At the NFU鈥檚 parliamentary reception, 180 MPs and Peers heard first-hand how valuable British farming is to the nation, delivering sustainable, homegrown food and caring for our much-loved landscapes. They also heard how important the upcoming budget is to giving farm businesses the confidence to invest in the future of British farming and realise our shared net zero ambitions.
The iconic wheatsheaf pin badge was also on full display during Prime Minister鈥檚 Questions (PMQs) as MPs demonstrated their support for British farming, recognising the value of a sector which forms the backbone of the UK鈥檚 largest manufacturing sector, food and drink 鈥� worth a huge 拢148 billion to the economy and employing more than four million people.
The Leader of the Opposition, Rishi Sunak MP, highlighted the importance of food security to national security and pressed the Prime Minister for a commitment on a statutory food security target.
Meanwhile Tessa Munt, Liberal Democrat MP for Wells and Mendip Hills in Somerset, asked the Prime Minister if he would be 鈥渋ncreasing the agriculture budget to speed up the rollout of the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, and support profitable, sustainable and nature-friendly farming鈥�. In response, the Prime Minister said he wouldn鈥檛 pre-empt the budget but said they will put support in place.
Commenting on the day, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 been great to see so much support for British farming from MPs and Peers across all political parties today.
鈥淲e have some of the most forward thinking, innovative and productive farmers and growers in the world who, matched with the ambition of this government, can help the government deliver it鈥檚 economic, environmental and net zero statutory targets.
鈥淭o achieve this, the immediate priority is to secure the investment required to enable the transition, all while feeding the nation. An enhanced multi-annual budget isn鈥檛 just money for farmers, it鈥檚 a budget which will give farm business the confidence to invest in a greener future, delivering renewable energy, caring for the countryside and producing climate-friendly food.
鈥淭here has been an unforgivable 拢358 million black hole in budgeted spending over the last three years and we鈥檙e now seeing the consequences from this lack of investment with farmers and growers facing years of uncertainty and loss of income during the agricultural transition.
鈥溁始一薶as pressed the need for the new farming and environment schemes to be in place before reductions in BPS began to avoid this very issue and avoid funding being left unspent at a time when farmers needed it most.
鈥淭he ambition for agriculture to become net zero is still a priority for the sector, but we need the government to match it with polices that support that delivery on the ground. We have always said that we cannot deliver net zero alone.
鈥淭o ensure British farmers and growers are able to work with government on its missions to grow the economy and reach net zero while producing more sustainable, affordable, homegrown food for the nation, we鈥檙e asking the Chancellor to increase the multi-year agriculture budget to 拢5.6 billion on 30th October. Today we heard Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed MP say that he is making the case to Treasury to maximise support for farmers, reiterating that he will 鈥渇ight your [farmers鈥橾 corner in this process鈥�.鈥�