We need to speak to the public about farm support, both to explain what we do and to ensure that our plans for support are in tune with their needs.
This week’s launch of more detail on the Union’s farm plans are similarly in line with broad Westminster and Holyrood principles of moving payments to productivity and environmental gains and away from direct support. However, do we know that this is what the public wants from our farmers? At the end of the day, this all comes down to the policies that get politicians elected and no longer can they avoid farming questions by blaming the EU.
Farm lobbying is competing with lobbying titans such as welfare, the NHS, transport and education – all of which command policymakers to be acutely aware of the public’s needs to avoid budgets being slashed. This is where farming policy now resides so we need to get speaking to the public about what they want from farmers. We may be surprised by what we find out. Environmental lobbies do not represent the public, rather they represent their members or a specific interest group. We need to re-engage with ordinary folk and find out what they want out of the countryside. Furthermore, the industry needs to do it to prevent others putting a spin on the results before publishing them.
ADVERTISEMENT
No longer will we be dictated to or protected by Europe on how much and how we can spend money on farm support. This has largely kept the budget out of the public consciousness with a perception that farm support is forced upon the country. Let us not forget the UK Government lobbied for a reduction in farm payments during the last CAP round. The stakes are far too high to gamble on things just trundling on and we can not allow ourselves to stay within a cosy farming bubble.
If we are to be successful in getting the best deal for farming post-Brexit, we need to circumnavigate the politicians and get to the real kingmakers: the public who vote them in.
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
We need to speak to the public about farm support, both to explain what we do and to ensure that our plans for support are in tune with their needs.
This week’s launch of more detail on the Union’s farm plans are similarly in line with broad Westminster and Holyrood principles of moving payments to productivity and environmental gains and away from direct support. However, do we know that this is what the public wants from our farmers? At the end of the day, this all comes down to the policies that get politicians elected and no longer can they avoid farming questions by blaming the EU.
Farm lobbying is competing with lobbying titans such as welfare, the NHS, transport and education – all of which command policymakers to be acutely aware of the public’s needs to avoid budgets being slashed. This is where farming policy now resides so we need to get speaking to the public about what they want from farmers. We may be surprised by what we find out. Environmental lobbies do not represent the public, rather they represent their members or a specific interest group. We need to re-engage with ordinary folk and find out what they want out of the countryside. Furthermore, the industry needs to do it to prevent others putting a spin on the results before publishing them.
No longer will we be dictated to or protected by Europe on how much and how we can spend money on farm support. This has largely kept the budget out of the public consciousness with a perception that farm support is forced upon the country. Let us not forget the UK Government lobbied for a reduction in farm payments during the last CAP round. The stakes are far too high to gamble on things just trundling on and we can not allow ourselves to stay within a cosy farming bubble.
If we are to be successful in getting the best deal for farming post-Brexit, we need to circumnavigate the politicians and get to the real kingmakers: the public who vote them in.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS