Yorkshire farmers will be central to Government’s growth agenda - Mark Spencer

Our food and farming sectors are vital for our nation’s food security and we should proudly champion them. Our food keeps our nation healthy and our farms protect our environment.

Yorkshire’s food and drink sector is also a growth industry – contributing more than £3bn to our economy and employing more than 50,000 people.

Farmers are the foundations of that industry, which is why my role is not just to help farmers grow crops and rear animals, but to support them to grow their business and help rural communities thrive.

One of the ways we’re doing this is through our new farming schemes and payments, which are now open to support farmers through the biggest change in a generation.

These schemes will support food production and maintain food security. But sustainable food production in the long term is also dependent on healthy soil, good water quality, and abundant pollinators – which is why our schemes will support farmers to move towards more sustainable practices so farming and nature can go hand in hand.

More than 3,000 farms of all shapes and sizes across Yorkshire and the Northeast are already signed up to our schemes, helping them to produce world-class food while being paid to maintain hedgerows, improve water quality, boost biodiversity and provide all manner of benefits for nature and the environment. And there will be more options available to farmers soon as we make processes easier for farmers and make sure that there is something for everyone.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister hosted a summit at Downing Street – building on his clear commitment last summer – which brought the government and the whole food supply chain together, to boost cooperation and promote all elements of our world-renowned farming and food industries.

At the summit he set out a new package of support for the farming industry which include action to make sure that farmers get a fair price for their products, with new reviews into fairness in the horticulture and egg supply chains, building on the work already underway for the pork and dairy markets. He also confirmed plans to cut the red tape currently holding farmers back from diversifying their income and make it easier to build new glasshouses.

British farming will be at the heart of trade and will protect farmers’ interests in all future trade deals. We will do this through a new set of principles, set out in an open letter to the farming industry from the Prime Minister, that will guide our approach to negotiations. Prioritising new export opportunities and protecting our high standards remains of utmost importance.

The PM has been clear that getting the economy growing again is one of his top five priorities. And I’m committed to ensuring that farmers in Yorkshire and across the country are at the heart of that growth.

Mark Spencer is Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries.