The NPA is urgently seeking members’ views on how the pig industry could benefit from a new farm support system after we leave the EU.
The association has set up a member survey to help us inform Defra what the pig industry would like to see included in the post-Brexit domestic agricultural policy. It is a short survey that will only take a few minutes to fill in.
Click here now to have your say
The Agriculture Bill, published in September, presents potential opportunities for the pig sector. Direct payments will be replaced by ‘public money for public goods’ during an Agricultural Transition from 2021 to 2027. While we don’t yet know the budget, we know the broad areas where new funding will become available, including:
- Enhancing the environment, for example better air and water quality, improved soil health, measures to reduce flooding and public access to the countryside
- A new animal welfare and health scheme, with the first welfare pilots beginning in 2020.
- Measures to increase productivity, for example support for farmers to invest in new technologies, equipment and methods and for research projects.
The NPA will be meeting with Defra officials next week to discuss the pig industry’s priorities. Ahead of that meeting, we are asking members to undertake this quick survey so we can gauge the opinion of as many people within the industry as possible.
NPA senior policy advisor Ed Barker said: “Defra has made it clear funding will be available to all sectors, including pigs. It has also promised to design the schemes with the industry and doesn’t want to impose anything without it being asked for first.
“So we can have a big say in deciding what the new schemes will cover and how they will work – if we don’t, the detail will be decided for us.
“It is therefore important that as many people as possible fill in this survey over the next few days.”
