The public’s positive view of farmers has grown for a fourth year running. A new survey from OnePoll shows that 68 per cent of people in England and Wales share a favourable or very favourable view of UK farmers – up from 60 per cent in 2012.
The survey also reveals that more than 90 per cent of people said that they thought agriculture was important to the UK economy, up from 83 per cent in 2012. And when it comes to looking after the countryside 75 per cent of people said they believed that farmers had a beneficial or very beneficial effect, up from 72 per cent.
NFU Cymru President, Stephen James, said he believed the growing positive trend was down in part to farmers and growers being more open and championing what they do.
“I am seeing more and more how farmers are speaking directly to the public,” he said. “Whether that’s capitalising on social media to share with them compelling reasons to back our farming sector and to buy the food we produce or the recent successes seen during Open Farm Sunday earlier this month, where farmers threw open their farm gates to speak directly to the public about what they do.
“All of this is great news for a sector that has had its fair share of challenges in recent times. We’ve seen in recent weeks the very visible public support for farming and farmers both in the public and the media and I would like to thank them for that.
“But we cannot rest on our laurels. We must continue using all of the tools we have to tell our story and state the case for our food and farming sector. This survey is a clear indicator of public support. Now – at a time when farm gate prices are low - retailers and government at all levels must also continue showing their support and visibly back our farming industry.”
