Labour's resounding victory in the recent General Election (4 July), will undoubtedly bring change for UK agriculture, with the overall industry consensus being that of a positive one.
In the coming months, we hope to meet with Steve Reed, who now assumes the position of Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Agriculture, a role he has been shadowing since September 2023.
Our primary agenda will include addressing ongoing issues such as bovine tuberculosis (TB) and the shortage of skilled labour. Labour's manifesto referred to the badger cull as ‘ineffective’ but promised collaboration with farmers and scientists to eradicate bovine TB and end the cull. With Sarah Tomlinson, the Technical Director for the TB Advisory Service (TBAS), on Council, we are well-positioned to lead discussions on this topic.
We also aim to gain more clarity on the future of agricultural reform under Labour, as their manifesto dedicated less than 100 words to this subject. While immediate changes are not expected, particularly concerning the phasing out of the Basic Payment Scheme and the rollout of the Environment Land Management Scheme (ELMs), trade deals are an area to watch. Labour has indicated a desire for increased engagement with the EU.
In other news, our recent Down to Earth event at Grosvenor Farms was a great success, attracting over 1,300 visitors. The event featured lots of informative talks on topics such as emission reductions, through to the easy wins when it comes to claiming payments from the Sustainable Farming Incentive. For more information, visit RABDF Down to Earth Showcase and listen to the live Kite podcast at Kite Consulting Podcasts.
We are delighted to announce a record number of farms qualifying for the 2024 NMR RABDF Gold Cup competition. This competition evaluates farms based on their overall business operation, including herd performance, environmental practices, staff management, and sustainability. If you have qualified, please consider applying. There is no better way to reward your team and yourself by winning the UK dairy industry’s most coveted prize. More details can be found at https://www.rabdf.co.uk/gold-cup-comp .
Hoping you’ve all had a good July and here’s hoping we see some more sunshine soon.
Best wishes,
Robert Craig