New government must hold its nerve and 'roll out badger cull', says CLA President Henry Robinson

Ministers must 'hold their nerve' and deliver on the strategy for tackling bovine TB which 'must include the roll out of the badger cull', CLA President Henry Robinson told an audience at the Devon County Show today.

The Minister set out his ambitions for the new Government term to support and boost the rural economy.

Farming Minister George Eustice said: "We are ambitious for farming, food and the countryside. We want to see food exports grow and food imports fall. That's why we'll be working with everyone across the industry – from farmers to food producers – on a 25-year plan to ensure a more productive and joined up food and farming sector.

"We want to ensure the sector is equipped with the right skills, takes advantage of the best technology and attracts young people.

"Farming has a vibrant, longterm future. The sector is already worth a record £103 billion. We are committed to tripling the number of apprenticeships in food and farming, re-connecting people to the countryside and those coming into the industry have a bright, lifetime career ahead of them."

Speaking alongside the Minister, CLA President Henry Robinson set out how Government can help rural businesses in the south west and across the country.

He said: “Rural businesses make up a quarter of the businesses in England and Wales, contributing more than 3 million jobs. As Ministers set out plans for business growth in the coming days they must include measures that work for rural businesses like those here today.

“We expect Ministers to deliver on broadband and mobile coverage and end the discrimination suffered by rural businesses competing on the national and global stage. And as plans develop for investment in infrastructure like the A303 improvements through the Blackdown Hills, Government must have in place a fair system for compensating the farmers, home and landowners that are directly affected.”

Mr Robinson also commented on core farming issues faced by CLA members in Devon and the South West: “We are working with Ministers to support delivery of the Government’s 25 year plan for farming. We continue to work with Ministers to ensure all farmers get their applications for basic payment scheme payments in on time by the 15 June deadline, these support payments are vital to the cash flow of businesses and must not be disrupted.