The Tenant Farmers Association has called on all those who supply inputs to the agricultural industry to lend its support to an agenda for change within wider farm policy.
TFA National Chairman, Stephen Wyrill said: "It was great to see the farming community united with many within the supply trades at the Farming to London March on 23 March this year.
"However, we need to keep up the pressure on the Government to step up to make the changes necessary to create a profitable and resilient farming industry.
"I am aware that many within the supply trades are facing a tough trading environment with mounting debts and falling sales.
"We need suppliers to stand with us to get the policy changes we need which ultimately will benefit us all."
The TFA has set out a 10 point agenda which it is asking the supply industry to support:
1. Giving the Groceries Code Adjudicator deeper and wider investigatory powers.
2. Implementing the Bonfield report principles to enhance public procurement of British food.
3. Endorsing continued CAP support for food and environmental security.
4. Improving the delivery of agri-environment schemes.
5. Creating a sustainable uplands policy focusing on support for ruminant livestock.
6. Promoting the high environmental, animal welfare and food safety standards of British food.
7. Seeking policy levers for production control when markets are oversupplied.
8. Developing dignified exit routes for those leaving the industry.
9. Protecting routes into agriculture through County farms and longer term tenancies.
10. Stopping the subsidised competition for land from anaerobic digestion.
"We would love to hear from vets, feed suppliers, banks, haulage companies, fertiliser reps, insurance companies and all others who do business with the farming community, about whether they would be prepared to sign up to all or some of our 10 current asks of Government,” said Mr Wyrill.
"The agricultural supply trade must stand with the farming community for the sake of their businesses and the rural economy more widely," said Mr Wyrill.
