Following publication of the Government’s Rural Strategy 2004, Defra asked each English Region to develop the arrangements to prioritise and co-ordinate activity, funding and delivery to rural communities. This has led to the production of the Yorkshire and The Humber Rural Framework (YHRF) which sets out the priorities for action to ensure these are targeted where needed at local level across the region, thus securing sustainable development outcomes. 

• website link to the Governmnet Office of the Yorkshire and the Humber region.
• Rural Framework documnet

Business Link York and North Yorkshire - home page

 - grant and support searchable database by post code or scheme name, click here for search tool.

A timely reminder of the funding packages and financial assistance available in South Yourkshire through Business Link South Yorkshire ....      go to blsy website link.

Farmers fail to plan for the future, report warns. Farmers in Yorkshire and the Humber are leaving it too late to plan the succession of their land and businesses, according to new research. Just one farmer interviewed for a report said he had succession plans in place in the event of his retirement or death and the older generation are worried that the younger farmers are turning their back on the industry.

The report, "Succession Planning within Farming Families", was compiled by Sally Conner, North Yorkshire Rural Stress Co-ordinator for the Yorkshire Rural Support Network whose remit is to help combat stress within the countryside. The Network represents both the statutory and voluntary sectors and is chaired by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society as part of its work supporting the region’s rural community.

Go to Report

The sugar reform deal of 2005 will have a major impact on UK production. Beet producers are likely to get larger and more specialised. The UK sugar industry is competitive within Europe but the threat from cane sugar is likely to increase. ABF and British Sugar are hedging their bets between beet and cane and geographically. Read more from the RuSource paper by Carl Atkin of Bidwells.

From unrest in the Middle East to potential pressure on crop-based renewable energy, Trevor Williams, Chief Economist, Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets, sees many issues causing concern, but will strong world growth lead agriculture prices higher?

The following article has been supplied by Lloyds TSB Financial Landscape

A  recycling and waste management directory for agricultural and horticultural businesses. The aim of this directory website is to put you in touch with waste management companies that can recycle  your waste or treat and dispose of waste that cannot be recycled. Post code search facility for companies operating in your area.

As of 1 October 2006, Defra has formally transferred to the Regional Development Agencies the responsibility for delivery of the socio-economic elements of the Rural Development Programmes under the current and successor EU Rural Development Regulations in England (including the “project based schemes” under the current programme: Rural Enterprise Scheme, Vocational Training Scheme, Processing and Marketing Grant, and producer group element of the Energy Crops Scheme.)

This is an excellent opportunity for Defra and the RDAs to work more closely to take forward the Government’s joint agenda for England’s rural communities.  The new Programme will provide significant scope to take forward both the  Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food and the wider Rural Strategy. 

• Defra briefing note.
• Q&A's

This report has been produced to inform Barnsley PCT and other local partners about a pilot project to investigate the sourcing of locally produced food used to provide meals to patients, visitors and staff across three of the PCT sites. Lessons learnt and challenges to continue to procure locally sourced foods are discussed and recommendations given to move this work forwards across the borough .Full report