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Reports on the impact of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill on farmers who have no intention of damaging wildlife in Great Britain. Provisions of the legislation that are intended for people who use pesticides to kill wild birds or animals; Authority of inspectors to enter premises and seize substances for evidential purposes; Comments from public law adviser Christopher Price on the proposed law.

Reports on the proposal by the British National Farmers Union (NFU) regarding the use of red diesel on roads. Factor that contributed to the decision by the NFU to adopt a new proposal; View of the NFU regarding red diesel use on agricultural vehicles.

Reports on the plan of the National Farmers Union to establish an expanded Voluntary Initiative (VI) on animal feeds and fertilizers in Great Britain. Need for the agriculture industry to discuss diffuse pollution; Benefit of the expanded VI to farmers.

Reports on the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive in Great Britain in 2005. Impact of the directive on agriculture; Potential implications of the directive for farmers; Consequences of diffuse pollution from agriculture and horticulture to water quality; Possible measures under the directive.

Reports on the effect of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments on pioneering organic farmers and organic dairy farmers in Great Britain. Information on an agri-environment scheme implemented by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA); Arguments of Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association (SA), on the decision of DEFRA; Concerns of SA on the CAP outcome of organic dairy farmers.

Reports that the British government wants farmers to dig on-farm reservoirs to safeguard water supplies in 2005. Factors that threaten water supplies in the country; Role of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the reservoir program.

Reports on a possible compliance of farmers with new rules on red diesel use once an ongoing government consultation is concluded, according to the National Farmers Union (NFU), as of February 2005. Background on the consultation being conducted by the British Customs and Excise Department; Reaction of the NFU on a change based on speed; Way for the agricultural industry to keep its status quo on red diesel use.

Reports on the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy reform for farmers in Great Britain in 2005. Expected increase in the emphasis on the environment and rural development beyond 2012; Information on a proposed compensation scheme that would break the link between support and the land by Alan Swinbank, director of the Centre For Agricultural Strategy at the University of Reading in England.

Focuses on the criticisms made by Tim Bennett, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), against several retailers and dairy companies in Great Britain that justify the proposed milk price reduction in 2005. Objectives of the proposed fair trade charter by NFU; Issues raised by Bennett to support the establishment of the fair trade charter.

Focuses on the implications of the Common Agricultural Policy reform and communication issues for farmers discussed during the National Farmers' Union Council meeting from October 25 to 26, 2004. Criticism of Peter Gadd, council member for Notts, on the failure of the British Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to interpret set of rules surrounding the single farm payment (SFP); Suggestion of Cumbria's county chairman Alistair Mackintosh on the approach to the revised set-aside rules needed for SFP.

Reports on the relationship between farmers and the supermarkets in Great Britain which was discussed at the Lib-Dem Party conference organised by the National Farmers' Union in Bournemouth, England on September 20, 2004. Imbalance of power between producers and buyers in the food supply chain; Factors to consider in addressing the conflict between supermarkets and farmers.

Reports on the plan of the National Farmers Association (NFU) for a campaign to boost the status of the Little Red Tractor logo in Great Britain in 2004. Participation of farmers in the campaign; Competition launched for those farming under the Assured Food Standards initiative; Importance of the campaign according to NFU president Tim Bennet.

Presents the Queen's Birthday Honours List which recognized the services of farmers in Great Britain in 2004. Bill Madders, member of the Milk Advisory Committee and the Milk Marketing Board; George Alderson, chairman of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and Trustee of Rare Breeds International; Bernard Harris, managing director of Wynnstay Farmers.

Reports on the investigation launched by the British Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs into claims that supermarkets are exerting undue pressure on farmers to force farmgate prices down. Farmgate price for bacon and chicken according to Lib-Dems; Outcome of the meeting of the Lib-Dem team for food and rural affairs with trade minister Gerry Sutcliffe; Proposals of the Lib-Dems on how the fair trading code can be changed and strengthened.

Reports on newly released figures from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which revealed that share of the retail value of a food basket by British farmers fell between 1988 and 2003. Remarks from David Handley of the Farmers for Action on the decline; Other findings about net income from farms in 2003; Significance of the increased profits posted by Tesco in 2003; Response of Jonathan Church, Tesco's external communications manager, to the allegations that the retail company made its profits at the expense of farmers in Great Britain.

Recognizes the need to implement a legal supermarket code of practice in Great Britain. Impact of code on the behavior of retailers; Role of statutory code in the relationship of farmers and retailers; Proponents of the statutory code.

Reports on the plan of the British government to introduce measures to help bring young people into farming, according to government farming adviser Donald Curry. Significance of young people to agriculture; Implication of the common agricultural policy for agriculture across Europe; Attitude of consumers toward the issue of food source.

Reports on the reaction of farmers on a review of the Supermarket Code of Practice by the British Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in Great Britain. Results of the review; Purpose of a compliance audit for supermarkets announced by the Office of Fair Trading; Views of Robin Tapper, National Farmers' Union head of food and farming, on the investigation of the OFT on the alleged malpractice in supermarkets.

Reports on the short-term benefits of the historic basis for the single farm payment (SFP) scheme for farmers in Great Britain. Reaction of the National Beef Association to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (DEFRA) decision to use SFP; Opposition of the Tenant Farmers Association to the English hybrid scheme; Impact of the transition solution adopted by DEFRA on new farmers; Significance of the flat rate system to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Reports on the warning of beef producers in line with the proposals of the British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to stop bovine tuberculosis in the country. Information on the short-term measure proposed by the department; Complaints of Welsh farming unions against the consultation document; Impact of the postponement of killing infected wildlife.

Presents the report "Hard Times" commissioned by the Peak District Rural Deprivation Forum (PDRDF), which showed that Peak District hill farmers in England are among the most deprived in the country. Earnings of the farmers; Percentage of decline in farmers' income; Statement from PDRDF spokeswoman Carol Evans about the poor farmers.

Reports on the need for the establishment of a compensation scheme for farmers of genetically modified crops in Great Britain according to a report from the British Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission. Features of the report; Importance of the compensation scheme for farmers of genetically modified crops; Concerns of the National Farmers' Union regarding the unintentional contamination by genetically modified crops.

Focuses on the warning given to Canadian farmers concerning genetically modified (GM) crops. Remarks from Jim Robbins, spokesman for the Canadian National Farmers Union, on GM crops; Results of a study on the products of seed production firms in Canada; Reason of farmers for not growing canola.