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
5 results
Clear
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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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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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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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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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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