RPA continues impressive SPS performance
The Rural Payments Agency has continued its excellent Single Payment Scheme (SPS) performance, paying 99.3 percent of applicants by the end of March. The Agency, which had already achieved its end of March targets more than five weeks ahead of schedule, has now paid more than 103,000 customers. The latest figures also show that 99.5 […]
Key Yara promotions benefit UK customers
Mark Tucker, formerly UK Head of Agronomy, now becomes Chief Agronomist for Northern Europe, responsible for company activities in the UK and The Republic of Ireland as well as Scandinavia, Russia and the Baltic Countries. Ian Matts, formerly Agronomic Coordinator for Yara UK will succeed Mark, becoming Company Agronomist for the UK and the Republic […]
New leadership at Potato Council
As Allan Stevenson steps down after five years as Chair of Potato Council and member of the AHDB Board, David Piccaver, a leafy salad producer from South Lincolnshire enthusiastically takes on this challenging and exciting role. “I am pleased to have been appointed chairman of Potato Council. I have been a potato grower for most […]
Banking on severe weather support
The severe weather and heavy snow that has affected many parts of Scotland over the past few weeks has had a significant impact on farmers especially during the busy lambing season. Bank of Scotland Head of Agriculture, Sandy Hay comments: “The recent awful weather has occurred in the midst of lambing and will have severely […]
AHDB appoints four new HGCA Board members
Robert Lasseter, Paul Temple, George Lawrie and Charles Matts will take up their posts from 1 April 2013. They replace outgoing grower board members, Arthur Hill, Rad Thomas, Stewart Vernon and MAGB’s Colin West. Jonathan Tipples, HGCA chairman, said: “I am delighted to welcome Paul, Robert, George and Charles onto the Board and look forward […]
Defra announces third round of rural broadband fund
The fund is part of the joint Defra/Broadband Delivery UK Fund and aims to help hard to reach rural communities with limited or no internet to access superfast broadband, giving rural businesses a greater opportunity to profit and grow. Environment Minister Richard Benyon said: “People living and working in remote areas face a range of […]
HGCA appoints new Regional Manager for Scotland
Gavin Dick, formerly of SRUC, will be based at the existing Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) offices at the Rural Centre in Ingliston, Edinburgh. He will take up the role in April. His responsibilities will include recruiting and project managing two new HGCA monitor farms – one alongside AHDB potato division PCL – as […]
Tax cuts welcomed by rural businesses
Rural businesses will welcome today’s decision to abolish the fuel duty escalator and cut the employers’ national insurance contribution, according to industry experts. The cuts, announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his 2013 Budget this afternoon, will see the planned 3% fuel tax rise in September cancelled. Employers’ national insurance will be reduced by an […]
European Agriculture Council strikes deal on Common Agricultural Policy
The UK has struck a deal to keep the Common Agricultural Policy on its path of reform, the Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson announced today. In response to pressure from the UK, the Agriculture Council has provided reassurance that each of the four UK countries can continue to implement CAP regionally. Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson said: […]
