Farming

Introduction to Farming

Our Farming pages have been divided into the following subject areas:

Farming policy

Overview of agricultural policy - the Government's longterm agricultural policy.

Agricultural employment - covers material on wages and employment conditions.

Agricultural tenancy - information about Defra's responsibilities for the agricultural tenanted sector.

Farm Business Advice Service -  free business advice for farmers.

Genetic resources for food and agriculture - information about Defra's role in the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources for food and agriculture.

England Rural Development Programme - schemes to develop rural businesses as well as to conserve and improve the environment.
The other three United Kingdom devolved Agriculture Departments have their own Rural Development Plans.

Sustainable farming & food - sets out action towards a new strategy for sustainable, diverse, modern and adaptable farming, integrated with the rest of the food chain and taking into account the needs of the environment and rural economy.

Farming and the environment

Agri-environment schemes - information on agri-environment schemes is now within the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) site.

Agriculture and the Environment R&D Newsletters - has links to R&D information provided by Defra's Science Directorate and contains the full text of Defra's Agriculture and the environment R & D newsletters.

Air quality - ammonia in the UK - a booklet plus summary leaflet which summarises why ammonia is a cause for concern and what could be done to tackle the problems. See also news release

Climate change & agriculture - Full text of two reports, one a review of the impact of the hot, dry summer of 1995 on the main agricultural and horticultural enterprises in England and Wales

Environmental impact assessment - guidance on EIA for use of uncultivated land or semi-natural areas for intensive agricultural purposes.

Land use planning - describes how Defra seeks to ensure that the national agricultural interest is reflected in the planning system.

Minimising water pollution - describes how Defra is helping and encouraging farmers to adopt practices which avoid causing pollution from water and how it is combatting nutrient pollution.

• The Government is carrying out a Strategic Review of Diffuse Water Pollution from Agriculture

• Nitrates - reducing water pollution from agriculture - provides details of action to reduce agricultural nitrate pollution, including implementation of the Nitrates Directive, new Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in England and advice for farmers on Action Programme measures.

• Groundwater Protection Code - Use and Disposal of Sheep Dip - gives advice on how the Groundwater Regulations 1998 apply to sheep dipping and disposal of used dip, and what should be done before, during and after dipping to protect groundwater. A checklist of key points, in poster and pocket format, has also been produced for easy reference.

Landscape protection, recreation and public access - information about Defra's work on public access to the countryside.

Weeds Act 1959 - guidance on Defra's role under this legislation and advice for controlling the spread of certain injurious weeds.

Farming sectors

Arable crops - information on contacts, tenders, refunds & schemes.

Cattle & sheep - information for cattle and sheep farmers, including the various grants that are available.

Industrial crops - information about the opportunities for industrial or non-food use of crops. Government-Industry Forum on non-food uses of crops

Eggs & poultry - information on the eggs and poultry industry.

Milk and milk products - information on the milk and milk products industry.

Organic production - information on the organic sector, organic certification and the UK Register of Organic Food Standards.

Pigs and pigmeat - information about the pig industry.