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<p>This Government will maintain the total investment in the farming sector throughout
this parliament. In England, the budget of £2.4 billion per year is being re-purposed
in a way that will support farmer’s resilience and food security for years to come.</p><p>
</p><p>By gradually phasing out the untargeted Basic Payments of the EU’s Common Agricultural
Policy, and replacing them with a flexible range of targeted grants and ongoing payments
for farmers, we are increasing the level of support available for delivering on the
priorities of farm productivity, environment, climate and animal health and welfare.
All the money coming out of Basic Payment Scheme will go back into the sector each
year, there will be no gap in investment.</p><p> </p><p>We are not fixing allocations
of ring-fenced money for schemes, as happened under the EU, but will learn and respond
to demand and developments from the sector – keeping the spread of investment under
review over time.</p><p> </p><p>We have already seen uptake and enthusiasm from farmers
in certain areas and have been able to adapt flexibly to this demand. For example,
the budget for the new Farming Equipment and Technology fund was increased to account
for high demand. As a result, more than 4,000 farmers can invest in new equipment
and technology, supporting and improving domestic food production.</p><p> </p><p>Defra
has recently released further information on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
- designed to help farmers move to new alternative sustainable farming methods gradually,
improving environmental conditions of the land, whilst building the long-term resilience
of our food security and production.</p><p> </p><p>The SFI is one of three new schemes
under Environmental Land Management which will maintain productive land, delivering
for both farmers and the environment.</p><p> </p><p>Our schemes will ensure our long-term
food security by investing in the foundations of food production: healthy soil; water;
and biodiverse ecosystems.</p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to monitor the wider
context of global supplies that we know can impact farm income and productivity, as
well as food security. The Secretary of State recently announced several other measures
to support our farmers in the current uncertainty, notably regarding the use of urea
fertiliser - helping farmers manage their costs better, as well as improving the statutory
guidance for the use of slurry.</p><p> </p><p>I recently launched and chaired the
first session of a new industry fertiliser roundtable, aiming to work through issues
regarding slurry to develop our understanding of current pressures on farmers and
identify solutions. The Fertiliser Taskforce is just one example of where the Government
is working with closely with industry to improve market confidence - providing farmers
with the information needed to make business decisions, in these challenging times.</p>
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