Farm leader calls for 'absolutely critical' pledges from Chancellor Sajid Javid

Chancellor Sajid Javid is due to announce details of his Spending Review on Wednesday. Picture by Rick Findler/PA Wire.

Contingency measures to shield farmers from potentially imminent trade disruption must be part of the Chancellor’s 12-month fiscal plan that is due to be unveiled tomorrow, the industry’s union leader has warned.

Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers’ Union, said there was widespread worry among farmers that British agriculture could be put in “a critical economic situation” without specific government protections.

Fresh assurances are also needed on longer term financial support following the recent change in Conservative leadership, she said.

Ms Batters, who set out the NFU’s position in a letter to Sajid Javid as he prepared to announce details of his one-year spending review, said: “For farming to flourish post-Brexit, the Government needs to work in partnership with British farmers to invest in and build a productive, profitable and sustainable sector in the decades ahead.

Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers' Union. Picture by James Hardisty.

“It is important that the Conservative Government has acknowledged the need to provide stability for farmers in its last manifesto and committed to deliver the same levels of farm support payments until the end of the current Parliament. But with a new Prime Minister and Cabinet, the NFU is calling for re-confirmation that this government also commits to maintain the domestic agricultural budget through to 2022.”

UK farmers currently receive £3.2bn in support as part of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, which the Government has proposed will be replaced gradually by payments for “public goods” under an environmental land management scheme.

The NFU has repeatedly stated that farmers are up for the challenge of adapting to a new policy with the right support.