Collapse in the farming sector is crises for all

✒ OBSCURED by the racism and funding scandals in the Conservative Party was a report published by the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs into ‘Farm Business Income in England …’

It is, frankly, shocking! Nearly all agricultural sectors, including cereal and dairy, are seeing huge falls in farm income. Dairy, so important in our area, has seen a real terms 80% decline in income for 23/24, in comparison with 22/23.

To put that in context, if you were on the average UK weekly salary of £669 (ONS estimate) you would find it fell to £134.

I have been hearing at the Exeter Livestock Market that farmers are struggling and this report confirms the dreadful situation they now face.

Many may be unsympathetic to the farmers’ plight but in Devon, a largely rural community, a collapse in the farming sector would have widespread ramifications for all of us.

In our rural towns many of the largest employers are farming related, either processing produce (often milk) or supplying the materials, and services, farmers need.

As farmers ‘tighten their belts,’ less money will flow into our economy in a myriad of ways. A crisis in farming is a crisis for us all.

We desperately need the Conservative Government to reverse years of neglect of the agricultural sector.

As a starting point, the Liberal Democrats would put another £1 billion into supporting farmers, increasing the Environment Land Management Scheme budget from £2.3bn to £3.3bn.

We would also reverse the policy of striking trade deals that allow low-standard producers to undercut the exceptional standards of British farming.

The country, but especially Devon, really does need a change in attitude to agriculture and farming.

Mark Wooding Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate,

Central Devon