Farming in Five: Weekly round-up of main news stories and a look ahead to next week

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

28 February 2025 • 1 min read

READ: Latest main new stories

NFU Conference: Steve Reed - 'People are focusing on the wrong thing if they think it is Inheritance Tax that is the problem'

Sir Keir Starmer questioned on whether family farm tax was a 'mistake' or 'intentional'

Tenant farmers lose bid to stop solar farm from being built on agricultural land

Tenant Farmers Association criticises Prime Minister for broken promise over solar farm decision

All you need to know about the Pancake Day farmer rally

Treasury has 'far too much control' in family farm tax row, says Efra chair

'The Government know they are wrong' on Inheritance Tax, says NFU president

Red meat consumption must be cut by 25% to hit climate goals, says new report

Defra re-opens Capital Grants and £30m uplift in Higher Level Stewardship

March 31: 1,700 farms lost around towns and cities since 2010, warnings on US chlorinated chicken and milk price update

In today's Farming in Five, head of news and business Alex Black discusses a new report from CPRE which shows more than 1,700 farms on the edges of towns and cities have disappeared since 2010, farming unions urge the Government to stand up for UK farming in any US trade deal, with warnings over the potential inclusion of chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef and a milk price update as Freshways drops for May

Alex Black

31 March 2025 • 1 min read

Farming in Five

Farming in Five: Chancellor's Spring Statement, Defra Secretary visits only 4 farms, Royals show their support for agriculture, and Farming Minister takes questions on SFI suspension from Efra Committee

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown looks back at the top news stories of the week, including the Chancellor's Spring Statement, the Defra Secretary facing criticism for visiting only four farms since Labour's General Election win, concerns around the end of funding for Producer Organisations within the soft fruit sector, and King Charles and the Prince of Wales out and about supporting British farming. She also looks ahead to next week, when the Farming Minister will make his first appearance before the Efra Committee to answer questions on the SFI suspension and ongoing industry concerns

Rachael Brown

28 March 2025 • 1 min read

Farming in Five

March 27: Chancellor Rachel Reeves refuses to back down on family farm tax and National Insurance hike in Spring Statement, and Defra Secretary has only visited 4 farms since Labour won the General Election

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown unpicks the Chancellor's Spring Statement after she stood firm on the family farm tax, Defra Secretary has only visited 4 farms since Labour's General Election, with his ministers for flood and nature not visiting any, and livestock farmers are being encouraged to sign up for free vet visits through the TB Advisory Service (TBAS) before the service’s funding ends

Rachael Brown

27 March 2025 • 1 min read