Stuart Anderson, South Shropshire’s Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, has welcomed a major new package of support for rural communities to protect British farming for generations to come. The multi-million pound boost for farmers was announced by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP during his keynote speech at the National Farmers Union conference in Birmingham on 20th February 2024.
Having made championing our farmers a key priority, Stuart welcomed the funding. It constitutes the largest ever grant offer for farmers, totalling £427 million, including £220 million for technology and productivity schemes to protect British farming for future generations. This will ensure that farmers can access new equipment which increases automation, cost-saving energy measures such as rooftop solar, and support to increase processing, packing, and retailing on farms. The package will ensure that the Government delivers on its commitment to maintain the farming budget for England at £2.4 billion per year, with almost half of farmers in England having been supported through the Government’s new schemes.
Stuart also endorsed the Government’s decision to double management payments for the Sustainable Farming Incentive, putting up to an extra £1,000 in farmers’ pockets. More than 11,000 farmers already in the schemes will be eligible for the payments, which assist them to improve soil health, optimise fertiliser, protect waterways and enhance and preserve hedgerows. This will help farmers to generate income from unproductive corners and edges of fields. It will be further extended in July when the Countryside Stewardship mid-tier opens up, ensuring there is a single front door to make the application process even easier.
In addition, Stuart welcomed plans to publish an annual Food Security Index at the next ‘Farm to Fork’ Summit this Spring. The UK-wide index will capture and present the key data needed to monitor how we are maintaining our current levels of food security across the country and is expected to be UK-wide. In addition, the Farm to Fork Summit, the first of which was hosted last year, will become an annual tradition - ensuring Westminster continues to listen to the concerns of the farming community for years to come.
Finally, Stuart backed the Government’s plans to cut bureaucratic red tape around permitted development rights so farmers can easily develop buildings and diversify earnings through farm shops, commercial space, and sporting venues. It will benefit the broader community by increasing job opportunities and commercial units, helping residents to develop small and medium enterprises and connecting communities more with their local farms.
Stuart Anderson said: “One of my first jobs was as a farm hand, so I have a deep understanding of the vital role that farmers play in our communities. That’s why backing our farmers is a key part of my plan for South Shropshire. I welcome this multi-million pound boost for farmers announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. It constitutes the largest ever grant offer for farmers, totalling £427 million. By cutting red tape and ensuring that farmers can access the latest technology, this package of support will also enable them to keep innovating and delivering high quality produce that is envied around the world for its standard.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “We’ll never take our food security for granted. We’ve got a plan to support British farming – and we’re going further again today… I know how important my neighbours - our farmers - truly are. You help to employ millions, 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.”
