Encouraging words and a ‘New Deal’ from Defra Secretary of State
Following a downbeat Farming Opinion Tracker survey which indicates that 25% of farmers plan to reduce their operation and 14% plan to leave farming entirely in the next 3-5 years, new Defra Minister Steve Reed has pledged a ‘new deal’ for farmers to boost Britain’s food security and drive rural economic growth.
In a speech at this week’s Summer Stakeholder Reception, Mr Reed said: “We will support farmers to strengthen Britain’s food security and boost rural growth with a new deal for farmers, cutting energy bills, ending trade deals that undermine environmental and welfare standards, and buying more British produce with the public purse.”