Farm support in the news - an NFU position

Here is a statement from the NFU:

NFU Director of Policy Andrew Clark said: “British farmers create a countryside that works for everyone. They are the primary food producers growing the raw ingredients for the UK’s food and drink sector, worth £108 billion – and supporting jobs for 3.9 million people.

 “The current financial support to farm businesses helps with the delivery of a secure food supply. Farming is exposed to many conditions outside of its control; extreme weather, volatile markets, decision made by government both here and in the EU all have the ability to impact drastically on farm businesses.

 “What we must remember, in the context of these sorts of reports, is that the average support payment for a dairy farmer, for example, is £25,000¹ a year while the average monthly running cost of a dairy farm is £40,000 - without taking wages. These farm businesses have roots that run through the rural community and their contribution is significant on both a local and national scale when it comes to the economy.

“The NFU is currently carrying out its largest consultation ever with members to ask them, post Brexit, what Britain’s farming and food production needs in the future. Is this a CAP equivalent or is it something else? What is clear is that British farming must remain competitive with the rest of the world. And there are very few countries in the world where farmers don’t receive support in one form or another.

 “The NFU believes in an ambitious vision for British food and farming; both are important strategically and economically. What’s at stake here needs to remain at this front of this debate – our access to safe, affordable, traceable home-grown food and for that we need to have competitive, profitable and progressive farming."

1. The average farm support payment across all farms is £16,000.