Agri Policy & Regulation
NFU survey finds low farm business confidence
The NFU’s annual Confidence Survey has found both short (one year) and mid-term (three year) confidence among British farmers remains negative for the third consecutive year. The union questioned 662 members between November 5th 2020 and January 8th 2021. It notes...
EU grants UK certified seed equivalence
The European Union has granted equivalence for UK certified seed of cereal, fodder, beet, vegetable, oil and fibre plants, a move that means seed of these crops can now be exported to EU member states. “This long-awaited approval is very welcome, despite coming very...
Harper School for Net Zero farming
Harper Adams University is planning the UK’s first School of Sustainable Food and Farming in a project supported by retailer Morrisons and the veterinary research group RAFT Solutions. The new Harper school will draw on academic and practical expertise plus industry...
Comment: Where now for the AHDB levies?
The vote against statutory levies by the AHDB’s Horticulture and now Potato sectors are a blow for the organisation. The AHDB was created in 2008 by restructuring six independent levy-raising bodies into a new model with independent boards served by a central...
AHDB appoints Tim Rycroft as CEO
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has appointed Tim Rycroft to succeed Jane King as chief executive. Mr Rycroft is chief operating officer at the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), responsible for strategy and corporate affairs, as well as...
Officer change for Pulses UK
Pulses UK, the trade association for processors and users of British-grown pulse crops, elected James Maguire as its new president at its annual meeting earlier this month, with Michael Shuldham becoming vice president. Each will serve for two years, with treasurer...