Council of Food Policy Advisors has published its first report which includes a focus on a UK fruit and vegetable strategy as one of three priority areas. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
The Environment Agency has published the latest edition of their Floodnews publication, including articles on Shoreline Management Plans and coastal erosion. It can be downloaded from the EA website.
HMRC has issued a warning of an e-mail scam purporting to inform people of tax rebates. HMRC has confirmed that it would not use e-mail to contact a taxpayer about a rebate. The full warning is available on the HMRC website.
The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has announced a five year programme that will see £13.3 million of funding made available in Flintshire, Wrexham, Powys, Monmouthshire, Newport, Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan for new flood defence measures. Further information is available on the WAG website.
Scotland has been granted TB free status following a vote by all European Members States yesterday that saw comprehensive support for the move. There are concerns about the effects that this decision may have upon cross border trade and movements but final details are still under discussion. Further information is available on the Scottish Government website.
Mobile communications businesses Orange and T-Mobile have announced that they are to merge in November. The move is expected to be followed by a rationalisation programme which is likely to see the number of mast sites reduced and some high street shops closed.
The Infrastructure Planning Commission has announced the appointment of three commissioners. The IPC will begin to publish new National Policy Statements from this autumn, covering matters including water, gas and electricity infrastructure and renewable energy.
Those managing farms and estates which have bulk LPG tanks should ensure that any underground pipes are checked for safety. An inquiry into an explosion in a Glasgow factory in 2004 which killed 9 people has concluded that corroded underground pipes from LPG tanks were to blame. The Gill Inquiry has called for changes to the health and safety regime to improve guidance and regulation of such underground pipes. The report of the Inquiry can be found on The ICL Inquiry website....
DEFRA is to carry out a review of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to ensure that it is ready to implement any changes that may come about as part of the CAP changes in 2013 as well as assess what improvements could be made. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
The NFU and The Ramblers have joined forces to issue advice to walkers on safety near cattle, following three deaths due to trampling in recent months. New warning signs are available to NFU members and a list of Do's and Don'ts for walkers is being promoted. For more details, go to the NFU website.
HMRC has announced that it plans to phase out paper VAT returns in favour of online returns. Businesses with a turnover exceeding £100,000 will be required to make online VAT returns after 1st April 2010. Other businesses are likely to have until 2012. Further details are available on the HMRC website....
Applications are invited for part-time, unsalaried posts on the National Park Authorities for the South Downs (10 posts), Exmoor, Lake District, North York Moors and Peak District (1 post each). There is also a place available on the Broads Authority and the Chilterns AONB Conservation Board. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 6th October and further information is now available from the DEFRA website....
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has announced that £16 million is to be made available to local communities to tackle surface water flooding. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
In response to criticism, Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has said that any speculation with regard to Glastir in advance of the availability of operational detail is premature. Further information is available on the WAG website.
The RPA has issued a reminder that all applications (SP20 form) for an allocation of new entitlements for SPS with regard to land used for permanent fruit, vegetables, nursery crops and vines must be received by midnight on Thursday 13th August 2009 to avoid penalties being applied. Please see the news release on the RPA website. Further information about this allocation of new entitlements is also available on the RPA website....
DEFRA has published its UK Food Security Assessment as part of its work to develop a Food Strategy for the next 20 years. For more information, see the full press release on the DEFRA website.
Hundreds of CAAV members and guests joined celebrations to mark the launch of the CAAV Centenary year with events at the Royal Welsh Show and CLA Game Fair in July. Members can read a full report on the events in the Members Documents section of the website.
DEFRA has confirmed the 2009 Agricultural Wages Board Order which will come into effect from 1st October 2009. Details can be found on the DEFRA website and in their latest press release.
The House of Lords' role as the final and highest court of appeal will come to an end at the end of July. From October 2009 the new Supreme Court will take over those functions. For further details, see the press release on the Parliament website.
The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has announced that more than £900,000 is to be offered in grant funding to repair and restore some 22 of Wales' important historic buildings. Further information is available on the WAG website.
Natural England (NE) has clarified its position with regard to wind farms in National Parks following an article that appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 24th July 2009. Please view the Press Release on the Natural England website for further information.
As part of the 60th anniversary celebrations for National Parks and National Parks week (running from 27th July to 2nd August), Hilary Benn has visited the Peak District National Park which was one of the original four National Parks established in 1951. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
The Conservative Party has launched a new on-line discussion forum for agricultural matters at the CLA Game Fair. The website "Future Countryside" includes four major themes: Food and Farming; Biodiversity and Conservation; A Changing Environment, and Resources and Regulation.
The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has published survey results looking at changes to the Welsh Countryside over the past 30 years. Further information is available on the WAG website. Please click here to view the report.
The Welsh Assembly Government has launched a Young Entrants Support Scheme which will provide grant aid and business advice to young people entering the agricultural industry. For further details, see the press release on the WAG website.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn, has issued a written statement with regard to progress with payments under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme. His statement may be viewed on the RPA website.
DEFRA has announced that £5.2 million of new European funding is to be made available for the dairy industry and rural broadband. The funding is to be delivered through the Rural Development Agencies as part of the RDPE. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
The Health and Safety Executive publishes an information sheet on cattle and public access in England and Wales which can be downloaded from the HSE website. A separate sheet with advice for the situation in Scotland is also available.
Ofcom has published maps showing the extent of 3G coverage across the UK and revealing that many rural areas suffer from poor or non-existant coverage. The maps can be found on Ofcom's website.
DEFRA has announced that the voluntary approach to set aside mitigation which was proposed by the NFU and CLA has been approved. The full press release is available on the DEFRA website and more detail will be posted on the Members Documents section of this website shortly.
The Bank of England has announced that interest rates will remain at 0.5% for the fourth month in a row. See the BBC News website for further detail.
The Welsh Assembly Government has announced the creation of a new high-level co-ordinator post to work with dairy farmers in Wales. The post will be advertised nationally shortly. More details are available on the WAG website.
The RPA has published the latest figures on payments made for the SPS 2008. These show that as at 30th June 2009, over 104,000 claims have been paid, from a total of about 106,500 claimants, amounting to 99.7% of the total fund. The full press release can be found on the RPA website.
DEFRA has announced the formation of a joint government and industry advisory group to advise upon the proposals for responsibility and cost sharing for animal health and welfare. Further information is available on DEFRA's website.
FWi has reported that the government appeal against the High Court ruling that DEFRA had failed in its duty to ensure that the application of pesticides did not cause harm to rural residents has been decided in DEFRA's favour. The case had been pursued by Georgina Downs who lives near farmland in West Sussex. It is understood that DEFRA will be issuing a consultation in the autumn with regard to public access to farm spray records as a result of this judgment. A statement has been issued by...
DEFRA has confirmed that following clarification of the rules relating to the marketing of fruit and vegetables as a result of new EU marketing regulations that take effect tomorrow (1st July 2009), consumers should now be able to more readily access "imperfect" fruits and vegetables in their local shops and supermarkets. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
Environment Minister Jim Fitzpatrick has today announced the introduction of reduced fees for smaller businesses who need to apply to a local authority to obtain a pollution permit under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
DEFRA has announced a £10 million package of funding to improve rivers, lakes and canals. The funds will largely be distributed through the Association of Rivers Trusts. The full press release can be found on the DEFRA website.
The NFU backed bovine TB compensation table valuations legal case involving David Partridge has been refused leave to appeal to the House of Lords which means that the decision handed down by the Court of Appeal on 1st April 2009 stands. Please see the NFU Press Release for further information.
The latest edition of English Heritage's annual "Heritage at Risk" register published this week has shown that 1 in 7 of some 9,300 Conservation Areas in England is at risk. English Heritage has therefore urged that councils make more use of Article 4 Directions to retain the character of these areas. Please click here to view English Heritage's news release which contains further information....