At this year’s Cereals show in Nottinghamshire, NFU President Minette Batters discussed the arable sector’s biggest questions and concerns with Farming Minister Mark Spencer in a political session chaired by Farmers’ Weekly Deputy Editor, Abi Kay.
With an announcement covering the detail on the new SFI standards expected shortly, the future of ELMs was a hot topic of debate. In her opening address, Minette insisted that “getting the SFI right and fit for purpose is absolutely essential”.
SFI must be profitable
During the Q&A session, the Farming Minister was asked to deliver SFI in a way that is simple and easy to understand, with the lack of detail provided so far making it increasingly difficult for farmers to plan ahead.
Mr Spencer acknowledged that any announcement on SFI won’t be the “complete package”, but committed to adding “meat on the bones” of the detail of SFI by the end of the month.
“We see this as something which is fluid and which we can tweak and change and work with the sector as your requirements change, and adapt as the market changes,” he said.
“The simple remedy with many of the options on the arable side is to up payment rates,” Minette said. She urged the Minister to make the case for farmers: “The real danger is we end up with an underspend and that sends a message to the government and the public that this industry isn’t interested and that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“We need to focus on sustainability and the policies we need to get us on that sound platform so we really can be producing the nation’s food and caring for the environment."
NFU President Minette Batters
Parallel importing of pesticides due to end
With a final date for the sale of existing parallel products set for 30 June 2023, Mr Spencer assured farmers that a solution is “top of the agenda” and is “the subject of some intense discussions within the department”.
Minette countered that there are only two weeks left to make a decision and reiterated the NFU’s call for the parallel trade process to be retained.
The NFU has previously written to the Farming Minister raising members’ concerns and asking for a parallel trade process to be retained.
Concerns over costs
Speaking on rising interest rates and cost inflation, Minette said that “a whole chain approach” is needed and reiterated the NFU’s disappointment that farm level sectors were left out of additional support under the ETII (Energy and Trade Intensive Industries) scheme.
Minette said that, as “the sponsoring department”, farmers are reliant on Mr Spencer to make the case to the Treasury.
Referencing NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw’s recent visit to the US, where he led an NFU delegation, Minette said “there is a reason you don’t see volatility for customers in their pricing index in the US” and that we have an opportunity now, since leaving the EU, to “shape the future”.
