Farmers descend on Westminster to advocate green farming

Members of the NFFN gathered outside Westminster to meet MPs and advocate a nature-friendly Brexit for the farming industry
Members of the NFFN gathered outside Westminster to meet MPs and advocate a nature-friendly Brexit for the farming industry

Green-minded farmers have descended upon Westminster to demand that the Government prioritises nature-friendly farming in the Agriculture Bill.

Members of the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) gathered outside Parliament on Wednesday (31 October) and met with MPs to lobby for an Agriculture Bill that puts nature at the heart of farming policy.

Farmers wore specially designed wellies that feature the species or ecology that each farmer protects on their land.

The artist has also designed a pair of these wellies to be presented to Defra Secretary Michael Gove.

The visit comes as the Agriculture Bill is scrutinised during its Committee Stage and under debate in Westminster.

The group, which was launched in January this year at the Real Oxford Farming Conference, comprises farmers who advocate for a post-Brexit framework that will help farmers restore British wildlife, reverse declines in soil quality and help manage the impacts of climate change, at the same time as growing food.

Even though Mr Gove has said CAP payments will be replaced by subsidies that reward farmers for delivering public goods, MPs are still being urged to make amendments.

Th NFFN has put together five policy asks for MPs, including:

• All UK government departments should lead by example, supporting high quality, sustainable and nature friendly British food production.

• Productivity must be underpinned by sustainability to ensure long-term food security.

• Rewards farmers financially for delivering environmental benefits.

• Future trade deals must not undercut the high agricultural and environmental standards delivered by UK farmers.

• The Bill must set basic standards for sustainable land management.

Martin Lines, Chair of the NFFN, said the "devil is in the detail" about the forthcoming bill.

He said: "At this stage of the debate the Agriculture Bill can still be amended, which means the fight for nature and sustainable farming is not over yet.

"Michael Gove may have promised to use public money to reward farmers for delivering public goods, but the devil is in the detail. Certainty is key here and MPs have a chance to create a policy that works for farmers and nature.”

The Public Bill Committee will report on the final Agriculture Bill by Tuesday 20 November. Over the next three weeks, MPs can demand changes to future policy to support Britain’s rural economy post-Brexit.