NFU presses for key reforms to help boost farm profitability

THE National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has submitted its response to the Government's Farming Profitability Review.

- ATHWENNA IRONS

Led by cross-bench peer and former NFU president, Baroness Minette Batters, the review aims to explore how farmers can “reduce barriers to profitability, increase profit and manage their own risk to improve financial resilience’; and how the supply chain can support farm profitability such as through “greater transparency, cooperation and ensuring a fairer distribution of risks, rewards and responsibilities”.

It will also consider whether there are other ancillary activities that farmers can undertake to support profitability and wider economic growth.

The NFU says its submission, which has been put together following widespread engagement with the organisation's commodity boards and broken down into sector-specific recommendations, focuses on “key themes and priorities which will help create a more collaborative and equitable marketplace that will underpin the nation’s food security and environmental targets”.

Tom Bradshaw, president of the NFU, said: “This review led by Baroness Batters comes at a critical moment for the farming industry. It lands as farmers face a perfect storm and for many, it’s become a battle to keep their businesses afloat.