At this week’s Royal Cornwall Show (6 to 8 June) farmers and senior officeholders, including NFU President Tom Bradshaw, will be asking politicians to advocate for a smooth and seamless transition to new environmental schemes that are open to all farmers and growers to ensure profitable, long-term food-producing businesses.
Cornwall NFU county chair Bridget Whell said: “The Royal Cornwall Show is always a great opportunity for local farmers like me to showcase the high-quality produce that we are proud to grow here in the South West.
A period of uncertainty
“The farming community here in Cornwall has been in a period of uncertainty and instability for quite some time now with the recent wet weather, the political changes and the financial crisis having a real financial impact on our farming.
“I’m thankful for how the general public have continued to show their support and appreciation for what we do and now we need to see politicians from all parties value and back the production of home-grown food and our family businesses.
“We welcome politicians speaking to us about how to create an environment where the farming community can continue to thrive, support the local economy and produce local food.
“The next government must support farming businesses by accelerating the roll out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and ensuring it is properly financed.”
NFU South regional director Melanie Squires
Manifesto provides solutions
“I’m looking forward to chatting to people at the show this week and we welcome anyone to our tent opposite the Members Pavilion to discuss the work we do and the challenges we are all facing here in Cornwall.”
In its General Election manifesto, the NFU has provided solutions that political parties can adopt which would work to reverse a breakdown in farmer confidence and help safeguard homegrown food production.
NFU South regional director Mel Squires said: “Research from the NFU showed that, on average, businesses lost 37% of their support payments under the SFI and CS options that were currently available to them.
“The next government must support farming businesses by accelerating the roll out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and ensuring it is properly financed by using at least 65% of the agriculture budget to fund it.
Dedication of farmers and growers
“It must also move away from the ‘income forgone’ model to ensure SFI genuinely values and properly rewards the provision of public goods.
“Many of our family farms have been long-term participants in previous Defra schemes, delivering public goods for decades, and they too are unable to make up the income shortfall.
“To see the dedication our farmers and growers continue to demonstrate after what has been an unprecedented and challenging time is truly remarkable and I’m looking forward to speaking with them at the Show about what more we can do to ensure they are supported both now, and in the future, so they, their families and their farming businesses thrive.”