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Focuses on the agricultural and environmental policies of the British government, after failing to handle the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, as of January 2002. Contradictions faced by the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food; Discussion on the need for a complete redeployment of the scarce national resources consumed.

The article focuses on the need for the British government to be serious in implementing European Union environmental directives and support conservation agriculture. Adopting reduced and min-till systems provides environmental benefits according to Nuffield scholar John Geraghty. The initial motivation for farmers was the need to control erosion. The government could help farmers to realise agricultural and environmental objectives.

The article offers information on the Countryside Stewardship Scheme of the Great Britain government, which is replacing entry- and higher-level environmental stewardship. According to National Farmers' Union policy director Andrew Clark, vital details are missing about the scheme like the allocation of funding between the various tiers including the higher-level tier, the middle tier and the tier to promote capital works on farms.

The article discusses the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on British livestock farmers. Issues mentioned include the United Kingdom's (UK) CAP direct payment budget of €25.1 billion being divided between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the need for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to shift from historic payments to a flat-rate system, and the need for farmers to follow new environmental regulations in 2014.

The article highlights the decision of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to delay plans that would have forced farmers in Great Britain to replace aging slurry stores. The proposals require all silage clamps and slurry and fuel stores built before 1991 to comply with the Control of Pollution Regulations. According to DEFRA, the plans would have affected more than 20 percent of existing stores and clamps at a cost of tens of millions of pounds.

The article reports on the decision of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to delay plans that would have forced farmers in Great Britain to replace aging slurry stores. The proposals require all silage clamps and slurry and fuel stores built before 1991 to comply with the Control of Pollution Regulations. According to DEFRA, the plans would have affected more than 20 percent of existing stores and clamps at a cost of tens of millions of pounds.

The article reports on the proposals of the government of Belgium to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Great Britain. The proposals include reduction of subsidy payments to individual farmers who refuse to implement environmental measures on their land. European Union (EU) Farm Commissioner Dacian Ciolos believes that the CAP reforms will strengthen competitiveness and sustainability of European agriculture. The Belgian government faces pressure to reduce the CAP reform budget.

The article reports that farmers at Lake District in Cumbria, England are against a proposed nature improvement scheme covering 50,000 hectares of the Lake District National Park (LDNP) as of November 25, 2011. Farmers reportedly fear the proposal could lead to a new wave of destocking of fell flocks. It explains that the scheme will select 12 pilot areas across Great Britain to become part of a three-year plan to improve the natural environment, stressing that the scheme is voluntary.

The article focuses on the proposal of British senior government adviser Don Curry to use voluntary approach rather than allocating 5% of arable land for farmland birds. As a farmer himself, Curry believes that voluntary approach will create better outcome than subject farmers to regulations against their will. He adds that the Entry Level Stewardship can be used to lure farmers into increasing farmland birds. He notes that the government can impose the compulsory rule if the voluntary one is not effective after three years.

The author reflects on the need for a unified British Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in tackling agricultural and environmental issues. He says that the agency must develop comprehensive policies for food production and supply, linked to the environment and the rural society. He states that at present, DEFRA does not seem to operate as a joined-up ministry and policies in these issues seem to be developed individually and are subject to lobbying by their separate interest groups.