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President's Blog - 29 July 2010

After a few false starts at setting up a meeting with chief secretary to the treasury, Danny Alexander MP, yesterday was the day. NFU President Peter Kendal accompanied me on the visit to No 1 Horse Guards Parade, for a worthwhile exchange of ideas on agriculture’s role in helping the UK economy emerge from the depths.

Issues such as fuel duty and animal health budgets, agricultural business allowances and VAT rates were all covered.

2 days 2 hours - read this blog »

Policy Director's Blog - 20 July 2010

The CAP reform debate gained further momentum at a pre-recess conference in Brussels this week.

And, as a result of the conference, are we any closer to knowing what will be in the Commissions proposals when they are published at the end of the year? – No!

It would be fair to say that Commissioner Ciolos is still playing his hand close to his chest.

1 week 4 days - read this blog »

President's Blog - 16 June 2010

Hectic day in London today with Chief Executive Withers.

First up was a reception on the banks of the Thames to celebrate the 10th anniversary of "Little Red Tractor" assurance. A very worthwhile event for a very worthwhile scheme. The logo is carried now on several billions of pounds worth of British produce with milk,fruit & vegetables, poultry and red meat. Obviously Scotland also has its own assurance schemes but much of our produce, particularly lamb which is slaughtered south of the border or in Wales, only carries Red Tractor.

6 weeks 3 days - read this blog »

President's Blog - 10 June 2010

FARMING TO BENEFIT FROM SCOTLAND'S FIRST ZERO WASTE PLAN

The Scottish Government has set the nation on the road to becoming a zero waste society by announcing a series of tough new targets and measures to capture the maximum value from different materials, to conserve our finite resources and avoid landfill.

7 weeks 1 day - read this blog »

President's Blog 3 June 2010

The Forestry Industry, represented by Confor and the Forestry Commission (Scotland), held a conference at the aptly named “Double Trees” Hotel in Dunblane yesterday.

Double trees is not quite the Scottish Government target for the increase in planted area of Scotland by 2050, but an increase from the current 17% to 25% is still a large rise.

8 weeks 1 day - read this blog »

CEO's Blog 27th May 2010

We are living in interesting political times. We have the freshness (and perhaps hope?) of a new form of coalition government, but one that is clouded by the threat of the largest public expenditure cuts in a lifetime.

Reading the Tory/Lib Dem coalition's "Programme for Government", there is much to lift the heart from an agricultural point of view. To pick some of the editted highlights:

9 weeks 1 day - read this blog »

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President's Blog - 29 July 2010

Policy Director's Blog - 20 July 2010

President's Blog - 16 June 2010

President's Blog - 10 June 2010

President's Blog 3 June 2010

CEO's Blog 27th May 2010

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