With the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy funding the RDPE scheme, the NFU wants made clear future plans for funding the scheme after the EU Referendum vote last month.
Since the decision to leave, the Rural Payments Agency has been told to hold off from issuing grant funding – or rejections - while discussions with the Treasury were ongoing meaning similar challenges for the Countryside Stewardship Schemes. The NFU has already asked for reassurance that these schemes will be rolled out to give farmers confidence for business planning.
President of the NFU Meurig Raymond said the letter was important in seeking clarity on how farming and the wider agri-food sector will be represented in a post Brexit world.
“I understand we are in a period of immense change but farming, like all business, needs clarity in order to plan and move ahead with confidence. I would like to hear that the government will be honouring these schemes for their lifetime. New applications must be progressed and existing payments must continue to be made in line with their contract with government.
“There are challenging times ahead for our sector and the NFU is working with its members to outline what is needed from a future domestic agriculture policy. This will be an ambitious plan and one which will this great sector forward.”
While the UK economy has now recovered to a similar size prior to the global banking crisis, UK farmers’ contribution to the economy grew by £3.1 billion (about 45 per cent) to almost £10 billion in the 5 years to 2014.
Farmers in the UK grow the raw ingredients that underpin the food and farming sector. Collectively, the food and farming sector is worth £108 billion.
Agriculture’s importance to the UK economy is emphasised by the fact that the UK has 142,000 farm businesses. That’s more than the number of businesses involved in the motor trade, education, finance and insurance.
Part of what makes farming unique is its structure with over 90 per cent of our farms made up of sole traders or family partnerships. It remains an industry characterised by family farming businesses.