Price when sold: 65p
NOVEMBER 2022
WORRIES OVER FUNDS POLICY
Farmers are “stuck in limbo” because of uncertainty over the Government’s agricultural policies, a think tank has warned.
Research by the Social Market Foundation (SMF) has found farmers are holding back on investing in technology as they wait for clarity on funding. In a research report based on interviews with farmers across the UK, the SMF found many are holding off on spending money to modernise their operations due to concern over new post-Brexit financial streams. Farmers told the Social Market Foundation recent government policy announcements are complicated and confusing to navigate, and this unpredictability is making it hard to plan ahead and make investments. The think tank’s research found the future of government funding is the “single biggest issue in agricultural policy” and the “single most important factor in shaping the future of technological adoption”. The report said while farmers say they “want more technology and want to change”, they feel “stuck in a limbo” as policy uncertainty is a major barrier to widespread adoption of technology. The SMF has urged the Government to reorient farming subsidies towards investment in precision technologies. Other SMF recommendations from the research include raising awareness of cutting-edge methods among farmers, improving access to key data held by slaughterhouses and retailers, and mak-
BY IAIN ST JOHN
ing farming more attractive as a career to younger people. Aveek Bhattacharya, SMF chief economist and co-author of the report, said: “Brexit offers the opportunity to fundamentally change the subsidy system and address British farming’s long-standing productivity challenges. “Yet that opportunity is being squandered and uncertainty over the future of agricultural funding risks making things worse by undermining farmers’ confidence and ability to invest.” The report was sponsored by MSD Animal Health UK, though the SMF retained complete editorial independence. Sam Gayton, from MSD Animal Health UK, said: “We welcome the report by the Social Market Foundation. “Supporting the productivity and efficiency of UK livestock farming by engaging our highly-skilled, hardworking farming community is a priority for MSD Animal Health UK and we are committed to ongoing partnership with the industry as a whole, with policy-makers and with individual farmers and their veterinary professionals. Success in this area is critical to our future food security and is a central factor in the international competitiveness and future trade success of UK agriculture. Using the right technology, livestock farming will continue its progress in sustainable practices, efficiency and productivity, while achieving the highest welfare standards. “We believe these are priorities for food consumers, industry and government alike.”
New era begins for Rea Valley Tractors
Award delight for Alex
November 1 marks a new era in Rea Valley Tractors’ 38-year trading history as they embark on new franchise agreements, and an extended territory. Becoming one of the biggest agricultural machinery dealers in the country, RVT is opening three new branches in Middlewich, Ormskirk and Denbigh, in addition to its four existing branches in Newport, Shrewsbury, Sudbury and Welshpool. RVT will more than double its trading area for its new franchise New Holland, and enhance the coverage for JCB and Kuhn Farm Machinery. Their Sudbury depot moves forward as a JCB Centre of Excellence and has also been able to secure an enhancement to their current Kuhn portfolio as a dedicated Kuhn Baler Centre. Read the full article on page 2.
Warning is given on quad bike thefts
Alex Gregory, left, receives the award from David Crozier
Harper Adams countryside and environmental management graduate Alex Gregory has been named the winner of this year’s Tilhill Top Student Award. Alex’s award was presented by David Crozier, Tilhill Wales’s senior forest manager at the university’s 2022 graduation
ceremony. Upon receiving the Tilhill award of £250 prize money and a wooden carved trophy, Alex said: “I’d like to express my sincere thanks to Tilhill for presenting me with this award. It was an unexpected surprise.” l See inside for the full story.
Police in South Shropshire have appealed to quad bike owners to make their property more difficult to steal following a spike in thefts. Bishop’s Castle and Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team said older models are being targeted by a gang of criminals. A spokesman for the team said: “The gang have targeted older models in this area and appear to be removing the quads with the aid of a trailer. If you own a quad, please take some measures to make the vehicle as difficult as you can to steal.”
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