51AVÊÓƵ

Welsh farm groups have welcomed the news that direct payments to farmers in 2023 will remain the same as they have over the past three years.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party Sir Ed Davey has called on the Government to appoint a cross-departmental minister to address the needs of rural communities.

It is that time of year again when the pages of Farmers Guardian are filled with Christmas fatstock sales from around the marts and winter fairs from across the country.

Further fears farmland is being put at risk from tree-planting have been raised after commercial forestry values rose by 15 per cent over the past year.

The three Environmental Land Management schemes are to remain in place incorporating an enhanced Countryside Stewardship scheme that will be more closely linked to Local Nature Recovery, the Secretary of State for Defra Therese Coffey, has revealed.

Ploughing more money into Defra’s Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme will keep food prices down for consumers, according to AHDB technical knowledge exchange manager Harry Henderson.

The UK beef suckler herd is set to contract by 10 per cent because of rising input costs and a lack of clarity from all Governments about future policy direction, an industry leader has warned.

A new Agricultural Growth Zone has been created to boost support for Lincolnshire and Rutland’s farming and producing sectors.

The future of farm support in England has been plunged into uncertainty once more, as Defra appeared to tear up its Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme plans.

The European Union is considering increasing its farming budget in order to boost food security, leading to calls for the UK to do the same.