Rishi Sunak has announced a deal to join a free trade area of 11 countries spanning the Indo-Pacific – the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

More than 99% of UK goods exported to CPTPP countries will be eligible for zero tariffs, including key exports such as cheese, machinery, gin and whisky.

The NFU said the deal is “far more considered and balanced” than the controversial deals with Australia and New Zealand, which offer unfettered access, phased in over time, to the UK’s agri-food market for a variety of products. These deals have prompted significant concerns that the UK could become flooded with cheap imports, shortchanging British farmers.

Negotiations to join the CPTPP began in June 2021 and concluded after a round of talks in Vietnam earlier this month. The UK will be the first new member of the bloc since it was created.

Dairy farmers could benefit from lower tariffs on exports of products like cheese and butter to Canada, Chile, Japan and Mexico, the government said.

NFU president Minette Batters commented: “Joining the CPTPP could provide some good opportunities to get more fantastic British food on plates overseas.

“Compared to the deals struck with Australia and New Zealand, I am pleased to see that the Prime Minister has stuck to his word and the government has negotiated a far more considered and balanced outcome, particularly with respect to managing market access in our most vulnerable sectors.”

She also welcomed the government’s commitment to food safety standards. “It is an absolute red line for us that food produced using practices that are illegal here – for instance, the use of hormones in beef and pork production and chemical washes for carcases – should not be allowed on our market.”

The CPTPP is home to 500 million people and will be worth 15% of global GDP once the UK joins. The government estimates that joining will boost the UK economy by 1.8 billion in the long run.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak said: “We are at our heart an open and free-trading nation, and this deal demonstrates the real economic benefits of our post-Brexit freedoms. As part of CPTPP, the UK is now in a prime position in the global economy to seize opportunities for new jobs, growth and innovation.

“Joining the CPTPP trade bloc puts the UK at the centre of a dynamic and growing group of Pacific economies, as the first new nation and first European country to join. British businesses will now enjoy unparalleled access to markets from Europe to the south Pacific.”

The UK and CPTPP members will now take the final legal and administrative steps required for the UK to formally sign in 2023.

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UK farming union presidents – (from r to l) Ulster Farmers’ Union president David Brown; Minette Batters, president of NFU; Martin Kennedy, president of NFU Scotland and Aled Jones, president of NFU Cymru – have called on Government to deliver higher level energy support to agricultural sectors following a summit in Belfast.

The latest call comes as UK farming union presidents met in Belfast. Hosted by Ulster Farmers’ Union president David Brown, those attending included Martin Kennedy, president of NFU Scotland; Minette Batters, president of NFU and Aled Jones, president of NFU Cymru. The meeting was also joined by Irish Farmers’ Association president Tim Cullinan.

With the current energy support scheme ending today (31st March), the UK unions have repeated their demands for energy relief to be extended to agricultural businesses following on from a joint letter written to secretary of state Grant Shapps MP at the start of March and signed jointly by all four presidents.

In a joint statement, the four UK unions said: “For the UK Government not to extend the highest level of energy relief to sectors highly dependent on energy to rear, grow and store food is a failure of UK Government to recognise the deteriorating position on food security.

“We have been crystal clear in pointing out to Government and ministers that unless the ETII scheme is amended to provide support for primary agricultural production, there could be a reduction in domestic food production which may prolong the ongoing food price inflation for consumers.

“There is a cast iron case that, from April 2023, the ETII scheme should be providing the highest-level energy relief to a number of sectors within primary agricultural production alongside the relief that is being offered to food processing and manufacturing.  To offer relief to one without the other is self-defeating if we are to genuinely address consumer concerns over food shortages and empty shelves.

“Many of our farm businesses are reliant on gas and electricity to produce fresh food and they will struggle to absorb the huge hikes in energy prices that they will face from tomorrow (1st April 2023).

“It is within the gift of UK Government to address genuine food security concerns and to review the classification for higher level support. Energy prices are already seriously damaging our ability to produce food and from this weekend, many of our members’ businesses will face an energy cost cliff edge.”

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Sheep grazing in Peak District National Park, UK.

Mr Goldsmith’s controversial tweet earlier this week sparked debates about the role of sheep farming in the UK economy and whether or not sheep belong on Britain’s landscapes. The ex-Defra rep wrote on Twitter:

‘It’s time to talk about sheep. The unavoidable truth is that sheep are the principal obstacle standing in the way of meaningful nature recovery in Britain’s national parks and other agriculturally marginal landscapes. There is no getting around it. The sheep have got to go.

‘It is because of forensic grazing by tens of millions of sheep that great swathes of Britain are largely of trees and scrub, and impoverished of wildflowers, birdsong, wildlife. Go and visit any of our national parks and you’ll see for yourself.

‘If it wasn’t for sheep, there would be little meaningful objection to the reintroduction of lynx, wolves, and other iconic but temporarily missing British species – the absence of which has triggered a parallel explosion in the number of deer, which only exacerbates overgrazing in what should be our most precious landscapes.’

Mr Goldsmith also called out the supposed ‘brutal impact’ sheep have on soil structure and vegetation, and suggested replacing sheep farming with native cattle grazed in silvopasture systems.

‘Sheep are not native to Britain. They come from the arid hills of Asia Minor. They must suffer terribly soaked through and exposed on our windy, wet hillsides year-round. The fact that even English acorns are toxic to sheep says it all.’

He also criticised the sector for receiving subsidised funding to produce a food item he believes doesn’t advance the UK economy.

‘Britons don’t eat much lamb or mutton. So why are our landscapes stuffed with sheep? Sheep farming is in economic terms hopelessly non-viable, propped up solely with taxpayer subsidies. The average age of sheep farmers creeps ever higher, while their net income (including subsidies) creeps ever lower. There are no winners, only losers.

‘I don’t buy lamb or mutton any longer. It’s not right. If people want to keep sheep, of course that’s their absolute right, but they should not be subsidised with public money for doing so,’ Mr Goldsmith concluded.

NSA expresses disappointment over “ignorant” allegations

The former Defra rep’s comments have been met with backlash from both farmers and members of the public, who have called out a number of factual inaccuracies in his statement on Twitter.

Responding to the post, NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “Sheep have been in the British Isles since the Neolithic settlers landed on our shores around 3000BC- 5000 years ago.

“They have created and maintained some of the most loved landscapes we see and enjoy today including nine of England’s 13 National Parks that are situated in upland areas. It is no accident that most of our National Parks are in areas predominated for generations by grassland and sheep.

“The unique environment, working for most times in harmony with sheep farming, is highly valuable in relation to water management and quality, carbon sequestration, and nature, and provides people with social and health benefits.”

While there may have been a time when UK sheep farming was primarily focused on production, the sector has been increasingly moving towards practices that consider the wider environment, in line with the rest of the industry, the NSA pointed out.

To illustrate, in 2021, there was a 40% increase in demand and applications for Countryside Stewardship (CS), and more than 40,000 farmers in England now participate in either CS or legacy Higher-Level Stewardship (HLS) schemes, which offer farmers financial incentives for looking after and improving the environment.

“Both the Countryside Stewardship schemes, HLS, and the new Environmental Land Management schemes have the environment and nature at their heart, ensuring the wildlife of Britain has increasingly improving habitats.

“The success of many of our native wildlife lifecycles are directly linked to livestock grazing providing food, nutrients, and a favourable environment,” Mr Stocker added.

Moreover, 53% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) land is located in the UK’s uplands, with 96% of those areas being in favourable or recovering condition. Upland farmers have long managed these landscapes, providing further evidence that appropriate grazing is key to conserving many priority habitats such as limestone grassland and upland heath.

Mr Stocker concluded: “NSA is incredibly disappointed that senior officials and Defra representatives can at times be ignorant to the benefits of grazing animals and the value of British produce and strongly urge the Department to ensure an improved understanding of those who would benefit from a better appreciation of this.”

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Animal charities in Canada say sows are often kept in stalls with not enough room for the animals to turn around, the Guardian writes.

Further imports of meat from North America could also compromise the UK’s carbon targets, especially following recent trade deals with Australia and New Zealand, farming groups have said.

Nick Allen, CEO of the British Meat Processors Association, raised concerns over the lack of binding stipulations on aspects such as animal welfare and environmental impact in free trade agreements.

“The UK has higher welfare standards than most of the countries we import from, which is a challenge for our local producers. If new trade deals follow the same formula as the recent ones with Australia and New Zealand, this will only exacerbate the problem and put the UK at a further disadvantage,” he told Farmers Guide.

“It’s up to the Government negotiators to include binding stipulations on things like animal welfare, however nothing was written into the two recent free trade agreements. This has strengthened the case for countries like Canada to demand similar access to our market.”

Regarding carbon footprint, he said until there is an internationally approved system for measuring and comparing emissions from livestock reared in different production systems around the world, it’s going to be difficult to create standards surrounding such measurements.

“It is also the case that work in the UK to establish our beef carbon footprint is not very advanced, and it is highly likely that some of our close competitors will be better placed to make such claims; indeed some already are,” he added.

“While there are general stipulations the Government could include in new free trade agreements, for example prohibiting the use of feed produced on deforested land, there are no guidelines under WTO [World Trade Organisation] rules that would allow the UK to limit imports of beef based on its carbon footprint.

“Also, while we are trading with countries like Canada under WTO rules, the UK can’t demand a higher standard from them than we are already accepting from other trading partners like the EU,” Mr Allen remarked.

“We don’t want to see further imports of beef”

NFU president Minette Batters warned further beef imports wouldn’t be accepted on the back of trade deals with Australia and New Zealand undermining domestic produce.

She was quoted by the Guardian as saying: “From Mexico our lines are pretty tough on this having given away so much on beef to Australia and New Zealand. We want the government to take a very, very firm line on further imports of beef.

“Environmental impacts are why beef was a sensitive sector, both in New Zealand and in Australia, and now in Mexico. And we want them now to really show that they are keeping their promises of not undermining farmers and trade deals. We don’t want to see further imports of beef.”

Meanwhile, Jack Abbott, Labour and Co-Operative Party parliamentary candidate for Ipswich, opposed the deal on Twitter:

“Suffolk has a proud agricultural heritage and is famous for its free-range pork.

“The trade deals the Conservatives want to sign will undercut farmers, lower animal welfare standards and add air miles to our food.

“We should support our home grown produce.”

Responding to backlash from the farming industry and environmental organisations, a government spokesperson said: “The government has always been clear that we will not compromise the UK’s high food safety and animal welfare standards in trade negotiations.

“Our accession to CPTPP [Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership] will be on terms that are right for UK companies, consumers and farmers.”

Also known as TPP11 or TPP-11, the CPTPP is a free trade agreement (FTA) between 11 countries, including Australia, Canada, Mexico and New Zealand.

According to the Department for Business & Trade, the UK will continue to uphold its high standards in all trade agreements, including CPTPP. Decisions on these standards remain a matter for the government and will be made separately from any trade agreements.

To secure additional benefits for the whole of the UK, officials are currently pursuing modernised and comprehensive FTAs with Canada and Mexico that build upon current Trade Continuity Agreements.

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Despite the substantial economic, social, and environmental benefits delivered by small farms, there has been long-standing underinvestment in small scale agriculture by the UK government, session chair Jyoti Fernandes, co-founder and campaigns & policy coordinator for LWA remarked.

Amongst others, small farms are havens for wildlife, harbouring many different species of plants and animals and increasing the biodiversity of the land as a result. They also promote greater community engagement, reconnecting people with food and farming which is of increasing importance in the current economic climate,  Ms Fernandes explained.

The aim of the session, taking place on Day 3 of ORFC 2023, was to shed light on the incredibly detailed work the LWA has been doing to make a case for small farms in future government policy and celebrate the wins achieved along the way.

The philosophy “get bigger or get out” still prevails when it comes to subsidy distribution in UK agriculture, Ms Fernandes pointed out, with most payments directed towards the arable sector and large livestock holdings. As a result, there has been a severe decline in small farms across the country, with 35,000 such businesses lost since 2005.

According to the LWA co-founder, less than 1-2% of government funding currently goes to support horticulture and the hard work of market gardeners. Small pig and poultry farms are also often excluded from subsidy, which consists of mainly area-based payments.

Without the necessary support, these sectors remain vulnerable to being undercut by cheap imports from factory farms with low animal welfare standards, Ms Fernandes said.

Therefore, she stressed the urgent need for reversing the current trend of excluding small farms from subsidy to avoid putting thousands of farmers out of business who are producing quality, sustainable, and environmentally friendly local food.

On that note, she introduced the session’s speakers, who talked about the importance of small farms and what policy can look like to truly support their work across all four UK nations.

Scotland – new Small Farms grant scheme on the horizon

Tara Wight, Scotland campaigns & policy coordinator for LWA, began her talk by briefly outlining the nation’s unique agricultural landscape.

According to Ms Wight, land ownership in Scotland is the second most concentrated in the world, with a large average farm size of 220ha as opposed to 82ha in England. However, the country still has an abundance of small farms, including 20,000 small holdings and an equivalent number of crofts.

A traditional croft cottage at Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands.

Crofting is a land tenure and ownership system unique to Scotland, only present in the Highlands and Islands. Most crofters have a small amount of private land ranging from 0.5 to 50ha, with the average being 5ha, Ms Wight explained.

In the current system, all crofters must live within 32 miles of their land and have access to Common Grazings, which counts towards the total farm area, thus benefitting crofters when applying for area-based payments.

Despite its contribution to the food supply chain, crofting is not considered part of Scotland’s main agricultural landscape and is often forgotten about to some extent, Ms Wight pointed out. However, there is crofting-specific funding available to farmers, most of which is spent on infrastructure and fencing, she added.

In terms of the current agricultural support, the subsidy system consists of mostly area-based payments with a minimum threshold of 3ha, which automatically excludes small horticulture holdings.

Small farmers with an income of less than £32,000 can apply for capital grants, and there’s also a small amount of funding for sustainability and organic conversion, Ms Wight explained.

Whereas, crofters can apply for the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme and receive up to £25,000/year, she continued. Funding is also offered for building and renovation work carried out on crofts through the Croft House Grant.

In more recent news, the Scottish Agricultural Bill is currently in the process of going through parliament, proposing a four-tiered payment system, Ms Wight revealed. However, she added the proposals appear vague, unambitious, and less progressive than existing legislation, which will likely cause the Scottish government to miss its carbon targets for agriculture.

Other policy reforms in the works include:

• The Good Food Nation Act
• The Local Food Strategy
• The Biodiversity Strategy
• The Circular Economy Bill

To improve the outlook for small farmers in Scotland, the LWA has been campaigning for area-based payments to be replaced by Universal Basic Income (UBI) for active farmers, land reforms which support the creation of small farms, and a moratorium of carbon credit schemes until there is better legislation.

In addition, the LWA has formed the Scottish Agroecology Action Group (SAAG) in 2022, together with the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), the Soil Association, the Scottish Crofting Federation and Propagate. The organisation’s members will join their forces in lobbying, campaigning and facilitating training for the agroecological transition in Scotland.

Recently, the LWA’s efforts resulted in a small win for small farmers in Scotland in that a new Small Farms grant scheme will be piloted which doesn’t have an income threshold, Ms Wight revealed.

In future plans, the group is hoping to organise more farm visits for MSPs from the Rural Affairs Committee and acquire small farmer representation in ARIOB, the main board advising the government on farming policy going forward, Ms Wight concluded.

Wales – lowering the area limit for small farms

From across the Welsh border, Holly Tomlinson, campaigns & policy coordinator for LWA, brought the latest on the financial support available for small farmers and future schemes in the making.

86% of agricultural land in Wales is used for grazing.

Starting off with some figures, Ms Tomlinson said the average farm size in Wales is on the smaller side at 48ha, with more than 55% of farms currently being no larger than 20ha. The majority of agricultural land in the country is used for grazing, with crops and horticulture taking up only 2%, she added.

However, only 0.1% of Welsh agricultural land is dedicated for edible horticulture, making up about 200 farms, of which 117 were less than 5ha (2020) and have not received any payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

According to Farming Facts and Figures 2021, more than half of Welsh farms are classed as ‘very small’, defined as having less than one full-time equivalent worker. Another survey defined very small farms as having an income of less than €25,000, which again is an indicator other than actual farm size, Ms Tomlinson pointed out.

While the current threshold for subsidy payments in Wales is 5ha, a new Agricultural Bill going through the Senate proposes a minimum limit of 3ha or 550 hours worked as a basic requirement for grants. This is a win for small farmers, Ms Tomlinson said, as the new criteria relates to applicants running a land-based business rather than owning a certain amount of land.

Moreover, the Welsh government is also rolling out a new Sustainable Farming Scheme that will replace the CAP going forward. The scheme consists of three parts, offering farmers payment for completing a pre-defined set of actions:

• Universal actions – compulsory for everyone in the scheme, such as monitoring and reporting requirements, setting aside 10% of land for nature
• Optional actions – for farmers who want additional income, include requirements for public engagement and public education days, increasing biodiversity and carbon sequestration
• Collaborative actions – landscape-scale collaboration, also across the supply chain, very vague requirements so far

With regards to horticulture, Ms Tomlinson said there are a few grants aimed at the sector, including some interim grants such as a horticultural start-up grant and a horticultural development grant, none of which have area-based requirements.

To win better government support of small farming in Wales, the LWA have been lobbying for the abolition of area-based payments, more start-up & development grants, funded traineeships, bridging the gap in public procurement, a dedicated horticulture public goods scheme, better access to land & local markets, and planning reforms.

England – advocating for small farms and agroecology in ELMS

Next up, Rebecca Laughton, horticulture campaigns coordinator for LWA England, gave delegates an insight into the organisation’s work directing the subsidy system away from area-based payments towards measuring the impact of farmer produce.

Ever since Brexit in 2016, the LWA has been lobbying for “public money for public goods”, and later, in 2021, for agroecology to get a mention in the Agriculture and Environment Acts. The outcome of that work, Ms Laughton said, was ELMS.

Speaking of the positives of the scheme, she said Defra have been trying to co-design ELMS with farmers, land managers and environmental organisations to ensure the new payment system meets the needs of the industry. Moreover, they have also enabled organisations like LWA to put forward ideas and receive funding to run tests and trials (T&T) with successful proposals.

In 2019, the LWA successfully applied to run the Growing the Goods ELMS T&T, which was subsequently focused on horticulture. The aim of the trial was to develop a system that measures public goods (PGs) actions in more appropriate units other than area to provide flexibility for different types of businesses, Ms Laughton explained.

The Growing the Goods T&T also proposed the concept of Land Management Plans (LMPs), which would allow farmers to layer PGs on the same area of land and get much higher payments.

As for SFI, which was proposed as the most accessible tier of ELMS, the aim was to generate widespread take-up by farmers, Ms Laughton said. The scheme was focused around natural capital and ecosystem services and includes asset-based standards, in which ‘assets’ are things like soil, hedges, grassland.

The three levels of SFI – basic, intermediate, and advanced – offer farmers payments/ha depending on which set of actions are completed. So far, the scheme has been poorly received, due to the low payment rate not providing enough incentive to farmers.

On a more positive note, LWA is currently in the process of developing SFI standards for market gardens and orchards, where the first hectare would be paid at a higher rate than subsequent hectares, Ms Laughton said.

Other tiers of ELMS include Landscape Recovery, which will see the launch of ambitious large-scale “rewilding” projects spanning entire landscapes, as well as Countryside Stewardship +, which Ms Laughton believes offers lots of possibilities for agroecology.

All ELM schemes currently have a 5ha entry requirement, which is likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future, according to the speaker.

“A problem we have with making a case for small farmers is the government saying, ‘If we take away the 5ha threshold, what will stop large gardeners applying for subsidies?’” she added.

To make sure small farmers are accounted for, the LWA has joined the ELMS External Engagement Group in which organisations get prior access to policies before they are made publicly available.

Other background advocacy the LWA has been involved in include:

• Farm study tours and open days
• Creating volunteering opportunities and courses
• Lobbying for public engagement – essential for changing public attitudes to farming
• Campaigning with Countryside Trust, Sustain, and other organisations

Farm visits are an effective way to campaign as they help debunk the myth that only large-scale farms are viable.

Ireland – Farming with Nature scheme and results-based payments a possibility

Last but not least, Bridget Murphy, project manager of the Soil Biodiversity European Innovation Partnership project for the Irish agroecological farm organisation Talamh Beo (meaning: living land), talked about how small farmers and agroecology fit into the subsidy system in Northern and Southern Ireland.

According to Ms Murphy, Northern Ireland (NI) has the smallest average land size in the UK at around 30 ha, with 85% of land designated for livestock or crops produced to feed livestock.

While NI has begun its process of developing a new agricultural payment scheme to replace the EU’s CAP, there are significant problems in terms of water quality, GHG emissions, biodiversity loss, and the impact of market volatility on the agricultural sector, Ms Murphy said.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has recently published a series of high-level priorities for the purposes of agricultural policy framework, which are built around increased resilience, productivity, environmental sustainability and supply chain functionality.

However, these “fancy” words in government policy have no relation to how organisations like Talamh Beo or LWA understand them, Ms Murphy pointed out, and are only used to maintain the pretense of responding to the demands of farming groups.

Speaking of how payments for farmers will change in the coming years, she said the £320 million funding allocated for subsidies in NI will be maintained until 2024, after which the situation remains unknown.

“Unlike the rest of the UK, NI has decided not to underpin future agricultural policy and payments through a NI Agriculture Act, which risks stalling a transition to more regenerative farming and land management,” Ms Murphy said.

The government does, however, have plans to develop a Farming with Nature scheme, which will reward farmers for adopting nature-friendly practices with results-based payments, she added.

Meanwhile, in the south, the average land size is 32 ha, with most agricultural land being used for livestock, small tillage, and tiny horticulture, Ms Murphy said. While there isn’t a clear definition of small farms in the Republic of Ireland, farmers who haven’t intensified and modernised with big machinery instantly fall into this category.

“They want small and productive farms to go, bigger precision farmers to rise, the definition of production still only being linked to livestock, tillage and the bigger horticultural sector,” she remarked.

Due to vegetable farming being seen as small, the country imports most of its fruit and veg from abroad. At the same time, the opportunity to produce food on a small scale increases greatly with procurement, which is why it’s so important to promote public engagement in farming, Ms Murphy added.

From the asks of Talamh Beo when the new cap was being drawn up, she highlighted:

• Transitioning to agroecological farming systems
• Moving away from a focus on industry, agribusiness, growth, and global markets towards a focus which secures future livelihoods
• Support for ecosystems rather than commodification
• A CAP strategic plan built on human rights, the rights of family farmers and people who work in rural areas
• Access to high quality food produced by farmers earning a fair wage while they’re regenerating those ecosystems and soils
• Affordable local food

Very few farms in the Republic of Ireland are certified as organic.

Addressing the hot topic of organic farming, Ms Murphy revealed Ireland consists of less than 2% organic farms at present.

“While all other EU countries are aiming for 25% organic, we’re aiming to have 7.5%, but we have a very clear idea that we’re not going to get there,” she added.

On a final note, she called for women farmers to be given equal support initially until they reach at least the average payment rate in the industry.

Rounding up the session, Jyoti Fernandes encouraged the audience to join LWA as farmer members or as supporters to help further the work of speakers and their colleagues and back the organisation’s capacity to initiate change.

“By coming to our events and participating in our campaigns, you’re making change happen and can help reverse this trend,” she concluded.

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The First Minister said she will remain in office until her successor is in place and shared her aspirations for the future of the nation’s political landscape in a statement issued by the Scottish Government:

“Since my first moments in the job, I have believed that part of serving well would be to know – almost instinctively – when the time is right to make way for someone else. And when that time comes, to have the courage to do so. In my head and my heart I know that time is now.”

Serving as First Minister for over eight years and as Deputy First Minister before that, Ms Sturgeon said “it is only possible to give absolutely everything to a job of this nature for so long”.

“Given the nature and scale of the challenges the country faces, I feel that duty, first and foremost, is to our country – to ensure that it does have the energy of leadership it needs, not just today, but through the years that remain of this parliamentary term.

“I consider this decision to be the right one for me, my party and the country,” she continued. “I hope it can also be the right one for our politics. If all parties were to take this opportunity to try to de-polarise public debate just a bit, to focus more on issues, and to reset the tone and tenor of our discourse.”

Ms Sturgeon proceeded to thank “a very long list of people” for their support during her two terms as First Minister and the service they have provided the government and the country.

Farming must take priority

Commenting on the news, NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy said: “On behalf of NFU Scotland, can I thank Nicola Sturgeon for the dedicated service she has shown as Scotland’s longest serving First Minister.

“As a lead lobbying organisation, NFU Scotland has welcomed the opportunity to meet with the First Minister on several occasions, not least at events like the Highland Show and when she addressed our AGM and conference in 2017.”

In light of the uncertain times facing the farming industry in Scotland and the rest of the UK, Mr Kennedy stressed agriculture must be regarded as a key area of focus for the next First Minister.

“[…] Farming, crofting and our food and drink sectors face many challenges if they are to remain essential cornerstones of Scotland’s rural economy and its manufacturing industry. That makes them key areas for any future First Minister to consider and once appointed, we look forward to meeting with them on behalf of farmers and crofters.”

Within the agriculture sector, an important consideration for Ms Sturgeon’s successor will be maximising land opportunities across the country.

With an estimated £15 billion-£27 billion of investment required in Scotland to reach net zero by 2045, a recently published paper by the Scottish Land Commission highlighted how investment in natural capital enhancement, restoration, and creation projects can deliver a multitude of public, private, and community benefits.

Scottish Land Commission chief executive Hamish Trench said: “Scotland’s land plays a pivotal role in our everyday lives and so it is essential that communities are able to influence and benefit from natural capital projects, land decisions and land use.”

Continuity and stability are required

In response to the Scottish First Minister’s announcement, the National Sheep Association (NSA) Scottish Region called for the retention of continuity and consistency in an increasingly turbulent agricultural landscape.

‘This most recent change in Scotland’s leading political party comes at a time of continued volatility across the farming industry with increased input costs, changes to farming policy and the anticipated rollout of future farming schemes,’ the NSA said in a media release.

‘NSA Scottish Region advocates the absolute importance of stability and continuity amongst government to ensure businesses are able to navigate uncertainties within the marketplace.’

Moreover, the organisation expressed the need for increased communication to prevent poor or ill-informed decisions on future financial and policy support which could ‘destabilise and damage primary production businesses’.

In addition, the NSA Scottish Region emphasised the necessity of a united and stable government which ‘isn’t distracted from its task’ and can implement food and farming policies that span beyond parliamentary terms.

‘NSA Scottish Region is again calling for protection and recognition of the hard earned standards we are held to and champion them along with ensuring farmers are kept on the land and rewarded for the food they produce.’

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Sky lanterns can be highly dangerous to farming and wildlife, causing wildfires that can harm animals and destroy homes. Fallen lanterns also litter the environment and can be eaten by livestock or other animals, leading to injury and even death.

Farmers have long been calling for a change in legislation regarding the sale and use of sky lanterns due to the threat they continue to pose to agricultural businesses. The petition reaching 100,000 signatures means the issue will now be considered for a debate in the UK Parliament.

The petition is supported by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), the RSPCA and Keep Britain Tidy and will now be sent to Defra for review. This comes after Defra has commissioned research to investigate the effects of sky lanterns on the countryside.

NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw said: “Over 200,000 sky lanterns are released every year in the UK and we have heard countless examples of the harm to animals and wildlife. They cause unnecessary litter across our beautiful countryside and cause fires, putting an unnecessary strain on public safety services such as local Fire and Rescue Services.”

Mr Bradshaw highlighted the importance of the issue to the British public and said the new milestone indicates an urgent need for the government to implement a ban.

“Farmers applaud the 186 councils across England and Wales which have already banned sky lanterns, and it’s positive that Defra is commissioning research into the issue.

“Sky lanterns are already banned in Austria, Germany and Brazil. It’s time now for our government, which has just published the Environmental Improvement Plan, to follow their lead to create a safer and cleaner countryside,” Mr Bradshaw stressed.

“We look forward to continuing to support Defra on this matter and would welcome an update on the progress of the impact assessment as soon as possible.”

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Mark Spencer, former dairy farmer and Defra farming minister

It will be one of the first major farm events Mr Spencer has attended since he took the role in September last year.

It is expected he will highlight in his keynote address at 10:30am the importance of the industry moving towards a more sustainable, resilient food system in a bid to feed a growing population, halt the decline of nature by 2030 and achieve net zero.

It is hoped he will also give some insight into the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), what it really means for dairy farmers and the application process.

Commenting ahead of the minister’s visit, RABDF managing director Matt Knight said: “There have been many mixed messages around the SFI over the last few months. We hope Mr Spencer will be able to outline exactly what is happening and what is needed so farmers can make an informed choice about support payments and management decisions in the future.

“There will also be the opportunity for delegates to next week’s event to pose questions to the Minister during the State of the Dairying Nation debate at 10:45am, so it’s definitely a session not to be missed.”

The minister will also be taking a look around the show and will visit some exhibitors showcasing the latest agri tech.

Mr Knight added: “We hope, by visiting Dairy-Tech, Mr Spencer will get a flavour of our hard-working and vital industry and all it offers. He must understand what’s working and the challenges we are witnessing, such as the labour shortage.”

To find out more about Dairy-Tech 2023, secure your discounted tickets when bought before the show and to get the full list of 300 exhibitors, visit dairy-tech.uk

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Mesmerising singing and a captivating Taiko drum performance greeted delegates at day two of the 14^th ORFC, which, in Francesca Price’s words, in now the largest agroecological gathering on the planet.

Ms Price, a journalist, campaigner, and founder of the We Feed the World project, opened the event by welcoming delegates back to the venue for the first time in three years, and also acknowledged the 2,500 attendants joining online from 130 countries around the world.

Held annually in early January since 2010, ORFC is a three-day event running across seven venues in Oxford as well as an online platform. Each year, the conference offers a diverse programme that has at its core a shared interest of agroecology and nature friendly farming.

After Ms Price extended her thanks to partner organisations for enabling the event to run at such an affordable price, Ruth West, co-founder of the ORFC, said a few words.

Upon welcoming delegates to the conference, Ms West clarified the term ‘real farming’, which refers to the practise of farming that is kind to nature, restores biodiversity, and mitigates climate change.

Ms West likened the term to agroecology, the central theme of the conference, which is the science as well as the practice that conceives farms as an ecosystem rather than factories producing food at scale.

“Most importantly, it’s a social movement, a grassroots call to bring about transformative food system change, and I’m convinced we need that change in real farming,” Ms West said.

She added that in order for farming to succeed on the long term, producers need the support of non-farmers in the form of paying a proper price for their produce and, putting pressure on supermarket to change their supply chain practices in favour of farmers.

The issues underpinning the farming crisis

Ms West’s speech was followed by Oli Rodker from the Landworker’s Alliance (LWA), who began by reflecting on the conference being back in person and the upheaval Britain went through during the time in between.

He then shared a quote from Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci about the difficulties of changing the political and economic systems: “The crisis consists in the fact that the old is dying, and the new cannot be born, and in this interval, a great variety of morbid systems appear.”

Mr Rodker pointed out that although the quote was written in 1930, it’s still very pertinent in today’s society. He said events like the ORFC are a great opportunity to take stock and look around ourselves and appreciated how far the conference has come since its inception 14 years ago.

However, while we should take the time to appreciate growth and success, Mr Rodker reminded the audience that the wider issues of the world are far from resolved.

“The forces that are destroying nature and causing so much harm are still with us. The new world is not yet born. And despite all the farms and projects that we are part of, the dominant narrative is still industrial, still profiteering, still inequitable, still colonial, still racist. Greenhouse gases and other pollution are still being poured out, and I think we have to ask why that is.”

Sharing his take on the question, Mr Rodker suggested the key reason why the change the industry desperately needs hasn’t happened yet lies in the lack of political coordination among the various farming organisations. The industry, he believes, is devoid of sufficient political power at present to initiate lasting change.

“It’s hard to build alliances, it’s hard to make compromises, it’s hard to find common ground. It’s hard to see what links us rather than what separates us, it seems to be a human trait, but it is essential and I think it’s what we need to concentrate on,” he stressed.

Steering towards the solution, Mr Rodker suggested farmers and other industry players mustn’t let smaller differences deter them from working together and encouraged delegates to connect with others throughout the conference.

Concluding his speech, Mr Rodker said change can be achieved by working together effectively and the farming community is capable of building up a force that is unstoppable.

“Change, while difficult, is possible”

Stepping on the podium next, Rebecca Mayhew, Pasture for Life regional facilitator in East Anglia, spoke about her family farm’s transition to a regenerative enterprise and the challenges and rewards that came with it.

Ms Mayhew and her family were new entrants to the dairy industry in 2017. Since the humble beginnings of selling milk from a shed at the end of the drive, the business now supports a full farm shop and butchery and a team of 20 employees.

Ms Mayhew is proud to sell raw milk from Jersey cows that keep their calves at foot and are 100% pasture-fed. She currently farms 45 dairy cows as well as beef cattle, sheep, pigs and other animals.

However, switching to a more regenerative farming model has been a lengthy transition, she related. The family farm used to produce conventionally grown arable crops and intensive pigs with the purpose of feeding the world as efficiently as possible – or in other words, at any cost.

Several years later, Ms Mayhew is now thankful that the business has stepped onto a regenerative and agroecology journey and pledged to spend the rest of her life improving the soil, the waters, and the life of their animals.

Speaking from personal experience, she acknowledged that change, while difficult, is possible, and added the conference offers a great deal of potential “to learn and grow, to challenge preconceived ideas and to help us have a positive influence on those around us.”

Finishing her talk with a quote from West Jackson, Ms Mayhew read: “Since our break with nature came with agriculture, it seems only fitting that the healing of culture begin with agriculture, fitting that agriculture take the lead.”

Following the applause that ensued, Nikki Yoxall, Pasture for Life research manager and Scotland regional facilitator, said a few words about agroecology and what this conference is all about.

Reflecting on the work of individuals at the forefront of the agroecological movement, Ms Yoxall shared a quote form researcher and author Julia Wright’s book Subtle Agroecology:

“This idea of subtle agroecology is the systematic study of the nature of the invisible world as it relates to the practice of agriculture, which is done through adapting and innovating research methods, and in particular, those with a more embodied nature, with the overall purpose of bringing and maintaining balance and harmony.”

Ms Yoxall, who also farms 100% pasture-fed beef cattle in the northeast of Scotland, said the conference to her is all about friendships, networks, and caring for each other.

Ending on a quote from one of her heroes, distinguished teaching professor of Environmental and Forest Biology Robin Wall Kimmerer, Ms Yoxall recited her words about choosing joy over despair and being grateful for the precious gifts the Earth provides us with day after day.

Next up, Naomi Terry from Land in Our Names (LION) and Shared Assets, gave delegates a brief overview about the Justice Hub at ORFC and what to expect from its programmes during the course of the event.

Appreciating the various themes of justice permeating throughout the conference, Ms Terry invited all delegates present to visit a hub, which is a dedicated space for sharing knowledge about justice issues and their relation to food and farming, as well as supporting marginalised groups in the industry.

She also acknowledged the conference is a lot to take in and encouraged the audience to be present and listen wherever they may find themselves over the next couple of days. Wrapping up her talk, she recited a poem she scribbled in her notebook about the power of the imagination:

“Before the first seed is even sown,

before the cracked dirt is tenderly moistened,

before all of this,

next year’s harvest is already imagined.

There will be fields of plenty,

there will be a hard one revolution.

The future’s losses are already buried,

you have already quit your job,

your children are already grown,

your breath has already been taken,

your vision is already seen.

The rains have already come,

the work, my friends, is already done.”

“We need to tackle illiteracy in power”

The plenary’s next speaker, Kath Dalmeny, chief executive of Sustain, echoed Mr Rodker’s words earlier about the need to get political. She highlighted the issue of people sitting in the chairs of power who are oblivious to the things that matter and don’t know how to keep good farming going.

“Food has fallen off the agenda of politicians again, partly because we are not making our voices heard well enough,” Ms Dalmeny pointed out.

At the same time, she acknowledged the farming movement has been steadily growing thanks to initiatives like ORFC and organisations sharing the vision of nature friendly farming.

Moreover, she stressed people’s money must go to the right places and help the right people, and called for transparency in supply chains and farmers to be paid a fair price for their produce.

“We need to multiply our power. We need to tackle illiteracy in power and demand more for what is being done in our names,“ she added.

Finally, she encouraged all participants to connect over the conference and said in a spirit of optimism that when farmers raise their voices, change can happen.

“Those who eat should help grow the food”

Last but not least, the audience welcomed Satish Kumar from Schumacher College and Resurgence Trust, who congratulated the organisers and all those who played a part in putting the conference together.

Addressing the issues faced by the farming industry, Mr Kumar said the educational system is part of the problem. He pointed out that at most institutions, students and teachers don’t have a relationship with the land, which fundamentally underlies the disconnectedness of most farmers from nature.

In contrast, Schumacher College promotes the concept that those who eat should help grow the food and also the idea of active hope and being an optimist.

Mr Kumar emphasized that while the college is a small grassroots organisation, its power shouldn’t be underestimated. To illustrate, he gave the example of putting yeast in bread – as without yeast, there is no bread.

Pointing at the audience, Mr Kumar said: “You, the real farmers, are the yeast in the real movement to transform the world of today, of agriculture.”

He continued by saying that real change doesn’t come from the government, but from grassroots level organisations and individuals, supporting his claim with historic examples. He urged the audience to step up and initiate change as the power lies in the hands of real farmers.

Mr Kumar finished on the note that all living beings depend on the land and by restoring its health, we restore ourselves.

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In her message to the nation’s farmers, NFU President Minette Batters said: “When I wrote last year’s New Year’s Message, nobody could have predicted what we’ve witnessed in the past 12 months. From the war in Ukraine, which has created global turmoil and significantly disrupted food and energy supply chains, to our own political upheavals.

“On top of that we’ve had soaring input costs and the effects of climate change demonstrated by this year’s drought; the challenges faced by us all have been unprecedented,” she remarked.

Ms Batters continued by saying how the events of the past year have made food production throughout the year much harder and expressed her appreciation for the substantial public support farming receives in the UK.

She also took the opportunity to reflect on the successes achieved over the past 12 months that will propel the industry forward in the forthcoming years:

“We have seen an increase in the number of seasonal workers’ visas which will be a relief to farmers and growers employing the skilled workforce needed to produce fruit, vegetables and ornamentals next year.

“We have secured funding from government to level up rural communities through the Rural England Prosperity Fund, in addition to successfully recruiting eight new agri-food attachés overseas who will help drive exports of British food abroad,” she added.

Moreover, Ms Batters highlighted her meeting with prime minister Rishi Sunak at the end of the year, where she pressed once again “the importance of food security and home-grown food production.” She is confident the prime minister will continue to support British farming and will honour his promises made to the industry.

“It was clear from my meeting with the Prime Minister that he has the same ambition as us for British food and farming. If we are to continue delivering for the nation, we need to see him honour his pledge made at the NFU Hustings event in August – to support British farming by setting a target for the nation’s food security, with a statutory duty to report on domestic food levels.”

In addition, Ms Batters expressed the need for clarity on policies like the ELM schemes to ensure financial resilience for farmers producing climate-friendly food and green energy.

Looking at the year ahead, Ms Batters spoke of the various opportunities farming has to deliver more for the country and the conditions required to achieve this.

“We have the ambition and drive to produce more renewable energy, enhance our environment, care for our countryside and work towards our commitment to reach net zero by 2040, all while producing sustainable food.

“To do this we need to ensure that we build profitability and resilience into our farm businesses to allow us to safeguard the nation’s food and energy security. It is vital that the government delivers the policies and investment needed to unlock a thriving food and farming sector.”

Concluding her message, Ms Batters said: “2022 has been an extraordinary year. I am hopeful that 2023 will be the year that the government gets serious about British food and farming and that the government delivers the policies and support needed for us to thrive domestically and in markets around the world.

“The NFU will be focusing on these areas to build resilience and profitability back to British farming no matter what the next year brings.”

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