March farming leader urges newly-elected county councillors to back the industry
A March farming leader is urging councillors to back the industry following the county elections.
Alison Morris is a fifth-generation arable farmer and chair of NFU Cambridgeshire, an apolitical union which works with councillors and MPs from all parties to deliver a positive future for British farmers and growers.
She said: “Farming is a hugely important industry to Cambridgeshire and the wider region of East Anglia.
“Farmers here drive the local economy, produce top quality, tasty, healthy, traceable and affordable food, support the environment, protect and enhance the great British countryside and adhere to world-leading animal welfare standards.
“But farmers are facing some huge challenges.
“The NFU’s farmer confidence survey found farmer confidence to be at an all-time low and that is a reflection of how farmers are feeling in Cambridgeshire.
“Farmers have been hit by a whirlwind of problems in the last 18 months, including the family farm tax, extreme weather with increasing incidents of floods and droughts, rising rates of rural crime, issues with planning red tape and the recent closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
“We need political support at all levels to overcome these challenges.”
The NFU says Cambridgeshire farmers play a big part in the huge contribution farming makes to the economy in East Anglia – valued at around £1.4billion.
Food production plays a key role in supporting around 6,500 jobs in Cambridgeshire.
Miss Morris added: “Ensuring that we have a successful farming industry here is vital to Cambridgeshire and we want to keep delivering for the county.
“We look forward to engaging with our local councillors and inviting them out to meet NFU members on farm to discuss how we can work together to deliver a bright future for farming and Cambridgeshire as a whole.”
Cambridgeshire County Council’s largest political group is the Liberal Democrats, with 31 seats. The Conservatives won ten seats, Reform UK ten, Labour five, the Green Party three and two seats were won by independent candidates.
