Philip Clarke

Steep cuts in direct payments to farmers in England are probably the price that had to be paid for Defra to be able to maintain the agricultural budget,

Scotland's first minister, John Swinney, has attacked the recent decision by chancellor Rachel Reeves to restrict agricultural property relief (APR) on inheritance tax as “unacceptable”, while future funding for Scottish farming is described as “inadequate”.

Latest Farm Business Income (FBI) figures from Defra for the harvest year 2023-24 confirm the sharp decline in profitability that many farmers have suffered, calling into question the sector's ability to meet future inheritance tax demands.

Concerns are mounting within the farming community as the government prepares for its spring spending review, which could further undermine support for UK agriculture.

The row over the recent Budget and inheritance tax dominated the latest Question Time event at Harper Adams University in Shropshire.

Another case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been found – this time in Cornwall – prompting further warnings to poultry keepers large and small to up their biosecurity.

Almost £1.4m is being released from the £1.8m reserves of potato levy money still held by the AHDB following the winding down of its activities in the potato sector, to help fund a variety of research projects.

Wheat markets enjoyed a slight rally at the start of this week, in response to news that the US has given permission for Ukraine to use its missiles to strike further into Russia, heightening political tension in the Black Sea region.

The NFU has published a fresh analysis which, it says, proves the Treasury's claims that only about a quarter of farm businesses will ever be caught by the planned 20% inheritance tax (IHT) provisions are unfounded.

Wheat plantings this autumn look to have recaptured some of the ground lost last season, though the UK barley and oilseed rape areas for harvest 2025 are set to take a hammering, latest AHDB estimates suggest.