Addressing the audience at the NFUâs fringe panel event during the Labour party conference, the NFU President warned that âfarmers are carrying too much of the burden of riskâ and many will be asking the question âwill I be able to plant next yearâs crop?â.
The event brought together Food Security and Rural Affairs Minister Daniel Zeichner, Congleton MP Sarah Russell, and Ceres Rural Managing Partner Charlie Ireland to answer the question âHow will British farming deliver Labourâs missions?â in a debate chaired by The New Statesman Associate Editor Hannah Barnes.
With the Autumn Budget due to be announced on 30 October and the government saying they need to fill a âÂŁ22 billion black holeâ, the future of the agriculture budget featured heavily in the debate.
âThe government has a huge opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to everyone in this room and all of our food producing members to enable the delivery of those legislated environmental targets and to allow and enable economic growth," said Tom.
âThatâs an opportunity Iâd urge the Minister not to miss.
âI donât think any of us know where government policy is taking us â what is the vision for what we want this country to stand for? We need to know what that destination is and we need the business framework to enable our members to thrive.
âWe need Defra to be up for this challenge as well. If we donât change their mindset you can have all the best ambition in the world but the mindset of the team delivering it have to make sure theyâre up for it as well.â
Stability a common thread
Food Security and Rural Affairs Minister Daniel Zeichner was clear in his message that he was âfighting tooth and nail on your [farmersâ] behalfâ to ensure Defra has the resources needed to maintain the agricultural transition.
Mr Zeichner said he recognised stability was key for the sector and reiterated the governmentâs commitment to ensure farmers wonât be undercut by low welfare and standards in trade deals, and spoke of his work in seeking a new veterinary agreement with the EU.
On this point, Tom outlined the need to see a set of core standards implemented that make it illegal to import food produced to lower standards than we have here in the UK.
âI back our members to compete on a level playing field, but we canât do that with our hands tied behind our backs.â
âThe government has a huge opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to everyone in this room and all of our food producing members.â
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
Charlie Ireland echoed the NFUâs calls for the government to give farmers the confidence to invest. âWe have a really exciting opportunity here for food production as land use across Europe is trying to find its direction...we have the opportunity to create a world leading agricultural system where land use is dynamic and flexible.
âWe are a broad church, but the one common thread is stability. We need that confidence to invest for the future.â
New MP for Congleton, and member of the NFU's Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme, Sarah Russell spoke of Labourâs missions to kickstart economic growth and break down barriers to opportunity, adding that she knew farmers in her constituency were âabsolutely focusedâ on both of those goals.
She said that the way farmers think in a multi-generational way about investment is a âphenomenal assetâ for our country.
Flooding in focus
With many areas of England braced for flooding, and 65 flood alerts from the Environment Agency currently in place, the Minister reflected that the rain came as a reminder of the challenges farmers are facing with flooding.
Tom reiterated that extreme weather is one of the biggest challenges the industry faces, adding that he hoped there would be an update on the Farming Recovery Fund to support farmers affected by flooding.
âItâs absolutely crucial we get that money out of the door to those farmers who were promised it many months ago,â he said.
The funding was first announced in January and the NFU has worked with the RPA and Defra to help develop the offer which has included feeding in examples of the challenges faced by our members.
Focusing on the future and the policies needed for growth, Tom cited the agriculture budget, protection of agricultural property relief, science and evidence-based policy making, and a supportive planning framework as immediate concerns.
Planning, from slurry storage to poultry sheds, was brought up repeatedly by audience members and panellists alike.
Mr Ireland gave an example of how, if he wants to apply for a grant, he would have nine months to use that funding but it could take up to three years to get planning permission. âThatâs stopping opportunities for diversification for farming businesses.â
Tom said he would like a food impact test as part of the National Planning Policy Framework, which is currently under review.
In his closing remarks, the Minister said the government âhas a passion to get this rightâ.
âMy message to you is I am your Minister and this is an ongoing dialogue.â
Tom said 30 October marked an important day and that âthereâs a lot of opportunity if we get the level of investment requiredâ.
