Gove takes top Defra role

Prominent Conservative MP Michael Gove is back in Theresa May’s cabinet having been appointed to the role of Defra secretary, which comes with responsibility for food, the environment and farming.

He replaces Andrea Leadsom who moves over to become leader of the House of Commons.

Gove is the MP for Surrey Heath, but was raised and educated in Aberdeenshire, where his father ran a fish processing business. A prominent pro-Brexit campaigner, he was sacked from the role of Justice secretary last July.

Reaction to his re-appointment to the British cabinet has been mixed, with a number of environmental campaigners questioning his credentials by highlighting his Westminster voting record on environmental issues. They also point to comments attributed to the new Defra secretary that Brexit brings with it the opportunity to free the UK of EU environmental red tape.

The reaction from farming leaders has been more restrained, with the president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), Meurig Raymond congratulating Gove on his appointment.

In an open letter, the NFU leader said that farmers need certainty from government that it will make Brexit a success, requiring continued access to the EU market, and access to a competent and reliable workforce.

Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed that George Eustice will remain in his role as a Defra minister.

Land mobility receives £120,000 funding

DAERA is making £120,000 available over the next two years to fund the upcoming land mobility scheme in NI, according to a joint statement made last week by the Young Farmers’ Club of Ulster and the Ulster Farmers’ Union.

As reported in last week’s Irish Farmers Journal, the process for recruiting a full-time manager for the scheme has begun.

The manager’s £39,000 to £44,000 annual salary and project costs are being funded from the DAERA package for an initial two-year period. A third-year extension is also possible, subject to funding.

DAERA consults on new review process

The Department of Agriculture has opened a public consultation on proposed changes to the review of decisions process for area-based schemes.

At present, a farmer who wants to challenge decisions made must first submit a stage one appeal, dealt with by DAERA staff. If the issue remains unresolved, there is then the option of moving to a stage-two appeal involving an independent panel.

However, the changes proposed by DAERA involve dropping the stage-two appeal. Instead, it proposes a “new, more more comprehensive, robust and interactive single stage review process”.

The consultation closes to responses on 4 August.

Further suspension on tag manufacturing

There will be another suspension in tag manufacturing in NI from midday on Saturday 17 June until 9am on Monday 19 June.

Tag manufacturers will not be able to receive authorisation from DAERA to produce new or replacement tags during the period.

The temporary suspension is to facilitate the first phase of the new Northern Ireland Food Animal Information System (NIFAIS) database and follows on from a similar suspension last weekend.

The NIFAIS system is to replace the current Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS) database on a phased basis with the transfer expected to be completed in 2019.

DAERA undertaking review of AFBI

A review of the Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is being undertaken by DAERA as part of a government requirement for period reviews of public bodies. The AFBI review will take start this month and will be completed by March 2018.

“It will examine the role of AFBI before considering its capacity for delivering more effectively and efficiently, as well as ensuring the governance arrangements in place meet recognised principles of good corporate governance,” DAERA has said.

An online questionnaire will also be published for individuals and organisations to provide feedback on AFBI as part of the review.