Tributes are being paid to Norfolk farmer and veteran journalist David Richardson, who died age 87 last month after a short illness. Initially recruited by farmer and Anglia TV presenter Dick Joice for a series on rural affairs in 1960, Mr Richardson became one of the most influential voices... Read more

Plea for flexibility from government Lessons must be learned from the summer drought – including changes to agri-environment schemes, say farm leaders. The NFU wants Defra to ensure that the next round of the Sustainable Farming Incentive supports farmers’ resilience in the face of a changing climate. It comes... Read more

MPs saw food production and outstanding environmental success being achieved in harmony when they visited a Suffolk arable farm. Rushcliffe MP James Naish, Cannock Chase MP Josh Newbury and Ribble MP Valley Maya Ellis visited Lodge Farm at Westhorpe, near Stowmarket, as part of the NFU Food and Farming... Read more

• Tax ‘betrayal’ of farming families • Government unveils finance bill • Ministers refuse to discuss plan Industry leaders have again warned that imposing inheritance tax on farming families will fail to achieve the government’s aims. The NFU issued the warning as the government laid out draft legislation for... Read more

Plan ahead to reduce the impact of inheritance tax proposals, says Bruce Masson, of Larking Gowen On 30 October 2024, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) will be reformed with effect from 6 April 2026. Under the present rules for inheritance... Read more

• Farmers flock to farm open day • 24 wheat varieties out in the field • Good atmosphere despite season Farmers from across the region converged on James Forrest’s farm near Stowmarket last month for the Mowness Hall Trials Day – a key event hosted by Fram Farmers in... Read more

• Potential for better farming future • Year after Labour election victory • Hot issues of IHT and SFI remain The government has received rare praise from farm leaders after including agriculture in its industrial growth strategy. The strategy forms a central pillar of the Labour government’s mission to... Read more

Dual azole approach offers higher level of control than single azoles confirms Agrii agronomist .   Growers are being reminded about the importance of fusarium control at T3 to combat fusarium ear blight, a complex disease that can account for potential yield losses of up to 25% in winter... Read more

Farmers and farming families worried about the future are being urged to talk to somebody rather than bottle up their feelings. Suffolk agricultural chaplain Graham Miles says the number of calls he receives from concerned farmers has tripled since the autumn Budget – and a raft of government announcements... Read more

• Vulnerable farmers most at risk • Tax impact disputed and unclear • More time to seek proper advice MPs have called for a year-long delay to government plans to impose inheritance tax on farm assets worth more than £1 million from 2026. The cross-party Environment, Food and Rural... Read more