In the bizarre world of ideologically-driven Tory self-harm, DEFRA is cutting itself into oblivion. How and why is this happening? Peter Crosskey investigates. […]
Brexit – US trade chief tells UK to “stay in EU”. Would TTIP lock the UK out of global trade, post #Brexit? And what does the EU do for the UK re agri payments anyway? […]
Tax, basic payments and disadvantaged land make up the core suggestions the UK’s Family Farming Associaiton have for DEFRA. Peter Crosskey explains. […]
Despite the exaggeration and spin, oilseed rape yields are up, not down, in the UK. […]
Applications close at 5pm on September 30, 2015 for the UK’s new community and socially aware food fund […]
Despite mounting scientific evidence, UK authorities have made an exemption for the bee killing pesticide. Peter Crosskey reports […]
Greening was weak enough to begin with. Now, many ministers and the Commissioner himself seem to see the genuine greening component of CAP as more honoured in the breach than in the observance. […]
With UK elections coming up tomorrow, Joseph Dodd of GMO free regions explains the party positions on GM. […]
With just seven weeks to go before the May 15 deadline for applications under the Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) the UK government has climbed down from its dogmatic commitment to digital by default. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will still require farmers to register online, but is making preparations to input data from paper forms. RPA chief executive Mark Grimshaw welcomed the possibility of more time for BPS claims, with the European Commission’s offer of an extended deadline of June 15. This was made by European agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan. According to the RPA, “over 80%” of English farms have registered. Meanwhile, the RPA is providing mobile units to reach isolated farmers, in addition to its 50-strong network of drop-in centres. Around 15,000 eligible farmers still need to register. Tenant Farmers’ Association (TFA) chief executive George Dunn expressed his relief that “DEFRA has at last accepted the need to abandon its plans for online only applications,” adding that “…the RPA has been left to pick up the pieces.” During the past few weeks, his membership […]
The UK parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee (EFRA) this week published its findings on the provision of rural broadband, warning that until there is completely reliable broadband coverage in the UK, “…there will be those who, through lack of online access, are disadvantaged through no fault of their own.” The committee heard that at present one in 10 CAP applicants either do not have a computer or do not use broadband. Last year, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) wrote to 18,000 farmers in England who would no longer qualify for Pillar I area-based support, leaving some 90,000 registrations that need to be completed by the May 15 deadline. With fewer than 100 days to go, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is reporting that just over 22,500 farm businesses have registered. This means that registration levels will need to top 700 farms/day to meet the deadline requirements. The union has been emailing and texting members to remind them of the need to register. The RPA has set up 50 help centres across England, where […]
Over 900,000 people in the UK now use food banks, up from 313,000. Why? Peter Crosskey reports. […]
Vibrant new UK farming organisation with an agenda similar to that of Arc2020,as Peter Crosskey reveals. […]
A British exit of the EU could result in a shortfall of billions in CAP payments to UK farmers. This is not on the UK political radar, as Peter Crosskey reveals. […]
The UK’s FSA is getting weaker and weaker under a Tory government, as Peter Crosskey explains. […]
London’s food sovereignty month saw a lively seed exchange weekender. Peter Crosskey reports. […]
Agricultural and Rural Convention