- Environment Secretary announces reform package to boost farmers’ profitability as part of the Plan for Change
- Government extends seasonal worker scheme for next five years
- Major £110m investment in farm equipment and research projects
New reforms to make farming more profitable were announced this week by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed.
Speaking to farmers at the NFU conference in Westminster, Steve Reed revealed new plans to deliver a profitable farming sector, while reaffirming Government’s cast iron commitment to food production, and unlocking rural growth.
The speech announced a raft of new policies to put money into the pockets of British farmers including:
Extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years giving farms a pipeline of workers and certainty to grow their businesses. Annual quota reviews will ensure we strike the right balance – supporting farms while gradually reducing visa numbers as we develop alternative solutions.
- Back British produce: British farmers handed a major boost under new requirements for government catering contracts to favour high-quality, high welfare products that local farms and producers are well placed to serve. The move marks a major leap in achieving the government’s ambition for at least 50% of food supplied into the £5 billion public sector catering contracts to be from British producers or those certified to higher environmental standards
- £110 million investment in technology: The Farming Innovation Programme which supports research and development of agri-technology for farmers, for example the chemical free cleaning for integrated milking equipment, which lowers energy costs and chemical use. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund provides grants of up to £25,000 to buy new equipment such as electric weeders to reduce chemical use.
- Protecting farmers in trade deals: The government will uphold and protect our high environmental and animal welfare standards in future trade deals.
- Strengthening Britain’s biosecurity: Setting up a new National Biosecurity Centre to transform the Animal and Plant Health Agency animal health facility at Weybridge, investing £200 million to improve our resilience against animal disease to protect farmers and food producers.
Speaking about profitability, Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said:
“The underlying problem is that farmers in West Cumbria do not make enough money for the hard work and commitment they put in.
“I will consider my time as Secretary of State a failure if I do not improve profitability for farmers across the country.
“My focus is on ensuring farming becomes more profitable because that’s how we make your businesses viable for the future. And that’s how we ensure the long term food security this country needs.”
This builds on the commitments made at the Oxford Farming Conference, where the Environment Secretary set out the government’s vision for farming including:
- Using planning reforms to support food production: Ensuring our reforms make it quicker for farmers to build the buildings, barns and other infrastructure they need on their farms to boost food production.
- Diversifying income streams: Helping farmers make additional money from selling surplus energy from solar panels and wind turbines by accelerating connections to the grid, supporting them during difficult harvests and supply shocks.
- A fair supply chain: Boosting profitability through fair competition across the supply chain. New rules for the pig sector will come this spring, ensuring contracts clearly set out expectations and changes can only be made if agreed by all parties. Similar regulations for eggs and fresh produce sectors will follow with the government ready to intervene with other sectors if needed.
Josh MacAlister MP says:
“After 14 years of the Conservatives failure, this Labour Government is backing west Cumbrian farmers.
“The measures above, coupled with the increase in payment rates for those on Higher Level Stewardship agreements and the one year extension of the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme with a £30 million boost, will boost the profits of farmers in West Cumbria.”
Josh MacAlister MP 