The NFU has printed the findings from a survey highlighting the British public’s help for farming to mark Again British Farming Day.
The NFU’s newest Farmer Favourability Survey confirmed the British public ranked farming because the second most revered career within the UK for the third yr working, behind solely the nation’s nurses.
The survey additionally discovered:
- 92% individuals really feel it’s essential Britain has a productive farming sector.
- 89% say British farms ought to develop as a lot meals as potential to help nationwide meals safety.
- Over half of respondents imagine farmers are underappreciated for the function they play in society.
- Greater than three-quarters of respondents belief British meals greater than meals from the remainder of the world.
Because the NFU takes Again British Farming Day as soon as once more to Westminster, it’s calling on authorities to recognise and mirror on this continued public help with insurance policies that really worth home meals manufacturing and farming’s environmental supply. With new Ministers in Defra, the NFU believes there is a chance to make farming’s case strongly to a brand new high staff.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw mentioned: “Again British Farming Day is about recognising the worth of our farmers – not only for the meals they produce, however for the function they play in our communities, our economic system and our surroundings. And clearly, the general public is behind us.”
However whereas the general public help is vastly appreciated, he mentioned many farmers and growers face rising challenges. The typical farm carries important money owed simply to remain afloat, whereas practically half of all farm companies are tenanted and don’t personal their most dear asset – the land they farm. With the typical age of a farmer now 60-years-old, long-term funding and succession planning is turning into more and more tougher.
Farmers proceed to take a position billions within the wider economic system, help rural tourism and diversify their companies to remain resilient. However to safe the way forward for British farming, the NFU is looking for pressing motion to enhance farm profitability, defend home meals manufacturing and guarantee honest requirements in commerce.
Mr Bradshaw added: “Our farmers and growers are proud to provide the meals that feeds the nation, whereas delivering for nature, rural communities and the broader economic system. However they want confidence to take a position for the long run.
“Key to the long-term way forward for our farms is bettering the profitability of sustainable meals manufacturing. One easy factor the federal government can do is the precise factor on inheritance tax to keep away from bereaved farming households having to fork out for an unaffordable tax invoice – one thing we all know the general public stands behind.”
RSPCA Assured survey
RSPCA Assured has additionally printed survey findings to mark Again British Farming Day. It revealed that 62% of UK buyers would spend extra and purchase British higher-welfare labelled merchandise – equivalent to free-range, natural and RSPCA Assured – moderately than accept cheaper alternate options.
The YouGov ballot additionally discovered that greater than a 3rd (38%) of individuals would go elsewhere if their normal store didn’t have higher-welfare labelled British meals choices out there.
Charlotte Thomas, Regional Evaluation Supervisor at RSPCA Assured, mentioned: “Each time you select a product with a higher-welfare label, you assist guarantee farmed animals dwell higher lives.
“With this one easy alternative, you’re saying no to cages, no to fast-growing chickens, no to insufficient enrichment and bedding, no to routine antibiotic utilization and extra. You’re additionally defending these British farmers who adhere to higher-welfare requirements from unfair competitors from cheaper, decrease‑welfare imports.”
