51AV视频

Conservative Party Conference: Debate sparks question on whether landowners should be taxed for taking farmland out of production for solar

Governments present and past have told farmers they are custodians of the countryside for the work they do to maintain landscapes and safeguard food security. But the drive for Net Zero and the number of solar developments in the countryside has led to farmers wondering if they are now going to be custodians of solar?

Chris Brayford
clock 鈥� 4 min read
"We do not want to be property developers and we do not want to stewards of solar. We want to be farmers."
Image:

"We do not want to be property developers and we do not want to stewards of solar. We want to be farmers."

Taxing landowners who take productive land out of production for solar could help to even up access to affordable farmland for young farmers, food producers have claimed. During a fringe event at the...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

New to Farmers Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358
Join Now

听

More on Politics

MP introduces Bill calling for compulsory food labelling of halal and kosher meat
Politics

MP introduces Bill calling for compulsory food labelling of halal and kosher meat

Should food labels inform consumers if they are eating halal or kosher meat?

Chris Brayford
Chris Brayford
clock 13 March 2026 鈥� 6 min read
Iran war: NFU presses Gov on Middle East disruption to UK farm businesses
Politics

Iran war: NFU presses Gov on Middle East disruption to UK farm businesses

Farmers have only been told that input prices for oil and gas has gone up when taking in deliveries on-farm, making it harder for them to challenge or decline an order

Chris Brayford
Chris Brayford
clock 12 March 2026 鈥� 3 min read
UK well prepared for another foot-and-mouth outbreak, Gov says
Politics

UK well prepared for another foot-and-mouth outbreak, Gov says

Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle said robust contingency plans are in place to respond to another foot-and-mouth outbreak in the UK. But do farmers agree with that assessment?

Chris Brayford
Chris Brayford
clock 12 March 2026 鈥� 5 min read