Shropshire farming leader tells coalition honeymoon is over

Shropshire's farming leader today said the industry's 'honeymoon' with the Government was over and it was now time for the coalition to deliver and bring confidence back to the industry.

Speaking on the first day of the NFU's two-day conference Rob Alderson, Shropshire chairman of the National Farmers' Union, called for 'strong policies' which would help to provide a more secure future for agriculture.

Policy makers attending the event, in the city's ICC centre, included Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and European Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos.

Ms Spelman spoke about what Defra had done for agriculture in the past year, including plans to cut red tape, and outlined the challenges that the industry faced, while Mr Ciolos was asked about plans to reform payments made under the Common Agricultural Policy.

Today Mr Alderson said that while there was movement from the Government on some issues, including the ongoing spread of bovine TB, further support was needed to help farmers.

"The honeymoon is over now and what we need to see now are strong policies that help give us the confidence to invest and have a more secure future," he said.

"I was, however, encouraged by some of the Minister's comments, especially on red tape as we need to be freed up to produce food rather than being swamped by unnecessary bureaucracy."

Ms Spelman also told the conference the Government would reduce burdensome regulation and promote a change of culture.

She said the response marked a 'genuine shift in the way we work with you' and presented 'a legacy of freedom to Britain's farmers'.

She said Defra was looking to give 'greater recognition for high performing farm businesses by targeting inspections to more risky businesses and reducing paperwork for all, by building a better understanding of agriculture in policy making'.

NFU regional director John Mercer said he was pleased to see a strong delegation of Shropshire farmers at the conference which has about 1,000 attendees.

He said: "Shropshire farmers are ideally placed to meet the challenges of the future.

"Government needs to recognise that and give the industry the tools to help achieve it.

"The decision to cut red tape is a prime example."