Funding

Ministers have finally given Parliament more power to scrutinise trade deals, but the Parliament which will be scrutinising is the same Tory-majority one which has voted time and again not to protect our standards. I am not popping the champagne cork just yet, says Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron.

If readers of Farmers Guardian were to look at their favourite landscapes they would no doubt see vistas shaped by agriculture, with farmers at their heart.

The Agriculture Bill has officially become law and been made an Act after receiving Royal Assent today (November 11).

Farmers are being urged to act quickly to take advantage of tax relief as their Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) will drop from £1 million this year to £200,000 from January 1, 2021.

A lack of technical and financial clarity about agri-environment schemes has proved a ‘roadblock’ for farmer and landowner up-take, a new report has highlighted.

A ‘battle’ between Welsh Government and Treasury is underway to secure full funding for the country’s farmers.

The Government is continuing support to help businesses and employees through the second lockdown.

The Chancellors decision to allocate funding to Government departments for just one year, instead of the usual three, has been described as hugely concerning for farming.

EU farmers who refuse to participate in new eco-schemes to benefit the environment, mitigate climate change or improve animal welfare are set to see their direct payments slashed under proposed new CAP rules.

A question mark hangs over the future of next year’s major agricultural shows as tougher Covid restrictions come into place once again.