The organisation Sense About Science have produced a booklet entitled "Making Sense of GM: What is the genetic modification of plants and why are scientists doing it?" . The publication is available to download from the Sense About Science website.
The RPA have made a further run of interest payments to farmers who received their full 2006 SPS payments after the close of the payment window on 30th June 2007. Further information is available on the RPA website.
The Government has announced that businesses facing backdated rates bills will be able to make payments spread over eight years. New legislation has been published and comes into force on 9th March 2009. The full press release can be read at the DCLG website.
Natural England and the Ministry of Defence have signed a declaration of intent to improve and preserve the natural habitat within the Defence Estate. Defence Estates are unable to enter into the Environmental Stewardship Schemes which are open to farmers in England and this agreement provides a framework for the two organisations to work together to enhance the stewardship of the natural environment, facilitate safe public access and seek to mitigate the environmental impact of military...
The Bank of England has announced that interest rates are to be cut from 1.5 per cent to 1 per cent. Further information is available on the Bank of England website.
From 1st April 2009, the Government and its agencies will procure only timber and timber products which are independently certified as being legally and sustainably produced. For further details, see the Forestry Commission website.
The RPA has made a further run of interest payments to farmers who received their full 2005 SPS payment after the regulatory payment window closed on 30th June 2006. Further information is available on the RPA website.
Welsh Assembly Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, and the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Christianne Glossop, have been urging farmers to vaccinate early in 2009 against Bluetongue. Further information is available on the WAG website.
The Government has published an interim report looking at the the plans for the UK's transition to digital. A news release and the full report is available on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport(DCMS) website.
DEFRA has today published the 2008 UK Farm Income figures which indicate a 42 per cent increase in farming income per head. Further information is available on DEFRA's website.
The European Commission has put forward proposals for €5 billion investment into energy and broadband infrasructure during 2009 and 2010 as part of the implementation of the EU recovery plan. Further information about this proposed investment is available on the Europa website.
Mr Justice Walker has found in favour of the Government in the eco-town Judicial Review taken forward by the BARD campaign. He considered that the consultation process was adequate at the preliminary stage of the eco-towns shortlist selection process. A summary of the judgment is available on Bailii website. A news release and further information may be viewed on the Weston Front website....
Latest figures published by the RPA show that just under £1.23 billion has been paid for 2008 SPS (75.2% of estimated total fund of £1.63 billion). This means the RPA has met its first target of issuing 75% of full payments by 31st January 2009. The next target is for the RPA to have made 90% of full payments by 31st March 2009. Further information is available on the RPA website....
The RPA has published figures today to give an update on progress with SPS 2008 payments. The total value of 2008 SPS payments made is just short of £1.2 billion (73.2% of the estimated total fund of £1.63 billion) with in excess of 87,500 customers (82% of estimated total of 106,500 claimants) have received a full payment. Further information is available on the RPA website.
HMRC have revised the Capital Gains Tax section of their website to make it easier to find the information you need. There are sections on property, trusts, businesses and shares, plus advice on self assessment. The new pages are part of a gradual overhaul of information on the HMRC website.
DEFRA has extended the deadline for submission of evidence where a farmer wishes to appeal a new NVZ designation. Farmers must still notify DEFRA that an appeal is being made by 31st January but will have until 10th March to submit supporting evidence. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
The European Parliament has voted in favour of a new EU Regulation on pesticides and plant protection. The British government raised concerns that no impact assessment has been carried out to examine the potential consequences of the removal of some existing pesticides on the agriculture and horticulture industries. The proposed new legislation will now have to be adopted by the European Commission and is likely to come into force later this year.
The RPA has published further figures today which show that just under £1.1 billion of SPS 2008 payments (67.4% of the estimated total fund of £1.63 billion) have been made. Full payments have been made to just over 84,000 claimants, out of a total of approximately 106,500 claimants. Further information is available on the RPA website.
DEFRA has announced the lauch of the new Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) with effect from 1st April 2009. Fera will incorporate DEFRA's Central Science Laboratory, Plant Health Division, Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate and the Plant Variety Rights Office and Seeds Division. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
The Forestry Commission has confirmed an outbreak of the plant disease Phytophthera ramorum, commonly known as Sudden Oak Death, in rhododendrons in the New Forest. Please see the Forestry Commission website for the full press release.
The Environment Agency has revised its guidance on the treatment of digestate from anaerobic digestion. It now confirms that where the only waste feedstock in an AD plant is agricultural manure or slurry, the digestate will not be classified as "waste" if it is used as a fertiliser spread on agricultural land. The full briefing note can be found on the Environment Agency website....
The RPA has today released updated figures relating to 2008 SPS payments made as at 31st December 2008. Almost 70,000 customers have received full SPS payments totalling over £960 million (59 per cent of the estimated total fund). Further information is available on the RPA website.
From 1st January 2009, the new Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) designations came into effect which sees an increase from around 55 per cent to 70 per cent of land in England. Farmers however who wish to appeal a new designation may do so if: the land does not drain into water identified as nitrate-polluted, and/or the water to which the land drains should not have been identified as polluted (DEFRA website guidance) Any such appeal must be submitted by 31st January 2009. Further information...