Issue - meetings

On 4 August 2016 the Cabinet voted unanimously to support the NFU pledge to back British Farming. Discussion to take place with a representative from the NFU as to the practical ways in which the Council can support this important sector within Mid Devon.

At a meeting on 4 August 2016 the Cabinet had voted unanimously to support the NFU pledge to back British Farming. The NFU’s County Advisor had been invited to attend the meeting today so that discussion could take place as to how the Council could better support this important sector within Mid Devon.

Mr Andrew Butler presented the Group with a presentation outlining the relevant facts and figures for the agricultural sector at the current time. This included the following:

·         These were challenging times and the sector was under pressure.

·         Since Brexit there had been a significant currency bounce, prices for milk and wheat were now up by 25% compared to the summer.

·         Food was the biggest manufacturing sector by a long way.

·         Nationally half a million people worked on farms.

·         There was a declining trend in ‘food self-sufficiency’ at a UK level, this was worrying given a rising population.

·         Farming was not only important for the economy but the landscape was important for tourism and energy production.

·         Other challenging factors included market volatility, Bovine TB, Brexit, and labour, for example, 80% of the people employed in abattoirs were non British. However, there was a growing demand for British produce and there was an increase in the purchase of red tractor line products.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         Brexit – the NFU had just completed a consultation with all of its members developing a domestic agricultural policy was going to be important as was the level of subsidy which could eliminated some risk. What was more important in the short term was the trade deals that the government was able to secure, this would define the economic environment in which farming was going to have to trade. Until the Union knew what deals they could secure it was difficult to know what the sector needed.

·         As an industry, farmers were united at a high level but there were some disagreements when it came to the detail.

·         Although there had been a growth in young people studying agriculture there were difficulties in keeping them within the industry. The current perception was that it was a negative industry where it was difficult to make any money.

·         The tax system was not helpful, however the systems of contract farming and share farming were explained. It was possible to have a 5% ownership option for example.

·         Meat was produced at a cheaper cost in other countries but welfare standards were lower.

The Group asked the NFU representative what the Council could do in a practical way to help the sector? Raising awareness was the first step. A lot of focus had been on the town centres but agriculture is what shaped Mid Devon. Future development at J27 could help significantly. The NFU representative further stated that it was important for District Councillors to lobby local MP’s and Ministers. The sector needed to be heard and large groups of organisations needed to join together otherwise there was a danger that even more farmers would leave the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39