Farmers in Shropshire calling for support to protect country's food chain

The National Farmers Union (NFU) wants help from the next government to make a sustainable plan.

Author: Elliot BurrowPublished 2nd Jul 2024

Members of the National Farmers Union (NFU) say they want to see support from the next government to protect and support the country's food chain.

The NFU also say they want to see a smooth move to new environmental schemes, which can provide long-term sustainability to the industry and farmers.

People like Shropshire's NFU chairman and local farmer, Graham Price, have been saying that helping the farming sector can help with keeping home grown products on the shelves.

"We need to deliver to ensure that we have a strong domestic food supply and also so we can continue to deliver everything that the farmers are delivering now in the future," she said.

"Whilst all of the three main parties have recognised the importance of food security and national security, they have not committed to an agriculture budget that is suffucient to provide this.

"Going forward, what farming needs is a long term plan that will allow for profitable production, stability, confidence. This will allow us to grow more sustainable, traceable food, re-invest and embrace innovation."

In 2022/23, the government spent £2.33bn on support for farmers in England.

In March of this year, Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said that the amount the government underspent from the last two years would be used to increase the 2024/25 farm budget by £400m from the 2020/21 level.

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