Theresa May has today (18 May) launched the Conservative manifesto for next month's general election.
The party pledges to bring 'sustainable growth' to rural and farming communities, so that people in these areas can have the same opportunities as those who live in towns and cities.
Theresa May says she is determined to grow more, sell more and export more British food. The manifesto states that she wants to bring more stability to farmers as the UK leaves the EU.
New frameworks will be created supporting food production and stewardship of the countryside.
May has committed to supporting the same cash total amount in funds for farm support until the end of the parliament.
New agri-environment scheme
The manifesto states that the Conservatives will work with each devolved nation to work on a new agri-environment scheme, to be introduced in the following parliament.
May wants to expand Natural England's provision of 'technical expertise' to deliver environmental improvements on a 'landscape scale', from enriching soil to building more dry stone walls.
The manifesto states that the Conservatives want to improve natural flooding management by improving the quality of water courses to protect against soil erosion and damage to vulnerable habitats.
The Conservatives will make CCTV in slaughterhouses mandatory in efforts to improve animal welfare. They also want to control the export of live animals for slaughter.
The party will allow a free vote in parliament to decide on the future of fox hunting.
A 25-year-plan on the environment will be produced to 'leave the environment in a better state than we inherited it'.
Other farming manifestos
Labour has officially launched their manifesto. The manifesto pledges an end to the badger cull, a ban on neonicotinoids and the promotion of ‘cruelty free farming’.
The Liberal Democrats unveiled their manifesto yesterday (17 May), saying that UK farming will be in 'huge danger' of leaving EU. They propose a second referendum.
Welsh political party Plaid Cymru has also released their manifesto, calling for a Brexit deal which best represents Welsh agriculture.
Numerous rural organisations have released their own manifestos, including the NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland, the CLA, the Soil Association, the Tenant Farmers' Association, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the British Veterinary Association, the Farmers' Union of Wales, the Ulster Farmers' Union, the Agricultural Industries Confederation and the Countryside Alliance.
