UK farmers plug pollies for ag-friendly policies

 The ‘Great British Food Gets My Vote’ campaign, launched last week, wants politicians to back British farming, and urges consumers to buy British food and support British farming. 

The National Farmers Union (NFU) is advertising in national dailies and farming publications to stress British farming and food production as crucial to the country; and farmers are encouraged to invite their local MP onfarm.

Over 200 NFU members have signed up to get and display 3m x 1m banners emblazoned with ‘Great British Food Gets My Vote’. Campaign window stickers will be distributed to 50,000 members.

NFU president Meurig Raymond says with the general election three months away, British agriculture and the future of domestic food production must be recognised as hugely important for Britain.

“Before the campaign has launched, we already have hundreds of members interested in getting behind it. Farmers are behind this campaign, which shows the importance of our lobbying.”

Food and farming needs recognising for contributing to the UK economy, creating jobs and maintaining a rural landscape that attracts millions of tourists every year. 

“We know people care about farming: look at the recent dairy crisis to see people wanting to help solve the current crisis. People realise it takes years of commitment, investment, time and care to rear good quality beef and dairy animals; plant, nurture and harvest crops; protect soils and manage land. This is a long-term business that needs long-term thinking by the next government.” 

Raymond says like many farmers he is proud of producing food, but he’s also intensely aware of the major challenges facing British farmers.

“We have to produce more food but with fewer inputs and better care for the environment. I want the next government to work with the NFU to set an agenda for growth, building on the professionalism and confidence of British farmers. By backing British farming and working together we can increase food production by supporting research, investment and growth. 

“Global and domestic demand for food and renewable energy is on the rise: 88% of the UK public think farming is important to the economy. 

“Farmers are ready too, with the potential to grow production and reduce our reliance on imported produce. What is needed now is a Government that understands farming, that supports growth and that has the policies that send the right business signals to farmers across the UK.”

Wish list

• Work with the industry to develop a comprehensive plan to grow UK food production over the next Government’s term
• Cut over-prescriptive CAP greening requirements during the European Commission’s review in 2016
• Use the UK’s 2017 presidency of the Council of the European Union to set the agenda for CAP 2020 reforms, based on principles of fairness, simplicity, commonality and market focus
• Establish fiscal incentives for sole traders and farm partnerships to encourage a balanced approach to investment to manage volatility
• Increase on-farm water storage and reservoir building with financial support and tax incentives and by reducing red tape for reservoir applications
• Champion the use of regulatory impact assessments at all stages of EU decision making and show leadership by conducting a cost benefi t analysis early in the life of all proposed European legislation that affects agriculture
• Promote the ‘Britain is Great’ campaign for British produce to open up export markets by backing exporters and embassy staff.