The future of farming

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 6 Dec 2024 Parliament page
The agricultural sector is experiencing a period of significant change as it transitions away from a legacy direct payments regime towards nation-specific farming schemes. The future of farming inquiry will provide consistent scrutiny of the issues facing the sector as it transitions. It will focus on farmers, farming communities and … Read more
11 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
29 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 41 events
3 Mar
2026
Correspondence
3 Mar
2026
Correspondence
3 Mar
2026
Correspondence
13 Feb
2026
Correspondence
13 Feb
2026
Correspondence
13 Feb
2026
Correspondence
13 Feb
2026
Correspondence
28 Jan
2026
Correspondence
28 Jan
2026
Correspondence
28 Jan
2026
Correspondence
20 Jan
2026
Oral evidence
20 Jan
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
20 Jan 2026
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Baroness Batters DL
16 Dec 2025
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EFRA Committee; EFRA
Dame Angela Eagle MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Emily Miles · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Gareth Baynham-Hughes · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Mike Dowell · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Mike Rowe · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
1 Apr 2025
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; EFRA
Colin Faulkner · Seafish Daniel Zeichner MP · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Emily Miles · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Janet Hughes · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Mike Dowell · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
14 Jan 2025
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Dame Tamara Finkelstein · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Emily Miles · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Jonathan Baker · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
11 Dec 2024
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
David Sturrock · Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) Dr Arun Advani · Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) Jeremy Moody · Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) Robert Martin · Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) Stuart Maggs · Howes Percival LLP Tom Bradshaw · National Farmers' Union (NFU) Victoria Vyvyan · Country Land and Business Association
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - The Government’s vision for farming HC 906 16 May 2025 18 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
18 results
1 Conclusion Accepted
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Committee welcomes government commitments to British farming, food security, and planned strategic reviews.
Ministers have taken on responsibility for farming policy in difficult economic and geopolitical circumstances, and we welcome their strong commitments to back British produce, protect farmers in trade deals and improve fairness in the food supply chain. We welcome the … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need for a clear vision and confirms Defra is actively developing the 25-year Farming Roadmap, which will set the direction for the farming sector and aims to publish it later this year.
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2 Conclusion Acknowledged
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Disjointed farming policy announcements, made without a clear vision, cause significant confusion and concern.
The Government has made several significant farming policy announcements or sector interventions since the election. This is an impressive list of initiatives that the Defra Secretary has recognised should be part of an ‘interlocking jigsaw’. We are concerned, however, that … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to considering the Committee’s analysis and recommendations when developing plans for the reformed SFI offer, with more information expected later this summer. The response also details past and present management of the SFI scheme, including its closure and reopening for some applicants.
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3 Conclusion Accepted
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Present clearer exposition of government's vision and credible plans for the farming sector.
Farms are professional businesses and remain adaptable to change, but they must plan for changes well in advance with confidence about the future environment they will be operating in. We have concerns that the Department has not yet demonstrated that … Read more
Government Response
The government committed to providing more information on the reformed SFI offer later this summer, outlining its core vision and budget controls. It also appointed Baroness Minette Batters to lead a review of farming profitability, supported by a new team.
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4 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Urgently set out vision for farming sector and food security in 25-year Farming Roadmap.
The Government should urgently set out its vision for the farming sector, achieving food security and the future of the Farming and Countryside Programme in its proposed 25-year Farming Roadmap, and in advance of making significant major changes to farming … Read more
Government Response
The government's response discusses inheritance tax reforms and agricultural property relief, which is unrelated to the recommendation for a vision for the farming sector or the 25-year Farming Roadmap, thus deflecting from the original request.
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5 Conclusion Accepted
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Farmers are fundamental; productivity, grants, and fairness are key drivers for self-sufficient farming.
Farmers and the rural community are fundamental to delivering the Government’s plan for change. They provide high quality, nutritious food, deliver environmental goods and maintain landscapes for us all to enjoy. The Government has an exciting opportunity to shape the … Read more
Government Response
The government reopened the Capital Grants offer on 3 July 2025, making £150 million available for farmers to invest in equipment and services. It also committed to ensuring the 25-year Farming Roadmap reflects stakeholder views through continued engagement.
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6 Recommendation Acknowledged
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Require Government to consult stakeholders and clearly communicate ELMS future direction
A transparent policy on the direction of the Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) and other subsidy arrangements is crucial. If the Government is serious about improving ELMS outcomes it must consult with stakeholders and communicate its plan clearly. Confidence in … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the need for a transparent ELMS policy and clearer communication, stating they will continue to provide details on schemes and evaluate communications using an established framework.
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7 Conclusion Acknowledged
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Establish an alternative funding mechanism for farmers missing SFI24 by September
An alternative funding mechanism should be put in place to fill the gap in funding for those who missed out on the SFI24, no later than September
Government Response
The government's response did not address the specific recommendation for an alternative funding mechanism for SFI24. It broadly acknowledged the importance of parliamentary scrutiny and stated it will continue to take recommendations into account in future work.
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8 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Require Government to outline next SFI iteration and farm profitability plan by October 2025
The Government should set out what the next iteration of SFI will look like and the date it will be open for applications in the response to this report. It must also state how it intends to increase farm profitability, … Read more
Government Response
The government defers providing full details on the next SFI iteration and its application date, committing to more information later this summer. It also defers stating how it will increase farm profitability by announcing a new review of farming profitability, to be led by Baroness Minette Batters.
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9 Conclusion Acknowledged
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Support for reforming agricultural property reliefs to address wealth sheltering loophole
We support the Government’s objective of reforming Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) to close the loophole that encourages wealthy investors to buy agricultural land to avoid inheritance tax. We recognise longstanding concerns that these reliefs are … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the committee's support for the reforms to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, confirming that the changes will take effect from April 2026 as previously announced.
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10 Conclusion Acknowledged
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Lack of consultation and assessment for property relief reforms causes concern
We are concerned, however, that no consultation, impact assessment, or affordability assessment was conducted before the announcement of the reforms. The lack of proper evaluation of the impact of these changes means that the scale and nature of its impact … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the committee's concerns regarding the lack of consultation and impact assessment prior to the reforms, but reiterated that the changes to agricultural and business property relief will take effect from April 2026, referencing previous engagement with stakeholders and its own analytical basis.
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11 Recommendation Rejected
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Ample time available for Government to consult on tax reform alternatives
Several alternatives to achieve the same goals, or mitigations to protect vulnerable farmers, have been proposed. We are not in a position to assess the merits of each and propose an alternative, but there is sufficient time between now and … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation for further consultation on alternative proposals, stating that the reforms to agricultural and business property relief will proceed from April 2026 as planned, and that sufficient engagement with stakeholders has already taken place.
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12 Recommendation Rejected
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Stakeholder concerns hinder agricultural vision; pause in tax reforms advisable
Stakeholder concerns around the Budget’s taxation proposals have made it difficult for the Government to articulate and deliver its wider vision for agriculture. It has also strained the relationships with those who will be responsible for helping to deliver that … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation to pause taxation reforms, affirming that the changes to agricultural and business property relief will take effect from April 2026 as planned, stating the approach and timescale are appropriate after listening to stakeholders.
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13 Recommendation Rejected
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Delay final APR and BPR reforms until October 2026 for consultation and assessment
The Government should delay announcing its final APR and BPR reforms until October 2026, to come into effect in April 2027, to provide more time for farming businesses to conduct succession planning and seek appropriate professional advice. The Government should … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects delaying APR and BPR reforms, confirming they will take effect from April 2026 as announced in Autumn Budget 2024, citing the need to repair public finances and stating that its consultation and approach are appropriate.
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14 Recommendation Acknowledged
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Defra's poor communication and last-minute decisions erode trust in farming sector
The experience of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2024 (SFI24) closure follows a pattern within Defra of poor communication and last-minute decision-making following rumours and Departmental leaks. As with the sudden closure of the Capital Grants scheme in November 2024, the … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the committee's concerns regarding the closure of the Capital Grants scheme without notice, stating that all communications are evaluated using the Government Communications Service Evaluation Cycle. However, they only committed to aim to give reasonable notice for future scheme closures, with a caveat that it 'may not be possible'.
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15 Recommendation Acknowledged
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Improve Defra's proactive and transparent communication with Parliament and arm's-length bodies.
We are thankful to the Secretary of State, Ministers and Officials for engaging with our Committee, but we urge Defra to improve its communication with Parliament and be proactive and transparent in its communications. Similarly, communications between Defra and its … Read more
Government Response
The government agreed on the importance of parliamentary scrutiny and committed to ongoing work to improve parliamentary capability, outlining existing protocols for information sharing within Defra and with arm's-length bodies and committing to regularly review communication protocols.
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16 Recommendation Accepted
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Review and evaluate Government communication with farming sector, providing analysis and solutions.
The Government should review how it communicates with the farming sector and properly evaluate the impact recent communications have had on trust in the Department. It should provide its analysis and proposed solutions in its response to this report. (Recommendation, … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged concerns about communication and trust, stating that all communications with the farming sector are already evaluated using the Government Communications Service Evaluation Cycle. However, it did not provide specific analysis or proposed solutions within this report as requested.
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17 Recommendation Acknowledged
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Establish protocols for Defra's professional information sharing and investigate policy leaks.
Defra should ensure that operational and policy decisions are clearly communicated to its arm’s-length bodies and the farming advice service in advance of them being made public. It should investigate the causes of the leaks of its proposed changes to … Read more
Government Response
The government outlined its existing protocols for sharing sensitive information with arm's-length bodies and the Farming Advice Service in advance of public announcements, stating they regularly review these communication protocols. However, it did not commit to investigating the causes of leaks or providing details of revised protocols.
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18 Recommendation Accepted
1st Report - The Government’s visi…
Improve Defra's communication with Parliament, ensuring policy statements are subject to proper scrutiny.
Defra must improve its communications with Parliament and ensure that statements regarding policy are made in the House and subject to voluntary and proper scrutiny. Defra should affirm its commitment to doing so in its response to this report. (Recommendation, … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the recommendation, affirming its commitment to parliamentary scrutiny and stating that work is underway across the Department to improve parliamentary capability, especially concerning written Parliamentary Questions.
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Government Response AI assessment · 18 of 11 classified
Accepted 5
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 2
Rejected 3
Total 11 recs + 7 conclusions
Correspondence 29 letters
3 Mar 2026 Correspondence from National Sheep Association relating to seasonal workers visas, dated 20 February 2026
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3 Mar 2026 Correspondence from British Wool relating to seasonal workers visas, dated 15 February 2026
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3 Mar 2026 Correspondence from the National Pig Association relating to skilled workers visas, dated 23 February 2026
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13 Feb 2026 Correspondence to Lizzie Wilson, CEO, National Pig Association, on any implications that the planned changes to Skilled Workers visas could have on the industry, dated 11 February.
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13 Feb 2026 Correspondence from Harry Bowell, Director of Land & Nature at National Trust, refuting the claims made by Baroness Minette Batters about Landscape Recovery, dated 23 January 2026
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13 Feb 2026 Correspondence to Andrew Hogley, Chief Executive, British Wool, on any implications that the Home Office’s decision to not renew the seasonal concession for non visa nationals could have on the industry, dated 11 February
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13 Feb 2026 Correspondence to Phil Stoker, Chair National Sheep Association, on any implications that the Home Office’s decision to not renew the seasonal concession for non visa nationals could have on the industry, dated 11 February
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28 Jan 2026 Correspondence to the Minister for Food Security and Rural affairs following on from the evidence session in December 2025, dated 28 January 2026
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28 Jan 2026 Correspondence from Wendy Chamberlain MP regarding the EFRA Committee holding an inquiry into milk prices, dated 15 January 2026
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28 Jan 2026 Correspondence from Mike Tapp MP, Minister for Migration & Citizenship, regarding Seasonal Workers Visas, dated 22 January 2026
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6 Jan 2026 Correspondence from the Secretary of State, Defra regarding the Farming Profitability Review, dated 17 December 2025
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6 Jan 2026 Correspondence from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of State, Defra, regarding the reforms of agricultural property relief and business property relief, dated 23 December 2025
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9 Dec 2025 Correspondence from Sir Chris Bryant, Minister of Trade, Dept for Business and Trade, regarding the Government’s Section 42 report on the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, dated 27 November 2025
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25 Nov 2025 Correspondence from the Chair of the Senedd's Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee regarding plans to introduce a ban on the sale of compost containing peat, dated 17 November 2025
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18 Nov 2025 Correspondence from Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee regarding their report Farming in Wales in 2025: Challenges and Opportunities, dated 11 November 2025
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21 Oct 2025 Correspondence from NFU regarding the UK-US Trade Negotiations and the Dairy Sector, dated 18 September 2025
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2 Sep 2025 Correspondence from the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs regarding recent farming activity by Defra, dated 1 September 2025
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24 Jun 2025 Correspondence to the Minister for Nature regarding Land-Use Framework, dated 17 June 2025
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18 Jun 2025 Correspondence from the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs regarding his evidence to the Committee on 1 April, dated 11 June 2025
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23 Apr 2025 Correspondence to the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs following up on his evidence to the Committee on 1 April, dated 23 April
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1 Apr 2025 Correspondence from The Wildlife Trusts regarding natural carbon capture and farming policy proposal, dated 27 March 2025
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1 Apr 2025 Correspondence from British Wool regarding its work and 75th anniversary, dated 21 March 2025
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25 Mar 2025 Joint correspondence from Red Tractor Assurance, Scottish Quality Crops and Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), relating to NUTS2 and Accreditation, dated 13 March 2025
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25 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Tom Langton FRSB relating to Bovine TB, dated 12 March 2025
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11 Feb 2025 Correspondence from the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs regarding strategy for farming, dated 10 February 2025
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11 Feb 2025 Correspondence from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury regarding inheritance tax reform, dated 7 February 2025
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23 Jan 2025 Correspondence to the Prime Minister regarding Inheritance tax relief reforms contained within the Autumn Budget, 23 January 2025
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22 Jan 2025 Correspondence to the Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, relating to the future of farming inquiry, dated 22 January 2025
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7 Jan 2025 Correspondence from Family Business UK regarding the Future of farming inquiry, dated 9 December 2024
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