Responding to the Autumn Budget delivered by the Chancellor yesterday, NFU president Minette Batters said: “Agriculture is not immune from the inflationary pressures hitting all parts of the economy; British farmers and growers are currently facing huge challenges from increased feed, fertiliser and energy costs, alongside a crippling shortage of workers.
“UK farm businesses, and their diversified enterprises, will welcome the Chancellor’s announcement today to extend the temporary increase in annual investment allowance for plant and machinery to March 2023. This will help support critical investment in British farming businesses. However, we now need to see a longer-term roadmap for capital allowances from 2023, one which incentivises all forms of capital investment including infrastructure.”
Mrs Batters continued: “It was disappointing not to hear anything from the Chancellor on government plans to develop its export strategy to help UK farmers grow their markets overseas, including funding for dedicated agricultural counsellors, or any details on overhauling government procurement practices to increase the provision of fresh and nutritious British food in our schools, hospitals and other public sites.
“And equally the lack of focus on net zero funding, especially with COP26 only days away was a missed opportunity. However, the Chancellor did announce that businesses will benefit from business rates investment relief for green technologies, which is a positive move to support continued investment in renewable energy and may help in UK farming’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2040. We will now need to see more detail to be certain about the impacts this will deliver on farm.”
Mrs Batters said that more encouraging was the new 50% business rates discount for companies in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors, lasting for one year, which will support rural businesses such as farm shops recovering from the impact of COVID-19.
She continued: “As we have already highlighted to the Chancellor, future farming schemes have the potential to deliver meaningful, widespread and long-term benefits for Britain. It was therefore positive to hear that Rishi Sunak will provide Defra with much needed additional resources and funding to deliver its plans to support the essential transition to a new agriculture policy.
“The NFU’s Levelling up report highlights how investment in British farming and rural Britain can bring huge benefits to the entire nation; delivering jobs, green growth, exports and improved health and wellbeing. Farm businesses have a key role in the government’s investment-led recovery.
“With an ambition to reach net zero by 2040, British farming can be a pivotal part of meeting our climate ambitions and increasing the production of sustainable climate-friendly food.”
