51AVÊÓƵ

Removing direct payments before properly testing the new public goods system is reckless and will put hill farmers out of business, says Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP and Lib Dem agriculture spokesman.

Having George Eustice at the cabinet table during such a pivotal time for agriculture will benefit farmers across the whole of the UK, says Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Conservative Shadow Rural Affairs Minister.

A top Welsh Government official has said the problems associated with developing post-Brexit policy for cross-border farms ‘keep him awake at night’.

Eustice’s appointment as Defra Secretary seemed to be a popular one among farmers, but this just shows they haven’t been paying attention, says Hywel Davies, who is a partner at Cyfreithwyr Llys Cennen Solicitors and helps his parents run the Aman flock of pedigree Texel sheep, the 2018 Champion Flock of Wales.

Farmers have been encouraged to apply for funding under a 2021 Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreement to improve their local environment.

A top agricultural lawyer has warned the English agriculture budget could be swallowed up by non-farmers after the Brexit transition period ends.

Green groups have warned the environment could be under threat as cross-compliance provisions fall away in the coming years.

The Government’s new green watchdog should be given the power to determine whether future farming budgets are high enough to deliver desired environmental outcomes, a leading ecological body has said.

Farmers in Scotland will benefit from a share of £40m as the Scottish Government moves to decarbonise the agricultural sector.

Vets have called on the Government to ensure workforce capacity meets demand following Boris Johnson’s pledge to bolster animal health and welfare and food standards in a future trade deal with the EU.