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Rural campaigners have issued a stern challenge to the government, urging them to "put their money where their mouth is" on sustainable farming. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is calling for a significant boost to the agriculture budget, raising it to £3.8 billion a year by 2027/28.
This increase, they argue, is crucial to ensure long-term growth in the rural economy and to achieve vital environmental targets. The CLA has presented a detailed rationale for this increase, offering the industry much-needed certainty during the post-Brexit transition.
Shifting Landscape of Agricultural Payments
Traditionally, farmers received payments based on acreage. However, since Brexit, the government has been steering towards a new era of sustainable food production, coupled with public payments for public goods.
Despite this shift, and in the face of soaring inflation, concerns about domestic food security, and the growing scale of environmental challenges, the budget has remained stagnant since 2014.
Call for Increased Budget
The CLA, along with other industry groups, is advocating for a substantial budget increase from the current £2.4 billion a year to £3.8 billion a year in England, with an additional £1 billion budget for Wales.
CLA President, Victoria Vyvyan, emphasized the need for adequate funding, stating, "Landowners can feed the nation and improve the environment – but they can't do it on a shoestring budget." She called for a budget reset and urged the government to demonstrate its commitment with concrete financial backing.
Detailed Budget Breakdown
The CLA has provided a comprehensive assessment of the ringfenced agriculture budget required in England from 2025/26 to meet the government's commitments. The analysis focuses on enhancing existing schemes and programs to achieve these objectives.
Key areas covered include the Environmental Land Management (ELM) program, the Nature for Climate program, and support for rural productivity, resilience, and food security.
Phasing Out of Basic Payment Scheme
The CLA's analysis also takes into account the phasing out of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), which is set to disappear completely by 2028-29. Ms Vyvyan warned against a potential financial cliff-edge for farming businesses as BPS payments are withdrawn.
Ultimately, the call for increased funding reflects the growing urgency for the government to match its rhetoric on sustainable farming with tangible financial support.
As Ms Vyvyan put it, "The new government says it wants to support farmers and boost Britain’s food security, and now is the time to put their money where their mouth is and back them to grow food and improve our environment.”
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