Farm Leaders Demand Political Backing As Pressures Mount On British Agriculture

Farm leaders have called on newly elected councillors and members of the Senedd to throw their support behind British agriculture, warning that the sector is facing mounting pressures from rising costs, global instability and ongoing regulatory challenges.

The appeals come following local elections across England and the Senedd elections in Wales, with farming organisations urging political leaders at both local and national level to prioritise food security, rural investment and farm profitability.

In Wales, NFU Cymru said the new Welsh Government and Senedd must show “equal ambition” in supporting the agricultural industry and helping it reach its full economic potential. The union highlighted the importance of the Welsh food and drink sector, which generates more than £10bn annually and relies heavily on domestic farm production.

NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said recent global events had underlined the importance of maintaining a resilient domestic food production base, particularly following renewed instability in the Middle East.

The union is calling for a comprehensive “farm to fork” strategy to strengthen Welsh food production, alongside a ring-fenced multi-year agricultural budget and continued backing for the Sustainable Farming Scheme. It has also renewed calls for reforms to agricultural pollution regulations and a more effective approach to tackling bovine TB in Wales.

Meanwhile, the National Farmers' Union has urged newly elected local councillors across England to champion pro-farming policies that could directly benefit rural communities and farm businesses.

The NFU said councils could play a major role in areas including planning, rural crime prevention, food procurement and improving rural connectivity. The union wants councils to ensure planning officers better understand agricultural operations, while also helping tackle fly-tipping, machinery theft and broadband “not-spots” in rural areas.

The organisation is also encouraging local authorities to source at least 50% of the food they procure from local farmers and growers.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said farming remained at the heart of rural communities and the wider economy, but warned the sector was enduring an “extremely difficult time”.

He pointed to ongoing pressures including increased fuel, fertiliser and energy costs linked to global conflicts, alongside increasingly volatile weather conditions and the gradual reduction of farm support payments.

Bradshaw said that while many of the biggest challenges facing farming required action from Westminster, local authorities could still make a meaningful difference by supporting policies that helped create a thriving and profitable farming sector.