With studies showing the public is largely on the sector’s side when it comes to the ‘tractor tax’ issue, now is the time for farming to get the message across about how important food production is to society as a whole, and to persuade the voting public that the country needs a set of policies which will enable agriculture to ensure Britain’s food security.
One of the biggest issues is the impact of climate change on harvest consistency. Farming has always been weather dependent; however, two of the last four decades’ poorest UK wheat harvests (by tonnage) have been in the last four years, and with climate scientists predicting even greater volatility, we need to explore ways of mitigating the effects of climate change.
This could include moving towards crops which are more resistant to drought/wet weather/temperature change, making the most of scientific advances, finding new ways to maximise water use, or exploring co-operative working with other farmers to mitigate risk.
Of course, government policy has a huge impact on the ability of farming to adapt to change. Since the demise of the Basic Payment Scheme, agricultural policy has been built on shifting sands, bouncing between expansive promises to maintain support and focus on environmental stewardship (until the money runs out, of course) to worrying about food security. It sometimes feels like the sector is being buffeted by government policy rather than helping to shape it.
Environmental policies around Nutrient Neutrality and Biodiversity Net Gain are perceived as being at the expense of food production; meanwhile the drive for green energy and new housing is increasingly focussed on the green belt. And of course, there is a pressing need to increase farm profitability if many farms are to survive the IHT challenges.
And then there is the impact of events in the wider world, over which we have less influence. The looming threat of tariffs from President Trump – as well as the realisation that Europe will need to assume much more responsibility for its own security, with all of the economic implications that brings – presents a whole new set of challenges. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised a ‘reset’ in our relationship with the EU, but as yet we don’t know what that will look like.
Finally, there is the issue of productivity. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, farming productivity soared, with ever-increasing yields driven by chemicals and intensive farming. In the 21st century that growth has largely stalled. We need to be embracing science - robotics, precision farming, vertical farming and so on – to increase yields while reducing the environmental impact of what we do.
These are the real existential challenges facing agriculture. While we have the public’s attention, we need to be explaining them to gain wider acceptance that there is a pressing need to solve them.