Nutrient neutrality will remain a concern for many councils around the country, but particularly those in Norfolk who have had their appeal to pause regulations on nutrient pollution rejected by government. Whitehall officials stated that the councils must develop solutions themselves and ensure proposals involving overnight accommodation do not lead to increased nutrient emissions. Those councils may seek inspiration from Anglian Water who plan to create 26 new wetlands across the East of England to help improve river water quality. The ‘treatment wetlands’ will take used, but treated, water from water recycling centres and pass it through a series of interconnected ponds planted with native wetland species prior to it passing into watercourses. It is hoped these wetlands will improve both water quality and biodiversity.

FOOD & FARMING

Cut food imports and eat less chicken and pork
British farmers should focus on pasture-based livestock rearing and reduce dependence on imports. The Sustainable Food Trust’s new report, Feeding Britain from the Ground Up, recommends “a UK-wide transition to sustainable and regenerative farming practices, to tackle the climate, nature and public health crises”. Impacts on food production would be as follows, according to the modelled scenario:

• Doubling of fruit and vegetable production, growing a greater diversity more widely across the UK
• Halving of cereal production, necessitating a major reduction in the amount fed to livestock
• Doubling of pulse production for both human and livestock nutrition
• Chicken and pork production would decline by 75% and egg production by around 50% because of the end of intensive, grain-fed systems
• The same amount of beef and lamb would be produced, while milk production would fall by about 25%, because of the move to pasture-based systems

Land use would shift to mixed farming, resulting in the reintroduction of grassland and grazing livestock in arable areas and cropping in some areas which are currently dominated by grassland. Woodland cover would increase by close to a million hectares and many more trees would be integrated into the farmed landscape through agroforestry.

Foot-and-mouth control zone removed
A temporary foot and mouth control zone has been removed after tests for the disease were negative. Defra said tests for swine vesicular disease (SVD) had also been "negated" after a suspected case of foot and mouth disease was identified on a pig farm in Norfolk. A 10km temporary control zone was declared around a premises near Feltwell, restricting the movement of livestock, but was removed once SVD had been ruled out. Tests are continuing to establish the cause of the problem and the "premises remains under restriction pending the outcome of further tests".

British pig herd shrinks
The British pig herd has shrunk dramatically according to research by Agrovision. The sector has faced an array of problems in the past 12 months, including soaring feed costs and a shortage of butchers. As a result, weaner pig numbers in April were 23% down on the same point last year and sow numbers have also fallen 13% year-on-year to 181,000 in April. It is feared the true picture could be being distorted by efforts to clear the pig backlog; with a rapid shift from surplus to shortage expected in the future.

Defra Ministers have also been criticised by the industry following claims the backlog of pigs on farms has now been ‘almost completely removed.’ Lord Benyon made the remarks during a House of Lords debate. His comments were later supported by Farming Minister Victoria Prentis who claimed the backlog was now mainly limited to ‘one particular area’. Dr Zoe Davies, chief executive of the National Pig Association (NPA), said “They heard from a bunch of producers in the South West and have decided it is just a south west problem”. Dr Davies went on to say she was aware of backlogs in other regions.

Nestlé initiates regenerative ‘wheat plan’
The Nestlé Wheat Plan aims to support UK wheat farmers adopt regenerative agriculture practices for Shredded Wheat. The Plan will promote regenerative farming methods such as cover cropping and the planting of hedgerows to increase biodiversity. It is part of Nestlé’s wider regenerative agriculture project which will see 32 East Anglian farmers receive close to £1m to improve the landscape and fight climate change. Nestle’ will facilitate the plan using the Landscape Enterprise Networks scheme (LENs), which was created to enable businesses to coordinate action on sustainable land management and the creation of nature-based solutions in local areas.

POLICY

Nitrogen and phosphorus emissions reporting suspended
Intensive poultry and pig farms will not have to report their nitrogen and phosphorus emissions from livestock manures for two years. As such, nitrogen and phosphorus emissions will not be assessed as part of routine farm inspections. The suspension period will also apply to dust emissions reporting for pigs. The suspension is a result of the Environment Agency’s review of its emission reporting mechanisms in which it aims to develop a tool to help farmers calculate their emissions. A small number of catchments with specific water quality issues may still be required to report emissions, however the EA says, “affected operators will be notified directly and a reporting mechanism will be provided”. Manures from intensive poultry units are thought to be a leading reason protected rivers, such as the Wye, are so affected by nutrient pollution.

The Best Available Techniques (BAT) document for intensive farming covers the intensive rearing of poultry (where there are more than 40,000 birds) or pigs (more than 2,000 for ‘production pigs’ or more than 750 sows). It covers the nutritional management of animals, feed preparation and storage, housing, collection and storage of manure, processing and spreading of manure, and storage of dead animals.

Scotland: farm payments brought forward
Farm support payments are to be brought forward to 19 September to help Scotland’s farmers with cash flow amidst spiralling input costs. Subject to the approval of the Scottish Parliament, farmers and crofters will receive their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Greening payments around a month earlier than originally planned. The change follows an appeal from 11 key Scottish farming organisations which wrote to ScotGov to express concerns over the impact of the cost of inflation. Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said “Given the sharp rise in energy, fuel and fertiliser costs in recent months, I am acutely aware that businesses across Scotland are facing a hugely challenging increase in their bills”. She added “That is why I have listened to the representations from the farming and crofting community and will bring forward the advance payment start date to as early in the year as is practicably possible”. Annually, the Scottish Government pays out around £420 million through the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening payments.

ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL CAPITAL

Creating wetlands to improve river water quality
Anglian Water plans to create 26 new wetlands across the East of England to help improve river water quality after previously admitting to dumping sewage in the River Stour 389 times last year. The company plans to spend a total of £50 million on the wetlands project, with the first three wetlands in Charsfield and Cotton in Suffolk and Stagsden in Bedfordshire getting underway in 2023. Feasibility work to identify the most suitable locations for the remaining 23 wetlands is still being carried out.

Treatment wetlands work by taking used, but treated, water from water recycling centres and passing it through a series of interconnected ponds planted with native wetland species. These plants clean the water by removing ammonia and phosphate before it goes back into the nearby river. As well as improving the quality of the water, the wetlands also benefit wildlife levels.

Appeal to pause pollution regulations rejected
The government has rejected a plea by councils in Norfolk to pause regulations on nutrient pollution. Norwich City Council, Broadland District Council and South Norfolk Council wrote to the government asking for special dispensation to be granted for major developments or for measures to be put in place to protect waterways. The appeal was rejected however, with Whitehall officials stating the councils must develop solutions themselves and ensure that any proposal involving overnight accommodation is accompanied by an assessment showingit would not lead to an increase in phosphate or nutrient run-off into the catchment areas. If that is not the case, nutrient neutrality measures must be implemented. Moratoriums were first issued in 2019, following a ruling from the European Court of Justice. Savills research indicates that the total number of homes delivered in areas affected by those moratoriums could fall by 50-70%.

PROPERTY & DEVELOPMENT 

Plan to insulate Britons against winter bills
Up to £1 billion could be designated to insulating British homes to combat the cost-of-living crisis. The funds could be diverted from the Public Sector Decarbonisation scheme, which seeks to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings. Similarly, some of the funds could be diverted from the £450 million boiler upgrade scheme that looks to subsidise heat pumps and biomass boilers. The money will then be used to top up the 'energy company obligation', which funds energy-efficiency measures for poorer households. Middle-income households could also be supported, though a personal financial contribution from applicants is also likely to be required in that instance. The scheme is likely to be known as the “Great Britain Insulation Scheme” though some have quipped that naming it “Insulate Britain,” after the campaign organisation that has recently gained notoriety through its protests, might be an option.

The energy company obligation scheme has been in place since 2013 and supported more than 3.5 million improvements, reducing gas demand by a fifth. Energy companies administer the scheme, which is paid for by a levy on customer bills. A new energy company obligation scheme was due to run from 2022 to 2026 but has already been delayed by the Government, with the necessary legislation for a new scheme not yet in place despite consultations in 2021. There are concerns that recent announcements will further delay its release.

A fairer private rented sector
The government’s latest white paper proposes banning ‘no-fault’ evictions, ending the use of rent review clauses, and introducing a single Ombudsman that all private property owners must join. A Fairer Private Rented Sector also suggests:

• Reforming grounds for possession, such as a new ground of possession for repeated serious arrears so that eviction is mandatory where a tenant has been in at least two months' rent arrears three times within the previous three years.
• Permitting rent increases only once a year and improve tenants' ability to challenge excessive increases and increasing the minimum notice for any increases to two months.
• End blanket bans on renting to families with children or those in receipt of benefits.
• Introduce a “Decent Homes Standard” into the private rented sector.

Exact details will emerge once legislation, in the form of the Renters Reform Bill, is introduced into Parliament, which the government intends to introduce in this session.

Business & Economy

Maintaining essential minerals supply beyond 2042
Prompt action is needed to ensure a steady and adequate supply of essential minerals can be maintained beyond 2042. A new briefing note from the Mineral Products Association (MPA) states that The Town & Country Planning (Minerals) Act 1981 introduced a provision to impose an end-date on all historic planning permissions for mineral working across Great Britain which were granted permission before February 1982 without a specified end-date. That end-date was set at 22nd February 2042, 60 years after the power came into effect. The MPA points out a considerable number of mineral planning permissions and associated reserves will expire in 2042 and more must be done to sure up mineral supplies.

Mark Russell, the MPA’s Executive Director for Planning and Mineral Resources said: “Although the 2042 deadline may appear a long way off, in reality there is only a five-year window for government, mineral planning authorities and industry to prepare the ground to ensure a steady and adequate supply of minerals can be maintained”. He added that “it can take 10 to 15 years to identify and prove mineral resources, secure land and rights, prepare and submit planning applications, and for these to be determined and permissions issued”. Mineral supply is essential for the delivery of infrastructure and housing, whilst also adapting to the demands of climate change and net zero.

High Court decision has serious implications for sole director companies
Companies incorporated since October 2009, or which have changed their articles of association since October 2009, must review them to specifically allow for sole directors. Failure to review could mean a company with a sole director cannot act and any acts performed by a sole director may be invalid. Farm businesses are therefore encouraged to review their management structure to ensure they do not fall foul of the Court decision. Businesses with more than one director are also being encouraged to review their articles of association if circumstances change in the future. The change is centred around the case of Hashmi v Lorimer-Wing where the Court found that the Model Articles require there to be a minimum of two directors under Article 11(2) and that a sole director acting under the Model Articles could not make valid decisions. The Model Articles are the default articles of association which will apply to all limited companies.

OTHER RURAL NEWS

And finally…
Oystercatcher visits pizza place
An oystercatcher has taken quite the tour around the UK. From a campsite in Sanday, Orkney, to a pizza restaurant which claims to be the most northerly in the British Isles and on to a residential street in Ealing, London, the migration of the bird baffled researchers at the University of Exeter who have been tracking the migratory patterns of the birds. Realising a holidaymaker had likely picked up one of their trackers but not wanting to go directly to the Ealing home where the tracker had settled, the researchers sent out leaflets appealing for the return of the GPS unit. Mike German, realising his innocent mistake, has now arranged for the return of the unit, saying he plans to return the tag to the university by special delivery, so he can "track it (pun intended) and make sure it gets back to where it should be".