The NFU is also explaining the crucial importance of getting the transition to future farming schemes right.

This Budget provides an opportunity for the government to showcase its commitment to British farming and demonstrate how it will increase food resilience at home, as well as developing markets for British food across the world.

The NFU is calling for:

• The government to develop its export strategy to help British farmers grow their markets overseas, including funding for dedicated agricultural counsellors to boost agri-food exports and market access.
• Defra to receive adequate resources and funding, and more time to deliver its plans to support the essential transition to a new agriculture policy.
• More engagement with farmers to ensure the new Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs) is fit for purpose.
• ELMs payments to offer far greater incentive for participation, to give farmers the confidence they need to invest, and for ELMs to provide fairer market returns as well as reward environmental delivery.

Agricultural transition must be done right

NFU President Minette Batters, said,

“Our Levelling up rural Britain report shows how investment in British farming can bring huge benefits across the board, with rural Britain at the heart of realising many of the government’s ambitions.

“As we are about to embark on the biggest transformation of agricultural policy in generations, the NFU has written to the Chancellor explaining how future farming schemes have the potential to deliver meaningful, widespread and long-term benefits for Britain, for our environment, and our food security.

“But the transition from current schemes to new needs to be done right. There is a huge amount at stake but there is so much to gain if we work in partnership to get this right.”