The National Farmers' Union has released its manifesto ahead of next month's snap general election, calling for more ways politicians can back British farming.
The farming union has set out five key policy challenges for prospective parliamentary candidates.
Launched today (1 May), the NFU’s manifesto is focused on five key areas: Making Brexit a success; Investing for growth; Safeguarding short, fair, and secure supply chains; Placing science at the heart of policy making and and caring for the countryside and rural communities.
Numerous other rural organisations have released their manifestos, including the Soil Association, the Tenant Farmers' Association and the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said the general election in June provides an opportunity for the farming sector to impress on candidates of all colours the "critical value" of British farming to the economy, to wellbeing and to the environment.
'Farming matters'
He said: “The success of British farming matters to the British electorate – especially at this time of unprecedented change. Indeed, YouGov polling commissioned by the NFU this year shows that 85% of people think it is important that Britain has a productive and resilient farming industry.
“We can’t ignore that farming is arguably the most vulnerable sector in the Brexit negotiations. But the NFU has its sights fixed on solutions and policies to ensure a productive, profitable and progressive farming sector that puts safe, trusted, affordable and quality food on shoppers’ plates.
“Over the next parliament, we want to work in partnership with the new Government to achieve this with a predictable and manageable transition process.
Mr Raymond concluded: “And while Brexit is one of the newer challenges for the sector, we’re still committed to gaining political traction on the issues that existed in the industry before 23 June 2016, and still exist now. The nation needs a food and farming industry with a Government strategy, it needs a safe food chain, and it needs a Government which looks after the countryside and rural communities.”
The manifesto, called Back British Farming – Brexit and Beyond, sets out agriculture’s economic contribution, supplying 61% of the nation’s food, employing 3.9 million people in the wider food sector and delivering more than £12bn in export earnings.
Critically, the NFU wants politicians to commit to establishing tariff-free trade with the EU, as well as ensuring access to a competent, reliable workforce.
