Campaign to support Herdwick farmers launches with backing from HRH Prince of Wales
Secured by Taste Cumbria and partners the Herdwick Breeders Association,the funding will be used to help Cumbrian farmers capitalise on the recently awarded, worldwide PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status for Lakeland Herdwick and create new, more profitable, markets for their products. Specifically, the project will work to attain a number of high profile supply […]
Landfill Tax Bill welcomed by Finance Committee
The Bill is the second bill introduced by the Scottish Government as a result of the Scotland Act 2012. The Act devolved powers to the Scottish Parliament to levy taxes on land and buildings transactions and on disposals to landfill from April 2015. Having heard evidence concerning the potential for “waste tourism”, involving the cross-border […]
How good an investment is farmland?
As global population growth is expected to reach nine billion in 2040 and with some predictions putting the population in 2050 as high as ten billion, the future outlook for land resources looks bright. There is an attraction to utilise less marginal land for renewable energy production through a range of resources whether it be […]
Research Busts Myth that “There is no such thing as a poor farmer”
A recent survey from The Prince’s Countryside Fund released for National Countryside Week (22-28th July) reveals consumers are overwhelmingly supportive of farmers, yet know very little about the severe crisis affecting the countryside. Following the brutal weather at the start of the year farmers are still counting the cost of losing livestock and reduced yields. […]
£160 million technology boost for UK agricultural industries
Breakthroughs in nutrition, informatics, satellite imaging, remote sensing, meteorology and precision farming mean the agriculture sector is one of the world’s fastest growing sectors. Developed in partnership with industry, the Agricultural Technologies Strategy will ensure everyone from farmers and retailers, to cooks and shoppers share the benefits these exciting opportunities bring. It includes a £160 […]
The PM should be consistent with tax payer funded benefits cap
Mr George urged the PM to cap payments to wealthy landowners. Mr George asked the Prime Minister: “Of course, any Government should seek to introduce a reasonable cap on very high claims for tax payer funded benefits. But if ‘we’re all in it together’, why is the Government resisting the introduction of a cap on […]
IHT debt relief reprieve
The Government has partially reversed its unexpected attack on debt relief on inheritance tax introduced in the Finance Act in April this year. The proposals would have seen existing and new debts being set against assets that already qualify for relief against inheritance tax, such as farmland, with the result being that no relief would […]
Drive for modulation masks Government failure for a fair deal
The numbers confirm that the UK will be allocated the lowest share of funds of all member states on a per hectare basis and will also face significant reductions compared to the current budget. Speaking at the Cereals event today (Wednesday June 12), NFU President Peter Kendall will say: “Despite all of the rhetoric we […]
CAP update on Young Farmers
The European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) has recently stated that the new Common Agricultural Policy budget should include mandatory funding for Young Farmers. This funding has been stressed as being fundamental for encouraging new entrants into Agriculture and will apply to farmers under the age of 40. Direct Payments (Pillar 1) are proposed to […]
