Ahead of NFU Conference, cherished toys were delivered to the Treasury as a symbol of futures lost to the family farm tax, meanwhile a display of thousands of donated toys greeted attendees outside the QEII.
We鈥檝e outlined what was announced by Defra Secretary Steve Reed in addition to subsequent announcements made by Defra during NFU Conference, how this affects your farming business and how the NFU is responding.
You can read Mr Reed鈥檚 speech in full at: .
Seasonal Workers
A 5-year extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route has been announced.
A Defra statement added: 鈥淎nnual quota reviews will ensure we strike the right balance 鈥� supporting farms while gradually reducing visa numbers as we develop alternative solutions.鈥�
In response, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said the announcement provided 鈥渕uch-needed certainty鈥�.
鈥淭his has been a key ask of ours for many years, and its introduction will help safeguard the future of UK food production.
鈥淚t is encouraging that government recognises the importance of seasonal labour, and we welcome the commitment to explore options to support the sector, including innovation, agri-technology and local workforce opportunities.
鈥淚t will be crucial to ensure the scheme remains accessible and effective for growers who rely on it.
鈥淗owever, we need certainty on the visa numbers for the full five years and a commitment that any decision on the numbers will be evidence-based and done with sufficient notice.
鈥淎 stable and secure workforce is vital to maintaining the success of the UK鈥檚 horticulture sector and ensuring continued food production. A well-structured scheme will give farmers and growers the confidence to invest and expand, ensuring British horticulture will thrive.鈥�
Farming Equipment and Technology Fund
The government has said it will be investing in these farming grants with another window of the FETF (Farming Equipment and Technology Fund) opening in Spring 2025.
This will provide grants between 拢1,000 and 拢25,000. We await further details and timelines.
Defra will look to bring innovative technology and equipment that has reached the commercial market into the grant.
Around 拢46 million will be made available under the grant.
NFU Deputy President David Exwood said: 鈥淲ith ever-increasing financial pressures on farm, today鈥檚 announcement by Defra to open up the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund is welcome. It will play an important role in helping our members invest in their businesses to increase productivity and improve animal health and welfare as well as deliver for the environment.
鈥淚t鈥檚 vital that farmers review the information carefully to understand the focus and requirements of the scheme and that it鈥檚 ultimately right for them and the farm.鈥�
Farming Innovation Programme
New FIP (Farming Innovation Programme) grants worth more than 拢42.5 million, including competitions focussed on unlocking the benefits of precision breeding and supporting the net zero transition will launch in 2025.
The new ADOPT fund first announced at the Oxford Farming Conference will be farmer-led and "bridge the gap between new technologies and their use in the real word", Mr Reed said.
The separate ADOPT funding announced is worth 拢20 million.
More details will follow in due course.
Tenant Farming Commissioner
Recruitment campaign for the Commissioner for Tenant Farming Sector is now live.
The Commissioner will encourage behaviour in the sector to meet standards set out in the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice for England.
NFU Deputy President David Exwood welcomed the news: 鈥淭his is a vital role that will promote best practice, improve collaboration between tenants, landowners and their agents and help ensure there is fairness in the tenanted sector.
"The role must be completely independent and without bias to landlords or tenants, and it will be important that clear guidelines are in place to define exactly what the TFC can or cannot do and at what we stage they should become involved in disputes.
"皇家华人looks forward to collaborating closely with the government to ensure the TFC has the tools needed to make a positive impact.鈥�
Precision Breeding
Legislation needed to implement Precision Breeding Act (2023) will be laid in Parliament today.
The government will also be relaunching the Ministerially appointed Precision Breeding Working Group.
The Bill will enable innovative products to be commercialised in 鈥測ears instead of decades鈥�, Mr Reed said.
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos welcomed the news: 鈥溁始一薸s delighted that the secondary legislation needed to implement the Precision Breeding Act has now been laid in Parliament.
鈥淭his is a significant milestone in ensuring England can be at the forefront of innovation in crop genetic improvement, positioning itself as a place to invest, and aligning us with leading nations in terms of farming productivity and progressive, science-based regulation.
鈥淲e hope technology companies will see the exciting opportunities for growth here and start applying for authorisations under the new regulatory regime so that farmers and growers have the choice to access the best varieties and new markets in the future.
鈥淧recision breeding is not a silver bullet, but it is one vital tool in the toolbox that can help farmers improve resilience to climate change, enhance productivity and deliver nutritious food alongside environmental protection. By providing the right regulatory framework, this legislation will give these innovations the ability to deliver real benefits for farmers, the environment, society and the food supply chain.
鈥淭he reinstatement of the Precision Breeding Industry Working Group and the additional funding for innovation through the Farming Innovation Programme are positive steps that will support the successful implementation of this important legislative reform. We now look forward to seeing this legislation progress through Parliament so that, from autumn, businesses can begin the application process and UK farming can start realising the benefits of precision breeding.鈥�
Capital Grants
Mr Reed said he recognised the frustration from the industry when capital grants were unexpectedly paused last year.
At the NFU's Conference he has confirmed every application submitted for capital grants before the pause in November would be taken forward. Following this, the government will reopen the ELM capital grants offer this summer.
NFU Deputy President David Exwood said: 鈥淭he sudden closure of the standalone capital grant applications at the end of last year was very frustrating and came as a real blow to our members, many of whom were relying on these grants to achieve their environmental ambitions.
鈥淲e are pleased that Defra is to process more than 4,000 completed applications that were put on hold and take new applications later this year.
鈥溁始一薼obbied hard on behalf of its members, and this is a positive outcome that wasn鈥檛 expected. To help manage budgets, Defra will be reintroducing financial limits in the different categories.
"Going forward, Defra must learn from last years鈥� experience. A stop-go approach will not achieve the outcomes farmers鈥� or the environment requires. These are vital grants which enable farmers and growers to invest in sustainable production with great outcomes for food, air and water quality, and flood management.鈥�
Higher Level Stewardship
Defra is investing 拢30 million towards increasing HLS (Higher Level Stewardship) payment rates with immediate effect 鈥� a key ask from the NFU
The payment increases apply to a range of HLS options from 2025. Defra has undertaken to publish the payment rates as soon as possible.
When these are published agreement holders will be able to assess the real impact of the payment changes.
Defra will be writing to agreement holders in April.听
Responding to the news, NFU Deputy President David Exwood said: 鈥淎fter several years campaigning by the NFU, it will be a relief to agreement holders to finally see an increase to Higher Level Stewardship payments. This long-overdue, significant uplift acknowledges the vital role 鈥� as pioneers of nature-friendly farming, often based in upland areas 鈥� they have been playing in delivering high quality environment for decades.
鈥淲e look forward to reviewing the detail of the announcement.
"While the agricultural transition still leaves a number of farmers with a large gap in incomes, it is important that Defra now delivers a pathway for HLS agreement holders to convert to ELMs if they want to.鈥�
Farming in Protected Landscapes
FiPL is being extended until March 2026, continuing to support farmers and landowners in England's Protected Landscapes.
The scheme will continue to operate in the same manner as previous years and is supported by an additional 拢30 million budget which is split across landscapes. This builds on the 拢100 million that had been committed to from the start of the programme until March 2025.
皇家华人broadly welcomes the programme extension which must be delivered fairly to farmers.
Public procurement
New requirements announced today will mean government catering contracts favour "high-quality, high-welfare" local produce.
This builds on the government's commitment for at least 50% of food supplied into public sector catering contracts to be from British producers or those certified to higher environmental standards.听
Responding to the news, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: 鈥淟abour鈥檚 manifesto commitment to sourcing 50% of food in the public sector from UK farmers was welcome and at our conference NFU members will be pleased to hear how ministers intend to make this a viable, attractive market.
鈥淕iven the numerous pressures being loaded onto UK farming, this will be a welcome positive.鈥�
Biosecurity
The government has reaffirmed it will set up a new National Biosecurity Centre to transform the Animal and Plant Health Agency animal health facility at Weybridge, investing 拢200 million to improve resilience against animal disease to protect farmers and food producers.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said this was 鈥渨elcome news as we contend with growing disease threats at our borders and nationwide, including the recent foot-and-mouth case in Germany and ongoing avian influenza and bluetongue risks in the UK鈥�.
He added: 鈥淓stablishing a new biosecurity centre will be crucial in safeguarding our farmers鈥� and growers鈥� businesses from animal and plant diseases."
"We look forward to learning more about the facility and will collaborate with Defra to ensure it meets the needs of our farmers and growers.鈥�
Animal health and welfare pathway
Keepers of cattle, sheep and pigs in England will now have greater access to fully funded visits by a vet of their choice as part of Defra's Animal Health and Welfare Review and Endemic Disease follow-up.
Through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway farmers in England will be able to apply for visits to cover every eligible species they have from this week (pigs, sheep and cattle), and from summer they will also be able to apply for a visit for every eligible herd or flock of the same species.
Supply chain fairness
Defra has said it will introduce new regulations for the UK pig sector this spring 鈥� ensuring contracts clearly set out expectations and only allow changes if agreed by all parties.
Defra is engaging with the industry on similar proposals for eggs and fresh produce.
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