Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Berwick-upon-Tweed, has met with representatives of the farming community to hear their concerns and discuss the issues which they want the next Government to focus on. Anne-Marie Trevelyan spoke with local farmers and NFU representatives, last week, about the requests contained within the NFU manifesto and today held a surgery at the Acklington mart.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan said; "As Northumbrian farmers, investment and training support for new young farmers is vital, and sensible regulation rather than endless, increasing bureaucracy. I want out nation to provide the support and tools for investment for our farming community to most efficiently and securely provide our food. At present we are only generating 60% of our food and I think that should be much higher. How can it make sense to import milk when we have the best territory for dairy cows of pretty much anywhere in the northern hemisphere".
Pledging to be a strong voice for the industry in parliament, she added; "if elected, I will be only too happy to champion our rural factories, where all the ingredients for a healthy life are nurtured and built. Landscapes we love exists because our farmers have managed them for centuries. Let us never forget that without a long term commitment to farming that would fade away."
The NFU has put out a comprehensive manifesto calling on the next Government to support the following top 10 requests:
1. A government championing UK farming in the EU, leading with review of CAP greening;
2. Implement the TB eradication strategy;
3. Comprehensive plan to increase % of UK food production over next 5 years;
4. Fair & equal access and availability of plant protection plants;
5. Support & extend Grocery Code Adjudicator;
6. Fiscal incentives for farm businesses to manage volatility & promote investment (George Osborne has already set this in motion with new tax rules for farmers to spread profits over 5 years);
7. Approval of GM tools through to commercialisation;
8. Rollout of high speed broadband to all rural areas;
9. Accurate food & farming information supplied to schools and colleges;
10. Use robust scientific evidence & adopt a risk rather than hazard-based approach.