Farming

Farming

UK farming contributes £6.6 billion a year to our economy, uses around three quarters of this country's land area, and employs over half a million people. One of Defra's major tasks is to help this vital industry to operate as efficiently as possible. Defra administers support policies agreed in Brussels which provide around £3 billion to UK agriculture.

Focus: Miliband outlines future of farming Farming must leave a lighter footprint on the planet as it restructures for the next decade and beyond, Environment Secretary David Miliband said at the Royal Show. Read the questions and answers from the online dialogue with Mr Miliband on 6 July.

Latest news

• The Joint (Industry/Government) Working Group on Sharing Responsibilities and Costs of Animal Disease has published its report to Government (12 July)
• Online dialogue 6 July - farmers questions and answers (3 July)
• Speech by Rt Hon David Miliband MP - "One planet farming" - at the Royal Agricultural Show - a news release has also been issued (3 July)
• The July edition of Farming Link has been published (2 July)
• Farming website updated and restructured (1 July)

Older farming news entries
All Defra news releases....

Farming sections :

• Crops
  The crops section covers plant health, seeds and varieties, GM crops and industrial crops. The pages in this section also provides updates on the EU regimes covering cereals, rice, fodder and sugar.
• Livestock
  The livestock pages of the farming section cover the key issues surrounding the health and welfare, identification and movement of farm animals.
• Environmental management
  Covers environmental and land management issues. A number of topics have been grouped together for ease of reference: land management, landscape features, and land use and planning. Other topics covered include common land, rights of way, climate change, air and water and water courses.
• Organic farming
  Information on the organic food and farming sector for farmers, consumers and importers. This section covers organic certification and standards as well as guidance on funding and converting to organic systems.
• Waste and resources
  Covers the key issues for farmers and land managers including fly-tipping, landfill, incineration, composting, sewage and slurry, packaging, recycling and energy efficiency.
• Wildlife and plants
  Farming, wildlife and plants are inextricably linked and these pages have pulled together information on topics including wild birds, protected plants, pest control, bats, badgers and other species.
• Working in farming
  A section highlighting material that is specifically relevant for people working in farming. It includes information on employment and wages, training, new entrants, tenancies, diversification, and health and safety.
• Retail and trade
  The retail and trade section of the site provides information about farm shops and farmers markets as well as guidance on the import and export of plants, animals and animal products.
• Single Payment Scheme/CAP Reform
• Policy
  A range of material on farming policy, including CAP Reform and the Single Payment Scheme, Farm Regulation and Charging Strategy and the sustainable farming and food strategy.
• Whole Farm Approach (WFA) - a faster and more efficient way of doing business between government and the farming industry.
• Contacts and dialogue
  Farming Link; contact points

See also:

• Horticulture - information on horticultural production and marketing, potatoes and hops.
• Grants and funding - information about grants and funding schemes relevant to Defra’s customers.
• Food and drink - for details on the milk and milk products, eggs, meat and poultry sectors.