The Liberal Democrats are proposing a ‘Farm First’ initiative to train graduates for agricultural careers, addressing what they deem a looming “lost generation” within the farming sector.
Modeled after Teach First, a program dedicated to training and placing graduates in teaching roles, the ‘Farm First’ scheme seeks to attract young talent to the industry.
The Liberal Democrats estimate the scheme would require an annual investment of £60 million, facilitating two-year training placements for 1,000 participants. The party suggests funding could be secured through measures such as a windfall tax on major banking institutions and an increase to the Digital Services Tax levied on large technology companies.
In response, a Labour spokesperson affirmed the government’s “commitment to supporting the farming sector.”
“We are investing billions into the sector through supportive programmes and schemes, working closely with the Institute for Agriculture to promote farming careers.”
The spokesperson added, “The Liberal Democrats had an opportunity to support farmers while in government but instead cut capital spending to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by a third and led the country into austerity.”
Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat’s environment spokesperson, stated that his party is advocating for “a fundamental cultural shift in our attitude towards farming.”
“Our Farm First scheme would treat food security with the seriousness it deserves, finally giving young people the training and incentive they need to choose farming,” he said.
“By ignoring this impending crisis and rural brain drain, they are severing the lifeline of our domestic food supply.”
Citing government data indicating that only 5% of UK farmers are under 35, the party underscored the need for immediate action to attract younger individuals to the sector.
The figures, released in September, showed that 40% of farmers are over 65, while 15% are under 45.
In September, an agricultural university reported an 11% surge in applications for its farming course, attributing the increase to what it termed the “Clarkson effect,” according to reports.
Will Marsh, director of external relations at the Royal Agriculture University, told the BBC that Jeremy Clarkson’s Amazon Prime show, which chronicles his experiences running Diddly Squat Farm, has contributed to the rise in applications.
“When you watch the programme, you can see how rewarding that career is, you can see how complicated it is and how far-reaching it is,” he stated.
The Liberal Democrats are also advocating for enhanced nutrition and food education in schools.
“Instilling an understanding of how food is produced from a young age, making better use of food grown locally and investing in agricultural training opportunities are key to future domestic food security and to tackling poverty,” the party asserts.
Earlier this year, a senior executive at Marks & Spencer cautioned that planned changes to inheritance tax could deter young people from pursuing careers in agriculture.
“We want to see a vibrant, viable farming structure where young people can come in and make a good living and be proud of what they do,” he told the BBC.
“So being able to give greater surety, greater security is going to be key to viable farming structure going forward.”
The proposed change—which has not yet been enacted—would impose tax on inherited agricultural assets exceeding £1 million.
Some Labour MPs have expressed reservations about the measure, with approximately 30 reportedly abstaining during an initial vote.
Markus Campbell-Savours, the MP representing the rural Cumbrian constituency of Penrith and Solway,was suspended from the parliamentary party after voting against the plan.
The government maintains that the move is a fair approach to raising revenue for public services.
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