‘Investment today secures food production tomorrow’, NFU tells MPs

Back British Farming Day has become a fixture in the Westminster calendar and today saw 80 MPs and Peers come together to celebrate Britain’s farmers and growers.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw welcomed the new Defra Secretary Emma Reynolds, who was appointed last week to the role following the Prime Minister's Cabinet reshuffle. Tom praised farmers' ability to adapt to government and market changes, but warned that the industry needed certainty and clarity in order to plan and invest. 

The NFU President said that the family farm tax would drain the capital farms need to invest, while for others it would mean there will be no farm left to invest in, citing a recently published report by tax experts CenTax (Centre for the Analysis of Taxation) which found that working farms will be disproportionately affected by the reforms to inheritance tax. 

‘Working in partnership’

It was this message of working together which the NFU President sought to land with MPs today, as he reiterated that farmers want to work in partnership with government.

“I hope that in this moment of reset across Whitehall we're able to move forwards [...] and unlock the opportunities for investment to deliver the growth the sector needs," Tom said. "So that when we're here next year, we're working in partnership, we're delivering what the country needs, and we're delivering what the farming industry needs.”

‘Farming at the heart of economic renewal’

Marking her first major speech since entering the role, Defra Secretary Emma Reynolds said she had “great respect for the work of farmers”, adding that this view is clearly shared by the public after the NFU's farmer favourability survey results found that farmers are the second most favoured profession in the UK after nurses. 

“I want to provide them [farmers] with the certainty and confidence to invest for the future,” she said, adding that there are challenges such as the extreme weather, from flooding to drought, that farmers have experienced. “It's clear we need to do more to help farmers improve farm resilience to a changing climate. And I will work with you on that, in partnership, as you suggested Tom,” Ms Reynolds added, addressing the NFU President.

"The farming sector is at the heart of Britain's economic renewal. I attended my first Cabinet meeting yesterday and made that point. Defra is a growth department and you are at the heart of that.”

The new Defra Secretary confirmed that CSHT (Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier) will open next week, with the guidance published today. On SFI, she said more information will be provided as soon as possible, adding that it's “right at the top of my inbox”. 

See the day in photos

The reception, kindly sponsored by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP for Suffolk Coastal, saw NFU representatives from across the regions and Wales engage with MPs and explain both the challenges the industry faces and the solutions that the government can implement. NFU President Tom Bradshaw was joined by NFU Cymru President Aled Jones, NFU Scotland's President Andrew Connon and UFU's President William Irvine.

Senior MPs in attendance included:

• Shadow Defra Secretary of State, Victoria Atkins MP
• Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, James Cleverly MP
• Efra Select Committee Chair Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland
• Shadow Farming Minister, Robbie Moore MP
• Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Helen Whatley MP
• Sarah Bool, Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire and Efra Select Committee member
• Ellie Chowns, Green MP for North Herefordshire
• Josh Newbury, MP for Cannock Chase and Efra Select Committee member
• Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP
• Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader Liz Saville-Roberts MP

The NFU’s tenth anniversary Back British Farming reception took place in the London office rather than in Parliament due to ongoing industrial action with the Public and Commercial Services Union.

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Defra Secretary Emma Reynolds speaking at the Back British Farming Day reception

NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos, NFU President Tom Bradshaw, NFU Deputy President David Exwood and NFU Cymru President Aled Jones

NFU President Tom Bradshaw and Defra Secretary Emma Reynolds

NFU President Tom Bradshaw speaking at the Back British Farming Day reception

Shadow Farming Minister Robbie Moore speaking to Labour MP for North Northumberland David Smith

NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos and Defra Secretary Emma Reynolds

Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Atkins and NFU President Tom Bradshaw

Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government James Cleverly with NFU Livestock Board Chair David Barton and NFU President Tom Bradshaw

Plaid Cymru MP for Caerfyrddin Ann Davies, NFU Cymru President Aled Jones and Horticulture and Potatoes Board Chair Martin Emmett

NFU Sugar Board Chair Kit Papworth speaking with Labour (Co-op) MP for Truro and Falmouth Jayne Kirkham

UFU President William Irvine, NFU President Tom Bradshaw, NFU Cymru President Aled Jones and NFU Scotland President Andrew Connon

NFU President Tom Bradshaw, Defra Secretary Emma Reynolds and Labour MP for Suffolk Coastal Jenny Riddell-Carpenter

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper and NFU Deputy President David Exwood

Conservative MP for South Shropshire Stuart Anderson, NFU Poultry Board Chair James Mottershead and NFU Midlands Regional Board Chair Jane Bassett

NFU Director of Policy Andrew Clark, NFU Dairy Board Chair Paul Tompkins and Baroness Young of Old Scone

Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick speaking with NFU Cymru Political Adviser Huw Thomas

L-R NFU President Tom Bradshaw, NFU Scotland President Andrew Connon, Efra Select Committee Chair Alistair Carmichael and NFU Scotland Director of Policy and Member Services Jonnie Hall

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Photograph: Miranda Parry