defra secretary

Farmers Guardian Podcast: Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Atkins says Steve Reed must stand up to Chancellor over Inheritance Tax and criticises the Government for making a 'political choice' which will impact family farms

Podcasts

Farmers Guardian Podcast: Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Atkins says Steve Reed must stand up to Chancellor over Inheritance Tax and criticises the Government for making a 'political choice' which will impact family farms

clock 24 January 2025 • 1 min read
Farming Matters: Hester van Hensbergen - "We need to recognise this broken food system, built for corporate benefit, impacts us all"

Politics

Farming Matters: Hester van Hensbergen - "We need to recognise this broken food system, built for corporate benefit, impacts us all"

This week's opinion from throughout the world of agriculture: Oxford Real Farming Conference manager, Hester van Hensbergen

clock 23 January 2025 • 3 min read
Many farms will not survive to see the benefit of Defra's 'New Deal for farmers', says NFU

Politics

Many farms will not survive to see the benefit of Defra's 'New Deal for farmers', says NFU

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said the Government fails to recognise that the farming industry is in a ‘cash flow crisis' right now, with the ‘lowest farmer and grower confidence ever recorded'

clock 09 January 2025 • 2 min read
Bolder Government action needed to get British food in schools and hospitals

Politics

Bolder Government action needed to get British food in schools and hospitals

The Soil Association said if the Defra Secretary wants to achieve 'long-term food security, profitability and sustainability for our farming sector', then simply monitoring for British food in public institutions 'will not be enough'

clock 09 January 2025 • 2 min read

Farming in Five

January 8: Farming in Five: Tenant Farmers Association criticises Treasury Ministers for political stonewalling on changes to APR and BPR

In today's Farming in Five, Chief Reporter Rachael Brown reports on the criticism made by Tenant Farmers Association towards Treasury Ministers, accusing them of political stonewalling against any consideration of 'reasonable' amendments to the proposed changes to APR and BPR. Farmers Guardian’s campaign to save Britain's family farms from Inheritance Tax changes will feature heavily at this year’s LAMMA show

clock 08 January 2025 • 1 min read

Farming in Five

January 7: Farming in Five: The BBC has confirmed it will include the family farm tax in its Radio 4 drama The Archers

In today's Farming in Five, Chief Reporter Rachael Brown reports on confirmation from the BBC that it will include the family farm tax in its Radio 4 drama The Archers after the broadcaster was criticised by the campaign group the Countryside Alliance for ignoring the issue.

clock 07 January 2025 • 1 min read
Defra Secretary commits to facilitating a meeting between Chancellor Rachel Reeves and UK farming unions, says UFU

Politics

Defra Secretary commits to facilitating a meeting between Chancellor Rachel Reeves and UK farming unions, says UFU

UFU president William Irvine said once all the facts were laid out on the table, it seemed the negative impact that the budget changes will have on NI started to 'hit home'

clock 11 December 2024 • 2 min read
Defra invests £200m into APHA facility in Weybridge to tackle threat of animal diseases

Politics

Defra invests £200m into APHA facility in Weybridge to tackle threat of animal diseases

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'

clock 09 December 2024 • 2 min read
Defra pays out £57 million to farmers impacted by flooding

Politics

Defra pays out £57 million to farmers impacted by flooding

According to Defra, around 13,000 farmers were impacted by severe wet weather, including Storms Henk and Babet, between October and March last year

clock 27 November 2024 • 2 min read
Defra Secretary Steve Reed says farmers have their figures 'wrong'

Politics

Defra Secretary Steve Reed says farmers have their figures 'wrong'

Secretary of State Steve Reed said: "Assuming these projections from HMRC validated by Office for Budget Responsibility [OBR] and Institute for Fiscal Studies [IFS] are correct, than many of them, probably happily are wrong"

clock 21 November 2024 • 3 min read