»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË

For 3 generations my family have been livestock farmers striving to earn a living as food producers. Over the years incomes have hardly kept pace with the hours we work as we expand in order to survive. Its a great job, the best job, I often say. But, if Im honest and do the maths we usually earn less than minimum wage and sometimes technically dip below the poverty line. Only the joys of the job keep us going and keep us sane. Food producers working long hours, earning less than minimum wage to exist near the poverty line is surely a national disgrace? What will you do to change this if you win the forthcoming election?

How will you ensure that the imbalance of power is changed to create a fairer way for producers to sell agricultural products to processors, intermediaries and retailers?

Roughly a third of farms in England & Wales are tenanted, half of my farm is rented and my landlords are asking me to match the rent being offered to them to host solar panels, biodiversity net gain schemes or SFI options Operating on thin margins, it feels like some government based incentives are pricing us out of food production. Will you commit to conducting regular impact studies on the effects of alternative land use on national food security?

As an Upland all grassland farmer, which 60% of upland farms are, there are so little ELMS options available that support established permanent pasture. Herbal leys are not the panacea that Defra thinks they are. Can we further discuss what will work better with Defra or I am to dust off the plough?

Farmers are stuck in ELS/HLS agreements because we have not had any clarity or detail from Defra on the process from moving from legacy schemes to ELMS. With BPS reductions at 50% and Environmental Stewardship payment rates stuck at 2013 levels, farmers in legacy schemes are facing huge economic stress. Can you give farmers confidence that if they want to move from HLS to ELMS, they can?

When will we learn the detail of the Farming (Flooding) Recovery Fund, to compensate farmers for uninsured losses caused by the catastrophic rainfall events between October and the present day?

A persistent demand of the NFU and our industry is for a Food Security Policy, similar to that already in place for environment. Proper food security policies would mitigate current criticisms that SFI will incentivise reductions in food production and put UK farmers and UK food security at risk. To paraphrase the NFU’s new manifesto, your government has statutory targets for the environment - government needs to give the same status to our food production - will you commit to this today?

The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme is critical to the horticultural sector. When can we be given certainty on the long term plans for this scheme beyond the end of 2024 when the current scheme ends?

"How should British fruit and veg businesses plan for next year when we have no clarity on our Seasonal Workers Scheme? The scheme needs to be made permanent and the cap on the number of workers removed. When will you make an announcement?"

As Prime Minister, your job is to solve problems and UK agriculture currently faces more problems than ever. A cut in funding from central government is putting multi-generational farms out of business, and many of us are being forced to produce food at a loss. The Sustainable Farming Incentive just isn’t providing enough cash to fill the gap. If something radical isn’t done soon, many of the people in this room will be out of business by this time next year. Can I ask you Prime Minister, what does the future look like for our industry, and why should the next generation be inspired to follow their parents down this perilous path?

When will government recognise the importance of food production and food security in the UK and provide a ministerial role of FOOD and Environment Secretary?

I found the SFI Application process simple and straightforward and submitted my application In December. However, two months later it is still awaiting approval by the RPA. My application is worth £2,500 per month so this delay is costly to me and also will delay the anniversary date at which I can make changes to my scheme and the end date of my scheme at which I can withdraw land from non cropping options which is critical to allow crops to be planted in spring 2027. As the application system automatically checks our application as we put it together what is the purpose of further manual checks? As these checks are causing such costly delays to farmers at considerable cost to the government for seemingly no useful purpose I call upon the Minister to instruct the RPA to suspend their use with immediate effect and approve all pending SFI Applications with start dates of the 1st of the month following the date of the application. Thank You

Many Upland tenant farmers have been treated appallingly by some landlords, including the National Trust. Will the Government ensure any such review into tenant/landlord relationships goes beyond just encouraging good behaviours, but instead implements a Tenant Farming Commissioner with powers to name and shame bad behaviours?

I’m a dairy farmer. We are seeing an increasing level of interest from our retail partners in the environmental & sustainability of our produce. All too often the actions proposed are planting trees or taking land out of production. There’s little in SFI that works for my dairy business. If I am to improve my environmental credentials, I need options that supporting farmers to produce efficiently and deliver environmental improvements. Will the Minister support more activity that helps deliver on green house gasses and improves productivity without taking land out of production?

Very few practical proposals have been implemented that encourage the next generation of farmers and new entrants to the industry. We can’t rely on other countries to feed us and we also need to find ways to produce more of our own food with fewer resources and less impact. Is the government actively exploring long term solutions for profitable food production that will encourage younger people to see farming and food production as their future?

How should British fruit and veg businesses plan for next year when we have no clarity on our Seasonal Workers Scheme. The scheme needs to be made permanent and the cap on the number of workers removed. When will you make an announcement?

Can the Secretary of State confirm that the changes that come into effect in April, to require all plants for planting inspections on imported plants, to be carried out at either BCPs or CPs, (Border Control Points), will not now apply? My Sector, Controlled Environment Tomato Production, is threatened by virus infection, caused by cross infection from virus on imported fruit, which will be inspected in these same locations. We require the continuation of POD, (Point Of Delivery), inspections by APHA, which currently works well, and keeps the young plants secure. Without this assurance, we risk the loss of the British Tomato industry.

With the role out of environmental land management schemes and grant schemes almost entirely aimed at reducing productivity of farmland and even taking it out of production altogether, does this government admit that the term 'food security' to feed our ever growing population is simply how cheaply we can import food, and not how well we can produce it?

Horticultural growers need certainty to continue to invest in their businesses. Seasonal labour is essential for the industry. Currently we have a scheme in place for 2024 but no certainty on any future scheme. Can you give us some assurance that there will be an unrestricted scheme in place for 2025 and beyond ? Derek Wilkinson

The Government has committed to a 5 fold increase in solar by 2035. As a result, we are seeing a gold rush of large solar applications on best and most versatile farmland. In the absence of any enforcable planning regulations for solar and a delayed Land Use Framework, is it right that planning applications for solar on good agricultural land should take precedence over such land being used for food production? Particularly when solar power can be generated in poor land or, better still, on commercial rooftops?

The National Infrastructure Commission has recommended many projects to improve and de carbonise the economy, but what lessons can be learnt from the disgraceful and disastrous treatment of farmers and landowners by HS2, and following cancellation of HS2 north of Birmingham, do you agree the original landowners should urgently be given first refusal to buy back their land, and regain access, so that they can get on with the business of producing food?

Is there any way Westminster government could ring fence the £337m budget for agriculture that the Welsh Government receives please? With the unworkable SFS scheme there is distinct possibility that the budget could be plundered.

The Dairy Export Strategy aims to boost exports, improve market access and reduce barriers to trade. Adding value to the dairy supply chain is essential so it has been great to see the industry & government departments working together. You announced last year a £1m dairy export fund to promote British dairy which was a welcome commitment recognising the trading opportunities there are in the sector. Will you if re-elected, commit to continue working with us and back the dairy export programme throughout the next Parliament, boosting the export of sustainably produced, high welfare and nutritious British dairy products around the world?

The combination of this government’s “anti-food” environmental, trade, immigration and border policies; and the lack of a long term food/health strategy; together with two years of super inflation in the costs of production for farmers and growers, is leading to a reduction in British produced food. If the Conservatives win the next election, what action will they take to reverse these declining trends and give British farmers and growers back the ability to make a profit and reinvest in their businesses to grow more British food?

We need certainty around the continuation of the Seasonal Workers Scheme beyond this year. Why the delay in committing to a scheme that is critical to the survival of the UK horticulture sector ?

Food security needs long term commitment and confidence to invest. What actions will the Government take to prioritise food production through the planning system to reduce time and cost barriers, and therefore boost UK food security?

All 4 nations have independent policies for agriculture. Very much gear towards environmental rather than productivity outcomes With the farming industry protesting on various issues on a global basis, isn't it about time The governments of all 4 nations took decisive action to secure the food supplies for the people of the UK and promoted a greater degree of self-sufficiency rather than allowing productive land to disappear through the current policy regime.

2nd test question

3rd test question

test question

Dairy Exports: As a member of the national dairy board, I have been involved in helping shape the Dairy Export Strategy, aimed at boosting dairy exports, improving market access and reducing barriers to trade. Adding value to the dairy supply chain is essential and it has been very positive to see the industry coming together, alongside the Department for Trade and Business as well as Defra to achieve this. ///Your announcement last year at the Farm to Fork Summit of a £1m dairy export fund set up to help promote British dairy was a very welcome commitment and showed recognition of the trading opportunities there are in the sector. But the work is just getting started, will the government, if re-elected , commit to continuing to work with industry and back the dairy export programme throughout the next Parliament, helping to boost the export of sustainably produced, high welfare and nutritious British dairy products around the world?

In Horticulture soft Fruit production labour is 70% +of total costs. Why is the seasonal worker National living wage increasing by 9.8% to £11.44 from 1st april 2024, when it has increased 100% since 2008, with a 60% increase since 2016? Seasonal workers earn considerably less where they live at home abroard. Also,it is financially challenging that our supermarket customers want to pay us less despite these higher costs ! Please agree not to increase in 2025?