In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown analyses the fall out from the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), with the Farming Minister telling MPs that farmers were not given notice on closure as it would have led to a 'further spike in applications'. The National Trust says Defra's decision to close SFI to new applications will leave farmers facing a 'four month funding gap'. And she takes a look at the NFU's farmer confidence survey which is reportedly at an 'all time low'
Despite the Government's own website stating that it would give farmers six week notice before the closure of SFI, the Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said it was not possible, as it would have led to a ‘further spike in applications'
Defra Secretary Steve Reed said farmers and land managers who had been the ‘pioneers of nature-friendly farming', would now ‘finally get a fair price for their work'
In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown gives the main headlines from NFU conference, takes a look at the details of the Defra Secretary's speech, what farmers and industry representatives thought, and what's next for the family farm tax campaign?
Keir Starmer refused to apologise for the remarks made the Farming Minister, Daniel Zeichner, earlier this week that the agricultural industry was not high in the Government's 'pecking order'
Alistair Carmichael has called on the Government to increase funding to the agency to avoid further risk to UK farmers
A NFU survey of 545 livestock farmers in the South East found if there were further closures to local abattoirs, 49% of respondents said they would either have to reduce their stocking levels, stop keeping livestock or cease trading
Beef Carbon Reduction (BCR) Scheme deadline is December 31 2024
Defra said the Government had inherited the laboratories in 'poor condition' and warned the current state of the facilities posed a 'significant risk to Britain's farmers and human health'
NFU senior countryside adviser, Claire Robinson said farmers had engaged with stewardship Capital Grants which support environmental delivery, ‘to only find the application window is suddenly closed for a review'