During the meeting, discussions centred around issues relating to permitted development rights, planning, dry weather and water abstraction, reflecting the key pinch points affecting farmers today.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “Following our constructive telephone conversation last week, I was pleased to meet the Secretary of State in person to continue discussions on the key issues facing Britain’s farmers and growers.
“Our meeting reinforced a shared understanding of the challenges affecting the farming sector, including barriers to planning, permitted development rights and the impacts of the dry weather on members up and down the country.”
Unlocking water resilience
The NFU has repeatedly stressed the stark need for water resilience, evident now more than ever, and Tom highlighted one way that this could be addressed.
Tom said: “Sorting out planning and abstraction rights is one of the significant levers government could pull to build more resilient farming businesses.”
As hot weather forces farmers to start harvest early – prompting an NFU-led survey to measure its impact – and the latest National Drought Group update revealing the growing drought pressure, Tom stressed that the government needs to show that they are prioritising water as a critical national infrastructure for food production.
Time for delivery is now
Tom also touched on the Farming and Food Partnership Board.
Tom and Dame Angela already share in the ambition to harness the power of the Board to drive domestic food production – now they have both agreed that it is time for this Board to step up its delivery.
Brazilian beef imports
Tom also discussed the impact on our domestic market of the EU’s decision to ban products of animal origin from Brazil: “I took the opportunity to raise our significant concerns about the negative impacts on the domestic beef sector as a consequence of the EU banning imports of Brazilian beef from the beginning of September.”
The EU’s decision comes into effect from 3 September if Brazil fails to provide the necessary guarantees that products have not been treated with antibiotics critical for human health or for the purpose of growth promotion.
Defra is currently conducting an audit; this is an evolving story that the NFU will publish updates on at a future time.
Strong foundation
Tom said: “Dame Angela and I have built a positive and straight-talking relationship through her previous ministerial roles, and I welcome her commitment to working closely with the industry.”
The NFU has forged a strong relationship with the Defra Secretary since her arrival at Defra in 2025, where she first served as Farming Minister – a position she held from September 2025 to June 2026.
Dame Angela visited several farms across the UK with the NFU in her capacity as Farming Minister and attended NFU Conference 2026, speaking to our uplands farmers and featuring on the NFU Shed Talks Conference Special podcast.
Tom added: “We agreed that farmers and growers need practical action and timely delivery if we are to unlock growth and build resilience into our domestic food production system.”
“Dame Angela and I have built a positive and straight-talking relationship through her previous ministerial roles, and I welcome her commitment to working closely with the industry.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
