Our LIVE on the day coverage: Back British Farming Day 2024

4:30pm: That's a wrap for our #BackBritishFarmingDay coverage.

We've loved seeing and sharing all your posts.

Today we have called on the government to take action to value UK food security and ensure important environmental delivery by increasing the current agriculture budget.

Use our online tool and write to your MP to make farming's voice heard before next month's Autumn Budget.

Write to your MP

4pm: NFU members R&J Yorkshire's Finest have said #BackBritishFarmingDay is an important reminder to support our hard-working farmers who put food on our tables.

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A post shared by R&J | Yorkshire’s Finest (@randjyorkshiresfinest)

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3pm: NFU members Warren farm are sharing their recent farming highlights to commemorate #BackBritishFarmingDay.

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A post shared by Warren Farm (@warrenfarmiow)

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2pm: NFU members Churchills farm are celebrating #BackBritishFarmingDay by sharing pictures which they say 'keep a smile on our faces whilst we do this job'.

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A post shared by Churchill’s Farm (@churchills_farm_)

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1:30pm: Meanwhile in the North, Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen visited us earlier today at Westmorland Show.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron visited to engage with us this afternoon. 

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Tim Farron MP representing #BackBritishFarmingDay

A busy NFU tent at the Westmorland Show

NFU members discussing at the Westmorland show

Tim Farron MP speaking with NFU members at Westmorland show

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1pm: Away from Westminster you’ve been sending us images of how you’ve been celebrating Britain’s farmers.

Laura Vann said: “We celebrated in style at BCA college with a cake and getting the students to walk with our Oxford Down Rams.”

Photograph: Laura Vann

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12:20pm: Prime Minister's Questions is well underway. Leader of the Opposition Rishi Sunak notes that today is Back British Farming Day.

He asks the Prime Minister if he will be adopting the NFU’s proposal to enshrine a national food security target in law.

The Prime Minister said: “Food security is really important I’m glad he raised this. We have talked to the NFU about this and rural issues are really important and that’s what we fought the election on and why we have a lot of rural constituencies sitting behind us now.

“We will continue to talk to the NFU and we do take food security very seriously.”

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 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.

You can watch PMQs live or on catchup on BBC iPlayer.

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11:45am: Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he is proud to #BackBritishFarming.

British farmers contribute immensely to our economy, countryside and food.

My government will boost rural economic growth and strengthen our food security, to restore stability in this vital sector.

I am proud to #BackBritishFarming

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) September 11, 2024

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11:25am: BBC2's Politics Live has just started; it's great to see MPs wearing their NFU pin badge. Pictured here, Helen Whately MP, the Shadow Transport Secretary.

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11am: More than 200 schools across the South East and Midlands have joined in Back British Farming Day celebrations by holding farming-themed activities.

Organised by school contract catering company Accent Catering, events including talks on where food comes from, a Great British Bake-Off style carrot cake making competition using locally-sourced carrots, toy tractor displays and tractor colouring-in competitions.

Many schools displayed posters with stories about ‘farming heroes’ from the local area.

Find out more.

Photograph: Copthill school in Stamford 

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10am: There has widespread coverage across national and regional broadcast, print and online outlets of Back British Farming Day 2024.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw is quoted in all articles including in The Independent, iNews and Evening Standard which all run with a similar headline that ‘Farmers are seeking a £5.6 billion budget to safeguard the industry’.

Our budget asks were also referenced on BBC Radio 4’s The Today Programme at 1:07:16.

The Daily Mail also goes with the headline of calls to boost the agriculture budget to value food security but mentions the Defra underspend and quotes Tom saying “it’s a kick in the teeth”.

Meanwhile, as part of its coverage, BBC News looks at the net zero issue and says that ambitious plans to make farming net zero by 2040 may not be achieved. The online article also says that to mark Back British Farming Day, NFU President Tom Bradshaw has called for the UK’s total agriculture budget to be increased from £3.5 billion to £5.6 billion.

The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X has also been celebrating Back British Farming Day by opening up a hamper live on air sent to the studio by the NFU press team. Listen again on Global Player from 7.35am (login details needed).

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9:30am: The UK farming unions (NFU, NFU Cymru, NFUS and UFU) have come together in Westminster to celebrate Back British Farming Day.

Representing British farmers and growers we will continue to work together for a more resilient and prosperous agricultural sector.

L-R: NFU Cymru President Aled Jones, NFUS President Martin Kennedy, NFU President Tom Bradshaw and UFU President William Irvine.

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9:15am: Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed is speaking to the audience now.

Addressing the agriculture budget he said: “The farming budget will be part of the spending review and announcements will be made at that time but I’m making the case to the Treasury to maximise support for farmers.

“I will fight your corner in this process.” 

Stay tuned for our full report from the reception.

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9am: Following a welcome from event sponsor Dr Caroline Johnson MP, NFU President Tom Bradshaw addresses MPs and members.

Tom said: “We have a new government for this year’s Back British Farming Day – this is a pivotal moment.”

Tom explained key to delivering investment in the industry is a multi-annual agriculture budget.

He announced the launch of the NFU's call to action for members to write to their MP and make the case for an increased agriculture budget.

Write to your MP

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8:45am: Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed is met by NFU President Tom Bradshaw and NFUS President Martin Kennedy.

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7am: We are calling on the government to take action to value UK food security and ensure important environmental delivery by increasing the current agriculture budget.

Speaking ahead of the NFU’s reception for MPs in parliament, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “British farmers and growers are proud to produce the raw ingredients that underpin our essential food and drink sector, the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, worth a huge £148 billion, and employing more than four million people.

“But there are huge challenges. Over the past 18 months we have seen a collapse in farmer confidence, driven by record inflation, falls in farm income and a changing climate with unprecedented weather patterns delivering relentless rain which left thousands of acres of farmland under water.

“While in opposition we heard consistently from Labour that food security is national security. The Prime Minister, speaking at NFU Conference last year, pledged that Labour ‘aspires to govern for every corner of our country, and will seek a new relationship with the countryside and farming communities on this basis, a relationship based on respect and on genuine partnership’.

“We now need to see those ambitions realised. Today we’re calling on government to truly value UK food security by delivering a renewed and enhanced multi-annual agriculture budget of £5.6 billion on 30 October.

“This budget is essential in giving Britain’s farmers and growers the confidence they desperately need to invest for the future and deliver on our joint ambitions on producing more sustainable, affordable homegrown food while creating more jobs and delivering for nature, energy security and climate-friendly farming.

“Our farmers and growers are much loved and valued by the public who rank our job as one of the most important and well-respected professions, second only to nursing. 91% also believe farming is important to the UK economy, with 85% believing we should increase our self-sufficiency in British food.

“On this Back British Farming Day, we are at a tipping point, so we call on government, all MPs, to also show their unstinted support.

“Seize this opportunity to harness the passion and the drive of British farmers and growers to ensure a thriving future – a future that is good for shoppers, good for the environment and good for a secure supply of British food.”

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5:30pm: We'll be pausing our live coverage for today. Tune back in tomorrow when we'll be sending you updates from our MP reception, direct from Westminster.

3:15pm: NFU President Tom Bradshaw sends a message to MPs outside parliament: “We ask all MPs to recognise the role of farming, how critical it is for our local economies, how we can deliver economic growth.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to engage with our politicians and thank the public for their continued support.”

"Today we ask all MPs to recognise the role of farming."

NFU President Tom Bradshaw (@ProagriLtd) has an important message outside parliament ahead of #BackBritishFarmingDay tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/Mm7fyxoekN

— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets) September 10, 2024

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1:45pm: MPs in the south from Dorset to Basingstoke have been showing their support for Britain's farmers.

Top Left to right: Edward Morello MP for West Dorset, Baroness Rock, Luke Murphy MP for Basingstoke, Alex Brewer MP for North East Hampshire. Bottom left to right: Claire Young MP for Thornbury and Yale, Edward Morello MP, Simon Hoare MP for North Dorset.

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1:30pm: Leader of the Opposition Rishi Sunak has joined NFU President Tom Bradshaw outside parliament to discuss the importance of British food and farming.

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12pm: Elsewhere in Bedforshire, Richard Fuller MP tells his constituents the three reasons he is supporting #BackBritishFarmingDay.

1. "The food tastes great"
2. "It supports our food security"
3. "It protects our environment"

To join in the celebrations, find out the three ways you can get involved with Back British Farming Day. Don't forget to tag us in your posts, using the hashtag #BackBritishFarmingDay.

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10:30am: Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs was first off the mark to visit and hear our message for Britain's farmers, closely followed by Rachel Gilmour, MP for Tiverton and Minehead and Connor Naismith, MP for Crewe and Nantwich.

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Rachel Gilmour MP for Tiverton and Minehead

Connor Naismith MP Crewe Nantwich

Alicia Kearns MP for Rutland and Stamford

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9am: Throughout Back British Farming Day tomorrow you'll be seeing MPs and Peers sporting our wheatsheaf badge. 

The badge is representative of the celebratory spirit of Back British Farming Day. Members of Parliament will wear the badge in PMQs (Prime Minister's Questions) to demonstrate their support for British farmers.

It’s made of wheat sourced from farms in the spectacular countryside of Shropshire, and wool from Devon’s Blue Face Leicester sheep which has been spun and dyed blue and red specifically to celebrate British food and farming.

The badge is emblematic of all that British farmers and growers deliver for rural communities and the nation, producing climate-friendly food while also caring for our cherished landscapes, providing sustainable and natural fibres for clothing and insulation, producing renewable energy and much more.

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8am: We'll be bringing you all the latest news and updates from Back British Farming Day celebrations across the country, so stay tuned. 

Early risers may have already caught a glimpse of a bright red Massey Ferguson tractor fronting the NFU's stand in Old Palace Yard outside the Houses of Parliament this morning, marking the start of our Back British Farming Day activities.

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