51AVÊÓƵ

Leaving the Brexit transition period without an EU trade deal would be ‘a cakewalk’ for the food industry in comparison to the pandemic, National Food Strategy (NFS) chief Henry Dimbleby has said.

51AVÊÓƵgroups have welcomed Government plans to scrap EU greening requirements for direct payments from 2021.

The Covid-19 pandemic has held the attention of the world since January, but as the UK stumbles towards the end of the Brexit transition period, there is an urgent need to refocus.

A top Welsh Government (WG) official has said he expects ‘business casualties’ from the twin pressures of Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic.

The First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, has said his Government will be ‘sensitive’ to coronavirus issues faced by farmers when setting a Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) phaseout timetable.

The Food and Drink Sector Council (FDSC) has called on Government to delay ‘business as usual’ legislation and consultations while the sector focuses on recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

Around 15,250 Scottish farmers and crofters will shortly receive £6.39m ahead of schedule under the Financial Discipline Mechanism.

Rows between the SNP and Tories over where power lies post-Brexit will not benefit Scottish farmers or the economy, which relies on intra-UK trade, says North East Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles.

Without some serious changes, the Trade and Agriculture Commission could end up becoming little more than a fig leaf for the Government’s failure to protect production standards in law, says Labour Shadow Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner.

Strange claims about trade deals with other countries increasing UK farmers’ use of insecticides must be taken with a pinch of salt, says Adam Speed, head of communications at the Crop Protection Association (CPA).