Baroness Batters has been appointed to provide recommendations on farm profitability to Defra Secretary Steve Reed and the Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner.
Defra has said listening to farmers and growers will be 鈥榓t the heart of Baroness Batters鈥� work鈥� adding that as well as covering all sectors of the farming industry, she will also be engaging with other government departments whose work impacts farming.
鈥�Profitability underpins everything.鈥�
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
As part of the review, Baroness Batters will provide short, medium and long term recommendations and propose actions for the government and industry to support farming profitability.
鈥楶rofitability underpins everything鈥�
Responding to the news, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: 鈥淲e welcome the review and the appointment of Baroness Batters, who brings invaluable experience, to lead it.
鈥淭his comes at a critical moment for British farming, with confidence at rock bottom, uncertainty around environmental schemes and looming concerns over inheritance tax changes for farm businesses.鈥�
The NFU鈥檚 latest farmer confidence survey results bypassed last year鈥檚 record lows to mark the lowest levels since the survey began 15 years ago.
Tom added: 鈥淧rofitability underpins everything. With it farms will be able to deliver growth, care for the countryside and help meet the government鈥檚 own legislated environmental goals, all while feeding the nation.
鈥淲e鈥檒l continue working with Defra to understand the review鈥檚 scope and look forward to hearing a timeline for delivery.鈥�
No silver bullet
Baroness Batters said she will 鈥渓eave no stone unturned in trying to find solutions to boost farm profitability鈥�, but added 鈥渨e should be under no illusions how difficult this work will be鈥�.
鈥淭here will not be one 鈥榮ilver bullet鈥� to fire but I鈥檓 hopeful this review can make a difference to a sector that produces the nation鈥檚 food, underpins the rural economy and delivers so much for the environment.
鈥淚鈥檓 pleased to be appointed to lead this review and look forward to working with farmers and growers to provide recommendations to government, food retailers, processors and manufacturers.鈥�
Defra Secretary Steve Reed said he was 鈥渄elighted鈥� to make the appointment adding that Baroness Batters鈥� 鈥測ears of experience as a leader during a time of great change in British agriculture make her uniquely placed to provide recommendations on tackling the deep-rooted problems holding the sector back and support farmers鈥� long-term profits鈥�.
Defra has said the review will help develop its food strategy, farming roadmap and Land Use Framework. Baroness Batters鈥� appointment will be for a period of six months with her recommendations outlined during this timeframe.
Baroness Batters served as NFU President from 2018 鈥� 2024 and runs a tenanted family farm in Wiltshire. She has been an NFU member from grassroots through to county chair; she served as Wiltshire鈥檚 Council delegate and also as regional board chair for the South West.
She has also been a member of NFU Governance Board and served as NFU Deputy President for four years from 2014 until 2018, before being elected as President in February 2018.
