Latest news with #NFU
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why the US trade deal could come with a long-term health cost for the UK
British farmers and food safety campaigners have been sounding the alarm over the recent deal struck between the UK and US. The agreement offers unprecedented access to US agricultural exports such as beef and ethanol into the UK market. While some hailed this as a breakthrough after previous talks stagnated under Joe Biden's administration, critics argue it could undercut domestic producers, introduce lower standards for food and even compromise public health. With the cost of living remaining high, cheaper US imports may look appealing to British consumers. But many fear the products may come at a longer-term cost. The UK government has insisted it will not compromise on standards. Hormone-treated beef and chlorine-washed chicken remain banned. But critics are sceptical. At the White House, US trade officials suggested food rules should be based on science, hinting at renewed pressure to permit products currently excluded by UK law. But public opinion in the UK strongly supports high food standards. Surveys show most UK consumers reject hormone-fed beef and chlorinated chicken, valuing animal welfare and food safety. Given this, any shift toward US-style practices could trigger a backlash. The deal's language – promising to 'enhance agricultural market access' – raises concerns that this may be only the first step. Food safety advocates fear a slow erosion of standards under commercial pressure. Under the terms of the deal, the UK will allow in 13,000 tonnes of US beef tariff-free — a huge change from the 1,000-tonne cap (with a 20% tariff) previously in place. In exchange, the US will grant a matching quota for UK beef. The National Farmers' Union (NFU) welcomed improved US market access. But domestically, many farmers feel exposed. They worry that cheap US beef, even if hormone-free, will undercut UK cattle raised under stricter welfare and environmental rules. Feedlot beef from the American Midwest is typically cheaper, prompting fears of price pressure. The NFU says this could be a 'disaster' for British farming. Supermarkets including Tesco and Sainsbury's say they will continue sourcing 100% British beef, but farmers fear US meat could enter the wholesale and catering sectors. There's also concern about ethanol – a biofuel typically sourced from crops such as corn or wheat and used primarily as a petrol additive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The UK has eliminated a 19% tariff and opened a quota of 1.4 billion litres of US corn ethanol. But this threatens domestic bioethanol plants, which purchase millions of tonnes of British wheat each year for ethanol production. It plays a crucial role in supporting UK arable farming and rural economies. The NFU has warned that this could destabilise farm incomes, reduce local feed supplies and endanger the production of CO², which is used widely in food packaging, refrigeration and the carbonation of drinks across the UK industry. The NFU said the deal overlooked the complex role these plants play in the UK's food system. But cheaper imports could ease grocery bills in the UK, a welcome prospect given food price inflation peaked at more than 19% in 2023. Cheaper beef might help households increase their protein intake. For lower-income families, for example, small savings on staples could really improve nutrition. However, not all cheap calories are healthy. Britons are already encouraged to eat less red meat on health grounds. Increased access to cheaper beef could nudge intakes beyond recommended levels. Restaurateur Henry Dimbleby, the UK government's former food strategy lead, has argued that undermining domestic standards for short-term savings risks health and environmental setbacks. Food safety is another issue. While the government says all imports will meet UK standards, future trade negotiations could challenge that. Country-of-origin labelling and enforcement will be essential for consumer confidence. There's also the risk of more ultra-processed food entering the UK. The deal may increase imports of US cereals, drinks and snack foods. While not inherently unsafe, many health advocates worry about worsening rates of obesity and diabetes if heavily processed products become cheaper and more common in the UK. Trade can bring benefits — but food isn't just another commodity. It intersects with health, environment and rural life. The NFU warns that Britain's high standards shouldn't be quietly traded away under pressure from US agribusiness. The UK government claims it has preserved food protections while expanding trade. What will be key is whether consumers see real savings, as well as whether supermarkets stick to British meat. If not, it remains to be seen whether UK farmers can compete or if they will be squeezed out. Crucially, UK regulators must hold the line if the US pushes harder. A prosperous deal should not just mean more trade — but safer, healthier and fairer food for all. Manoj Dora is a Professor in Sustainable Production and Consumption at Anglia Ruskin University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Relocated beavers improve River Glaven water quality
Two beavers who were moved from Scotland to Norfolk four years ago have improved the water quality where they are living, experts have and Winnie have made an area of the River Glaven, near Holt, their home after the landowner gave permission for them to live Rivers Trust said they could "possibly" now be released from their enclosure under licence after the government recently approved the reintroduction of the animals into the wild. The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has said it does not want any more released until a proper management plan is in place. Beavers' dams slow down the flow of water, trapping sediment and absorbing excess also serve as natural filtration systems and help maintain cooler stream the beavers arrived, the river was a small trickle and in need of Rivers Trust said it was thought they now had five kits [baby beavers] and have improved the water Juta, an ecologist from the trust, said: "Dam by dam almost, the water quality has improved, which is incredible, so they reduce agricultural pollutants [and] they reduce the sediment loads coming in from fields and from roads as well."These dams are so big and can hold water so well. I couldn't build this with my own hands, with a bit of mud and some sticks, so how on earth do the beavers do it? It just shows how industrious they are. "It's a shock for some people to see how the habitat changes and to see felled trees and big areas of flooding but this is how it should look; it's almost prehistoric." Four hundred years ago, beavers were hunted to February, the government approved their reintroduction into the wild under licence and in March the first wild beavers in England were released into the Dorset NFU has agreed that beavers can provide certain benefits but is also concerned about the negative impacts they can have on productive farmland. "With existing legal and illegal populations of beavers expanding across England, the government must put in place a longer-term vision and management plan for beavers – before any further wild releases are considered," a spokesman said. "This must include the ability for those involved in beaver management to use all available tools in the toolbox, including lethal control, if beavers become disruptive." Dr Jonah Tosney, technical director at the trust, said: "There are plenty of places where beavers would be very welcome and cause no trouble at all, as they are doing here, but plenty of other places where they wouldn't be quite as welcome and they are very capable of causing trouble."Possibly, we will release Eeyore and Winnie at some point but what we would also need to do would be to bring other beavers into the catchment, [so] we've got different genetics."We are also trying to work with landowners and farmers to understand what they would like to see in a management plan because it has to be carefully managed, there's no question about that." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Rachel Reeves is set to betray farmers AGAIN 'by cutting a massive £5billion lifeline'
Thousands of family farms could go bust thanks to a new raid being plotted by Labour, it emerged last night. In a fresh blow to the industry, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering slashing lifeline subsidies worth billions of pounds to farms in her spending review on June 11. She is scrabbling to find up to £30billion after leaving herself with little fiscal headroom in last October's Budget and following Labour's U-turn over winter fuel payment cuts. But critics said axing the environmental land management (ELM) fund will be the 'final blow' for many farms. The fund, which is worth around £2.5billion a year, was part of a scheme set up after Brexit to replace around £2.6billion farmers received annually from the EU's common agricultural policy. The Government is committed to settling subsidies worth £5billion for the period between last year and next year. But after that only 'small farms' will continue to receive funds, according to Whitehall sources. It is unclear what this means, how funding will be allocated and on what basis. The ELM scheme gives subsidies to farmers in return for cultivating their land in nature-friendly ways. It is based on the principle of 'public money for public good'. Pre-Brexit, EU subsidies were linked to food production. However, the National Farmers' Union (NFU) said many food producing farms also cultivate parts of their land in line with the ELM scheme to receive the subsidies and boost their income. It said around 40,000 farms receive ELM subsidies. Ministers were already facing accusations of betrayal after introducing the hated 'family farm tax' – which will lumber many farms with huge inheritance tax bills – in the Budget, sparking a series of protests by farmers. In March, the Government closed part of the ELM, the sustainable farming incentive. Defending the ELM yesterday, Andrew Clark, the NFU's policy director, said: 'There is a significant risk that thousands of family farm businesses would be at risk if this scheme were axed. 'What farmers and growers really need from this government is confidence and certainty that what they do for this country is valued. It doesn't feel like that at all at the moment.' Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, chairman of the Commons environment, food and rural affairs committee, said that slashing the ELM 'will be the final blow for many farms'. He added: 'Since Labour came to power, they have had basic payments ended earlier than planned, they have seen the shambles of the sustainable farming incentive closed without notice – all on top of the family farm tax and other tax changes – and trade deals that could be devastating for some farming sectors. No matter where farmers turn, there is a Government minister waiting to clobber them. 'Keir Starmer says that food security is national security, but if he treated our security services like he treats our farmers we would all be learning Russian or Chinese.' He added: 'If our farmers are not able to put food on our tables then we shall end up importing it from other countries. Is that what the Government wants?' Former chairman of the committee, Sir Robert Goodwill, who runs a farm, said: 'For many farms their profit line is less than the support they get, so it will push many farms below into the red. Potentially thousands. 'It's very serious indeed, particularly for tenants who have to pay rent. 'My guess is, Labour has decided that not a single farmer will vote Labour at the next election now, so why not just sacrifice the industry.' Victoria Atkins, the Conservatives' environment spokesman, said: 'Labour's lack of understanding about our rural communities is putting our nation's food security at risk.' NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: 'If this story proves correct, it will be another blow not just for farmers and growers but also for the viability of nature-friendly farming and for the environment.' Sources at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that ELM was facing the axe. Defra itself did not respond last night.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Free event to support Worcestershire farming community
A free event is to be held to help bring members of the farming community second Farming Community Breakfast will take place at Top Barn Farm in the village of Holt Heath, near Worcester, on 18 a free breakfast, attendees will be given a tour of the farm and have the chance to discuss issues affecting agricultural workers, including loneliness in the Hills District Council (MHDC) said it wanted to hear how the authority might be able to support the farming community in the future. "This is a great free event for members of the farming community to come together and socialise over breakfast," said Jennie Watkins, MHDC portfolio holder for Communities and Housing. "It also gives the opportunity to discuss any activities they may need support with."The event is the second in a series and follows one held in Upton-upon-Severn in January, organised again in partnership with the National Farmers' Union (NFU).Commenting on the previous event, Emma Hamer, the NFU's county adviser for Worcestershire, said: "Farming can be a lonely life for some, so anything we can do to bring farmers together, enjoy some social time with like-minded people and learn a bit about another farm business is hugely worthwhile."Anyone who would like to attend is asked to call 01684 862165 or to email Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Glastonbury farmer 'makes more money from weddings than farming'
Farmers have faced a difficult year, with the longest wet winter since records began followed by the driest spring on the Labour government's decision to start levying inheritance taxes on farms has sparked protests across the country and further outrage has followed with ministers' sudden closure of the popular grants for sustainable farming quarters of farmers now rely on non-farming enterprises to supplement their food production. From falconry and helicopter rides to spas and solar farms, farmers say these additional services now form a crucial part of the business.I spoke to some about what they are doing to keep their family businesses afloat. 'Atrocious income' Mike Churches, a sixth-generation farmer near Glastonbury, Somerset, said the "atrocious" income from farming had prompted him to now makes substantially more money from weddings and events than from raising sheep and said: "It's about 30% from farming now, 70% from weddings, falconry, helicopter rides, glamping, you name it."Tom Collins, Wiltshire chairman of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), said these extra enterprises were essential."It's no longer just a bolt-on, it's a crucial part of the business," he said. Many farms have started offering weddings, but few can boast their own on-site church. A few miles down the road from Glastonbury, the small village of Godney had a church, built next to Godney Farm. As the population of the village fell, it was deconsecrated, so Mr Churches and his wife Jenny decided to buy the building."Yes, plenty of people tell us we have the right name," chuckled Mr spent a lot of money restoring the old building, and applied for a licence to hold civil ceremonies. Meanwhile, like many farmers, they watched their income from the farm's sheep, cattle and haymaking steadily Churches told me his return on investment from farming is "about 2 or 3%, which is nonsensical for the hours that you're doing".He said he could get 10 times as much from weddings, "so it is a far more lucrative business to be in". Last year, 34 couples tied the knot at Godney Farm, including Paul and Michelle Chorley, from Street in Chorley explained the appeal: "We're quite outdoorsy people, so we wanted something that would give us that country feel. "When we turned up and you see the view out the front, that is exactly what we'd imagined."Mrs Chorley added: "It was really relaxed, the children were running about, the dogs were running about, the sheep and the cows were around, it was just what we wanted." The Churches are obviously unusual in having their own actual church, but earning more from non-farming business is not that rare. Research for the UK government found a quarter of farms, 26%, earned more than half their income from diversified the heart of north Wiltshire, I bump down another farm track, past a pond and a field of a dozen young brown calves. In the yard there are tractors and hay bales, dogs running around. An unusual setting, you might think, for an immaculate beauty Michelle Stead thinks it sets the "perfect tone for any aesthetic beauty or wellbeing treatment". Beauty and the beasts Mrs Stead set up her beauty clinic, called Perfection, more than 10 years ago. Vigorous social media marketing brings clients from Malmesbury, Cirencester and the villages around. "You can't help fall in love with the location," she smiles.I asked if being utterly off any beaten tracks has been a problem."Why wouldn't you come here?" she replied."There's no parking issues, no traffic jams, no pollution, it's beautiful. "It literally sets the scene - and that's what makes us different." Her landlord is Tom Collins or 'Farmer Tom' as she calls him. He runs a traditional mixed farm, with cattle and pigs, alongside fields growing wheat, barley, peas and beans. But his old Cotswold farm buildings are now too small for modern farming, and he has let them out to Mrs Stead and several other small firms."Without diversification we'd really be struggling. I don't know a single farm business that isn't diversified," he said. Nearly three quarters of farmers (71%) now rely on some additional business, according to the government research, and this has risen from 61% since what do most farmers turn to? The report for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) analysed farm incomes. Letting out buildings was the most common, followed by farm shops and B&Bs, camping and glamping sites. Spas, wellness clinics, sports and health retreats also feature. A new, more controversial, source of income is letting out fields to solar power report laid bare how much farmers rely on these new income streams. More than one in four, 28%, reported income from actual farming was other words, they lost money growing Mr Collins salutes the enterprise farmers have shown, he says it is only happening because producing food is such an unreliable said: "The finances aren't good, the margins are wafer thin. It's a lot of sawing for not much sawdust, as my grandfather used to say."Ministers insist their support for farmers is "steadfast". A spokesperson for DEFRA said: "This government is investing £5bn into farming, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country's history."
