NFU Opinion: Bedfordshire farming leader welcomes new Farm Profitability Review – but says action must follow
A Bedfordshire farming leader has welcomed a new government review to address financial challenges facing the industry, but said action must follow.
The government launched its Farming Profitability Review on Thursday.
The review is part of a plan to enhance the financial resilience and long-term sustainability of British agriculture.
It has been led by former NFU President Baroness Minette Batters.
NFU Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire Chair Freya Morgan, who farms near Bedford, said: “A thorough review, like this, is much needed to identify key areas for reform.
“I am pleased to see that the NFU’s submission for key areas of focus around supply chain fairness, enhancing opportunities for investment and planning reform have been included in it.
“It is also good to see that our former President Baroness Minette Batters has been able to lead this review and she is continuing to passionately champion our industry and help the lead the drive for change.
“We look forward to analysing the details of this report further.
“To truly restore confidence in the industry positive action must follow.”
As part of the review, Baroness Batters has provided 57 short, medium and long-term recommendations and has proposed actions for government and industry to support farming profitability.
The review will help inform the development of the Food Strategy, Farming Roadmap and the Land Use Framework, as well as wider government missions and priorities, including growth.
The government has said this will help ensure the farming sector is more viable, self-sustaining and competitive in the long-term.
Ms Morgan said: “Farming is vital to Bedfordshire, contributing more than £160m to the economy of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire and around 2,000 jobs to Bedfordshire, while farmers here continue to support efforts to deliver national food security, do fantastic work to help the environment and protect the countryside and work to world-leading animal welfare standards.
“This region needs our farmers to survive and thrive.
“In addition to this review, we also need issues to be addressed as a major of urgency, including much-needed clarity over the future of the Sustainable Farming Incentive and changes to the family farm tax plans, which currently leave elderly and vulnerable farmers in impossible positions.”