Business News

The latest NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report reveals an alarming increase in criminal activity across the British countryside, with the total cost of rural crime adding up to an estimated £49.5m, a steep rise of 22% from the previous year.

A stasis in the let sector is revealed in the latest annual CAAV Agricultural Land Occupation Survey 2022, which covers decisions made where tenancies were granted or ended and other occupations changed in that year.

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has confirmed farmers will be issued the first instalment of BPS advance payments tomorrow (1st August), representing up to 50% of annual direct payments.

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

At a seminar on the Welsh government’s proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) hosted by NFU Cymru, farmers have raised concerns over the 10% tree cover and habitat targets with rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths and called for greater flexibility to make the scheme viable for producers.

Responding to financial pressures facing the sector, Yorkshire pig producers Vicky, Rachel and Kate Morgan, diversified into holiday lets. Since their March launch they’ve received outstanding customer reviews and their new enterprise is fully booked until August. This is how they did it… 

With subsidy payments for farmers set to end this year, the Welsh government has announced the launch of an interim agri-environment scheme from 1st January 2024 to provide alternative support until the start of the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2025.

A two-year feasibility study led by crop research organisation NIAB is set to explore the potential for domestic chickpea production, which could further reduce fertiliser reliance in the UK arable sector.

Now there are easy ways to assess the potential of your farm for a range of future uses, explains Addland.

As Farm Safety Week gets underway, farmers are being reminded to perform vital tyre checks on agricultural machinery to maintain safety on farmland and rural roads.

In support of Yellow Wellies’ eleventh Farm Safety Week, the NFU has launched its ‘Take 5 to Stay Alive’ campaign encouraging farmers to pause and evaluate the risks before starting a job to prevent life-changing and fatal accidents.

After lengthy negotiations, the UK has officially joined 11 other member states in the vast Indo-Pacific trade group last Sunday (16th July), which farming groups say will open up new markets for British food exporters and potentially increase the trade of red meat and dairy on the long term.