BSE Case Confirmed in Aberdeenshire
The BBC News website is reporting that there has been a case of BSE confirmed on a farm in Aberdeenshire. Further information is also available on the Scottish Government website.
News
Government appoints Shale Gas Commissioner
The Government has appointed a Shale Gas Commissioner to provide a link between local communities, the shale gas industry and regulators. Former MP Natascha Engel will take up the new post this week.
Natural Resources Wales confirms position on pheasant shooting
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has confirmed that it will not renew leases for pheasant shooting rights on land that it manages when they end in March 2018. Further information is available on the NRW website.
£3m funding for Catchment Sensitive Farming advice on reducing ammonia emissions from agriculture
It has been confirmed that £3 million funding is being made available for a specialist team under the Catchment Sensitive Farming partnership to help implement the measures set out in the new Code of Good Agricultural Practice (COGAP) for Reducing Ammonia Emissions. Further information is available on GOV.UK....
Use BPS time window for change, says CAAV
Press release 12 September 2018 Use BPS time window for change, says CAAV The new Agriculture Bill has fired a starting gun for England’s farmers to manage post-Brexit change, according to the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers. Farmers have been awaiting details on what post-Brexit policy and payments will look like – and now they know, they should act, says Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser to the CAAV. “We have been given a clear timeframe for the complete removal of...
Agriculture Bill to be introduced into Parliament today
The Agriculture Bill is being introduced into Parliament today and sets out in broad terms how the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will be replaced in England by an Environmental Land Management system which is to use "public money for public goods" and will begin tests and trials next year (2019) and pilots from 2021. BPS will remain "on the same basis as now" for 2019 and 2020, with simplifications being made where possible. There will then be a 7 year "agricultural transition" period from 2021...
DEFRA announces new pilot scheme for 2,500 seasonal workers
The Home Secretary and Environment Secretary have announced a nationwide, two year pilot to allow fruit and vegetable farmers to employ seasonal workers from outside the EU. 2,500 seasonal workers will be permitted to come into the UK annually. The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme pilot will be run by two operators who will be announced in "due course". They will oversee placement of workers. The pilot is due to start in spring 2019 and will run until 31st December 2020. Further information...
Dominic Raab gives statement to Parliament updating on progress with Brexit negotiations
The Secretary of State for the Department for Exiting the European Union, The Rt Hon Dominic Rabb MP, has given an oral statement to Parliament today updating on progress with negotiating a Brexit deal for the UK. The statement can be viewed on GOV.UK....
Tips on completing a Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier application
With only three weeks until the Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier 2018 application deadline, Alice De Soer from the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) gives some pointers for applicants in this week's Farmers Weekly.
Ash dieback found on three new host species of tree in the UK
The Forestry Commission is urging people to report any suspected sightings of ash dieback by using the 'Tree Alert' system. This follows the discovery of three new species of trees and shrubs which have tested positive for ash dieback at Westonbirt Arboretum. Further details are available on GOV.UK....
Bank of England Base Rate Moves to 0.75%
On Thursday 2nd August 2018 the Bank of England raised its base rate from 0.5% to 0.75%. This is the first time that the base rate has exceeded 0.5% since March 2009.
Environment Agency announces more flexible approach to water abstraction
With the ongoing hot and dry weather conditions, the Environment Agency has announced arrangements to allow farmers to temporarily trade water allowances as set out in their abstraction licences. Further information is available on GOV.UK.
Recharging Rural Report
The Prince's Countryside Fund and Scotland's Rural College have published "Recharging Rural", a report on the views of those living and working in remote rural communities. A key concern of many communities was the need for investment into transport and digital infrastructure to help them become more viable. The report can be downloaded from the Prince's Countryside Fund website....
DEFRA announces £45m funding for rural broadband
DEFRA has announced that an additional £45 million funding is to be made available under the Rural Broadband Infrastructure Scheme. Further information is available on GOV.UK.
Conservative Party vice-chairs resign over Brexit plans
Two Conservative Party vice-chairs, Maria Caulfield and Ben Bradley, have resigned over Theresa May's Brexit proposals. This follows the resignation of Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Further details are available on the BBC News website.
Jeremy Hunt appointed as Foreign Secretary
Following the resignation of Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt has been appointed as the new Foreign Secretary. The new cabinet is meeting at 10 Downing Street this morning. Further information is available on the BBC News website.
Dominic Raab appointed as Brexit Secretary
Dominic Raab has been appointed Brexit Secretary following the resignation of David Davis.
CAAV Presidential Team for 2018
At the 2018 CAAV Annual Conference and AGM in Edinburgh on 29th June 2018, the new Presidential Team for the coming year was elected. Geoff Coster of Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Association was elected President; Geoff works for the Valuation Office Agency in Shrewsbury and is the first public servant to become President of the CAAV. David Brooks of Essex was elected Senior Vice President and Andrew Thomas of South Wales and Monmouthshire is the new Junior Vice-President.
EU (Withdrawal) Bill receives Royal Assent
The EU (Withdrawal) Bill received Royal Assent earlier today and is now an Act of Parliament. Please see GOV.UK for further information.
DEFRA announces £5.7m funding for farmers affected by Bovine Viral Diarrhoea
DEFRA has announced a new £5.7m funding package to assist farmers with cattle herds affected by Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD). The funding is being made available under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) over a three year period. Please see GOV.UK for further details.