British farmers are compelled to reduce food production due to economic pressures, according to the National Farmers Union (NFU).
In a recent statement, the NFU highlighted the need for British farmers to scale back their food production efforts to remain economically viable. The NFU’s president, Tom Bradshaw, elaborated on the issue, noting that many farmers are turning to greener alternatives such as rewilding or cultivating biofuel crops.
These shifts result from significant reductions in food subsidies, which have been cut as part of the government’s phase-out of the former EU payment scheme. In addition to financial strains, agricultural outputs, including oilseed rape, winter barley, and English wheat, have suffered due to consecutive poor harvests exacerbated by record rainfall this year.
As the government prepares for its upcoming Budget on 30 October, Bradshaw has made a strong call for the government to allocate the £258 million underspend from the environment department to support farmers during this transition. For those most severely affected, he advocates for grants from a projected flood recovery fund.
Bradshaw cautioned that if the government fails to provide adequate support, farmers might be forced into reducing risks, potentially leading to significant changes in agricultural practices and landscapes. He suggested that the Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS), designed to encourage biodiversity and reduce emissions through financial incentives, needs a thorough impact assessment to help farmers make informed choices about their futures.
Despite the potential benefits, Bradshaw expressed concerns about the transparency and implementation of the flood recovery scheme’s planned grants, as well as uncertain outcomes regarding whether unspent funds from previous budgets would be carried forward. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) assured that the government intends to stabilise and boost confidence in the agricultural sector through initiatives like the new Flood Resilience Taskforce, aimed at enhancing flood defences to protect farmland.
The evolving economic and environmental landscape presents significant challenges for British farmers, necessitating adaptive strategies and government support to ensure sustainability.
