GovWire

I know, Minette, this is your last conference as NFU President so I actually wanted to start by first paying a brief tribute to you.

During a momentous period, youve been a formidable champion of our farmers always fair, always thoughtful, and always forceful.If you asked some of my ministers down theyd probably say very forceful.

But I know everyone will want to join me in once again paying a special tribute and a thanks to Minette for everything shes done.

Nine years ago, I gave my maiden speech in the House of Commons.

I pledged that day to be a champion of agriculture, the countryside and all of my hard-working rural constituents.

Its farmers who feed us.

Farmers who embody those British values of strength, resilience, warmth and independence.

I see that in North Yorkshire and across the country week in and week out.

Ive been to the auction marts.

Ive walked the fields up and down Swaledale and Wensleydale.

Enjoyed our high-quality British meat which let me tell you well continue supporting people to eat.

Ive visited upland farms, hill farms, arable and livestock farms.

I even tried my hand at milking once not very successfully I must say.

But I see first hand the long hours that you work, the weather that you contend with, the family businesses you support, the communities you build

the beautiful countryside, the pastures, the hedgerows, the fields, that would not be the same without you.

You do it not for praise, or high reward

but to put food on our tables

to maintain a tradition and a way of life

and to steward our landscape.

Its part of who we are.

And we dont celebrate you enough.

And so, on behalf of the nation, I just wanted to say: thank you.

Biggest change in a generation

Now while the importance of farmers will never change farming is going through its biggest change in a generation.

And as you do so, this government will be by your side.

Youve been dealing with soaring global prices in things like fuel and fertiliser.

So weve been working hard to get inflation down from 11% last year to 4% now.

And were increasing payments in our farming schemes by an average of 10 per cent.

Youre dealing with climate change and extreme weather too.

Devastating flooding has damaged crops

delayed planting

and has taken a huge toll on our farming communities.

Thats why we quickly set out our flooding support

and why were going faster than almost anyone else in the world to tackle climate change, even as we reduce the burdens on families.

Youre also at the forefront of innovation from gene editing to boost resilience to disease, to automation to harvest crops.

And while thanks to you we enjoy good quality food all year round

global events including Russias invasion of Ukraine have put food security back at the top of the agenda.

Well never take our food security for granted.

Weve got a plan to support British farming and were going further again, today, in three specific areas.

First, were investing in farming.

We promised that across this parliament, every penny of the 2.4 billion annual farming budget would be spent on you.

And we will absolutely meet that promise.

I know that the transition from the Common Agricultural Policy has been frustrating.

Its taken time.

And I appreciate the perception that we didnt always get the balance exactly right.

But I still believe the vision is the right one.

CAP disproportionately rewarded the largest landowners and held back smaller farmers.

It did little for food productivity or the environment.

It was far, far too bureaucratic.

Just remember we used to argue about whether a cauliflower and a cabbage were the same crop

and you could be fined thousands for a gateway being too wide, or a buffer strip too narrow.

So its right that our new system invests in the foundations of food security from healthy soils to clean water.

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And today we want to go further to support you.

So were announcing new steps to make our support schemes more generous and easier to use.

Take the Management Payment.

Its working, with many farmers small farmers especially - signing up.

So I can announce today that were going to double that payment to 2,000

with thousands of farmers receiving that money this Spring.

Were also launching the biggest ever package of grants this year

to boost productivity and resilience, which will total 220 million.

Increasing the Improving Farming Productivity scheme to invest in things like robotics and barn-top solar.

Were opening a newround of the Farming Equipment and Technology fund too, worth 70m.

Second, as farming changes, how we work with you in government must change too.

The services we provide must be shaped around your needs.

And weve got to build a culture thats based on trust.

As President Eisenhower said: You know, farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and youre a thousand miles from a corn field.

So were changing the culture.

That means trust, support, co-operation

It means delivering on our promise to cut planning red tape thats stopping you from diversifying.

In April, for instance, well lay legislation so you can create bigger farm shops or outdoor sports venues.

And it means more funding for grassroots mental health support

because we know what a tough job farming is.

Thirdly, were strengthening support for your primary role

to produce the nations food.

Food security is a vital part of our national security.

And recent years have brought home the truth of that.

Putin set off not just an energy price bomb

but a food price bomb, too.

And as Minette has so powerfully reminded us time after time

in an age of climate change and instability

global food production will become increasingly volatile

so its important to strengthen food security here at home.

Our Agriculture Act introduced a three-yearly report to monitor food security.

But given how much has happened in the last three years, its clear that we need to go further.

So today, I can announce well step up our monitoring with a new annual Food Security Index, which we expect to be UK-wide.

And yes Minette, well make this statutory when parliamentary time allows.

Well publish the first draft at the Farm to Fork Summit this spring.

And Im also delighted to say those Summits will become an annual event.

One way to improve food security is to stop millions of tonnes of good, fresh farm food from going to waste

just because of its shape or size.

So well also provide funding today, 15m, to redirect that surplus into the hands of those who need it.

Conclusion

So in conclusion, supporting farmers, changing our approach, and strengthening food security thats our plan.

And you can trust us to deliver because we already are.

You said you wanted a fair price for your products

tomorrow were laying new regulations for the dairy sector, and were launching a review of the poultry sector.

You asked for fair treatment in our trade deals

so were standing up for our farmers in those negotiations whether its with Canada or anybody else.

You asked for a fairer, more supportive regulatory system

and weve reformed our approach, cutting penalties for minor issues, already down by 40%.

But more than this, you can trust us because I know how important my neighbours, our farmers, all of you, truly are.

You help support millions of jobs

add billions to our economy

shape the landscape

but most of all, you produce the food we need

food that is some of the best and highest quality anywhere in the world.

And thats why I say to all of you and to Britains farmers

just as I did in my first days in Parliament:

Ive got your back.

Thank you very much.