The Rural Bulletin - 30 November 2017

Income from farming down 7.8% in 2016

The second estimate of Total Income from UK Farming (TIFF), released this week, showed that incomes fell by 7.8% in real terms between 2015 and 2016, to £3.682bn.

Driving this decline was a drop in the value of all outputs, by 4.8% to £23.267bn (including subsidies) – dragged down by falls in both volume and value for cereals and milk. In contrast, input costs fell by 4.2% to £15bn, due to lower commodity prices and a general fall in volumes used, while the weaker pound led to an increase of 9.5% in the value of direct payments to £3.141bn.

Industry bodies back the Industrial Strategy

Industry bodies have welcomed the Industrial Strategy’s recognition of UK food production. The new government strategy aims to help businesses create high quality, well paid jobs across the country, with particular mention of producing food in a more efficient and sustainable way, as well as promising to put the UK at the forefront of high-efficiency agriculture.

CLA President Tim Breitmeyer said: “We welcome the specific attention given to agriculture. There is no doubt that this is an industry in need of significant investment as it adapts to change. The strategy rightly identifies that technology coupled with better use of data will be the key to making farming more efficient and productive, whilst reducing potentially harmful impacts on the environment.”

Five more years for Glyphosate

Following a stalemate earlier in the month, the EU Commission’s Appeals Committee has finally granted a five-year renewal of the glyphosate license, with 18 member states voting in favour of renewal and nine against.

The NFU welcomed the decision but said the legislation does not go far enough. “While it is good news that farmers will be able to continue using glyphosate for another five years, there is no regulatory reason why it should not have been renewed for 15 years as originally proposed,” said NFU vice-president Guy Smith.

Environmental protection grants available for Midlands farmers

Landowners in the Midlands will soon be able to apply for grants of up to £5,000 a year as part of the new Midlands region grant from the Severn Trent Environmental Protection Scheme (STEPS). STEPS is open to farms located within a Severn Trent priority water catchment and offers grant aid to farmers to reduce the risk of water pollution by improving farm management and infrastructure.

Funds can be used for a range of projects including watercourse fencing and pesticide handling areas. The window for applications is 1 January to 16 March 2018. Find out more.