Lessons must be learned from the summer drought – including changes to agri-environment schemes, say farm leaders. The NFU wants Defra to ensure that the next round of the Sustainable Farming Incentive supports farmers’ resilience in the face of a changing climate. It comes as farmers grapple with ongoing... Read more
• Tax ‘betrayal’ of farming families • Government unveils finance bill • Ministers refuse to discuss plan Industry leaders have again warned that imposing inheritance tax on farming families will fail to achieve the government’s aims. The NFU issued the warning as the government laid out draft legislation for... Read more
A road safety charity has announced a partnership with the Tilly Your Trailer campaign to improve the safety of agricultural trailers on UK roads. TyreSafe said it wanted to reach all road user groups, particularly those operating in rural and agricultural settings, where the risks associated with unsafe tyres... Read more
Hot harvest weather is prompting warnings to stay safe on the farm Farmers are being reminded to ensure the safety of harvest workers this summer – especially those outdoors in hot temperatures. Employers have a legal obligation to ensure the health and safety of everyone on their worksite –... Read more
• Organised gangs targeting farmers • Positive action brings good results • Still work to stem serious offences Farm theft has fallen by 16.5% following co-ordinated action against organised and serious crime in the countryside, new figures from NFU Mutual reveal. Theft of agricultural machinery, equipment and vehicles cost... Read more
• Potential for agricultural growth • Year after Labour election victory • Hot issues of IHT and SFI remain The government has received rare praise from farm leaders after including agriculture in its industrial growth strategy. The strategy forms a central pillar of the Labour government’s mission to grow... Read more
Soil health pioneer to speak at Groundswell
News 10/06/2025
Influential soil health trailblazer One of the most world’s most influential regenerative farmers will address this year’s Groundswell event, which takes place next month in Hertfordshire. Gabe Brown, a pioneer of the soil health movement, will deliver a series of headline talks at the two-day festival. The best-selling author of... Read more
Farming festival set for ninth year
News 10/06/2025
Soil at heart of two-day event A jam-packed programme of exhibitions, demonstrations and talks will greet visitors to this year’s Groundswell event. Entering its ninth year, Groundswell provides a forum for farmers and everyone else interested in food production or the environment to learn about the theory and practical... Read more
Farmers attending this year’s Arable Event will be able to see for themselves how crops perform under ‘real world’ conditions with a host of trial plots. Crops on show in the trial plots reflect the reality of modern farming dealing with changing climate and last autumn’s incredibly wet weather,... Read more
• Vulnerable farmers most at risk • Tax impact disputed and unclear • More time to seek proper advice MPs have called for a year-long delay to government plans to impose inheritance tax on farm assets worth more than £1 million from 2026. The cross-party Environment, Food and Rural... Read more