal labour, and we need guarantees from the UK government that they will support this,” Brown said.

“A lack of access to seasonal workers would undoubtedly lead to a significant reduction in the amount of home-grown fruit and vegetables on our shop shelves, undermining the UK government’s own ‘farm to fork’ strategy and its ambitions to tackle food security.

“To assist growers, we also need the length of visas to be increased. And it needs to be easier for workers to return to farms year after year, as many of them wish to do.”

A review of the seasonal worker visa scheme, he said, gives improvement opportunities.

“I urge all those who require seasonal workers to complete this NFU Scotland survey and help us secure improvements.”

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The Scottish government has published new research to help develop an approach to Scottish agricultural policy – stating that the country must “now forge its own path” in the agriculture sector post-Brexit.

Published on Tuesday (August 29), the twelve written reports provide evidence reviews, analysis, summaries and expert briefings on agriculture in Scotland to shape future policy.

The collaborative research effort included staff from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), the James Hutton institute, Pareto Consulting and ICF.

The research was commissioned by the Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services and has already been considered by the Scottish government’s Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB).

Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon, who is co-chair of ARIOB, said: “As a result of Brexit, Scotland must now forge its own path and develop a farming support system that is both practical and sustainable.

“We remain fully committed in our efforts to develop a new framework that emphasises high quality food production and encourages farming methods that will help tackle the twin biodiversity and climate crises.

“I’d like to thank all of the researchers for their diligent work on such a crucial project. This analysis is already yielding results and I have no doubt it will continue to inform our decision-making in the future.”

President of the National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS), Martin Kennedy, said: “To make the right decisions and secure the desired outcomes from Scotland’s future agricultural policy, we must have accurate facts, figures and analysis. 

“We welcome the publication of these reports, as they provide a stronger, more robust evidence base around which crucial decisions on the future of our industry can be based.

“With the reports in the public domain, their content opens up the debate about what Scottish agriculture needs from the future support framework that will follow on from the forthcoming Agriculture Bill, about to start its passage through the Scottish Parliament.”

Lead researcher, Prof. Steven Thomson of SRUC, said the project enabled the SRUC team of experts to work closely with the Scottish government to establish where there was emerging evidence and analytical data gaps as Scottish agricultural policy evolves.

“It is a hugely complex jigsaw puzzle that requires a deep understanding of the industry, current support structures and evolving Scottish government priorities to consider and advise on the trade-offs that will likely be required,” he said.

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Agricultural development projects aimed at tackling climate change have received funding worth more than £240,000, the Scottish government announced today (Thursday, August 31).

The four projects received grants from the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund, which encourages rural businesses to work together and share the knowledge and skills.

Deputy First Minister Shona Robison will visit Marshill Farm, North Lanarkshire, today to mark the announcement.

The projects that received funding are:

• Scottish Organic Dairy Goals 2023, facilitated by Scottish Organic Milk Producers – awarded £28,427.25;
• Agroecology by Nourish Scotland – awarded £145,650 for its work encouraging farmers, growers and crofters to work together to adopt more agroecological practices;
• Data Driven Decisions in Potatoes, facilitated by Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) – awarded £25,575. Aims to help potato growers become more productive and sustainable, reducing their impact on the environment;
• Decarbonising Scottish Malting Barley production, facilitated by SAOS – awarded £43,260. Aims to help arable growers transition to lower carbon production systems for malting barley.

“Congratulations to all recipients of the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund. Industry-led projects such as these prove that agriculture and strong environmental practices can go hand in hand,” Robison said.

“By providing this funding, the Scottish government aims to help them share knowledge – supporting innovation and allowing them to become more efficient.

“We are determined to support our rural communities and businesses, which play an important role in achieving a growing, fairer and greener economy with wellbeing at its heart. That is why we are developing a Rural Delivery Plan, which will show how all parts of the Scottish government are delivering for rural Scotland.

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The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is seeking a permanent higher scientific officer for its supply team.

An executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the VMD promotes animal health and welfare by assuring the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines.

The deadline for applications for the position of higher scientific officer is September 27, 2023, and applications must be made via the UK government website.

The VMD said the role is an “exciting and interesting job” in the realm of authorisation and availability of veterinary medicines.

“You will be part of a team with diverse activities in a target driven environment where quality of service is essential,” it said.

A salary of £33,827 with Pension Scheme comes with the role of higher scientific officer.

Commenting on the role, the VMD said: “You will be part of the VMD’s supply team within the VMD’s authorisation division.

“The authorisations division is responsible for authorising veterinary medicines, including the assessment of data on the quality, safety, and efficacy of such medicines.

“You will be responsible for providing scientific input into several tasks that are subject to published standards (targets).”

The VMD said the chosen candidature will be the primary contact for providing procedural advice to stakeholders – both internal and external – which will require them to have in-depth knowledge of various guidelines, procedures and processes including “the underlying legislation that underpins it all”.

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Some of the board members of Natural England, the UK government’s statutory advisor on nature conservation, have been reappointed or have been given extensions to their terms

Ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have reappointed Kim Shillinglaw and Peter Unwin and extended the appointments of Rosamund Blomfield-Smith and Kerry ten Kate.

Kim Shillinglaw and Peter Unwin have been reappointed for a second term of three years from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2026.

Rosamund Blomfield-Smith and Kerry ten Kate’s appointments have been extended for nine months from June 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024.

Natural England said its board members play an important role in providing leadership for the organisation, ensuring the delivery of its mission to build partnerships for nature recovery, in support of the Environmental Improvement Plan.

This includes setting strategy and direction, agreeing objectives, overseeing performance and taking important decisions such as designations, it said.

The appointments have all been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the Cabinet Office.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process, the UK government said.

Natural England plays a key role in delivering the government’s environmental priorities. Its purpose is to ensure the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for “the benefit of present and future generations”.

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12 new projects focused on the restoration of peatlands across England have received £16 million in funding.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said thousands of hectares of peatlands – from the Great North Bog to the Norfolk Broads – are set to be restored through the funding.

The full list of projects that received funding is as follows:

• Norfolk – The Buttle Marshes Restoration project;
• Dorset – The Dorset Peat Partnership;
• Durham – The Durham County Council and the North Pennines AONB (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) partnership;
• Somerset – The RSPB’s Greylake Reserve;
• North Yorkshire – The ‘Moor to Restore’ project;
• Peak District – The ‘Moors for Climate’ partnership;
• Peak District – Park Hall and Kinder Scout project;
• Lincolnshire – The Fens East Peat Partnership;
• Lincolnshire – Humberhead Levels – Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust project;
• Lancashire – The Red Rose Project;
• Lancashire – The Holcombe Moor project;
• Cumbria – Partnership between the National Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The UK government said 87% of England’s peatlands are degraded, damaged and dried out, emitting tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

This funding, it said, will help restore these environments and help protect wildlife and restore their ability to manage water quality and reduce the risk of flooding.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said: “Our peatlands hold over half of our terrestrial store of carbon, but with just 1% in a near natural state and soils drying out we must take urgent action to prevent further carbon from being emitted into the atmosphere.

“Backed by over £16 million of government funding these new landscape-scale projects will drive collaboration and supercharge peatland restoration across the country to tackle climate change and fight biodiversity loss.”

Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper, said: “Peatlands bring multiple benefits for society and the economy.

“They are huge carbon stores and also massive water filters that enable rivers to run clear. They comprise vital natural flood defences because of how they store water and on top of that support, they support many iconic wildlife species such as the Curlew.

“Wild peatlands also contribute to public health and wellbeing through providing wonderful opportunities for outdoor recreation.”

Juniper said restoring peatland landscapes to a “healthy ecological state” will ensure these benefits are protected, enhanced and handed on to future generations.

“I’m delighted these grants will bring more peatlands into the Nature Recovery Network that is so important for delivering our ambition for improving the natural environment in England,” he said.

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Farmers can start registering their interest for the Sustainable Farming incentive (SFI) from this Wednesday (August 30).

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will accept applications for the scheme from Monday, September 18.

Pre-registration this week will ensure farmers are supported to have all necessary information in place so they are ready for when the department starts to accept applications, Defra said.

There are 23 actions on offer under the new 2023 scheme, including on soil health, moorland, hedgerows, integrated pest management, farmland wildlife, buffer strips and low input grassland.

Secretary of State for Food and FarmingThérèse Coffey said: “The Sustainable Farming Incentive is important for sustainability – for production and profitability.

“With opening up the options, from mid September for everyone, there is likely to be an opportunity for every eligible farmer to join SFI.”

Defra said payments under SFI 2023 will be paid quarterly to support farmers’ cashflow and activities required in the scheme. 

Farmers are encouraged to pre-register for the scheme and have all necessary information in place, including online maps and land use / cover details, before applications start being accepted.

Countryside Stewardship

The application window for 2024 Countryside Stewardship (CS) Mid Tier agreements has been extended until Friday, September 15.

Defra said farmers are able to be in SFI and Countryside Stewardship at the same time as long as the actions are compatible and they are not being paid for the same action twice.

Defra said there has been sustained increased demand for new CS agreements in recent years, with the number of agreements almost doubling over three years to 2023.

This has continued into this year – with Defra confirming that it has already received 6,000 applications.

“The confirmed timeline for SFI allows time for small final technical adjustments to ensure the service works as straightforwardly as possible for all our customers and aligns with the closing date for CS,” Defra said.

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The National Sheep Association (NSA) has said it is concerned about “slippages in the planned progress” of the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).

The trade association for UK sheep farmers voiced its concerns following the Royal Assent of the Agriculture (Wales) Act last week.

The main source of future government support for Welsh farmers is underpinned by the act and is to be delivered through the SFS – which is to be in place for 2025.

However, the NSA said a clear scheme outline and “significant, meaningful information” regarding the financial implications of the scheme are yet to be seen.

NSA chief executive Phil Stoker said: “NSA has consistently highlighted that a period of just over 12 months is not sufficient time for farming businesses to plan for the future.

“The Agriculture Act has the potential to reinvigorate progress to support the farming sectors, placing due value on sustaining rural communities, environmental deliverables, language, culture and heritage along with ensuring the nation has reliable access to high quality, affordable food.”

The NSA said it is vital that the Welsh government does not let the opportunity to create a “workable and valued” scheme pass it by and must ensure industry collaboration on the design of the SFS.

NSA Cymru/Wales development officer, Helen Roberts said: “The opportunity is for government to commit to enhancing and supporting farming in Wales in the most meaningful ways possible, an opportunity to get it right for generations to come.

“NSA is pleased Welsh government is making strides towards these goals but is keen to ensure that a collaborative approach is maintained.

“NSA is looking forward to working constructively with Welsh government to continue to develop a scheme that delivers for Welsh agriculture, including for the environment.”

Roberts said, although the association welcomes the intention of new schemes, it wants future schemes to be “inclusive, fair and also recognise the value of farm diversity evident in Wales”.

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The UK government has announced a £10 million contribution to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF).

The newly established international fund aims to tackle global biodiversity loss and will support the Kunming-Montreal GBF, agreed by almost 200 countries, which sets out a plan of action to half and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

It was announced yesterday (Thursday, August 24) at the Global Environment Facility assembly in Vancouver, Canada, that £10 million of UK funding is going towards the GBFF.

During the assembly, Nature Minister Trudy Harrison said: “As we confront the critical challenge of halting and reversing biodiversity loss around the world, working together has never been more important. 

“Our initial contribution to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund showcases the United Kingdom’s ongoing dedication to protecting our planet’s natural diversity – and through vital international cooperation we are paving the way for a more sustainable future for our planet.”

After announcing its funding contribution, the UK government said: “Nature is the foundation of our livelihoods, supporting food production, economic prosperity and security.

“But nature loss around the world is taking place faster than ever before with more than 1 million species being at risk of extinction due to habitats such as coral reefs, rainforests and peatlands being lost.”

Now that the GBFF has been launched, it will build on the existing work of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The GEF supports developing countries in tackling major environmental problems and provides funding for environmental projects in 144 Overseas Development Aid eligible countries.

Previously funded work included providing new software to support rangers in Africa to track and protect animals from poachers, targeted finance towards more effective ocean management strategies in Asia, and helping to safeguard the world’s remaining ancient primary forests.

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Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has said the Scottish government’s intention to introduce a snare ban would deliver a “crippling blow” to attempts to reverse biodiversity loss.

The Scottish government announced consultation today (Tuesday, August 22) on prohibiting the devices. The consultation will run for six weeks from August 22 to October 3, 2023.

SLE said measures to conserve species such as black grouse, curlew, golden plover, grey partridge, lapwing and oystercatcher be severely harmed if the ban were to become law.

Director of moorland at SLE, Ross Ewing, said: “It is deeply regrettable that, at a critical moment in efforts to sustain biodiversity in rural Scotland, the Scottish government is moving towards a ban on the use of snares, thereby removing another tool to manage predation pressure on vulnerable species.

“Ground nesting birds such as curlew and lapwing were once common but are now red-listed species and are at risk from generalist predators, including foxes.

“Being able to undertake sensible predator control using legally set snares has helped to ensure those birds can breed and have the chance to maintain viable populations.”

Ewing said the SLE is urging the Scottish government to give consideration to retaining humane cable restraints (HCRs).

“Failure to retain HCRs would constitute an abdication of responsibility on the part of the Scottish government to do everything it possibly can to combat biodiversity loss. In a nature crisis, such an outcome is simply unconscionable,” he said.

Consultation

The Scottish government is seeking the public’s views on whether an outright ban on snares should be put in place or if any exemptions should be considered.

The consultation is also asking for opinions on extending the investigative powers of the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) – which would be a new measure to help tackle wildlife crime, it said.

This will involve giving SSPCA inspectors more authority to search, examine and seize evidence related to incidents of illegal hunting and other offences related to wildlife persecution.

Environment Minister Gillian Martin said: “Snare traps lead to unnecessary suffering for animals and these proposals are part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that wildlife management is both sustainable and humane.

“Currently, only a small number of farmers and land managers use snare traps. More effective and humane forms of managing wildlife are available and we will continue to support the industry to make use of these methods.

“Wildlife crime and the illegal killing of wild mammals continues to blight our rural communities. By extending the investigative powers of SSPCA inspectors, we can ensure that the destructive impact that these criminals have on our environment is diminished and that they are brought to justice.”

SSPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “The Scottish SPCA strongly supports this announcement by the Scottish government. As Scotland’s animal welfare charity, we have long called for an outright ban on the use of snares due to the level of suffering an animal is caused.

“Animals that are caught in snares can be caused unimaginable physical and mental anguish.

“Following reports from members of the public, we have found domestic animals, protected species and target animals that have all suffered dreadfully in both illegal and legal snares.”

Flynn said a ban on all snaring is the only way to stop “unacceptable suffering”.

“We are very pleased with the announcement of a ban, which will be a historic moment for animal welfare in Scotland.”

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Farmers can receive up to £1,250 in payments over two years to support a review of their flock or herd as part of a new animal health and welfare initiative launched by the Scottish government.

The payments, announced today (Tuesday, August 22), aim to help improve the health and welfare of cattle and sheep and help Scottish farmers consider health and welfare interventions that can improve performance.

In addition, the Scottish government said it is providing additional funding in 2023/24 to help increase the provision of veterinarians across Scotland.

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “Research shows healthy livestock produce less emissions, require less veterinary treatment and fewer antibiotics.

“Sheep and cattle make up a significant amount of the greenhouse gas emissions contributed by agriculture in Scotland.

“This new animal health and welfare payment is one of the first steps in this process and will reward farmers who take an active role in improving the health and welfare of the animals they keep.”

Gougeon said veterinarians play an important role in improving the heath and welfare of Scotland’s national herd, through tuberculin testing and the investigation of notifiable animal diseases.

“That’s why we’re providing more funding this year to help increase this important provision across the country,” she said.

Beneficiaries

Any farming or crofting business that has an active Business Reference Number, is Rural Payments and Services online registered and has a flock/herd number can undertake up to two interventions in each scheme year of the programme.

Each intervention will attract a standard payment of £250. With the first claim, an additional £250 is allocated to cover personal development, the Scottish government said.

The online claim platform has now been updated to allow claims for animal health and welfare to be submitted in addition to carbon audit and soil analysis support.

The process can be accessed through the Preparing for Sustainable Farming Guidance page on the rural payments website.

Veterinary surgeons in Scotland are now able to apply for funding to complete the relevant qualifications to become Official Veterinarians (OVs).

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A London-based company has received government funding to develop artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning for grassland monitoring and management to support decarbonisation, with a particular focus on dairy farms.

Early stage start-up listt.io, which concentrates on technology solutions for regenerative agriculture, has developed an autonomous soil and crop health monitoring solution, based on mobile robotics for agriculture.

Its aim to deliver high-accuracy sensors to provide high-integrity soil and crop data for reporting and validation purposes.

It has received £132,147 for the project, which will use AI across the full stack of such solutions – from translating earth observation (EO) data to actionable areas, identifying sample points, to interpreting the data gathered.

AI projects

listt.io received the £132,147 funding through the government’s Artificial Intelligence for Decarbonisation programme, which has funded 12 projects via two ‘streams’.

Steam 2, under which listt.io received funding, funds projects to help drive decarbonisation in three sectors: Power, industry, and agriculture.

Other projects that received funding in this category include a solar energy project run by the University of Nottingham (£133,932), which will use AI to improve forecasting of solar energy production; and a Secqai Ltd. project to support the development of ultra-low-power AI technology, mirroring the neural structure of the human brain, cutting the carbon footprint of traditional AI hardware (£100,000).

Commenting on the announcement of successful applicants to the programme, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Lord Callanan said:

“It’s projects like those announced today (Wednesday, August 15) that will take us to the next step on our ambitious journey to becoming net zero, while boosting our energy security and creating a new wave of skilled jobs for the future.”

“AI is delivering transformative change in the UK,” Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, Viscount Camrose added.

“These winning projects are yet another example of how we are tapping into our world-class research base and homegrown expertise to tackle one of the most pressing global challenges of our time.

“Whether backing projects to help us slash emissions or supporting research to revolutionise healthcare for patients, we’re harnessing the enormous potential of AI technologies to improve people’s lives.”

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The Agriculture (Wales) Act is now law, having received Royal Assent today (Thursday, August 17), the Welsh government has announced.

The first made-in-Wales agriculture act aims to support Welsh farmers and sustainable food production for generations to come.

The main source of future government support for farmers in Wales underpinned by the act will come through the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “This is a historic act. The first time ever Wales has been able to design its own policy for farming. 

“It comes at a crucial time for the industry, as we shape future support and face the challenges of higher costs and the climate emergency.”

Drakeford said the act will allow the Welsh government to focus on the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the Welsh agricultural sector.

“We know the main threat to sustainable food production in the future is climate change, this act gives us the tools to support the industry to continue to produce food sustainably while taking action to deal with the climate emergency,” he said.

Minister for rural affairs Lesley Griffith said: “This is truly a historic day for Welsh farmers and rural communities.

“We are now moving ahead with delivering a system of support for farmers designed in Wales, and which works for Wales. This includes the Sustainable Farming Scheme which will be the main source of support for farmers from 2025

“There isn’t a choice between sustainable food production on our farms and tackling climate change.  Both must go hand in hand as the climate emergency is a real threat to agriculture and production of food.”

Griffiths said the new act takes this into account, ensuring sustainable land management is “at the heart of future support safeguarding the industry”.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in this historic act.”

The act provides tenant farmers with a route to dispute resolution to ensure they are not unfairly restricted from accessing financial assistance, the Welsh government said.

It also alters the Forestry Act 1967 to give Natural Resources Wales the power to add conditions to amend, suspend or revoke felling licenses to prevent felling that would contradict other environmental legislation.

It will also replace time-limited powers in the Agriculture Act 2020 which are due to expire in December 2024.

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The National Sheep Association (NSA) has said farmers may have a “mountain to climb” this winter due to continued “extreme volatility” in supply chains, input costs and the marketplace.

Ahead of this, the trade association for UK sheep farmers has urged the public to buy British produce to support their farmers.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said this summer is proving to be another challenging one for the farming world, with unusually high rainfall in July and August following a prolonged dry spell in June.

“There are regional differences but for many the harvest of grains and forage is a tense ordeal and the impact across the country could be felt with the availability and quality of forage, bedding and catch crops starting to creep into the minds of livestock producers,” he said.

Stocker said the ongoing war in Ukraine, global economic conditions, access to vaccines and continued inflation in input prices is “making its mark” across industry.

At the same time, he said, there is “continued pressure” from retailers to try to limit food inflation.

“There is a crunch point here that could affect long term food security and sustainability, and NSA wishes to encourage members to start planning for what could be a long winter – and the wider supply chain to support our farmers.”

British food

Stocker said it is extremely important that consumers are able to access British food as it benefits local farming communities.

“Sheep and goat meat imports from New Zealand to the EU jumped by 18% year-on-year in the first four months of 2023, according to new figures,” he said.

“NSA is keen to see retailers across the board, along with government, champion British food.

“British lamb needs the support of our government and supply chains in ensuring our product maintains domestic market share in light of recent free trade agreements.”

Stocker said the agricultural industry is combating a period of unprecedented volatility in all areas, so now is the time to “champion British”.

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The Environment Agency has launched a consultation on changes to fines imposed for environmental offences.

The consultation, which was launched yesterday (Tuesday, August 15), will run for eight weeks and close on October 8.

It is seeking views on when penalties are used, how they are calculated and the appeals process.

This follows an announcement from the UK government last month in which it said it will lift the current cap of £250,000 that the Environment Agency can impose directly on operators.

As well as this, the government is seeking to expand the number of offences that will be punishable by monetary penalties.

The aim of the new legislation, which will be approved by both Houses of Parliament before coming into force, is to offer regulators a quicker method of enforcement rather than “lengthy and costly criminal proceedings”, the Environment Agency said.

Executive director of the Environment Agency, John Leyland, said: “These new enforcement powers will be an extra tool in our armoury to hold polluters to account.

“They will act as a further deterrent – boosting compliance across a range of sectors and helping us provide stronger protection to the environment, communities and nature.”

Minister for environmental quality and resilience, Rebecca Pow, said polluters must “always pay” for their offences.

“…by lifting the cap on these sanctions, we are simultaneously toughening our enforcement tools and expanding where regulators can use them,” she said.

“This consultation builds on government action to increase investment, toughen enforcement and tighten regulation and will make sure there is a proportionate punishment for operators that breach their permits and harm our rivers, seas and precious habitats.”

The Environment Agency said that, although the fines will be more commonly used as a quicker enforcement method for environmental offences, the most serious cases will continue to be taken through criminal proceedings.

“There are clear provisions in the sentencing council guidelines that will ensure the level of penalties levied are proportionate to the degree of environmental harm and culpability,” it said.

“These include safeguards to ensure the operator’s ability to pay, the size of the operators, and the degree of responsibility and harm, amongst others – all of which are taken into account when imposing a penalty.

“The penalties will only be applied where it is shown beyond reasonable doubt that an offence has occurred.”

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Hartpury College is set to receive a total of £2.4 million for the development of facilities and the purchase of equipment to facilitate three new post-GSCE agriculture courses.

Hartpury College will launch its agricultural T Levels for the 2024/25 academic year, with workshop refurbishment due to complete before the arrival of the first cohort of students.

T Level programmes are technical qualifications that offer a two-year option for students after their GSCEs.

The funding will refurbish two agricultural engineering workshops at Hartpury’s Gloucestershire campus.

The three new T Levels to be offered by the college are:

• Land-Based Engineering;
• Crop Production;
• Livestock Production.

Hartpury College has said T Levels in animal management, animal science and equine subjects will follow after the initial three.

T Levels blend theory with practice and work-based training, with students expected to participate in at least 45 days of practical training each year.

Deputy principal of Hartpury College, Claire Whitworth, said: “We’re grateful for the government’s recognition of our expertise and commitment to advancing vocational training and are delighted to have been successful in securing a share of this UK-wide T Level investment funding. 

“By using the funding to refurbish two agricultural engineering workshops, it’ll help us to deliver unparalleled technical education to our students, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to forge successful careers and meet the many challenges faced by the agricultural industry.

“They will also provide opportunities for industry use outside of term time.”

Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Robert Halfon, said: “This boost of over £100 million (across the sector) is our latest investment in T Levels.

“These are robust, high-quality technical qualifications providing a unique ladder of opportunity for students to gain both classroom knowledge and on-the-job experience.”

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Three new cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) have been confirmed in Scotland.

The disease was confirmed at a second and third premises near Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire yesterday (Monday, August 14).

The H5N1 strain of bird flu was also found at a site near Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway yesterday.

3km Protection Zones and 10km Surveillance Zones were declared around each of the affected premises shortly after 9:00p.m.

This means that movement restrictions are in place within these zones for poultry, carcasses, eggs, and poultry litter and manure.

This is to help prevent any further spread of the disease, the Scottish government said.

The Scottish government has urged birdkeepers to find out if their premises falls within these zones via the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) interactive map.

Bird flu in Scotland

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across Scotland was lifted on July 4, 2023.

It followed a risk assessment, where the level of risk associated with bird flu to poultry and other captive birds was reduced to low.

On Friday (August 11), the Scottish government published a new response plan to deal with the issues posed by bird flu in wild birds.

The Scottish Wild Bird Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Response Plan sets out the multi-agency approach to monitoring and mitigating the spread of the disease.

The plan provides guidance to regulators, the public, those involved in animal rescue, researchers and environmental bodies on issues relating to bird flu in wild birds.

In the UK, there have been 194 confirmed cases of bird flu since October 1, 2022; 27 of these cases have been detected in Scotland.

158 were confirmed in England; eight were confirmed in Wales; and one case was confirmed in Northern Ireland.

There have been 292 cases of the H5N1 strain of the disease in England since the outbreak started in October 2021.

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The UK government’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is seeking a permanent scientific officer for its antimicrobial resistance (AMR) team.

The VMD said the position is an exciting opportunity to support the coordination of its AMR antibiotic sales, use and stakeholder engagement programmes.

The chosen candidate will be expected to provide quality administrative, secretariat and scientific support to the AMR team, the VMD said.

“This role will support the antibiotic sales, use and stakeholder engagement manager and lead in the monitoring of sales of veterinary antimicrobials in the UK,” it said.

The chosen candidate will be processing AMR data and obtaining statistics from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and associated agencies to aid with further data analysis.

The annual salary range is £29,082-£30,402 with pension scheme.

Those interested in applying for the position must make their application via the UK government’s website.

The closing date for applications is September 11, 2023.

Veterinary Medicines Directorate

The VMD promotes animal health and welfare by assuring the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines.

It is an executive agency of Defra and contributes to its objectives related to the protection of public health and meeting high standards of animal welfare.

Its work also supplements that of the Food Standards Agency to protect and improve the safety of food in the UK.

The VMD employs around 165 people – a mixture of scientific and administrative staff – who work at offices near Addlestone, Surrey.

The responsibilities of the VMD include:

• Monitoring and taking action on reports of adverse events from veterinary medicines;
• Testing for residues of veterinary medicines or illegal substances in animals and animal products;
• Assessing applications for and authorising companies to sell veterinary medicines;
• Controlling how veterinary medicines are made and distributed;
• Advising government ministers on developing veterinary medicines policy and putting it into action;
• Making, updating and enforcing UK legislation on veterinary medicines.

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Colorado potato beetle larvae has been found in Kent for a second time, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has confirmed.

On Friday, August 11, a single adult male Colorado beetle was found within the 1km surveillance zone in Kent.

This finding follows beetle larvae which was identified in a field in Kent in mid-July.

If the pest is not eradicated, it can pose a “significant threat to potato crops”, Defra said.

“The adult beetles and larvae feed on the foliage of potato and other plants in the nightshade family and can completely strip them of their leaves if they are left uncontrolled. However, they are not a threat to human or animal health,” it said.

No additional colony has been detected and, given the estimated age of the beetle, the department has said it likely “dispersed from the original site”.

Defra and APHA said surveillance for any possible undetected colonies will continue within the 1km surveillance zone.

The UK’s chief plant health officer, Nicola Spence, said: “Following a report, our experts have identified the presence of Colorado beetle larvae in a potato field in Kent.

“We are responding swiftly through our eradication programme, involving ground surveillance to look for beetles and larvae at the outbreak site and surrounding area.

“Whilst this pest does not pose a threat to human health, we encourage all growers, farmers, processors and the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings, especially in Kent.”

Confirmation that the beetle was a Colorado potato beetle was made following laboratory diagnosis of samples taken by APHA’s plant health and seeds inspectorate.

Colorado potato beetle

This is the first time an outbreak of the Colorado potato beetle has been confirmed in the UK since 1977.

Farmers and growers are being encouraged to remain vigilant for signs of the beetle.

It is bright yellow or orange with black stripes and is usually between 8.5-11.5mm in length and 3mm in width. Its larvae are a reddish brown in colour, round and globular, and up to 15mm in length.

Defra said the beetles are occasionally imported into the UK from continental Europe as “hitchhikers” on non-host plant material, like leafy vegetables, salad leaves, fresh herbs and grain.

In the past 70 years, there have been two outbreaks of Colorado potato beetles in the UK, one in 1976 and one in 1977. Both outbreaks were eradicated shortly after detection.

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The Scottish government has today (Friday, August 11) published a new response plan to deal with the issues posed by avian influenza (bird flu) in wild birds.

The Scottish Wild Bird Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Response Plan sets out the multi-agency approach to monitoring and mitigating the spread of the disease.

The plan provides guidance to regulators, the public, those involved in animal rescue, researchers and environmental bodies on issues relating to bird flu in wild birds.

Scotland’s Environment Minister, Gillian Martin, thanked the country’s organisations and partners today for their efforts to respond to the ongoing bird flu outbreak in wild birds.

Martin said the last two years have been some of the most challenging on record for wild bird populations and the people who care for them.

“The avian flu outbreak in wild bird populations across the globe is extremely sad and has been difficult for us all to witness,” she said.

“In most cases there is no alternative but to let the disease run its course, however the effectiveness of our multi-agency response in monitoring the spread of the virus can build our understanding of the outbreak and what mitigation measures might be helpful. The publication of this plan is designed to support this.

“Our understanding of the outbreak in wild birds is also important in helping us to minimise the impact on kept birds and poultry, who we cannot forget have also been significantly affected by this virus.”

In the year to September 30, 2022, surveillance data showed bird flu was present in 34 wild bird species in Scotland.

In the spring and summer of 2022, a total of approximately 20,500 seabird deaths across 160 locations were reported to NatureScot.

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The Welsh Cabinet has met during summer recess to discuss financial pressures it is facing ahead of Budget 2024-2025.

Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford has said this is the “toughest financial situation” the Welsh government has faced since devolution.

In a written statement following the Cabinet meeting on August 1, Drakeford added that cabinet will continue to work over the summer to mitigate this budgetary pressure, with a particular focus on frontline services and those at greatest need.

He said the root of the pressure is inflation, and the “mis-management of the economy and public finances by successive UK governments”.

“When we made our budget for 2023-24, we drew on all our available resources to protect frontline services and provide targeted cost-of-living support to individuals and the economy,” he added.

“But even after doing all that, our financial position after the UK Spring Budget in March, was up to £900 million lower in real terms than when that budget was set by the UK Government at the time of the last spending review in 2021.”

A further update will be provided to the Senedd once this work has been completed, the First Minister said.

The Welsh government continues to be on official recess until September 10; this statement was issued in order to keep members informed.

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Members of the veterinary group VetPartners are calling for greater government support for UK dairy farmers in the form of a minimum farmgate milk price.

VetPartners said it looks after a number of the UK’s dairy herds and wants to secure a fair deal for the primary producers of milk, other dairy products and meat.

Members have written to MPs from a letter drafted by the clinical director at Westpoint Farm Vets in Ashford, Jack Balkham, calling for the government to “address the volatility of the milk market at a time when farmers are facing increased labour costs”.

The average farmgate price for milk slipped to 37.6p/L in May, according to government figures – a near 8% decrease on the same month a year earlier.

The group said that this has led to many farmers leaving the sector, as they also face increased fuel, equipment, energy and rent costs.

Vetpartners farm director, Ian Cure, said: “This industry volatility makes it incredibly difficult for farmers to invest in their rural businesses and plan for the future.

“The five-year, rolling average farmgate price for milk as of May 2023 was 33.65p/L, and this has changed very little over the last six years.

“It is well documented that in recent times, costs across all sectors have increased with labour costs, fuel, equipment, rents and rates at an all-time high.”

UK dairy farming

Cure said current dairy production costs are unsustainable for farmers and that something “must be done” to support them.

“Whilst the volatility of the milk market makes future business planning extremely difficult, the recent fall in price means that many are struggling to make ends meet, with the knock-on effect of damaging rural economies,” he said.

“Farmers that we work with have always and will always prioritise the health and welfare of their cows, and strive to produce fantastic local food for our country.

“We understand the government’s position in trying to reduce inflation, this must not be at the expense of farmers.”

Cure said many farmers have already left the sector for economic reasons and more must be done to prevent this and prioritise food security.

“We implore the government to support the implementation of a minimum farmgate price to ensure a fair deal for British farmers.

“We understand that this will increase costs, but they need not be met from the already stretched government funds.

“Processors and supermarkets should burden their fair share of the costs. It cannot be right that critical primary producers always bear the brunt of market fluctuations,” he said.

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Rural areas make up 98% of Scotland’s landmass and 17% of its population, a new report has shown.

The Rural and Islands Report 2023, launched by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), is the first report to be released of a series of annual reports funded by the Scottish government.

Researchers at the college have extended the Scottish government’s urban rural classification from eight to 10 unique categories to help gain accurate and up-to-date evidence about the characteristics of Scotland’s rural communities and businesses.

It is hoped this new information will help with more tailored and accurate policy.

The SRUC said the country’s islands and very rural mainland areas, which are defined as settlements with less than 3,000 people, have come under a “more nuanced lens” in a bid to better understand the challenges facing these communities.

The report found that rural and island economies and communities are diverse, with issues faced in one community not always found in the next.

However, in general, very remote mainland areas and islands are experiencing challenges such as slow population growth, ageing populations, high levels of vacant and second home ownership, lack of affordable housing for locals and higher fuel prices.

Rural Affairs and Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon said fully understanding the challenges faced by rural and island areas is crucial to addressing their specific needs.

“The insight and recommendations from this research, combined with hearing directly from rural and island communities themselves, will be valuable as we develop the plan, which will ensure that a rural lens is applied to all ongoing policy,” she said.

Rural Scotland

While remote Scottish mainland areas and islands are experiencing growth challenges, accessible parts have been experiencing rapid population growth which has led to an increase in housing developments and pressures on local services, the SRUC said.

The college’s new classification guide divides ‘very remote’ regions, which are defined as being more than a 60-minute drive from population centres of over 10,000 people, into ‘very remote mainland’ and ‘very remote island’ categories.

This, the SRUC said, will help Scotland provide a better focus on the most peripheral communities.

The report uses these new classifications to compare performance in key areas including:

• People;
• Transport;
• Housing;
• Workforce and earnings;
• Business and economy.

Lead researcher Steven Thomson, a reader at SRUC, said: “The use of the NISRIE (novel insights on Scotland’s rural and island economies) classification allows for a much more nuanced picture to be generated of the socio-economic trends across accessible, remote and very remote rural mainland and island communities.

“The report also demonstrates how using different geographical classifications can generate quite different pictures of these trends.

“Building up a holistic picture of these trends will enable us to better and more accurately inform policy formation.”

It is hoped the information gained about the characteristics of, and challenges and opportunities facing, these communities and the businesses within them will support them to become more sustainable and resilient.

This is something that is critical to the Scottish government’s ambitions of achieving its target of net zero by 2045.

Rural Affairs and Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “The Scottish Government is committed to continuing to build vibrant, sustainable and inclusive rural and island communities, now and for future generations.

“This report will help to inform the Rural Delivery Plan which is an opportunity to set out the actions government and public bodies are taking to improve policies that impact rural communities – such as agriculture, marine, land reform, transport, housing, repopulation, social justice and digital connectivity.”

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The Scottish government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the French region of Brittany relating to the offshore renewables industry.

The cooperation agreement aims to strengthen Scotland’s position as a “leader” in Europe’s offshore renewables industry, the government said.

The MoU, which is the first of its kind for Scotland with a region in France, will provide Scottish companies with opportunities to share best practices on the expansion of offshore wind projects off the coast of Brittany.

The Scottish government said the MoU will also instigate a programme of actions that will cover institutional relations, culture and heritage, education and research, fisheries and diaspora.

Attending the first ever Celtic Forum today in Brittany, Deputy First Minister Shona Robinson said: “Scotland is working with our partners in Europe and this MoU…will help us collaborate across a range of topics.

“The people of Scotland resoundingly rejected Brexit, yet it has caused significant adverse impacts to our economy and trade relations.

“In spite of this, the Scottish government remains firmly committed to developing partnerships with our European neighbours.”

Robinson said the Scottish government is keen to maximise opportunities for Scottish companies to learn from their “Celtic partners” as the country looks towards a future with cleaner and greener energy.

“Scotland’s rich renewables endowment means we can not only generate enough cheap green electricity to power Scotland’s economy, but can also export electricity to our neighbours, supporting jobs here in Scotland and the decarbonisation ambitions of our partners,” she said.

Businesses development director of offshore energy company Swift Anchors, Michael Hook, said the company is keen to capitalise on the opportunities it expects to see from the deployment of floating offshore wind in Brittany waters.

“We applaud the steps being taken by the Scottish government and Brittany’s regional government to establish closer economic and cultural ties,” he said.

“With the help of Scottish Development International, we have established good links within Brittany following a series of joint initiatives including Swift Anchors’ attendance at the Bretagne Ocean Power event in Rennes earlier this year, where the quality of engagement and depth of interest in our anchoring solutions and potential collaboration were evident.

“Today’s agreement between the two governments gives us further encouragement to our business efforts in Brittany.”

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Over £14 million is to be made available for innovative farming solutions under two new research and feasibility competitions under the Farming Innovation Programme.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced the funding today (Wednesday, August 2) as part of its commitment to invest £600 million in innovation and productivity in the agricultural sector over three years.

The competitions are open to farmers, growers, foresters, research organisations and businesses involved in agriculture to collaborate on novel ideas and innovative farming solutions.

The department said previous rounds of funding have led to investment in the use of ultraviolet as a disinfectant in the dairy and poultry sectors.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said: “These competitions are all about encouraging collaborations between farmers and growers on the one hand, and research organisations and industry on the other, to help bring ideas from the planning stage into practice.   

“The success of the previous competition rounds and the broad scope of ideas coming forward showcase the range of possibilities available for driving up productivity and solving some of the industry’s biggest challenges.

“I encourage everyone to take a look at what’s on offer in the latest competitions and apply.” 

Small R&D Partnerships

Defra has also published guidance for the third round of the Small Research & Development (R&D) Partnerships competition, which seeks to help businesses develop a new farming product or service and take it to commercialisation on the open market.

The competition, developed in partnership with the Transforming Food Production Challenge and delivered by Innovate UK, is worth almost £10 million.

The second round of the competition has provided funding for projects including exploring how to breed sheep with a naturally low carbon footprint to help sheep farmers contribute to the journey towards net zero.

The guidance is available on the UK government’s website and farmers, growers, foresters. research organisations and businesses are encouraged to read it ahead of applications opening.

Applications for the third round of the Small R&D Partnerships competition open on August 14.

Executive director for the healthy living and agriculture domain at Innovate UK, Dr Katrina Hayter, said: “We look forward to supporting the next round of applicants and identifying promising partnerships that hold the potential to address the sustainability, efficiency, and net zero challenges confronting the UK’s agrifood industry.  

“By fostering collaborations between farmers, growers, agri-businesses and researchers, these partnerships become the driving force behind transforming innovative solutions into practical applications.”

Feasibility Studies

The Small R&D Partnerships guidance and funding comes alongside new guidance for a £4.5 milion Feasibility Studies competition, which aims to support businesses and researchers through project testing and development.

It looks for early-stage solutions that have the potential to substantially improve the overall productivity, sustainability and resilience of farming, and move existing agricultural sectors to net zero, Defra said.

Applications for the Feasibility Studies competition window are open from September 1,8 of this year.

Successful applicants in previous funding rounds include a study to identify fungal strains that can help fight against insect and fungal pests in wheat crops with the aim of reducing the costs associated with multiple applications of chemical pesticides, mechanical damage from repeated spray applications and crop yield losses.

“Feasibility studies mark the initial stage in researching an idea that could improve farming, while Small R&D Partnerships are a vital step to empowering businesses to forge novel farming products and services, paving the way towards successful commercialisation,” Dr Hayter said.

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Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is announcing over £60 million in funds for different projects centred on food security and the agricultural industry in Nigeria.

The aim of the supports is to make Nigeria’s agriculture sector more “climate resistant”, the UK government said.

As part of a four-day visit to the country, Cleverley announced a £10 million UK-backed facility in Nigeria in partnership with finance company InfraCredit in Lagos yesterday (Tuesday, August 1).

The aim of the facility is to unlock sustainable and climate-friendly infrastructure development projects.

Cleverley will then travel to Abuja today (Wednesday, August 2) to announce a £55 million Propcorn+ contract – a UK International Climate Finance programme.

The programme aims to enable the transformation of Nigeria’s rural economy by supporting four million people in Nigeria to adopt and scale-up sustainable agricultural practices

This includes improving the health of animals, making crops more resilient, and introducing cleaner cooking practices.

This in turn will help increase productivity, capacity and resilience among small-scale farmers and rural communities across Nigeria while reducing carbon emissions and protecting natural ecosystems, the UK government said.

It will be be further supported by a £2.89 million grant.

Nigerian agriculture

According to the UK government, more than two thirds of Nigeria’s population is dependent on agriculture for employment.

It hopes that this new funding will boost the country’s agricultural sector’s productivity and resilience to the impacts of climate change.

As a result, the UK government said it hopes the funding will initiate the transforming of Nigerian critical agriculture and food systems for the benefit of people, climate and nature.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverley said: “Nigeria has a booming population and the largest economy in Africa – there is huge potential for an even closer partnership between UK and Nigerian businesses which will be of mutual benefit to both countries.

“Together we are focussing on the future, putting in place green, clean measures, both in agriculture and infrastructure development, to create climate-resilient solutions for the global challenges we all face today and will increasingly face in the years to come.”

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The National Sheep Association (NSA) is demanding strategic “government-level action” to secure a “reliable” vaccine supply.

The association said it has written to the Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD), Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and vaccine manufacturers and distributors, calling on them to take action to secure reliable vaccine supplies.

Over the past three years, the availability of vital vaccines for sheep, and beef, has become scarce it said.

It said it is “especially concerned” that the lack of available vaccines will have adverse effects on animal health and welfare.

“We know that improved health leads to reduction in waste, productivity gains, and lower carbon footprints, as well as more responsible use of antibiotics,” NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said.

“However, as vaccine availability has become a serious issue it is negatively impacting the health and welfare of animals, at the time when we need vaccines most.

“NSA is worried that after all the efforts made to encourage vaccine use, many farmers will have no choice but to stop vaccinating and if they see few immediate problems getting them to start again will be difficult.”

A spokesperson for the department of agriculture said that while it appreciates the “importance” of maintaining supplies, there can be occasional disruption to availability as a consequence of “large global demand and manufacturing issues”.

“The VMD has well-established procedures to deal with supply issues that do arise and work with the veterinary pharmaceutical industry and those operating in the supply chain to understand and minimise risks where possible,” the spokesperson added.

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Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) advance payments will be issued to farmers on August 1, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has confirmed.

These advance payments will comprise up to 50% of the total annual BPS payment.

Once again, BPS payments are being issues in two instalments this year in an effort to help farmers with cashflow during the summer period.

Last year – the first year advance payments were made – payments started in July and concluded in August. This year the first instalment will be completed on one day.

“We recognise the importance of these payments to the rural community, which is why we listened to the sector and are making the majority of payments on one day to provide certainty to farmers,” Paul Caldwell, chief executive of the RPA, said.

“This also marks the second year of the permanent change to two payments, with the first instalment brought forward to the summer, and I’m pleased this is having a positive impact on farmers’ cashflow.”

BPS payments will continue to be made in two instalments each year for the remainder of the agricultural transition period; the remainder will be paid in December.

The RPA expects the vast majority of farmers to be paid on time, though there will be a small number of farmers whose claims will require additional checks which will take longer to process.

Farmers are being encouraged to sign into the Rural Payment service to check their details are up to date, including their email, mailing address and bank account details.  

The BPS payments are slowly being phased out during the post-Brexit agricultural transition period. They are expected to be phased out completely by the end of the agricultural transition period in 2027.

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Scottish sheep farms will be worst hit by the UK’s post-Brexit free trade agreements (FTAs), new research has shown.

The Scottish government has assessed the impact on Scottish agriculture of FTAs between the UK and Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Results showed that while the projected long-term impact of FTAs on Scottish output in relatively small in most cases, sheepmeat is an exception.

Scottish sheepmeat output with the FTAs is projected to fall by 10.5-11% under the two scenarios the government used for its assessment.

According to the report, the FTAs with Australia and New Zealand are the main drivers of declines in Scottish sheepmeat output.

Beef and wheat are also projected to fall (both by around 3% to 6% depending on the scenario), although the report added that a trade deal with Canada is likely to generate export opportunities for Scotch beef.

Liquid milk output is forecast to grow however, by 3-9% in value terms, indicating that the FTA will bring significant opportunities for dairy products.

The report also showed that the FTAs will result is “significant” farm business income declines, and price declines are the main drivers for this, with Brexit only playing a minor role. The impact of FTAs on wages is expected to be minimal.

Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said the report shows that the current UK government trade approach is “not working in the interest of Scottish agriculture”.

“The report also reaffirms that such FTAs will set important precedents to other prospective trade partners about where the UK is willing to cede in negotiations,” she said.

“These could weaken its bargaining position in future deals and lead to worse outcomes for those sectors already negatively affected – especially in terms of renowned brands like Scotch beef and lamb.

“We will use these findings to help identify future policy options to mitigate or address the differential impacts of trade, as part of delivering Scotland’s Vision for Trade.”

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The Secretary of State for International Trade has asked the Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) for advice on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) ascension agreement.

Kemi Badenoch MP formally signed the treaty to bring the UK into the CPTPP free trade agreement, the UK’s biggest post-Brexit deal, in New Zealand yesterday (Sunday, July 16).

The TAC’s job is to scrutinise new free trade agreements once they are signed, and its advice will be laid before parliament.

Secretary Badenoch has specifically asked the TAC to advise on whether the measures in the UK-CTPTT accession agreement that are applicable to trade in agricultural products are consistent with the maintenance of UK levels of statutory protection in relation to animal or plant life or health; animal welfare; and environmental protections.

Typically, as part of its scrutiny process the TAC calls on the public to submit evidence, whereby stakeholders can submit written feedback on the deal in question.

Details on whether this process will apply to the CPTPP deal have yet to be announced.

Secretary Badenoch has also written to the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland to seek their joint advice on whether measures in the agreement are consistent with the maintenance of UK levels of statutory protection in relation to human health.

Both advisory reports are to be submitted by November 30.

CPTPP

With the UK, the CPTPP will have 12 members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam, as well as the UK.

The CPTPP liberalises trade between these countries.

In the next step, the government will seek to ratify the agreement – but not without parliamentary scrutiny first. Other CPTPP countries complete their own legislative processes.

According to the government, being part of CPTPP will mean that more than 99% of current UK goods exports to CPTPP countries will be eligible for zero tariffs.

As an example it said dairy farmers will benefit from reduced tariffs on cheese and butter exports to Canada, Chile, Japan and Mexico, building on the £23.9 million worth of dairy products exported to these countries in 2022.

It will also give UK exporters market access to Malaysia for the first time and reduce tariffs on imported goods, which could lead to cheaper prices for British consumers.

Secretary Badenoch, ahead of the signing said: “I’m delighted to be here in New Zealand to sign a deal that will be a big boost for British businesses and deliver billions of pounds in additional trade, as well as open up huge opportunities and unparalleled access to a market of over 500 million people.”

National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Scotland President Martin Kennedy welcomes the “opportunities to improve trade overseas”, but only on “fair terms”.

“In stark contrast to the deals struck with Australia and New Zealand, we believe that the UK Government has put greater consideration into the CPTPP agreement,” he added.

“Compared to these earlier trade agreements, it appears provide a fairer, more balanced platform for all parties to build good relations from and we are pleased that government and the Prime Minister has taken on board some of the serious misgivings raised by farmers and the food and drink sector previously.”

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The Scottish government has extended the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme for a further two years.

The EU scheme enables officially recognised Producer Organisations, formed on the initiative of a group of growers, to receive financial assistance to help increase their competitiveness in the supply chain. 

The Scottish government has allocated up to £6 million in funding for these two extended years, of which Scottish Borders Produce (SBP), East of Scotland Growers and Angus Growers will all receive a share.

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said she hopes that this extension can provide “much-needed stability and security to the sector over the next two years”.

“Supporting our local fruit and vegetable growers is crucial,” she said.

“To make fresh, local produce more readily available in local shops, to support jobs in the agricultural sector and to increase our food security as a nation.

“I know that the sector continues to deal with a range of significant challenges and is one of those most acutely affected by Brexit which has caused unnecessary and unhelpful seasonal labour shortages.

“Most recently, water scarcity has created problems too in some areas, while every part of farming is still having to meet increased costs for supply inputs and energy.”

“Continuing this support has arguably never been more important. 

“Meanwhile, the Scottish Government will continue to work on giving greater certainty on multi-year funding longer term,” she said.

SBP company secretary Brian Aitchison said the co-operative is “grateful” for the extension.

“As a farmer’s co-operative we continuously work towards spreading crop yield variances and financial risks. The funding extension provides extra stability in a difficult growing environment,” he said.

“We continue to attract new members who appreciate the co-operative business model, and this funding helps sustain that co-operation.

“It is wonderful and re-assuring to see this funding continue for the next two years and hopefully well beyond that.”

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Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has published three documents relating to the second phase of co-design on the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).

The SFS will be Wales’ post-Brexit answer to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and will be the government’s main mechanism to support farmers in Wales going forward.

Minister Griffiths outlined scheme proposals for the SFS last July, which were the basis for this period of co-design with farmers and stakeholders, which will help shape the scheme.

Minister Griffiths published three reports yesterday (Tuesday, July 11) in total. The ‘Sustainable Farming Scheme Co-design Final Report’ is the collated feedback from over 1600 contributions, primarily from farmers, covering all main agricultural sectors. 

‘Sustainable Farming Scheme – Analysis of feedback to the outline scheme proposals’ reflects the responses of 100 stakeholder organisations, groups and individuals who contributed wider feedback. 

Minister Griffiths also published ‘Sustainable Farming Scheme Outline Proposals – Co-design Response. 

Key points that the Welsh government has taken from the co-design responses include:

• Farmers need time to understand and implement changes. Because of this, a phased approach could be considered, which could mean rolling out the Universal Actions when the scheme begins in 2025, with Optional and Collaborative Actions in the following years;
• It was proposed a Habitat Baseline Review would be needed before joining the scheme. Consideration will be made on how to make this scalable for the Universal Layer by using information already held, to remotely identify habitats on the farm through the familiar process of RPW online;
• Concerns regarding recognition for good management of existing habitats and woodland above the proposed minimum requirement;
• Based on feedback, further detail has been provided on the scenarios where tree planting is not possible. Changes are being explored so the planting action is not 10% of the entire holding, but 10% of the remaining area once unsuitable areas have been identified. The 10% tree cover would include existing tree cover.

“All of this will now feed into the consultation to take place later this year,” Minister Griffiths said.

“We have never before been able to utilise farmers input in this way, when designing a scheme, and I look forward to further discussing the proposals with farmers at the Royal Welsh and other shows this summer,” she added.

“The feedback and co-operation to date will help us all to deliver an ambitious and accessible scheme for active farmers.”

The next stage in the SFS progress will be a consultation later this year. Decision on the final design of the scheme will not be made until after the consultation has concluded.

Sustainable Farming Scheme co-design

National Farmers’ Union Wales (NFU Cymru) said it remains “supportive of Welsh Government’s overarching framework for the SFS arranged around universal, optional and collaborative tiers”.

However, it reiterated some of the farmer concerns that the Welsh government has taken on board from the co-design reports – such as more detail and time needed to understand and adapt to the new scheme.

NFU Cymru president Aled Jones, said: “NFU Cymru is extremely concerned and disappointed that Welsh Government appears to have doubled down on its 10% tree cover target (on areas Welsh Government considers suitable for tree planting) within the universal tier of the proposed scheme.

“In our response to the SFS outline proposals, NFU Cymru highlighted the broad range of issues associated with the 10% tree cover and 10% habitat targets.

“We remain clear the challenges around these targets present a very real barrier to scheme participation. 

“Farmers will be prepared to plant hedges, shelterbelts, streamside corridors and field corners on appropriate areas of their farm but will not plant trees on their productive land.”

Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) said the acknowledgment of the “much-talked-about 10% tree cover requirement” is a positive recognition of farmer engagement on the co-design progress.

FUW president Ian Rickman commented: “This marks welcome progress that reflects the concerns we have highlighted from the outset.

“But further concessions are needed if we are to avoid requiring agricultural land that is important for food production and the sustainability of individual farm business being planted with trees,” he added.

“We’ve been clear from the outset that food production and economic viability have to be considered equally to the environmental aspects of this scheme.”

He said the scheme is now at a “critical stage” in terms of whether progress over the coming months results in a “practical” scheme that delivers “economic, environmental and social sustainability”.

“The most important thing is to make sure this scheme is accessible and works for every farm. That includes the transition into the scheme so any action taken to make that process smoother for farmers is welcome,” he said.

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Those that pollute the environment will face unlimited penalties under new legislation announced by the government today (Wednesday, July 21).

At present, the Environment Agency and Natural England can give out a maximum variable monetary penalty of £250,000.

This has been increased following response to a government consultation on increasing the cap on variable monetary penalties and broadening their use.

Penalties for polluters

Variable monetary penalties are an alternative to criminal prosecutions which are reserved for the most serious offences; the most serious pollution incidents will continue to be dealt with through the courts.

There are guidelines in place that will ensure the level of penalty imposed by the agencies is proportionate to the degree of environmental harm and culpability.

These include safeguards to ensure the operator’s ability to pay, the size of the operator, and the degree of responsibility and harm, amongst others.

New powers will also enable these higher penalties to be levied as a civil sanction for offences under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, the regime under which the majority of Environment Agency investigations take place.

This will ensure regulators have the right tools to drive compliance across a range of sectors, strengthening enforcement and holding all who hold environmental permits to greater account.

“We regularly prosecute companies and individuals through criminal proceedings, but these new powers will allow us to deliver penalties that are quicker and easier to enforce, even though the most serious cases will continue to go to court,” Environment Agency chair Alan Lovell said.

“That should be an important deterrent – boosting compliance across a range of sectors, driving down pollution and safeguarding the ecology and prosperity of our natural world.”

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said this builds on government action to “stand up for our environment”.

“Polluters must always pay,” she said.

The legislation will be approved by both Houses of Parliament before coming into force.

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Small and medium-sized businesses will soon be able to apply for a share of £5 million in grant funding to “scale up agricultural innovation”.

The Farming Innovation Investor Partnership Competition will open for applications on Monday, July 24.

The competition seeks to support pioneering projects across the agricultural sector that have demonstrated the potential to grow and generate revenue, supporting the commercialisation of on-farm technologies that can then be rolled out across the industry.

Projects are encouraged to apply from across the livestock, arable, horticulture, bioeconomy and agroforestry sectors and should focus on solutions that support productivity, environmental sustainability, progression towards net-zero emissions and farming resilience.

The competition combines private investment with grant funding; projects can bid for up to 45% of project costs in grant funding which must be matched by at least twice the amount in private investment.

Investors for the programme will be selected from the pool of Innovate UK Investor Partners which currently comprises 80 partners and growing. There is also no limit to the level of private investment for projects.

Commenting on the competition, Mark Spencer, Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries said: “Supporting a resilient, sustainable and innovative agriculture sector that puts food on our tables while safeguarding the environment is my priority, and we are working with farmers to deliver this through our new farming schemes and grants.

“By bringing together cutting-edge agri-innovation and public and private investment, we can unlock new technologies that help make our farm businesses as productive as possible.”

The Farming Innovation Investor Partnership Competition is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and run in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and delivered by Innovate UK.

In order to apply, projects must be led by a sole UK registered micro, small, or medium-sized business and exhibit clear and tangible connections to farmers, growers, agri-businesses, and other potential end-users.

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The Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith has resigned as minister just days after he was named in the House of Commons report on the partygate scandal.

In his resignation letter today (Friday, June 30) he criticised the government over “abandoning” its animal welfare, climate and nature commitments, singling out Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in particular.

“The problem is not that the government is hostile to the environment, it is that you, our Prime Minister, are simply uninterested. That signal, or lack of it, has trickled down through Whitehall and caused a kind of paralysis,” he said.

He cited in particular the “ditched” Kept Animals Bill and claimed the government has “effectively abandoned” its “pledge to spend £11.6 billion of our aid on climate and environment”.

“Indeed the only reason the government has not had to come clean on the broken promise is because the final year of expenditure falls after the next General Election and will therefore be the problem for the next government,” he said.

“This government’s apathy in the face of the greatest challenge we have faced makes continuing in my current role untenable,” he added.

“With great reluctance I am therefore stepping down as a minister in order to focus my energy where it can be more useful.”

Goldsmith’s resignation comes just two days after he was chastised in a Committee of Privileges report into former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s conduct regarding the partygate scandal, referring to the government social gatherings during the Covid-19 pandemic, published on Wednesday (June 28).

The House of Commons committee was inquiring into whether former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had committed contempt of Parliament by intentionally misleading the House of Commons.

It said it was concerned “in particular” at the involvement of government members in attempting to “influence the outcome of the inquiry”.

It said these certain members were aiming to discredit the committee and its findings.

In a list of some of the “most disturbing examples” it listed Goldsmith’s post on Twitter whereby he retweeted a tweet calling the inquiry a witch hunt and kangaroo court, and added: “Exactly this. There was only ever going to be one outcome and the evidence was totally irrelevant to it.”

Goldsmith

Goldsmith will be leaving his position as Minister of State (Overseas Territories, Commonwealth, Energy, Climate and Environment).

As minister his responsibilities included animal welfare; forestry policy; international environment, climate, biodiversity and conservation; and green financing, among others.

He was also the lead for the Forestry Commission and Lord Minister for environment, including the Environment Bill.

Previously, he was a minister with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Goldsmith said he became involved in politics because of his “love and concern for the natural environment”.

“We depend on nature for everything,” he said in his resignation letter.

“Logically, there is nothing more important.”

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The government has announced more support, including over £7.5 million of new funding, to improve lowland peat soils and reduce carbon emissions.

Environment Minister Trudy Harrison said these new measures “bolster…efforts to protect and improve peat soils – enhancing carbon storage, preserving vital ecosystems, and paving the way for a more sustainable future”.

The new funding will be distributed across two pilots. The Lowland Agricultural Peat Small Infrastructure Pilot (£5.45 million) will support the installation of infrastructure and monitoring technology to enable more control of water levels for the preservation and rewetting of lowland peat.

The Lowland Agricultural Peat Water Discovery Pilot (£2.2 million), to be delivered by the Environment Agency, will allow local and water peatland partnerships to collaborate to develop costed water level management plans for lowland peat areas in England.

The government has also announced that it will take forward action on all 14 recommendations made by Robert Caudwell, independent chair of the Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force, whose report is published today (Thursday, June 19).

These recommendations are:

• New investment in water storage, management and control;
• Public money for wetter modes of farming on peat soils;
• Technical advice on keeping peat soils wetter;
• Creating viable opportunities in private finance;
• Raising the profile of lowland agricultural peat soils;
• Adopting the task force’s roadmap to commercially viable paludiculture (farming on rewetted peat).

The Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force, which ran between 2021 and 2022, was tasked with improving the condition of England’s farmed lowland peat.

Alan Lovell, chair of the Environment Agency welcomed the publication of the Caudwell report.

“Drawing on the report’s recommendations, we recognise that the sustainable management of the water environment through raising the water table within peat soils holds a pivotal role in protecting the carbon it stores,” he said.

“The report findings combined with further research and development provide useful support and incentives to farmers looking to transition to more climate-friendly farming of peat soils.”

Robert Caudwell, chair of the Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force said: “I thank all the members of the Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force for their time and commitment to finding ways of managing lowland agricultural peat that are sustainable and substantially reduce carbon emissions.

“All the evidence demonstrates that reducing carbon emissions from lowland peat is vital as part of the UK government’s plan to tackle climate change.

“The report and the UK government’s response are important first steps in a journey that will require partnership between all stakeholders, and I am confident that the work that is already underway will give farmers opportunities to develop their businesses and contribute to the challenge of net zero.”

The government has also named the 12 projects set to receive support through the £5 million Paludiculture Exploration Fund grant scheme.

These projects aim to help the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to help understand and overcome barriers to developing paludiculture as a commercially viable farming practice on lowland peat soils.

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