The NFU has welcomed the ‘long overdue’ UK Pesticides National Action Plan (NAP) but warned it was unclear how it would be supported and delivered
On today's Farming in Five, head of news and business Alex Black takes a look back at the big news stories of the week, from the Farming Minister failing to give reassurances on SFI, to Asda backtracking on its poultry commitments and the threat to cattle from dog owners not cleaning up after their dogs, and looks ahead to the Spring Statement and Big Farm Tea Break
Simon Britton, of Knight Frank, said struggling 'upland farmers' could benefit from a redesign of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme but arable and lowland livestock farms may need to 'reconsider expectations'
Patrick Holden, chief executive of the Sustainable Food Trust, has called for a ‘coalition of stakeholders' to reward farmers for ‘positive climate, nature and social outcomes' as part of a ‘Sustainable Markets Initiative'
Exmoor farmer Robin Milton said ‘trust and confidence in SFI had been wrecked' and it would take ‘some exceptionally good assurance' before many farmers would trust integrating it into their business again
The Government has pulled the rug out from under farmers across England, according to Alastair Carmichael
An emergency roundtable on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) has been held this afternoon (March 17) between Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner and farming organisations
TFA representative George Renner said despite indication from Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner at an ‘emergency' industry roundtable that a ‘stripped back version' of SFI would be available this summer, commitments from the Minister were still ‘very woolly'
Mr Lines, chief executive of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, writes about Defra’s sudden SFI closure, how farm support payments are 'failing' farmers, the urgent action needed and why farmers cannot wait 18 months
Mr Dungait is a tenant farmer from Morpeth in Northumberland and former chair of NYFC. He writes about why farmers feel hurt and betrayed since Labour came to power, his time in NFYFC and why he wants to enter politics