Food and farming industry

Sign up for updates to this topic page

On this page

Services

• Get help and support for your business

  Get business support and advice over the phone and online - setting up and running a business.

• Make or update a rural payments claim

  Update your details with the Rural Payments Agency to keep claiming payments for your farm land

• Use Cattle Tracing System (CTS) Online

  Register with BCMS's online service to register cattle births and report cattle deaths and cattle movements online

• Planning permission for farms

  When you need planning permission, where to apply, what counts as permitted development and how to appeal a planning permission decision

• Agricultural Sick Pay

  Agricultural Sick Pay means you're paid wages while you're sick - can you get it, how to claim, what you'll get

See more services in this topic

Guidance and regulation

• Register land you use to keep livestock
  • Detailed guide
  • 16 December 2019
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Rural Payments Agency, and Animal and Plant Health Agency
• Agricultural vehicle licences, tax information and fuel
  • Detailed guide
  • 16 July 2018
  • Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
• Agricultural tenancies
  • Detailed guide
  • 12 April 2016
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• RDPE Growth Programme
  • Guidance
  • 18 February 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Rural Payments Agency
• Organic certification: list of UK approved organic control bodies
  • Guidance
  • 10 September 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

See more guidance and regulation in this topic

News and communications

Outbreaks of Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease in 2020

25 September 2020 — Press release

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science

• UK businesses now eligible to export beef to the USA
  • 16 September 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Department for International Trade, and Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
  • News story
• Farming Minister visits innovative Yorkshire agri-environment schemes
  • 11 September 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
  • News story
• UK Government Ministers support Wales’ rural economy in virtual Royal Welsh Show discussion
  • 23 July 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Office of the Secretary of State for Wales
  • Press release
• Defra updates in agri-food and environmental topics
  • 22 July 2020
  • Government Chemist
  • News story

See more news and communications in this topic

Research and statistics

• Latest cattle, sheep and pig slaughter statistics
  • 25 September 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
  • National statistics
• Historical statistics notices on UK milk prices and composition of milk, 2020
  • 24 September 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
  • National statistics
• Latest UK milk prices and composition of milk
  • 24 September 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
  • National statistics
• Structure of the agricultural industry in England and the UK at June
  • 24 September 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
  • Statistical data set
• Farming statistics – crop areas and cattle, sheep and pig populations as at 1 June 2020, England
  • 24 September 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
  • National statistics

See more research and statistics in this topic

Policy papers and consultations

• Reforming agricultural tenancies in England
  • 18 March 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 02 July 2019
• Food labelling: changing food allergen information laws
  • 25 June 2019
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Food Standards Agency
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 29 March 2019
• Food and natural mineral water: amending laws in England
  • 5 April 2019
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
  • Consultation outcome
  • Date closed 13 November 2018
• Smarter rules for safer food: what we are doing
  • 13 March 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
  • Policy paper
• The future for food, farming and the environment: policy statement (2020)
  • 25 February 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
  • Policy paper

See more policy papers and consultations in this topic

Transparency and freedom of information releases

• Government Chemist 2019 Annual Review
  • 22 July 2020
  • Government Chemist
  • Corporate report
• GCA closing meeting with retailer CCOs on 22 June 2020
  • 23 June 2020
  • Groceries Code Adjudicator
  • Transparency
• Organic operators in the United Kingdom (UK) FOI2020/08503
  • 14 May 2020
  • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
  • Foi release
• FOI/EIR responses published by APHA: December 2018
  • 16 March 2020
  • Animal and Plant Health Agency
  • Foi release
• FOI/EIR responses published by APHA: February 2019
  • 27 February 2020
  • Animal and Plant Health Agency
  • Foi release

See more transparency and freedom of information releases in this topic

Organisations

• Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs
• Rural Payments Agency
• Groceries Code Adjudicator
• Animal & Plant Health Agency
• Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street

Show more organisations

• Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Department for International Trade
• Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland
• Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
• Home Office
• Northern Ireland Office
• Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Swyddfa Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru
• Veterinary Medicines Directorate
• Department for Transport
• Marine Management Organisation
• Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
• Department for Work & Pensions
• Department of Health & Social Care
• Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency
• Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
• RDPE Network
• Cabinet Office
• HM Revenue & Customs
• HM Treasury

• Government Chemist
• Environment Agency
• Forestry Commission
• Natural England
• Innovate UK
• UK Co-ordinating Body