Congleton MP Sarah Russell was part of an NFU panel at the recent Labour party conference, when NFU president Tom Bradshaw said the industry was at a “pivotal” moment as it approached the autumn statement, amid repeated calls for the recently-reported agriculture budget underspend to be rolled over into future years.
Addressing the audience at the NFU’s fringe panel event during the conference, the NFU president warned that farmers were “carrying too much of the burden of risk” and many will be asking the question “will I be able to plant next year’s crop?”.
The event brought together food security and rural affairs minister Daniel Zeichner, Mrs Russell, and Ceres Rural managing partner Charlie Ireland to answer the question “How will British farming deliver Labour’s missions?” in a debate chaired by “New Statesman” associate editor Hannah Barnes.
With the autumn statement due to be announced on 30th October and the Government saying it needs to fill a “£22bn black hole”, the future of the agriculture budget featured heavily in the debate.
Said Mr Bradshaw: “The Government has a huge opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to everyone in this room and all of our food producing members to enable the delivery of those legislated environmental targets and to allow and enable economic growth.
“That’s an opportunity I’d urge the minister not to miss. I don’t think any of us know where Government policy is taking us – what is the vision for what we want this country to stand for? We need to know what that destination is and we need the business framework to enable our members to thrive.
“We need Defra to be up for this challenge as well. If we don’t change their mindset, you can have all the best ambition in the world but the mindset of the team delivering it has to make sure they’re up for it as well.”
Mr Zeichner said he was clear in his message that he was “fighting tooth and nail on your (farmers’) behalf” to ensure his ministry had “the resources needed to maintain the agricultural transition”.
Mr Zeichner said he recognised stability was key for the sector and reiterated the Government’s commitment to ensure farmers would not be undercut by low welfare and standards in trade deals, and spoke of his work in seeking a new veterinary agreement with the EU.
On this point, Mr Bradshaw outlined the need to see a set of core standards implemented that made it illegal to import food produced to lower standards than enforced in the UK.
“I back our members to compete on a level playing field, but we can’t do that with our hands tied behind our backs,” he said.
“The Government has a huge opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to everyone in this room and all of our food producing members.”
Charlie Ireland – best known as “Cheerful Charlie” on “Clarkson’s Farm” – echoed the NFU’s calls for the Government to give farmers the confidence to invest.
“We have a really exciting opportunity here for food production as land use across Europe is trying to find its direction. We have the opportunity to create a world-leading agricultural system where land use is dynamic and flexible.
“We are a broad church, but the one common thread is stability. We need that confidence to invest for the future.”
Mrs Russell, a member of the NFU’s Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme, spoke of Labour’s missions to kick-start economic growth and break down barriers to opportunity, adding that she knew farmers in her constituency were “absolutely focused” on both of those goals.
She said that the way farmers thought in a multi-generational way about investment was a “phenomenal asset” for the country.
With many areas of England braced for flooding, and 65 flood alerts from the Environment Agency in place, the minister reflected that the rain came as a reminder of the challenges farmers faced with flooding.
Mr Bradshaw reiterated that extreme weather was “one of the biggest challenges” the industry faced, adding that he hoped there would be an update on the Farming Recovery Fund to support farmers affected by flooding.
“It’s absolutely crucial we get that money out of the door to those farmers who were promised it many months ago,” he said.
The funding was first announced in January and the NFU has worked with the Rural Payments Agency and Defra (department for environment, food and rural affairs) to help develop the offer, which has included feeding in examples of the challenges faced by members.
Focusing on the future and the policies needed for growth, Mr Bradshaw cited the agriculture budget, protection of agricultural property relief, science and evidence-based policy making, and a supportive planning framework as immediate concerns.
Planning, from slurry storage to poultry sheds, was raised repeatedly by audience members and panellists alike.
Mr Ireland gave an example of how, if he wanted to apply for a grant, he would have nine months to use that funding but it could take up to three years to get planning permission.
“That’s stopping opportunities for diversification for farming businesses,” he said.
Mr Bradshaw said he would like a food impact test as part of the national planning policy framework, which is currently under review.
In his closing remarks, the minister said the Government “has a passion to get this right”.
“My message to you is I am your minister and this is an ongoing dialogue,” he added.
Mr Bradshaw said 30th October marked an important day and that there was “a lot of opportunity, if we get the level of investment required”.
