The operators of pig and dairy factory farms were given £18m and £16m respectively, while the figure for intensive beef farms was £2m. The shadow environment secretary, Sue Hayman MP, said the subsidy payments “were encouraging more, and larger, intensive livestock farms”. Taro Takahashi, a researcher at the University of Bristol and Rothamsted Research, said the payment of subsidies to intensive farms may be justifiable if they were found to be improving environmental standards. The National Pig Association (NPA), which represents pig farmers, says only farmers operating mixed farms – for example, keeping livestock and growing crops – receive subsidies. In September 2018, the environment secretary Michael Gove launched his proposed Agriculture bill, setting out future support for UK farmers after Brexit.

Source: The Guardian December 28, 2018 10:52 UTC