A report by the National Farmers Union calls for ambitious targets to safeguard food production on farms across Bassetlaw and nationally, following a decline across the country.

Farm businesses across Bassetlaw are ready to meet growing consumer demand, boost self-sufficiency and drive further growth, but barriers hold them back.

To secure a future for British food production and county farms, the NFU is calling on the government to set ambitious targets for homegrown food.

Self-sufficiency in 10 out of 11 everyday foods, such as wheat, vegetables, beef, poultry meat and eggs have fallen over the last 30 years as the country's reliance on imported food continues to grow.

Nottinghamshire NFU representative Jane Bassett on farmland.

placeholder image — Nottinghamshire NFU representative Jane Bassett on farmland.

Agri-food import volumes across the county and wider country are up 70 per cent while export volumes have stalled.

This week, with Back British Farming Day on September 9, the NFU’s Ready to Grow report underlines the need for action.

It reveals that 65 per cent of wheat and barley grown on cereal farms came from farms operating at loss, and on lowland livestock farms, only 26 per cent of some sheep products came from profitable farm groups.

This comes when the worst drought in 50 years is set to cost wheat growers £370 million, while the UK's largest-ever bluetongue outbreak and soaring fuel, fertiliser and energy costs linked to the conflict in Iran are pushing farm finances to breaking point.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw calls for change.

But agriculture continues to deliver for the economy. Gross value added (GVA) has risen by 57 per cent in England, helping power the UK's largest manufacturing sector, food and drink, worth £162.3 billion and supporting 4.1 million jobs.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “Our report paints a stark picture of falling production and an increasing reliance on imported food while at the same time the world is becoming more unstable.

“Successive governments have sleepwalked into making it harder to produce food at home, leaving Britain increasingly reliant on imports produced to standards that would be illegal here.

“Farmers are battling devastating drought, disease outbreaks and soaring costs. At the same time, policy uncertainty, chronic underinvestment and a restrictive planning system are eroding Britain’s ability to produce its own food. This must and can be reversed."

Farmer Jane Bassett, NFU regional board chair who represents farmers in Nottinghamshire, said despite the pressures, farmers continued to deliver jobs, growth and food, while playing a crucial role in supporting rural communities, as their firefighting efforts this summer showed.

She said: "Back British Farming Day is an opportunity to put the focus on what we do and our role in food security, the rural economy and countryside stewardship.

“We also have the chance to thank shoppers for backing us and buying British food where possible, alongside building support among MPs and policymakers for farming-related and rural issues.

“In today’s uncertain world we need to ensure we secure homegrown food production as a priority.”