Seed-planting robots among £345m investment for ‘resilient’ farms

FARMERS will be able to access £345 million for technology and green measures from seed-planting robots to putting in new hedgerows, the Environment Secretary has announced.

- 

Speaking at the National Farmers' Union conference yesterday, Emma Reynolds also outlined more details of a “simpler, fairer and more stable” sustainable farming incentive scheme - the largest strand of the Government's nature-friendly farming programme.

The announcement comes as the Government tries to reset its relationship with the sector after a partial U-turn on inheritance tax levied on farm businesses and the abrupt closure of the sustainable farming incentive (SFI) a year ago.

Ms Reynolds told the conference that she was “determined to give British farming the foundation it needs to grow”.

“We want farm businesses that are productive profitable, and resilient,” she said.

“We want to see more British food on more tables - here at home and around the world.