A Northumberland farmer has spoken about the difficult times the industry faces amid changing regulations and soaring costs for essentials.
Mark Mather is a mixed farmer in the north of the county and also represents the Wooler ward on Northumberland County Council.
Coun Mather explained that the costs of things like fuel, feed and fertiliser have gone through the roof and called for more direction from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on the future of farming in the UK.
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He said: "It's extremely difficult. The energy prices everybody is seeing, but things like fertiliser and fuel have skyrocketed to levels we've never seen before.
"The biggest concern is the lack of direction for the industry. We can deal with the day to day problems, even though they're big problems, but only if we know that high quality, high health food is wanted."
It comes after supermarkets, farmers and nature groups called for "bold, decisive action" on the Government's plan for new, environmentally friendly agriculture subsidies to replace those offered by the EU prior to Brexit. The so-called Elms payments, which cover England, will pay farmers for "public goods" such as wildlife habitats, clean water, healthy soil and access to the countryside.
Coun Mather added: "I would say Brexit has a smaller part to play. It's more about the environmental work. Does this country want us to produce food going forward?
"There's a huge part for farmers to play in going green. The reason this country looks so beautiful is because of the way it is farmed.
"Landowners are taking back their land from tenant farmers as they see it as a better way to make money. Tenant farmers know the land better than anybody, they're some of the best quality farmers because they're so business minded.
"Food security is very important. There is a big direction to rewilding and forestry which will have an impact on the good we produce.
"I can see a big impact on our communities. The farmer clears the snow, employs people, keeps the schools open. That's unquantifiable and to me that's really scary."
Coun Mather was speaking following the publication of Northumberland County Council's farming inquiry, which was launched as part of the council's plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. Coun Mather sat on the report's inquiry panel.
The council say the Future of Farming report "puts Northumberland in the driving seat of the agricultural transition" and "explores the challenges of moving towards low-carbon manufacturing, sustaining food production and large-scale tree planting and peat restoration, supporting farming businesses to survive and thrive as well as balancing the future interests of estate landowners and tenant farmers".
Council leader Glen Sanderson said: “It’s great to see this report come into fruition. Farming is such a huge part of our identity here in Northumberland and we need to fully support our farming communities to become more sustainable.
“Being a farmer myself I know the importance of future-proofing our agricultural sector in a way that works effectively for everyone and I look forward to putting the recommendations from the report into action.”
Coun Mather added: "I think it's a good first step. Being a farmer myself and representing a rural ward, it's a great first step just to be listened to.
"It's great to be part of an authority that is doing this."
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