Celebrating Back British Farming Day 2024

Today marks the ninth Back British Farming Day – a day which celebrates the food and farming sector. It is an opportunity to celebrate British farming values and highlight the importance of agriculture in rural communities and wider society.

To mark the day the National Farmers' Union (NFU) will hold its annual reception in the House of Commons where MPs and Peers will be able to drop in and show their support. The NFU will also be showcasing British Food and farming to the public.

In recent years the agricultural sector in the UK has been in transition, as the policy and framework in the post-Brexit era have developed. Changes by the previous Conservative government moved the sector into a transition period ending in 2027, which has included a gradual phasing out of the longstanding Basic Payment Scheme and a move towards specific schemes with a greater focus on the environment, improving animal health and welfare and reducing carbon emissions.

The new Labour government is likely to bring further change to the sector, more of which is likely to come to light with the coming budget in October.

This period of flux has meant that although members of the sector have faced challenges, there have also been a range of new opportunities available for them to take advantage of. For example, in the selling of biodiversity units to offset the effect of development.

Some facts on farming and food

Many may not be aware of the full significance the food and farming sector has on British life. For example, farmers manage 71% of the nation's landscape, some 17.2 million hectares. They therefore play a vital role in safeguarding the national environment whilst ensuring the highest standards of animal and plant health.

Statistics published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) show that in 2022:

1. The agricultural sector was worth £13.9 billion to the UK economy. With the wider agri-food sector contributing a total of £146.7 billion;
2. Almost half a million people were employed in the agriculture sector alone;
3. 58% of all food consumed in the UK originated in the UK;
4. The UK's overall self-sufficiency in food production was up to 62%, which was a 2% increase on the year before.

The UK is also ranked nine out of a total 113 countries in the 2022 Global Food Security Index – a clear testament to the hard work of British Farmers.

Working together with the NFU and Farmers

Foot Anstey is proud to be one of the NFU’s legal panel firms, covering Devon & Cornwall but also acting for the NFU and its' members across England and Wales.

We realise that in agriculture and rural business there are all the familiar commercial pressures of running a business – but with an extra dimension that comes from operating in a rural setting.

That’s why we offer NFU members a 17.5% discount on our fees if the work relates to their farming or growing business. We also offer a range of other services to NFU members in conjunction with the NFU such as the Legal Health Check and Contract Checking service.

For more information on how we might be able to assist, please contact our team of experts, listen to our podcast, Experts in the Field or visit our Farms, Estates & Rural Land web page.