At the NFU’s parliamentary reception, 180 MPs and Peers heard first-hand how valuable British farming is to the nation, delivering sustainable, homegrown food and caring for our much-loved landscapes. They also heard how important the upcoming budget is to giving farm businesses the confidence to invest in the future of British farming and realise our shared net zero ambitions.
The iconic wheatsheaf pin badge was also on full display during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) as MPs demonstrated their support for British farming, recognising the value of a sector which forms the backbone of the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, food and drink – worth a huge £148 billion to the economy and employing more than four million people.
The Leader of the Opposition, Rishi Sunak MP, highlighted the importance of food security to national security and pressed the Prime Minister for a commitment on a statutory food security target.
Meanwhile Tessa Munt, Liberal Democrat MP for Wells and Mendip Hills in Somerset, asked the Prime Minister if he would be “increasing the agriculture budget to speed up the rollout of the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, and support profitable, sustainable and nature-friendly farming”. In response, the Prime Minister said he wouldn’t pre-empt the budget but said they will put support in place.
Commenting on the day, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “It’s been great to see so much support for British farming from MPs and Peers across all political parties today.
“We have some of the most forward thinking, innovative and productive farmers and growers in the world who, matched with the ambition of this government, can help the government deliver it’s economic, environmental and net zero statutory targets.
“To achieve this, the immediate priority is to secure the investment required to enable the transition, all while feeding the nation. An enhanced multi-annual budget isn’t just money for farmers, it’s a budget which will give farm business the confidence to invest in a greener future, delivering renewable energy, caring for the countryside and producing climate-friendly food.
“There has been an unforgivable £358 million black hole in budgeted spending over the last three years and we’re now seeing the consequences from this lack of investment with farmers and growers facing years of uncertainty and loss of income during the agricultural transition.
“The NFU has pressed the need for the new farming and environment schemes to be in place before reductions in BPS began to avoid this very issue and avoid funding being left unspent at a time when farmers needed it most.
“The ambition for agriculture to become net zero is still a priority for the sector, but we need the government to match it with polices that support that delivery on the ground. We have always said that we cannot deliver net zero alone.
“To ensure British farmers and growers are able to work with government on its missions to grow the economy and reach net zero while producing more sustainable, affordable, homegrown food for the nation, we’re asking the Chancellor to increase the multi-year agriculture budget to £5.6 billion on 30th October. Today we heard Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed MP say that he is making the case to Treasury to maximise support for farmers, reiterating that he will “fight your [farmers’] corner in this process”.”