The NFU has said it is "disappointed" to see no "meaningful measures" in the Autumn Budget to help prepare British farmers for life outside the EU.
Responding to Wednesday's (22 November) Budget statement, NFU President Meurig Raymond has called on all departments across Government to prioritise the need for the nation’s ability to produce food and care for the countryside.
He said the union is "disappointed" that most of the budget's emphasis was on urban growth, with little in the way of measures to benefit rural communities.
“We do, however, appreciate that this is a fairly stable Budget that does not appear to have any adverse impact on our industry,” Mr Raymond explained.
“In these times of uncertainty, and ahead of significant upheaval, we need to have sustainable and viable businesses producing the nation’s food. Our calls to create the right environment for investing in farming, to mitigate risks, are yet to be answered.
“We will look with interest to next week’s Industrial Strategy launch and hope it will include specific measures to support the agri-food sector.
Mr Raymond continued: “Increasing the nation’s ability to produce food needs to be seen as a strategic goal for Government and we will work in partnership with Government departments to establish the best possible business environment for our members.”
