As the impact of COVID-19 affects every corner of the country, farmers are rolling their sleeves up to keep people fed. Farmers are doing all they can to keep the food chain moving and prevent shortages. Never has it been more critical to remind the country of the importance of domestic food production as coronavirus has shut borders within days.

After this crisis has passed, it will be important to look at our priorities to ensure that we best value the most important areas in the economy.

Surely now politicians can see that outsourcing any of society’s essential requirements to foreign nations is just plain stupidity

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One scientist pointed out that lab researchers get a typical salary of around £1,800/month compared to £1.8m/month for elite footballers. Only one has a chance to save millions of lives.

Food security can no longer be swept under the carpet as a side issue. These last few days we have seen national borders become rigid dividing lines across the globe and moving between them is anything but frictionless. Surely now politicians can see that outsourcing any of society’s essential requirements to foreign nations is just plain stupidity.

Farmers will work hard this spring to keep young stock alive as they are born and get crops successfully established.

A summer of cancelled shows and farming events will offer little respite. But this is a small price to pay as the industry commits to keeping the country going as we battle this wicked disease.