The Rural Bulletin: 16th August 2018

Neonicotinoid replacement blow

A potential replacement insecticide for neonicotinoids, sulfoxaflor, has been found to negatively impact healthy, wild bumblebees, putting its future use at risk, the BBC has reported.

The new insecticide was tipped as a replacement for neonicotinoids as the chemical it is based on – sulfoximine – has a very different chemical composition.

“Our results show that sulfoxaflor can have a negative impact on the reproductive output of bumblebee colonies under certain conditions,” said study researcher Harry Siviter of Royal Holloway, University of London.

Sulfoximine-based insecticides have already been licensed for use in China, Canada and Australia but their future in the UK is now in question. 

NFU Scotland welcomes loan agreement

NFU Scotland has welcomed the launch of a National Basic Payment Support Scheme (NBPSS) which will provide vital financial support to Scottish farmers following the recent extreme weather.

The new scheme will offer loans to eligible farmers for up to 90% of their BPS 2018 payments and will be on an opt-in basis. Payments are expected to be made from early October to help ease cash flows.

NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick said: “It will provide some much-needed reassurance as well as ease cash flows on farms and crofts, helping anyone who needs to talk to their bank about borrowings to help them through this fodder crisis.”

New £20m fund to increase productivity and sustainability

The Government has announced a new £20m fund for projects that will transform how the agri-food sector works with farmers as part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

The fund seeks to bring together the agri-food sector with expertise in robotics, data, AI and earth observation, to transform food production, encourage rural growth, create high-skilled jobs and new export opportunities.

Applications are open from 20 August until midday on 24 October 2018. Entrants can be alone or in collaboration, with up to 100% of costs covered – up to £5m - depending on the type of project. Projects must start by April 2019 and can last for up to 36 months.

For more information visit here. 

Knight Frank's Rural Property Management team is on hand to advise on a wide range of private and institutional clients on the hugely diverse property assets that they own. The team recognises that whilst no two properties are the same, ownership structure often falls into either traditional farms an estates for private enjoyment, institutionally owned land for investment or charity or public sector based purposes or large country houses for UK or International families.

Contact the Rural Property Management Team