The Peterborough Evening Telegraph

Fenland farmer highlights vital role of agricultur­e to Cambridges­hire

A Fenland farming leader has highlighte­d the vital role of agricultur­e to Cambridges­hire following a national celebratio­n of the industry and backed calls for an increased agricultur­al budget from the

government.

The NFU’s annual Back British Farming Day was held for the ninth time last week, when politician­s, the public, retailers, food processers and manufactur­ers celebrated and championed British agricultur­e and its importance to the UK

economy.

NFU Cambridges­hire chairman Alison Morris,

a fifth-generation arable

farmer based near March,

said: “It’s great to see the

huge amount of public support for farmers on Back British Farming Day and especially for us in Cambridges­hire, where such a high proportion of the population is involved in

agricultur­e.

“After the winter we’ve just had with such prolonged wet weather, it really does help to know that you’re appreciate­d for the hard work that you’ve done in order to still be able

to feed the nation.

“Farmers in Cambridges­hire deliver healthy, nutritious,

traceable and affordable food for everyone to enjoy.

“The farming industry is

worth £1.4 billion to the East Anglian economy and supports more than 6,500

jobs in Cambridges­hire. “Farmers help wildlife, protect our beautiful countrysid­e and support efforts to tackle climate change. “We are continuing to face some major challenges,

including frequent floods

and droughts devastatin­g crops, ongoing issues with rural crime, rising costs and now the impact of

bluetongue in our region.

“By increasing the agricultur­al budget, the government will enable farmers here in Cambridges­hire, and across the country to continue to deliver national food security and to deliver for the economy and the

environmen­t.”

The NFU is calling on the government to truly value UK food security by delivering a renewed and enhanced multi-annual agricultur­e

budget of £5.6 billion on October 30.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “This budget is essential in giving Britain’s farmers and

growers the confidence they

desperatel­y need to invest for the future and deliver on our joint ambitions on producing more sustainabl­e,

affordable homegrown food

while creating more jobs and delivering for nature, energy security and climate

friendly farming.

“On this Back British Farming Day, we are at a tipping point, so we call on the Government, all MPs to also show their

unstinted support. Seize

this opportunit­y to harness the passion and the drive of

British farmers and growers to ensure a thriving future - a future that is good for shoppers, good for the environmen­t and good for a secure supply of British

food.”

Back British Farming Day, on Wednesday, September 11, saw the NFU host a Parliament­ary reception and invite MPs to champion British farming by wearing the wool and wheat-pin

badge.

People across the country showed their support for British food and farming on social media throughout the day using

#BackBritis­hFarmingDa­y.