Stuart Anderson, South Shropshire’s Conservatives Parliamentary Candidate, is seeking the views of local farmers. He has launched a survey to gather feedback from those working in the sector as part of his campaign to champion farmers voices.
Stuart has already held a Rural Q&A and welcomed Farming Minister Mark Spencer to Shropshire. He has now launched a wide-ranging survey to gather more in-depth details about gaps in support for farmers and improvements to be made.
The Government is already acting upon farmers’ feedback, having set out the biggest upgrades to the UK’s farming schemes since leaving the EU - with more money, more choice, and more trust to support domestic food production whilst also protecting the natural environment.
Changes include a 10% increase in the average value of agreements in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship (CS), around 50 new actions farmers can be paid for such as improving soil health, providing nesting, and foraging habitats for farmland wildlife as well as a single streamlined application process for the SFI and CS Mid Tier.
At the National Farmer’s Union Annual Conference at Birmingham in February, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the largest-ever round of farming grants to boost resilience and productivity, an annual Food Security Index to capture and present the key data to monitor food security, and a yearly Farm to Fork Summit to increase industry collaboration.
Now, Stuart’s survey polls local farmers on a variety of issues, exploring local farming activities including obstacles that farmers face and how these can be overcome. The survey is an integral part of Stuart’s plan for championing farmers in South Shropshire. His theory of change is based on the three central pillars; to listen, to support, and to deliver for farmers. Stuart will use the feedback to shape his policies if he is elected to represent Shropshire.
Stuart Anderson said: “Shropshire’s farmers are the custodians of our stunning countryside and producers of high quality food which is favoured around the world. I am delighted the Government is supporting British farming with £2.4 billion each year. I am committed to championing our farmers’ voices at the very highest levels of government. That’s why I launched my survey, enabling us to hear directly from farmers about how we can help them unlock their potential. The results will help me to best represent Shropshire’s farmers if I am elected at the General Election, shaping the future of support for our farmers. I want to ensure that we deliver for farmers. We can only do so from learning more about their needs and aspirations. So I encourage as many farmers as possible to take part.”
At the NFU Conference, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Supporting farmers, changing our approach, and strengthening food security – that’s our plan. More than this, you can trust us because I know how important my neighbours, our farmers, all of you, truly are. You help support millions of jobs, add billions to our economy, shape the landscape, but most of all, you produce the food we need – food that is some of the best and highest quality anywhere in the world. That’s why I say to all of you and to Britain’s farmers just as I did in my first days in Parliament: I’ve got your back.”
Stuart’s survey can be accessed below
