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  • Paice reiterates support to agri-environment schemes
    posted by Louise Taylor in Rural Matters
    comments: 0

    A report in the  Farmers Guardian says that Jim Paice has reiterated Defra's commitment to agri-environment schemes in light of the uncertainty surrounding their future.

    Mr Paice acknowledged that schemes like Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) will have to be altered under Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform plans.

    In a letter to the Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE), he said the full impact of moves to attach ‘...

  • RPA announce record payment statistics
    posted by Louise Taylor in Farm Finance
    comments: 0

    According to a report in the Farmers Guardian, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has achieved its December Single Payment Scheme (SPS) targets nearly two weeks ahead of schedule.

    The agency has paid more than £1.4 billion to approx 91,400 farmers since the SPS payment window opened on December 1st.

    This represents 81 per cent of the estimated value of 2011 payments, against a December target of 78 per cent and 87 per cent of...

  • Diversification of a different kind!
    posted by Louise Taylor in Rural Matters
    comments: 0

    The Farmers Guardian reports that an Essex farmer is turning concrete and rubble into useful hardcore, having invested in a compact crusher to repair farm tracks and help avoid costly material disposal.

    Looking for an opportunity to supplement income from the 120ha (300 acre) family farm at Dunmow, Essex, Josh Askew turned his attention to unwanted concrete and rubble.

    “I saw a mini crushing...

  • Collaboration is essential for a sustainable food chain.
    posted by Louise Taylor in Rural Matters
    comments: 0

    SCIENTISTS farmers, businesses, retailers and policy-makers from across the agri-food sector are backing a co-ordinated industry approach to ensure a sustainable and efficient UK food supply chain.

    It follows the Centre of Excellence for UK Farming (CEUKF) inaugural conference, where delegates from industry, academia and Government debated how the UK could become the best place to produce safe and...

  • Badger cull is the way forward.
    posted by Louise Taylor in Rural Matters
    comments: 0

    The National Beef Association has said that the proposed badger cull is a 'major step forward' in the on-going fight against bovine TB.  Chairman Hamish McBean said badger populations had 'exploded' in many parts of the UK and it would be 'impossible' for the cattle industry to get a grip of TB without looking at the wildlife element as well.

    “Farmers want to see badgers on their farm and the NBA believes these control measures...

  • Welsh come under fire as they delay TB programme.
    posted by Louise Taylor in Rural Matters
    comments: 0

    THE Welsh Government has come under fire following an admission by First Minister, Carwyn Jones, that an announcement on the next phase of its bovine TB eradication programme will not be made until the early months of next year.

    The admission comes despite a previous statement by Environment Minister, John Griffiths, to expect a decision before Christmas and repeated calls by the farming unions for...