The National Farmers Union (NFU) condemns Defra’s significant budget underspend as detrimental to farmers.
- Defra’s agriculture budget was underspent by £358 million over three years, drawing criticism from industry leaders.
- NFU President Tom Bradshaw describes the budget shortfall as a ‘kick in the teeth’ to struggling farmers.
- The underspend highlights unfinished schemes intended to replace the Basic Payment Scheme, causing financial strain.
- The NFU urges the government to allocate the unspent funds to support British farmers effectively.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) has openly criticised the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for its failure to fully allocate its agricultural budget over a three-year period. This financial mismanagement has resulted in a £358 million underspend, a figure that NFU President Tom Bradshaw has labelled ‘unacceptable.’ This substantial budgetary shortfall poses significant risks to farmers who have already faced financial difficulties due to an ongoing agricultural transition.
Bradshaw has expressed his frustration, calling the situation a ‘kick in the teeth’ for those in the farming industry who have endured years of uncertainty and loss of income. The shortfall is particularly concerning given the cessation of the Basic Payment Scheme in 2023. While new financial schemes were expected to fill this gap, many remain incomplete, leading to funds ‘sat gathering dust,’ according to Bradshaw.
The NFU has long advocated for the introduction of comprehensive support measures prior to the reduction of the Basic Payment Scheme to prevent such financial voids. The lack of progress in implementing these schemes has left farmers without much-needed financial assistance during a critical period.
In response to this issue, the NFU has urged the government to reallocate the unspent funds for their intended purpose, thereby helping to stabilise the sector. Bradshaw has emphasised the necessity for government intervention, particularly with the recent appointment of Steve Reed as the new Defra secretary of state. A meeting between Bradshaw and Reed in July underscored the ‘key and immediate’ actions required to bolster the British food and farming sector.
The NFU’s calls for change are set against a backdrop of ongoing financial challenges faced by the agricultural community. Bradshaw’s plea is clear: a budget that enables essential investment is crucial for the prosperity of the farming sector, and the government must act swiftly to rectify this situation.
The NFU’s critique highlights the urgent need for government action to reassess and redistribute unspent agricultural funds.
