51AVÊÓƵ

As the weather turned wet in early October, the 2020 maize harvest could be described as a tale of two halves.

The EU’s 51AVÊÓƵto Fork Strategy, which sets a target to reduce pesticide use by 50 per cent, would negatively affect the world’s most food-insecure populations. The UK should not follow suit, says Adam Speed, director of public affairs at the Crop Protection Association.

2020 has been a challenging year for farmers, but with the end of the transition period, changes to direct payments and new trade deals on the horizon, 2021 may bring further hardship, says Conservative peer Anne McIntosh.

Brexit will create winners and losers in farming, but the direction of travel makes me fear there will be more losers than winners, says Oliver Dowding, an apple grower in South East Somerset.

If food production is to reach net zero targets, policy makers need to secure fair returns for farmers by incentivising climate neutral food production.

Oilseed rape plantings have fallen to their lowest level since 1986 at 318,000 hectares, according to AHDB’s Early Bird planting survey.

With many cover crops growing well this autumn thanks to good September moisture, management over winter will be important to ensure soils are in the best state for spring crops.

Helping to motivate, inspire and guide staff to achieve their best can help a farm business thrive. In the first of a two-part feature, Clemmie Gleeson speaks to two farmers who, although from different sectors and backgrounds, let their staff know what they do matters and is appreciated.

Farmers will benefit from three income streams in future - primary food, public goods and carbon trading - and should not delay in embarking on their sustainability journey.Ìý

Industry leaders have warned farmers will face ‘major financial hardship’ during the transition away from direct payments, with Defra planning to maintain the income foregone payment model for the foreseeable future.