The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has outlined its vision for the future of British farming in 2025, with President Tom Bradshaw reflecting on what he described as a “wretched” year for the industry in 2024.
Bradshaw, elected to the NFU's top position in February, used his inaugural New Year’s message to highlight the challenges faced by farmers over the past year.
These included volatile input costs, record-breaking commodity prices in some sectors and plummeting rates in others, shrinking direct payments, and one of the wettest years in recent memory.
“To cap a wretched year, we saw a Labour government that, after 14 years in opposition, promised to reset its relationship with British farmers and boost farmer confidence,” Bradshaw said. “Instead, it delivered an inflationary Budget and effectively dismantled tax reliefs for agricultural and business property.”
The government’s controversial changes to inheritance tax (IHT) sparked widespread farmer protests in Westminster and deepened tensions between the farming community and Labour leadership.
“We are keeping up the pressure on government, targeting rural Labour MPs with a strong visual reminder from banners going up across the UK that the fight is far from over,” Bradshaw stated.
“Ultimately, this issue must be resolved by the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. A solution is urgently needed to mitigate the extreme human impacts of this indefensible family farm tax policy, which has left many farmers with no choice but to hold onto their farms until death. Rest assured, we will keep fighting.”
Bradshaw urged Labour to honour the commitments made in its election manifesto, which initially brought hope to the farming sector. He stressed the need for immediate action on the Agricultural Transition Plan, including adjustments to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) to balance food production with environmental goals, and making the Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs) more accessible to all farm businesses.
“A robust system of core standards for food imports is critical to protect both farmers and consumers from food produced under standards that would be illegal in the UK,” Bradshaw said. He called for legislation to boost public procurement of British food and a planning system that enables investments in on-farm infrastructure to support food production and mitigate environmental risks.
“These are the building blocks necessary to secure UK food security and provide Britain’s farmers with the confidence to invest in sustainable, affordable, homegrown food,” he explained. “This investment will also create jobs, support greener energy security, and foster climate-friendly farming practices.”
Despite the challenges, Bradshaw pointed to several bright spots in 2024. These included the first US export opportunity for UK beetroot growers and major retailers heeding the NFU’s call to introduce ‘Buy British’ tabs on their websites.
“As we step into the new year, we will build on the public’s unwavering support for British farming,” Bradshaw concluded. “We are committed to fostering a thriving and profitable farming industry—one that benefits shoppers, the environment, and the nation’s food security.”
The NFU’s ambitions for 2025 signal a determination to navigate a challenging political landscape while championing the interests of Britain’s farmers and consumers alike.
