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'
North East Fife MP Wendy Chamberlain writes about the family farm tax, changes to Universal Credit, mental health in farming, Defra Secretary Steve Reed, NFU Scotland, tenant farmers and the cost pressures facing the sector
In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown takes a look at the main news stories this week, with the family farm tax dominating the headlines from NFU conference, and the PM facing criticism for breaking his promise on ensuring solar farm developments would not be at the expense of tenant farmers following the appeal decision at Emma and Rob Sturdy's farm. She also looks ahead to next week, with another farmer rally in Westminster on Pancake Day over the impact of the family farm tax on the elderly and terminally ill
This week from Farmers Guardian editor Olivia Midgley
Efra chair Alistair Carmichael said the Defra Secretary and the Farming Minister should be the ‘voice of farmers within Government but they are clearly not being listened to' over the family farm tax
When asked what political barriers there were to the Treasury adopting the clawback solution put to Treasury officials last week, Mr Bradshaw said the Government was looking for an ‘economic moment', referencing the Autumn Budget later this year
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?
Defra Secretary says Conservative finance lies led to Labour failing to keep its commitment to farmers
Yorkshire-based farmer disrupts Secretary of State's speech with banner quoting PM's promise to industry