Baroness Batters has been appointed to provide recommendations on farm profitability to Defra Secretary Steve Reed and the Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner.
Defra has said listening to farmers and growers will be ‘at the heart of Baroness Batters’ work’ adding that as well as covering all sectors of the farming industry, she will also be engaging with other government departments whose work impacts farming.
“Profitability underpins everything.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
As part of the review, Baroness Batters will provide short, medium and long term recommendations and propose actions for the government and industry to support farming profitability.
‘Profitability underpins everything’
Responding to the news, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “We welcome the review and the appointment of Baroness Batters, who brings invaluable experience, to lead it.
“This comes at a critical moment for British farming, with confidence at rock bottom, uncertainty around environmental schemes and looming concerns over inheritance tax changes for farm businesses.”
The NFU’s latest farmer confidence survey results bypassed last year’s record lows to mark the lowest levels since the survey began 15 years ago.
Tom added: “Profitability underpins everything. With it farms will be able to deliver growth, care for the countryside and help meet the government’s own legislated environmental goals, all while feeding the nation.
“We’ll continue working with Defra to understand the review’s scope and look forward to hearing a timeline for delivery.”
No silver bullet
Baroness Batters said she will “leave no stone unturned in trying to find solutions to boost farm profitability”, but added “we should be under no illusions how difficult this work will be”.
“There will not be one ‘silver bullet’ to fire but I’m hopeful this review can make a difference to a sector that produces the nation’s food, underpins the rural economy and delivers so much for the environment.
“I’m pleased to be appointed to lead this review and look forward to working with farmers and growers to provide recommendations to government, food retailers, processors and manufacturers.”
Defra Secretary Steve Reed said he was “delighted” to make the appointment adding that Baroness Batters’ “years of experience as a leader during a time of great change in British agriculture make her uniquely placed to provide recommendations on tackling the deep-rooted problems holding the sector back and support farmers’ long-term profits”.
Defra has said the review will help develop its food strategy, farming roadmap and Land Use Framework. Baroness Batters’ appointment will be for a period of six months with her recommendations outlined during this timeframe.
Baroness Batters served as NFU President from 2018 – 2024 and runs a tenanted family farm in Wiltshire. She has been an NFU member from grassroots through to county chair; she served as Wiltshire’s Council delegate and also as regional board chair for the South West.
She has also been a member of NFU Governance Board and served as NFU Deputy President for four years from 2014 until 2018, before being elected as President in February 2018.
