The Government has announced a £65 million package of support for farmers in England in response to the ongoing drought. The package combines additional funding, planning reforms and temporary scheme flexibilities to help businesses manage the immediate impacts of prolonged dry weather and improve resilience to future droughts.
For Members advising farmers on agri-environment schemes in England, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has issued Countryside Stewardship (CS) Mid Tier extension offer letters.
The Bracken Control Group (BCG) is to close after fourteen years of operation. The group was formed in 2011 as a focus for collecting and collating evidence about bracken: as a plant, its threats, and management options.