News Category
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English farmland prices continue to firm
English farmland prices rose on average by 3.7% in the three months to the end of June, according to Knight Frank. The increase takes 12-month growth to 2.3% following a marginal rise in the first quarter of 2012 and a drop of 2% in the second half of 2011. The real estate agent estimates the current value of English agricultural land at £6,295/acre, almost £140 above the previous record high of £6,156/acre reached in summer 2011. Andrew Shirley, ...
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FFA and NFU set August deadline for reinstatement of milk prices
Farmers for Action (FFA) is calling on UK milk processors to reinstate all price cuts that have taken place since 1st April 2012. Throwing down the gauntlet to processors, FFA says: "They have until 1st August 2012 to confirm that this will be done, if not they will need to notify their retail customers that milk distribution will be seriously disrupted." Falling milk prices have led to calls to FFA from a number of large scale dairy ...
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New developments among rural business lenders
CMM Rural has recently seen some interesting developments and new opportunities among lenders that service the UK's diverse rural economy. Firstly, a leading bank has appointed a national agricultural specialist who is tasked with providing agricultural expertise across the country and increasing his firm's market share in the sector. The move has a ring of authenticity about it because the person taking up the post was brought up on pig farm and has previously worked as a ...
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New Rural and Farming networks announced
Rural businesses in the North West and Southern England are to have a hotline direct to government, as three new Rural and Farming Networks are announced by Environment Minister, Richard Benyon. Fourteen Rural and Farming Networks were set up at the start of the year to identify and feed back local issues and concerns, straight to government, in order to make policies more rural-friendly. The networks announced today (4th April 2012) are: The Wessex Rural and Farming Network. Cumbria & North ...
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Defra approves new farming and forestry grants
Around one thousand rural farms and businesses should soon be able to turn business plans into reality as the first grants from the new £20 million Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme are approved by Defra. Farmers, foresters and horticulturalists can receive grants of up to £25,000 to invest in green projects and new machinery, with the funding backing new profit-boosting green schemes that: Save energy and reduce carbon emissions. Reduce dependence on artificial fertilizers through better use of ...
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Community Infrastructure Levy – your questions answered
The CIL is a planning charge introduced in April 2010 that can be applied by Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to development, to fund other infrastructure and community developments that the Council and local communities want. The charge applies to England and Wales when the development starts and is paid by the developer. The amount of the charge is in most cases non-negotiable. Some LPAs have prepared charging schedules setting out the amounts required for different types of ...
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Office of Fair Trading consults with rural communities
The UK's more remote rural communities are being invited to contribute to a fact-finding review by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The watchdog wants to know about the challenges facing consumers and businesses in remote communities, having recognised that prices of many goods (not least fuel!) and services are frequently high. It is also taking a look at access to key services such as shops, dentists, chemists, banks and public transport. As part of the project, workshops ...
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Town Planning Update Autumn/Winter 2011
The Chancellor made a few significant statements affecting planning in his Autumn Statement. These may have not have been noticed but are of importance. The Chancellor made the following statements set out in bold italics. Planning Obligations or Section 106 Agreements – there will be a consultation exercise on a proposal to review planning obligations made prior to April 2010 where the development involved has stalled. With the economic downturn many obligations negotiated and agreed prior ...
