Young farmers must play pivotal role in UK ag policy

Young farmers have a unique opportunity to influence new agricultural policy before the 8 June general election, according to senior farming representatives.

Nearly 150 of the next generation took part in two interactive Agri Forum 2017 sessions during the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs’ convention in Torquay.

The government’s door had never been so open to the ideas and opinions of the generation in attendance, so AHDB chief executive Jane King stressed in the first session.

See also: News, photos and video from YFC AGM 2017

Up for grabs

“Everything is up for grabs, you won’t get an opportunity like this again,” said Ms King.

“This group needs to be loud and proud about everything we are doing and take the lead in promoting everything good about UK agriculture.”

She urged young farmers to set the pace of discussions and not leave it solely to government to determine the future of agriculture policy.

Jane King at YFC 2017

“The young farming community has already done some of that [lobbying], but they keep waiting to be invited to government meetings – you need to gatecrash the party.

Ms King added: “This is the industry’s chance to influence policy that will last for the next 25 years.”

“Young people need to make it clear what they want and the YFC need to collect the views of all of its members.”

In the second session, NFU vice chairman Guy Smith told YFC members that, for the first time in 40 years, the UK can decide its own agricultural policy – a role that Europe has taken the lead on in recent decades.

Guy Smith at YFC 2017

Challenged

Mr Smith challenged groups of delegates to attend local hustings and to think “strategically and intuitively” about what they would ask parliamentary candidates to ensure that they backed British agriculture.

But president-elect of the NFYFC Charlotte Smith cautioned groups intending to lobby prospective MPs to refrain from making their case just about farming.

“We need to take the public with us.”

She added that YFCs needed to make a positive case for what farming does for the wider rural community and not just deliver a wishlist for farmers.

Mr Smith said the NFU was keen to reach out to the YFC to listen to the views of younger people via the NFU’s Next Generation policy forum.