South West farmers call for industry to be prioritised in election campaign
Farming leaders are calling for commitments on county food production which contributes nearly £500 million to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s economy
Last updated 10th Jun 2024
Farming leaders across the South West are calling for farming to be prioritised in the ongoing election campaign.
The National Farmers' Union have been at the Royal Cornwall Show calling for commitments on county food production which plays a key role in managing more than 640,000 acres of farmland and contributes nearly £500 million to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s economy.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw is calling for all political parties to advocate for a smooth and seamless transition to new environmental schemes that are open to all farmers and growers to ensure profitable long-term food-producing businesses.
This transition suggests businesses will remain viable in the long term and deliver for the wider society and will ensure that farmers and growers can deliver for food production, the economy and the environment.
NFU South Regional Director Mel Squires said: "As a county, Cornwall heavily relies on the farming community to produce great-tasting sustainable food as well as benefiting the environment and boosting the local rural communities and the economy all year round.
"As of 2022, the total value of crops harvested in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly was over ÂŁ445 million and the total value of livestock produced was over ÂŁ520 million, and it is all thanks to the hard work of our county farmers, growers and their families.
"Despite the excellent public goods that farmers across the South region deliver regularly to the UK, research from the NFU showed that, on average, businesses lost 37% of their support payments under the SFI and CS options that were currently available to them.
"The next government must support farming businesses by accelerating the roll out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and ensuring it is properly financed by using at least 65% of the agriculture budget to fund it.
"It must also move away from the income forgone model to ensure SFI genuinely values and properly rewards the provision of public goods. Many of our family farms have been long-term participants in previous Defra schemes, delivering public goods for decades, and they too are unable to make up the income shortfall.
"To see the dedication our farmers and growers continue to demonstrate after what has been an unprecedented and challenging time is truly remarkable and I’m looking forward to speaking with them at the Royal Cornwall Show about what more we can do to ensure they are supported both now and in the future, so they, their families and their farming businesses thrive.
"The NFU have always pushed for more commitment from the government to secure a more resilient and sustainable future for our farming families and with a General Election on the horizon, it has never been more important to have our members’ voices heard and I look forward to seeing them at the show and engaging with politicians to ensure a more positive future Cornwall’s farming community."
In its General Election Manifesto, the NFU has provided solutions that political parties can adopt which would work to reverse this breakdown in farmer confidence and help safeguard homegrown food production, including:
• Plan for and reward farmers fairly for their role in mitigating flood risk and commit to the proactive management of our watercourses.
• A smooth and seamless transition to new environmental schemes that are open to all farmers and growers, and ensure profitable long-term, food-producing businesses.
• Establish minimum standards to promote a fair and functioning supply chain.
• Develop and establish core production standards that apply to agri-food imports.
The NFU has said the impact of exceptional extreme weather on family farms and on farmer confidence means immediate support to rebuild resilience is needed.
NFU officeholders will speak to politicians at the show offering them solutions to help safeguard Cornwall’s agricultural and horticultural businesses and we look forward to further building on positive discussions with government.
Cornwall County Chair Bridget Whell said: "The Royal Cornwall Show is always a great opportunity for local farmers like myself to showcase the high quality produce that we are proud to grow here in the South West.
"The farming community here in Cornwall have been in a period of uncertainty and instability for quite some time now with the recent wet weather, the political changes and the financial crisis having a real financial impact on our farming.
"I’m thankful for how the general public have continued to show their support and appreciation for what we do and now we need to see our politicians from all parties value and back the production of home-grown food and our family businesses.
"We welcome politicians to speak to us about how to create the environment where the farming community can continue to thrive, support the local economy and produce local food.
"I’m looking forward to chatting to people at the show this week and we welcome anyone to our tent opposite the members pavilion to discuss the work we do and the challenges we are all facing here in Cornwall."