Today, local MP, Sir Alec Shelbrooke, has welcomed further Government support for British farmers.
Speaking at the National Farmers Union (NFU) Conference, the Prime Minister and Ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced a package of support for farmers worth £427 million.
These measures include a doubling of investment in productivity schemes, such as the Improving Farming Productivity grant, and a new fund will help to tackle food waste by assisting farmers in redistributing surplus food that cannot be used commercially.
Additionally, a new Food Security Index will capture and present the data needed to monitor levels of food security nationally, meaning that future packages of Government support can be targeted more effectively.
This announcement comes as new regulations are being brought forward in Parliament tomorrow, ensuring fair contracts for dairy farmers, clearer pricing schemes and preventing changes of contract being imposed on farmers without their agreement.
Commenting, Sir Alec said, "I welcome this investment in British producers, boosting the productivity of farms across Wetherby and Easingwold and helping to ensure that farmers get a fair and transparent price for their produce. I meet regularly with local farmers and their representatives, such as the British Poultry Council, and I'm pleased that poultry farmers will benefit from a new review aimed at improving fairness in the poultry supply chain".
