Opinion: How Labour plans to restore stability and confidence

It is just a few weeks since I was appointed as minister for food security and rural affairs at Defra. For me, it is the job I wanted and coveted, serving the nation’s farmers, food producers and rural communities.

I’ve lived and worked all my adult life in eastern England, and for eight years represented some of the most rural villages in South Norfolk on the local council, having started out as a parish councillor.

That gave me some insight into some of the distinctive issues facing rural communities, as well as the unique character of the countryside and the pressures faced.  

See also: New government pledges to reverse low farmer confidence

About the author

Daniel Zeichner

Daniel Zeichner is the Defra minister for food security and rural affairs.

Here he sets out how the government hopes to restore farmer confidence.

I had, by then, set up and run a small horticultural nursery with my partner, and learned the hard way both about dealing directly with the public and, when we switched to wholesale, to the vagaries of weather and pests. It gave me a real appreciation of just how hard it is to make a living that way. 

I was honoured to be appointed as shadow environment minister in early 2020 and have spent four years since speaking to farmers and business owners in the food and agriculture sector, listening to their concerns and learning more about this fantastic industry. 

From these many conversations, I appreciate just how challenging the recent period has been for the farming community, with factors including the wet weather and sudden rising input costs putting many under immense strain. This is reflected in the recent Defra Farming Opinion Tracker, that shows confidence among farmers remains persistently low. 

The survey tested the temperature of the farming sector in the spring and shows that half of farmers don’t feel positive about their future in the industry.

Of those farmers saying they are making changes, a quarter plan to reduce the size of their businesses and 14% plan to leave farming in the next three-to-five years.

The results make clear the need for government action to restore stability and confidence in the sector.

I realise this is not something that can be fixed overnight, but I am committed to building trust through a long-term approach.

This begins with a recognition that food security is national security. That means working to grow more food at home and ensuring seasonal, sustainable, healthy British food is on tables across the country.  

It also means using the government’s purchasing power to back British produce and the farmers who produce it.

It’s why we are fully committed to making a success of Environmental Land Management schemes.

We will optimise schemes and grants in an orderly way, ensuring they produce the right outcomes for all farmers, deliver sustainable food production, drive down carbon emissions and help nature recover.

We will also ensure that the schemes work for grassland, upland and tenanted farmers who have too often felt as though they have been ignored.  

Alongside this, the government will stop farmers from being undercut by damaging trade deals; ensure we build a supply chain that works more fairly; and prevent shock rises in bills by switching on GB Energy. 

We will build on what is working and not upturn the apple cart – because we recognise that farming is a long-term business.

This government will bring farmers the stability needed after too many years of instability, and chopping and changing of policy.

I know that you’re in it for the long-term – I intend to be as well. 

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