This Back British Farming Day, Dr Neil Hudson is demonstrating his support for British farmers and growers, and celebrating the high-quality environmentally friendly and nutritious food they produce for the country,
The day is also a celebration and appreciation of a job ranked by the British public as one of the most important and well-respected professions in a recent NFU survey, second only to nursing.
To mark the occasion, Dr Hudson joined with NFU President Minette Batters, Environment Secretary, Thérèse Coffey, and a host of MPs at an event in Parliament to hear more about progress being made on farming priorities. The event coincided with a Government announcement backing the Buy British campaign championed by Dr Hudson (more information available here), a recruitment drive to appoint extra agri-food attaches to help unlock new trading markets and helping farmers on the ELM schemes meet public procurement standards. A fuller explanation can be found here.
Dr Hudson then wore the emblem of Back British Farming Day during his contribution on the nation’s biosecurity in a debate in Parliament and during Prime Minister’s Questions; a wheatsheaf pin badge made of wool and wheat sourced from UK farms.
Veterinary MP Dr Neil Hudson, said:
“Farmers are the lifeblood of our rural communities, keeping us well-fed with high-quality food all while nurturing our precious landscapes. I’m proud therefore to wear the wheatsheaf pin on Back British Farming Day and stand up for our brilliant UK farmers.
“Food and farming is worth more than £127 billion nationally and employs some 4 million people. It is a vital British industry and one the public want to see expanded, with 88% of NFU survey respondents calling for the UK to maintain or increase its food self-sufficiency – something I wholeheartedly agree with and have been campaigning for.
“Farming is not a 9-5 job; the hard work and dedication of our UK producers to provide food for our tables is laudable and make me proud to back British farming and fight for a future where food and farming can thrive.”
NFU President Minette Batters added to FarmingUK:
"Britain’s farmers and growers are truly inspirational, and it is heart-warming to know the public really value the work we do in producing fantastic homegrown food. We really have some of the most forward-thinking, productive and innovative farmers and growers working across our sector.
"Despite the challenges being faced by everyone this year, we are still doing what we do best – producing great tasting British food.
"On this Back British Farming Day, we appreciate this public support more than ever and want to say a massive thank you to everyone.”
A passionate advocate for the many farming communities in his constituency and across the country; Dr Hudson has been working hard in his role as an MP and a Member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee to support British farming. Recent activity has included:
- Instigated a Parliamentary Inquiry into Food Security which recently put a range of recommendations to Government including measures to boost domestic production, help farmers with high input costs and protect associated industries – such as British fertiliser production. You can read more here. He was since invited to share his expertise at a wide-ranging policy event, available here.
- Calling for a Buy British button on supermarket website so consumers can more easily support our Brilliant Farmers. More details here.
- Instigated the publication of an EFRA Committee report into how Government can make its post-Brexit farm payment schemes financially attractive to farmers. The full report can be found here.
- Promoted nature-friendly farming locally. Can find here.
- Called for prime agricultural land not to be compromised by intensive solar developments. Watch his parliamentary intervention here.
