UK government re-commits to farm funding until 2024

The UK government has reiterated its commitment to maintain the £3bn annual budget for farm support payments until the end of the current parliament, which is expected in 2024.

It comes after question marks about the funding guarantee were raised last month by both DAERA Minister Edwin Poots and UFU president Victor Chestnutt.

The concern was that the UK government might try to row back on its funding pledge due to budgetary pressure as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

“This annual budget for farming support will be maintained for every year of this parliament, providing certainty and stability ahead of transitioning to the new system,” reads a statement published by the UK government on Wednesday.

The statement was issued to mark the government’s agriculture bill becoming law.

It will see farm payments in England move from the current area-based system to schemes that are mainly focused on environmental measures.