CLA response to David Miliband speech on long-term future of English farming

Speaking in response to the speech by Rt Hon David Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, on the long-term future of English farming at today's Oxford Farming Conference, David Fursdon, President of the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) said:

"David Miliband said much that the CLA applauds: that it is essential for English farming to be profitable and that the planning system needs to enable diversification from farming into new businesses."

He added, "David Miliband was also very clear that in future farmers will not be given any subsidy for food production but helped instead to maintain landscape and climate change. CLA shares David Miliband's view that if farming in England is to have a future it must market its lower carbon footprint in terms of food miles, higher animal welfare standards and its role in maintaining the English countryside we all enjoy. That is why David Miliband will be joining CLA at the launch of its Just Ask campaign (1) at 10 Downing Street next week."

"However, CLA notes that David Miliband is calling for fundamental reform of the Common Agricultural Policy to be negotiated and implemented from 2008/ 9, whereas other EU member states are saying no to any fundamental reform before 2013."

"He also mentioned that he wants to reduce the bureaucratic burden on farmers by £30million by 2010, but what he didn't mention is that the Government is planning to add £120million in animal health charges onto the farming industry in the next few years."