NEWS
2,000 FARMERS HAVE EXPRESSED
AN INTEREST Updated information has been published for those who submitted an expression of interest (EOI) in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) Pilot. Published on 7 June, it confirms the eight standards available and that monthly payments will be made from the start of the agreement to test the new payment structure. Participants will also be paid £5,000 a year for contributing to the pilot and to co-design work. The latest information is at www.gov.uk/guidance/sustainable-farming-incentive-pilot DEFRA has announced that more than 2,000 farmers have expressed an interest in joining the pilot. Alongside the Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery schemes, the SFI will form the upcoming Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS) offering. The Tenant Farmers’ Association is inviting members who submitted an EOI to take part in a TFA focus group on the scheme, with further details available from Farm Policy Adviser Lynette Steel on 0118 9306130.
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The Lords have thrown their weight behind the UK’s farmers by joining demands for agricultural standards to be protected in trade negotiations with Australia. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has called on the Government to provide clarity on the negotiations on trade in agricultural goods. The committee has asked the Minister for Investment, Lord Grimstone of Boscobel Kt, a number of questions, most of which relate to the UK’s reported offer on market access and the extent to which Australian production methods, including animal welfare standards, threaten to undercut British farmers and undermine the UK’s high animal welfare standards. Lord Goldsmith, Chair of the International Agreements Committee, who pointed out that the Australia deal would “set a precedent for other trade negotiations” – including those with the likes of the US, Canada and Brazil – said it was looking for assurances from the Government on “how it will uphold its commitment to protect British farmers from unfair competition and not compromise on the UK’s high animal welfare, food safety and environmental standards”. He said they were also asking for information so that they could “assess to what extent any damage to farmers could be offset by the additional export opportunities the Government claims will be available when the UK accedes to the trans-pacific trade bloc”.
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