Today, at the NFU Conference, the Prime Minister announced the Government’s plan to back British farmers, which has seen over £34 million invested in farming in Skipton and Ripon since April 2023.
In January, the Government announced the biggest update to farming schemes since the start of the agricultural transition, which included an average 10 per cent increase to payment rates, and up to fifty new actions. Building on the Government’s commitment to spend an average of £2.4 billion every year on the farming sector over this Parliament, the Prime Minister today announced further steps to back British farmers.
First, the Government will invest in sustainable, resilient farm businesses. The Management Payment, introduced in September to cover the administrative costs of entering DEFRA schemes, will now be doubled to up to £2,000 in the first year of agreements entered into by March 2025, and extended to Countryside Stewardship mid-tier.
It will also launch the largest ever grant offer, totalling £427 million. This invests £220 million in productivity and innovation in farming, £116 million in slurry infrastructure, and £91 million in improving the health and welfare of farmed animals.
Second, the services and support available to farmers will be improved and red tape which currently stands in the way of farming diversification will be cut. Legislation will deliver permitted development rights in April, so that more farms in England can introduce farm shops or outside sports venues, and better digital infrastructure, more rolling application windows and investment in farming mental health will help improve support for farmers.
Third, the Government will strengthen food security by introducing a yearly Food Security Index to present key data and analysis, monitoring our level of self-sufficiency and overall food security.
Julian Smith said, “The announcement by the Prime Minister today is really welcome news for the farming community in Skipton and Ripon. There are now so many opportunities to deliver a renewed agricultural system across the country that supports our farmers from the ground up, making sure they can access the support they need and deserve.
“I know there have been challenges along the way – transitioning away from the Common Agricultural Policy was never going to be easy – but today the Prime Minister offered a roadmap to an even more resilient and profitable farming sector, one which continues to produce some of the best food in the world.”
