The meeting marked Tom’s second visit to No. 10 since the general election and saw the NFU President meet with Sir Keir’s newly appointed advisers across business, Defra and DESNZ (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero).
Tom opened the meeting by giving an overview of the impact the weather combined with government policy has had on this year’s harvest.
Growers have experienced one of the wettest growing seasons on record set against a backdrop of high input costs and a reduction in direct payments as well as environmental options which give genuine opportunity to diversify away from production.
AHDB’s latest planting and variety survey revealed a ‘dramatic decline’ in cereals and oilseed rape planted this year, down by 5% in 2024 to the lowest level for over two decades, reflecting the prolonged periods of wet weather.
Farming a key partner to deliver growth
In its manifesto, Labour outlined its plan to ‘kickstart economic growth’ which included commitments on planning reform, economic stability, and reform to the immigration and skills system.
However, Tom warned that, without certainty on the agricultural budget in October, UK food security “could fall off a cliff”.
He reiterated that the confidence farmers need to invest in delivering food security is underpinned by being able to obtain a fair return from the supply chain.
The NFU has repeatedly called for government policies to deliver transparency in markets, food labelling, public procurement and food messaging.
This includes the need to develop core production standards that apply to agri-food imports.
Tom said the government could “send a really strong message” to the industry by taking action on this.
“With the right support in place, farming can be a key partner to deliver the government’s missions around economic growth.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
Tom also reiterated that NFU’s position on the government’s new bTB (Bovine TB) eradication strategy. Announcing its plans last week, the government launched a strategy that it has said will end the badger cull by the end of the present parliament.
The NFU has said the strategy must draw on multiple control methods and be data-led.
Speaking after the meeting, Tom said: “I reiterated that, with the right support in place, farming can be a key partner to deliver the government’s missions around economic growth.
“We raised the issues at the forefront of members’ minds, including the agriculture budget, bovine TB, tax treatments and fairness in the supply chain.”
