New Government should set positive agenda for food and farming

The NFU looks forward to working with the new government to shape and implement their food and farming manifesto pledges.

The new Government comes to power with a detailed and positive agenda for agriculture. There is a welcome recognition that what farming needs is what the Government wants to do: investing for growth, securing access to knowledge and technology, enhancing farmers’ ability to tackle animal and plant health, building safe and secure food chains and protecting key environmental assets.

The NFU is also urging the government for speedy and decisive action with pressing issues such as BPS and TB eradication.

Problems with the change from an online-only farm payment system could see farmers ending up being paid late or suffering financial penalties through no fault of their own; while the ongoing scourge of bovine TB continues to see 26,000 cattle slaughtered every year.

NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “We welcome the fact the election has delivered a stable government and we hope this will mean that crucial farming issues are dealt with rapidly from the outset.

“Central to the new Government’s goals will be an ambitious plan for ‘British farming with plans to grow more, buy more and sell more British food at home and abroad’. The NFU and farmers share this ambition. We have already argued strongly that we need such a plan to reverse long- term declines in farming productivity and the nation’s self-sufficiency. So we are eager to begin working as soon as possible with the Secretary of State to begin this task.

“The government must also ensure that focus is kept on fixing problems and issues surrounding BPS and its foot is kept on the pedal because with just weeks to go until the crucial June 15 deadline, time is running out.

“We are also urging the Government to make an announcement as soon as possible on further roll-out of badger culling to areas where TB in endemic and to implement the 25-year TB Eradication Strategy in full as quickly as possible.”

CLA President Henry Robinson said farmers expect Ministers appointed with responsibility for rural affairs to demonstrate a strong understanding of the unique issues currently faced by agriculture.

"We will be pressing for the party to keep the promises it made to the countryside and to rural businesses during the election campaign, such as a major business rates review, boosting British food exports, and cutting farm inspection red tape.

“We have made good progress recently towards vital policy improvements such as reform of the compulsory purchase system and delivery of reliable and effective rural broadband. The Government must maintain momentum in these important policy areas.

“We now expect there to be a referendum on UK membership of the EU before the end of 2017. Our priority is to ensure Government is clear about the implications of any change in the UK’s relationship with the EU for the rural economy. It is vital that businesses have confidence that all eventualities are being planned for, so as to prevent uncertainty hampering investment, job creation and growth.”