Championing the voice of young farmers, YFC AGRI Chair Luke Cox recently met with Daniel Zeichner, Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs. Luke shares his experience of discussing the challenges and solutions for the next generation.
"As Chair of YFC AGRI, I am committed to ensuring the Government fully understands the impact of its decisions on agricultural and rural issues, particularly on our members and young people involved in farming.
I was delighted the Minister of State Daniel Zeichner agreed to meet with me towards the end of November so I could share the concerns of NFYFC’s 23,000 members, many of whom represent the future of farming.
During our meeting we focused on two key areas that are continually raised by young farmers as the biggest challenges – access to finance and access to land.
New entrants with no background in farming face significant challenges in accessing finance. The Minister shared with me that he grasps the significance of this issue.
We explored the potential benefits of the Government offering security for new entrants, enabling them to secure substantial funding from banks to help start a farming venture.
I also conveyed the frustration felt by YFC members about the inaccessibility of grants for new entrants and young farmers – not least because of the requirement to pay up front and the scoring system which favours bigger machinery on farm.
I suggested proposals to help alleviate these issues. They included providing specific grants for entry-level machinery and interest-free loans for the up-front payment, so that new businesses with limited cash can still access the grants.
I emphasised the specific support needed for young farmers, which might include greater weighting or increased payment levels to those looking to invest in a career in UK agriculture.
The Minister is a frequent attendee at the Farm Tenancy Forum. I reiterated the message he will have heard already that young farmers and new entrants need guaranteed security through greater lengths of tenancies.
If the Government wants the next generation to invest in farms and contribute to enhanced food security, there needs to be confidence for investment into businesses.
I also repeated my long-standing request for tax incentives to encourage landowners to sell land to new entrants. This will help to create opportunities for the next generation rather than parcels of land being swallowed up by much larger and more established enterprises.
Unfortunately, the Budget announcements on 30 October mean a much more substantial change in approach to tax is needed if the Government wants to see the farming industry thrive.
Imposing exorbitant tax burdens on young farmers just as they take over the management of a business severely hampers their ability to invest in their operations. This could trigger a devastating downward spiral, undermining the sustainability of domestic food production.
Overall, I had a positive meeting with the Minister. I look forward to continued engagement to help the Government put into action the policy changes that will deliver for the next generation.
Many NFYFC members are the future of farming. We have incredible people willing and ready to take on roles as the nation’s food producers. If these individuals cannot see a prosperous future in UK agriculture, then they will understandably seek other opportunities.
Now, more than ever, it is crucial to support young farmers and new entrants in their ability to produce healthy, sustainable food for our country."
For more information about announcements in the recent Budget, see here.
