Key issues for farming in 2008

Farmers Weekly asked five key players in the rural and farming industries for their views on what the major issues will be in 2008. Today we ask Sir Martin Doughty

• Sir Martin Doughty, Chairman, Natural England

We know 2007 has been a tough year for many but a rise in commodity prices and confirmation of an almost £3bn budget for agri-environment schemes over the next seven years show promise for next year.

Natural England will continue to work with the farming industry to face up to the environmental challenges of the future.

It is vital that the wider role farmers have to play in delivering environmental benefits and their role in combating climate change is recognised by the wider public and appropriately rewarded. We will be giving people around the country the opportunity to find out more about the great things farmers are delivering through Environmental Stewardship schemes and how much they value this work.

Natural England will also continue to work with government and the farming industry towards a reformed CAP, in which subsidies are phased out and payments for positive environmental management are increased to meet the environmental challenges of the 21 century.

• Jim McLaren, President, NFU Scotland

The overwhelming objective is to get every sector of the industry on a sustainable footing. From that, three clear priorities emerge changing mindsets among supermarkets, preparing for bluetongue‘s re-emergence and dealing with the foot-and-mouth aftermath.

The same farmgate price rises that have been seen in the milk and cereals sectors need to be mirrored across the whole industry if local production is to be secured.

Global pressure on food supplies is increasing so switching to imports may not be an option open to UK supermarkets in the long-term.

Springtime is usually keenly anticipated by farmers, however for the Scottish sheep industry, bluetongue threatens. DEFRA, with industry and others, needs to lead the preparation of a co-ordinated vaccination battle plan if we are to have the ammunition we need against the disease.

Bluetongue will focus the minds but the aftermath of F&M is inescapable. UK government owes the industry for the catastrophe caused by the negligence at Pirbright. Justice must be served.

What are your views on the key issues for 2008?

Have your say at FWiSpace.