Political twists and turns, Farm to Fork preview and Clarkson's Farm

It has been a busy few weeks in politics, with local elections in England and a new First Minister in Scotland. The Farmers Guardian news and business team take a look at what the political landscape looks like for rural voters as well as a look ahead to next week's Farm to Fork summit at Number 10 Downing Street. The team also discuss the first four episodes of Clarkson's Farm, and how Jeremy Clarkson's programme is demonstrating the highs and lows of farming.

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You're listening to the Farmers Guardian podcast. Me? Hello and welcome to this week's episode of the Farmers Guardian podcast. On this Week, we've got a Farmers Guardian's news and business team, and we're going to be chatting through some of the top stories of the week. So we'll just introduce ourselves. First of all, I'm Alex Black. I'm head of news and business. Hiya, I'm Rachael Brown and I'm the chief reporter. And I'm Jane fine. I'm news and business reporter. So if we start off with the front pages this week. Rachel, you wrote the front page for the main edition of xG. It was about confidence and a recent NFU survey. Just tell us a little bit about what the survey told us. So the figures showed an all time low for English and Welsh farmers in terms of short term and mid-term confidence that the lowest since records began in 2010, with 82% of respondents saying their farm businesses had suffered badly negative or very negative impacts. And it's important to point out, Alex, that it's across the whole sector, from mixed farms to arable farms to dairy farms that are taking the biggest hits. it has been a relentless couple of months. This survey was actually undertaken in November and December last year. The NFU said that the survey had been done. Now, obviously off the back of the last few months of relentless rain, it would the figures would be even worse. and in terms of farm business profitability, they said it had fallen, with 65% of respondents saying their profits are declining. So some really, really stark figures there. I mean, obviously, it's been an extraordinary couple of months weather wise for farmers, both arable farmers being impacted, but also livestock farmers in terms of turnout being delayed. but within that survey, a really poignant point is the lack of farmer confidence. some of the reasons were highlighted and one of them was this phase out with had not been a concern for farmers. So the NFU were very much kind of pushing for the government to change their direction in terms of the phase out with BP's and calling out for it to be paused. and it's really interesting discussion, isn't it, because obviously we know the weather and the climate is changing a lot, and we can't always revert back to let's pause BP's payments. There has to be a sustainable solution to this. you know, the conservative government, Steve Barclay has been quite clear that he doesn't want to pause the the phase out of BP, hasn't he? No, absolutely. you know, they've been very clear on that direction that they want to continue on this path and phase out. BP's so it's really kind of what else can they offer to farmers in terms of that, that cash flow solution, because so many farmers are struggling in terms of cash flow, and there needs to be some form of support. I think it's something that they could possibly revisit with the budget underspend after this year's harvest is it's going to be pretty, pretty dire. because obviously they reported that it was 400 million that was being added on. So it might be time now to to invest that in, in farms that have been hit by the weather after we had, you know, things like Henry Ward, who, you know, wasn't eligible for the the support that was, the flood support that was made available. So it might be time now to, to, rethink that and, see where some money could go. Yeah. And I think all eyes will be on the Farm to Fork Summit that's happening next Tuesday. This will be the second annual summit hosted by Bishop Cenac, the prime Minister, at number ten. I think at this point. Let's try and reflect on what happened at last year's Farm to Fork Summit, and what's really been achieved in the last 12 months. I think last year it was it was quite, a groundbreaking event. It was something that Minette, batters former NFU president. It really thoughtful and I think everybody was pretty swept up in the fact that it was going to be at ten Downing Street and that the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, was going to be there. What it turned into for some was a bit of a PR stunt. We had, you know, there was a lot of focus on celebrity farmers. I think there was lots of shots of of, Caleb and, Rishi together in the garden. and what it was meant to discuss was things like supply chain issues, food price inflation and the lack of, investment. but I don't think anything immediately came out of that. There was also an emphasis, wasn't there, on the farm security. And they what would they call it, the self-sufficiency. so real emphasis on kind of domestic food production and trying to get that index. I know that was something that that was really calling for, wasn't she? Yeah, but I don't I mean, I would say that things really haven't moved on and that the effort committee again this year looking at supply chain unfairness. and yeah, I'm not sure many farmers would think that last year was worthwhile. I think from a dairy farmer perspective, you know, we've had those, supply chain unfairness contracts, haven't we? That's exactly what I was just going to say, Rachel, I suppose from the dairy perspective, you know, we just moved on with that contract legislation going through through Parliament. But I suppose the likes of the farmer and a few dairy Board chair Mike Oakes, I think it's been about a decade since he started campaigning for that legislation to go through. So it's not exactly, you know, it has moved on in the past year, but it has been a long time coming anyway. It's still very much early days with those contracts. still a long way to go in terms of kind of having those conversations with the individual processors and those groups having those conversations. So we're still not really there yet with them. I think with the Farm to Fork Summit next week, there's going to be, all eyes on it. In terms of from a tenant farmers perspective, there's been a lot of conversation around, the tenant landlord relationships. And I think there's a lot of speculation out there whether the Prime Minister will use the Farm Support Summit to announce a tenant farm commissioner, whether that happened or not, we don't know. again, I think a lot of emphasis will be on food security there, really trying to kind of hammer home that message message, aren't they? That food security is national security. I think the elephant in the room though, for for this is, you know, on the back of the local election results which we'll come to is everything that's talked about, you know, with the Prime Minister, it's very likely that, looking at the polls that he won't be yet in power for for very long to implement things. You know, we have the local election results last week. I know you've been reporting on that, Jane. So give us a bit of a rundown of of the local election results in, and what it means for rural areas. Well, in total in England, I think the conservatives lost 474 councilors, which is one of their biggest losses ever. they also failed to win any of the, sort of local mayors, except for one. And this was a big thing that was introduced to give more rural areas devolution, to give them more control. so it was interesting that they actually didn't win any of those. and labor actually took North Yorkshire and York, which was okay, which is obviously Rishi Sunak's constituency. So that was won by David Scaife. the Lib Dems did make a lot of gains, especially in rural areas. And they took control of two Cam councils, which was Dorset and Tunbridge Wells. And the Greens also made quite big steps this year. took 74 seats. They were up 74 seats. so it's not it's not looking great. and, the president of the seat, Clay, Victoria Vivian, said, you know, there's no traditional allegiance anymore. And that what these elections shown is that years and years of economic neglect. I think we're exact words of rural areas of of left, a breakdown in traditional allegiances, saying that sort of the election is definitely up for grabs. And I think that Lib Dem put it's quite, quite interesting because obviously in a lot of rural seats, they're, you know, maybe the second, second choice for, a lot of rural areas. And they actually overtook the Tories didn't they, in terms of council seats. So I'm not saying that that will bear out exactly the same in a general election, but it would be a hell of a turnout for the books if it did. Yeah it would, yeah. They were 104 and yeah, I think they gained more than they've ever done. So yeah. And on the flip side, obviously, you know, rural communities and particularly farmers will be now wanting to hear from labor. What are the specific objectives. You know, what is their manifesto for rural communities going forward? I think they really want that detail now. Yeah, yeah. I mean, the conservatives were very quick to say, well, you know, once labor get in, it'll be even worse and it will be greenwashing. And you know, but I don't know, I think yeah, there's a lot of work to do. And in recent months, obviously we've seen the Conservative Party almost play off the situation that's happening in Wales right now with Welsh Labor and and that distrust and kind of, fragmented relationship with the Welsh farming community. Yep. And they're out and about next week again, aren't they. There's a march planned. Yeah. Next week. So yeah there's an expected march happening in Cardiff. with farmers protesting against Welsh agricultural policies, specifically on bovine TB policy, and visa regulation. So the water agricultural pollution regulations, but also obviously their farming support scheme, the sustainable farming scheme. So it'll be interesting on the same day, actually the new cabinet secretary, who and Davis is also, expected to give an announcement, kind of an update to Senate members on the Sustainable Farming Scheme proposal. it's off the back of this week. Of course, we've had announcement that there is a new ministerial round table. I think that's, a message from the new cabinet secretary that he is listening to farmers. He wants to make sure that everyone is round the table to try and move this sustainable farming scheme in the right direction, because it does seem that they're not budging on the launch date. They want to get a sustainable farming scheme launched in January 2025, but there's a hell of a lot of work to get through to get to that point. And obviously we still got that very sticky, controversial point around the 10% tree target. So, the cabinet secretary this week has announced that the key priority of this ministerial table initially will be to look at what he said further. An alternative proposals to carbon sequestration within their service. but obviously there's still the 10% tree target is still currently still there. and there is question marks because ultimately they need farmers to sign up to the scheme to be able to deliver on the targets that they're being held account to. and if they can't get that signed up, then what is what is the next steps? Not exactly. And if we move north of the border as well, obviously had been a lot of political upheaval up there once the use of step down last week was it was it. Now it's all gone. It's been a lot of politicking in lots, few weeks. There's a lot. but then the use of stepped down, after the collapse of the agreement with the Greens, we've got John Swinney in place who's being touted as the continue unity, candidate. yeah. Well, we've still got, you know, we've had very minimal changes in the cabinet. We had obviously a change right at the top, changed the deputy, but the rest of the cabinet remained the same. I think people I think people in Wales and Scotland and very much here, I mean, we've had our fair share with Geoff, the secretaries over the past couple of years. you know, it just seems to be revolving doors now. We got it. Policies coming and going. People coming and going. And I think yes, it is a continuity candidate. I think that would be very welcome because yeah, it does seem like, you know, one in, one out at the minute. But if there's anything that needs continuity, it's the farming sector, isn't it? Yeah, we need that long term outlook. And if there's constant change through political doors, whether you're in England, Scotland, Wales, you know it's not going to help them at all in terms of making investment and making decisions on farm. They need that long term security and continuity within within within politics. That relationship with the Greens as well is just going to be so, so important to see how Sweeney handles that relationship, because obviously, I mean that that's what's what led to, Humza Yousaf resigning. But, you know, it's it's has such a big impact on farming policy. You know, if the Greens have that, hold on on the Scottish, Scottish Government holds probably the wrong turn. But if they have that influence on the Scottish Government then that's going to, you know, really affect that solving policy. That's still kind of being shaped up there. I think it's important to point out though, going back to the whole BP, obviously in Scotland, they're in a different situation to what farmers are here in England. with the the Scots government have committed to continuing that. And that's a stark difference between the two. But those Scottish farmers and crofters have to work to, to to get that reward at the BP. so it's interesting how the different devolved nations are working, isn't it. and how we're at different stages when it comes to these future farming support. Yes, definitely. It's, it's it's really interesting to watch, you know, after, after so longest I suppose coming from policy coming from Europe and you know, being you know, across the whole of Europe. But now we have, you know, so much difference between what's happening in England and Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland, and I suppose staying with politics, you know, one of the other big stories this week was the government's response to the Shropshire Review into, seasonal labor. Yeah. So the visa has been extended to 2029 to kind of what the government said to give farmers and growers the opportunity to, to invest in technology that can take over the reliance on seasonal, seasonal workers. But, it's interesting, isn't it, Jane? Because it has had some criticism. Really. I know John Shropshire in particular. He was pleased and welcomed, the fact that the visas had been extended. But but the kind of the visa length was still only six months, and he would have preferred to have been nine months. within that same announcement by the government, there was also, you know, investment around robotic pickers. And, I'm interested to hear your kind of thoughts on that, Joe. I think, I mean, I think the, the, the work, like the contracts and things like that. I think that will be welcomed. I think that's something again, the NFU campaigned quite strongly on, and it was very much a big part of their horticultural strategy that the government then decided they weren't going to go forward with. So I think they'll say that, you know, people will will welcome that. But yeah, 50 million for for robotics is a success. Yeah. It's I think most horticultural businesses would say, you know, basically, no, not really worth it. The technology just isn't there. And I don't think 50 million, although it sounds quite a lot, I don't think it is that that will be rolled out on, on a lot of farms in 2029. You know, like you say, it's a long commitment, but it's not that far away for, you know, having robotic pickers and changing that, you know, that reliance on labor to pick crops, you know, it's not, you know, not looking in right into the future for that. Oh, it's five years time. I mean, it's the going to be such a massive change in those five years. I wouldn't think so. All the people I've spoken to, in the sector, I wouldn't, I wouldn't think so. And I think the hope is ever that we will get, you know, domestic people involved in the sector. I think, again, that's something that's, you know, possibly never going to happen. So, is it interesting, isn't it, because there is a lot of emphasis on trying to make, you know, that that particular sector of the industry more appealing for domestic workers. But it's been something that's kind of been said over and over again. But in reality, it's just not working. It's not it's not attracting those workers in. So surely they need to kind of think of a different approach. Really. Well, yeah, I think so. I mean, I think we've been doing it since just before the First World War. So it's, you know, it it's a big change. And even though living Wage has gone up and things like that, it is seasonal. It's seasonal. Work is very hard work. And you know, it's not something that the domestic market seems to be, I don't know, in the family. I was a strawberry picker and I worked in a strawberry packing house during my, years in between university to fund my travel. So I it's, you know, I can vouch for is really hard work. but, definitely good to kind of if the weather's shining like today. Yeah. and I wonder what that emphasis on robotics actually has. You know, I'm not domestic workforce expert. It's not really that an attractive, proposal when they're telling you that you might be replaced by a robot in five years time. Exactly. Is that. Yeah. It's contradictory, isn't it, though? Definitely. I think everybody watch Clarksons Farm. As fate would have seen, Jeremy Henry, who they say 50 million it by a good few of those people might be by everybody. One of them. Yeah. I'd be interested to scale that one up. the blackberry bushes. Yeah. yeah. Well, Clarkson's farm is we end on a I don't know whether it a lie to know. Actually, having watched that fourth episode last last night, but, have you both been watching the series so far? We've had four episodes and four episodes, going out today, so, that'll keep us busy this weekend, no doubt. Oh, definitely. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions watching it. I mean, I'm a big fan. I think this particular series has done really good in terms of just highlighting the, you know, sometimes the brutal nature of farming that just doesn't always go your way. in terms of when you're looking after livestock, you can do all you can and just things can sometimes just be out of your hands, like, for example, with the pigs, obviously. with the piglets and squishing the piglets, you know, that that's just so, you know, so disheartening when you're doing all the hours in, you're doing everything you can to try and, you know, read where that your livestock to the best you possibly can and then just things go against you. you're suddenly Rachel, obviously you're not, you know, pig farmers, you dairy farmers, but sitting watching that, I mean, you must have had calving, you know? So through that, you know, so many farmers can relate to this time around because obviously we've just had lambing. It's been one of the worst lambing seasons, you know, on record really. You know, it's been really, really difficult, challenging season. On top of that, we've had Berg as well. We've got the threat of bluetongue. I think it's really topical conversation at the moment in terms of just how difficult it is, rearing our stocking, particularly young livestock. I think what struck me was when in the first episode, in the opening shot, to sort of show these acres and acres of scorched earth, what they look like at the moment, which were they're probably, you know, underwater. And it's just, sort of brings us back to that. It's just so unpredictable. And support should sort of should be there. I really, see whether it's too hot or it's too windy, it's too flooded or whatever. There needs to be something in place to sort of help people. And I definitely and I think also the inevitable planning stuff comes up again does make you continues with the farm shop. and I think, again, that's something that people, watching can relate to because there is this drawings, particularly actually from, from number ten to in terms of diversification, but also the practicalities of it in terms of planning permission, you know, it's a lot harder than what it seems from the, from, from the outside. Yeah. It's very easy to sit and say, well farmers should diversify. But then when you, you know, you lunch and your farm shop obviously he's had his restaurant that's been shut down. You know, he's got all this opposition. Yeah. Everything he's come up with, all kinds of ideas has a need to to, to diversify. And, you know, being kind of shut down at every angle. So you know, and he's obviously he's got a lot of, I suppose not all of us have got, you know, the backing, but Clarkson has of people to all of the, all the farmers are going to have the cues come in to, to go to the farm shop that Clarkson house. But he struggled getting and getting things off the ground. So you know however the farm is meant to be doing that. Yeah absolutely. I really liked the episode when Andy Catering Caleb came head to head in the field and, you know, it was almost like Caleb was very dubious, of, Andy's kind of practices in the field, obviously. And these, one of the founders of Wild Farmed, I believe. And obviously he's kind of taking that regenerative approach. And it was just really interesting to see that dynamic between the two. But actually, I think what you can take from it is that all everyone in the industry can learn from one another. And I think, you know, there's so much, so much different things happening out there, different practices, that we can all kind of take on board. Yeah, I think it's quite interesting watching Caleb as well. You know, you said about the weather, Jane, but you know, the decisions that he's having to sit and make, you know, like whether to, to drill the oilseed rape off, you know, what crops that they're putting in, you know, reacting to that, one of the, you know, a lot of farmers have been, you know, making exactly those, those decisions. You know, we've had all this, all this weather that's impacted, autumn plantings and now spring plantings. And a lot of people have been going, well, this is what we normally do. But should we should we do it? oh definitely. And I think also what so lovely about it, that was the element of it. When Jeremy Clarkson found out that, Gerald had had cancer. and just his response to it and, and it kind of gives a sense that, you know, the farming community, we all when when people are having difficulties or challenges, we all kind of rally round and support one another. And I think that's such a nice thing to put across over, over television. Definitely. I think that's something, you know, I'm not from a farming background, Jane. I know you're not from a farming background, but it's something, you know, when you come into this industry, you know, obviously we're not we're not farming. But, you know, you come into this industry, you realize that community and that support and how welcome in it is and how you know, how people, you know, try and look after each other in the farming community. It's really apparent when you when you get in from the outside. yeah. So I think that's quite a nice note to, to and the podcast, you know, it's been a busy week. We've had a lot of politics going. I have a lot of politics next week. Obviously the focus is going to be on this, this summit at number ten. and then up in Scotland, see, in the first few days of the new First Ministers, government. So, you know, there's going to be a lot going on next week. There's going to be a lot going on beyond that. And of course, we'll all be watching the latest on Clarksons Farm. but that's it for this week's episode of the Farmers Guardian podcast. Thank you very much for listening. And we'll be back with another episode next Friday. And goodbye for now.