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Brexit

Post-Covid, Welsh Government must surely define food production as a public good

Arable

Post-Covid, Welsh Government must surely define food production as a public good

If the past few months have taught us anything, it’s that the safe, reliable supply of sustainable food is important to the public. Welsh Government would be wise to recognise food production as a public good, says NFU Cymru president John Davies.

clock 20 November 2020 • 4 min read
Nothing ought to be higher on the Government's priority list than food defence

Arable

Nothing ought to be higher on the Government's priority list than food defence

Food defence ought to be number one on the Government’s priority list during this pandemic, but the new Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution does not even include agri-food, says Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City, University of London.

clock 20 November 2020 • 4 min read
Free traders need to stop pretending they're living in the Corn Laws era

Arable

Free traders need to stop pretending they're living in the Corn Laws era

There is no comparison to the UK’s food system in 2020 and the 1800s Corn Laws, and free traders are doing us all a disservice by denying this fact, says arable farmer and NFU Sugar Board member Tom Clarke.

clock 20 November 2020 • 6 min read
From the editor: Swathes of the industry rightly angered by Eustice's Brexit fix

Livestock

From the editor: Swathes of the industry rightly angered by Eustice's Brexit fix

Picture the scene. It is the end of 2021 and there has been a no-deal Brexit, while Basic Payments have also started to reduce in line with Government plans to move towards a more environmentally-based farming support structure.

clock 20 November 2020 • 2 min read
Welsh vets responsible for TB testing face move to ports to deal with Brexit issues

Livestock

Welsh vets responsible for TB testing face move to ports to deal with Brexit issues

Welsh vets responsible for TB testing face being moved to ports such as Holyhead to deal with Brexit issues after January 1, presenting major concerns for animal health.

clock 19 November 2020 • 2 min read
Ewing says Scottish farmers should keep direct payments after Brexit

Arable

Ewing says Scottish farmers should keep direct payments after Brexit

Scottish farmers look set to keep some form of direct payment beyond 2024, after Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing mounted a passionate defence of income support at the virtual AgriScot conference.

clock 18 November 2020 • 2 min read
'Quite frankly a laughable response' - George Eustice suggests sheep farmers diversify into beef in a no deal scenario

Livestock

'Quite frankly a laughable response' - George Eustice suggests sheep farmers diversify into beef in a no deal scenario

The Environment Secretary also said Arla could relocate the manufacturing of Lurpak to the UK

clock 16 November 2020 • 8 min read
Scottish red meat exports fall

Livestock

Scottish red meat exports fall

The near closure of export markets in March disrupted caused disruption

clock 16 November 2020 • 2 min read
This majority-Tory Parliament cannot be trusted to protect standards in trade deals

Arable

This majority-Tory Parliament cannot be trusted to protect standards in trade deals

Ministers have finally given Parliament more power to scrutinise trade deals, but the Parliament which will be scrutinising is the same Tory-majority one which has voted time and again not to protect our standards. I am not popping the champagne cork just yet, says Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron.

clock 13 November 2020 • 3 min read
If Scottish farmers are to address the climate emergency, they need fair trade deals

Arable

If Scottish farmers are to address the climate emergency, they need fair trade deals

If Scottish farmers are to address the climate emergency, they need guarantees that they will not be undercut by cheap, environmentally damaging imports from abroad, says John Finnie, Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands.

clock 13 November 2020 • 2 min read