The new strand to Entry Level Stewardship, Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (Uplands ELS) has been officially launched on an uplands farm in the Peak District. Uplands ELS replaces funding available under the Hill Farm Allowance (HFA). Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
HMRC has issued a warning about a new e-mail scam. An e-mail purporting to be from HMRC Online Services invites readers to log on to their online account to read a message. This e-mail is not from HMRC and should be deleted. For further security information, visit the HMRC website.
Eight flood and coastal projects in Wales have been awarded a total of £6.1 million of European funding which will assist with reducing flood risk for homes and businesses in the indentified areas. Further information is available on the Welsh Assembly Government website.
The OFT has asked the European Commission to refer UK aspects of the proposed merger between Orange and T-mobile to the OFT, citing that it "threatens significantly to affect competition" in the mobile phone sector.
A Welsh farmer has been subject to criminal conviction after trying to falsify the results of a bovine TB test. Further details are available on the Welsh Assembly Government website.
Booking forms and overview are now available for the Spring Briefings at Kelham Hall, Newark and The Gables Hotel, South Gloucestershire.
The details for the Northern Group Centenary Lunch are now available - please visit the Centenary events section of the website.
The OFT has issued a reminder to estate agency businesses that they must register under anti-money laundering regulations by 31st January 2010. For more information see the OFT press release or the CAAV Briefing Note of 22nd December 2009.
The Scottish Government are considering offering support to farmers whose buildings have collapsed in the recent snow. Those affected are invited to complete and return a questionnaire so that more information can be gathered. The press release and questionnaire are both available on the Scottish Government website....
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills has announced that it has accepted the Competition Commission's recommendation for a body to enforce the new Groceries Supply Code of Practice. A consultation on the matter is expected to be launched in February.
The Government has launched Food 2030 - a strategy for food and farming in the next 20 years. More details are available on the DEFRA website.