Business News

A joint message has been issued from union presidents following summit in Belfast. The four leading agricultural organisations across the UK have repeated calls for UK Government to recognise food security concerns and extend the Energy and Trade Intensive Industry scheme (ETII) to include those sectors of agriculture heavily reliant on energy.

Harper Adams University has been named as the best in the world for agriculture and forestry employer reputation for a second successive year. It has also risen to become a top 200 global university in its field.

Rural land and property specialists GSC Grays believe some farms could be better off under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme and urged farmers to consider transitioning to a regenerative farming system.

A Scottish farmer with a passion for nature has created a 100-acre wildlife corridor by transforming his land with new, native broadleaf trees through The Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods scheme. Increasing farm biodiversity was core to Chris’ project goals.

Nearly three-quarters of off-gas grid rural homeowners are expected to fall into fuel poverty as a result of the government’s proposed 2026 fossil fuel boiler ban, with 69% of households unable to afford a replacement electric heating system, new rural polling data has shown.

As British farms increasingly look to generate new income streams, Farmers Guide spoke to Gloucestershire farmer Rees Keene about how he juggles multiple diversifications including pumpkins, Christmas trees, a farm shop, catering and hosting events.

The critical importance of agri-tech to agriculture and food is a key topic which will be discussed at the upcoming South West AgriTech Showcase next month.

NFU Mutual is urging farmers to take extra precautions as quad thefts continue to rise this year, affecting many who rely on quads to look after livestock.

Derbyshire-based meat supplier Loscoe Chilled Foods has confirmed it is part of the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) investigation concerning cooked meat and deli products being mislabelled as British on Booths supermarket shelves.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) regarded former Defra advisor Ben Goldsmith’s comments on sheep farming in the UK as ‘naïve’ and ‘uneducated’ in a statement issued to defend the valuable role sheep fulfill in the UK countryside.

Farmers who run caravan, camping, and glamping sites have said the rise in agritourism is playing a vital role in educating people about where their food comes from.

The farming industry has welcomed extensions on the Energy Price Guarantee and fuel duty freeze in Chancellor Hunt’s spring budget announcement on 15th March, while the lack of action on frozen tax thresholds and green incentives has been labelled a ‘missed opportunity’.