Rural Life
Defra has announced a new strategy aimed at ensuring rural communities are placed at the heart of government policy.
Schemes
Defra has unveiled its new £30 million Farmer Collaboration Fund, alongside a new Farmer Welfare Grant worth £1.5 million.
Sheep
The UK government has secured "improved market access" for British lamb, beef and dairy in a new trade agreement with Switzerland.
Veterinary Surgeons Act
Defra has announced a series of proposals within a new White Paper, which sets out the department's vision for a 'thriving and fairer' vet sector.
Countryside Stewardship
Defra announced that the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier will no longer be invite-only, and will be opened up to direct applications.
Defra has today (Tuesday, June 30) opened its first application window for this year's Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme.
Environment
Defra has announced that England's peatlands "will be better protected and managed" due to three new schemes worth £47 million in funding.
DEFRA
The UK's agri-food sector is set to benefit from £80 million in new export opportunities this year, according to Defra.
Vets
Several MPs have pledged support for the reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act this week, according to the British Veterinary Association.
Agri Politics
Several UK farming organisations have called for action from Defra to match the ambitions outlined in its new Farming Roadmap.
Farming Roadmap
Defra has claimed that its new Farming Roadmap "marks the most significant moment for English agriculture since the Second World War."
N.Ireland
Keir Starmer has announced today (Monday, June 22) that he intends to resign as the UK's Prime...
Defra has appointed a new farming minister for the third time since the start of the current Labour government, back in July 2024.
Agri-Business
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) have responded to the funding pot for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2026.
A budget of £240m will be distributed to successful applicants of this year's Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, according to Defra.
Beef
England plans to achieve officially bTB-free status by 2038 under a new strategy, with hopes of deploying a vaccine for the disease by 2030.
Somerset's farms and rural communities are soon to be better protected from the "growing threat of flooding" under a new £50 million package.
Pig/Poultry
Defra has announced that the prevention zones for bird flu in place across Great Britain have been lifted as of noon today (June 4).
Defra has unveiled the "near-final scheme information" for this year's Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer today.
Dairy
Four new cases of bluetongue were detected in the UK last week as midge activity continues to ramp...
The UK government has assessed how its proposed ban on cages will impact the “competitiveness and viability of UK egg producers”.
Defra's new strategy aims to protect Britain's pig industry in the event of the UK's first ever African Swine Fever outbreak.
The UK cattle population declined 1% year-on-year in 2025; while the UK sheep flock saw a decline of 2.1% in the same period.
