Oxford Farming Conference: Ministers call for ‘spirit of collaboration’ following difficult year for farmers
9th January 2025
Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish ministers spoke at the Oxford Farming Conference about the importance of supporting the farming industry throughout the difficulties it has been facing in recent months.
Jim Fairlie, minister for agriculture and connectivity at the Scottish Government, said that UK farmers currently struggle with a number of challenges, which require government and industry to work together.
He called for a “spirit of collaboration” and mutual understanding, which would ensure resilience in rural communities as well as food systems. That belief in determination is probably more prevalent today.
MSP Fairlie added: “It has never been more essential that the rural voice is heard as we face up to the damaging effects of climate change, the global conflict that we see around the world, disaster of Brexit that Scotland did not vote for, and the rise of populism that has started to get hold right around the whole of the UK.
“What is needed right now is calm heads, considered thinking, and collaboration with the sectors to help steer us back onto a path of recovery and restoration.”
The Scottish minister for agriculture explained to the audience that climate mitigation and adaptation, which have been an important issue for the government, will protect high-quality food production and will enable rural communities to thrive.
MSP Fairlie also talked about agricultural funding, which “must be delivered on a multiannual basis to deflect the long-term nature of farming”.
“The Budget also set out changes to inheritance tax, which we are all very well aware of in this room.
“But it’s clear that it’s not just the owner-occupiers that are going to be affected in Scotland, but the tenants as well.
“We’ve raised this with the Treasury, and we will continue that pressure to get this damaging decision reversed so that we can have a proper dialogue and impact assessments to find a fair tax system that respects the devolution settlement and does not wreck the livelihoods of the people who keep this country afloat.”
Ensuring successful future for farmers
Deputy first minister and cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs at the Welsh Government, Huw Irranca-Davies, started his speech by outlining that the country needs to support the farming industry to enable it to create nutritious food for its residents.
He said: “There are a range of challenges facing the sector, from energy prices to animal diseases and much, much more. […]
“The change in climate and the extreme weather that we’re all facing affect all of our farms, including those in Wales, and the soils, and the waterways, and their livestock. Just this winter, Wales was affected by two severe storms in very quick succession.
“These caused disruption in the short term, for example, to electricity supply to dairy farms during milking and longer impacts as well. These changes are going to intensify.”
MS Irranca-Davies added that the government and the industry have to act today to help ensure a successful future for farmers.
He also pointed out that a transition to a decarbonised economy is going to be a challenge to the whole of UK society, including the farming sector.
“But it also brings real opportunities, and the Welsh Government is committed to working side by side with farmers to actually reap those benefits,” MS Irranca-Davies continued.
The Welsh minister concluded his speech by confirming that payments for 2024 in Wales to all the eligible claimants totalled over £228 million.
He said that these payments are “critical” in providing financial certainty and stability.
“I’m pleased that we invest £118 million through our rural investment schemes alongside BPS. Many of these schemes, including the Habitat Wales Scheme, are key parts of the SFS preparatory phase in 2025.
“The UK Budget in October included the full amount of funding allocated for replacement farm funding for Wales in 2024/25. In December we published our Welsh Government draft Budget, and I announced the BPS in Wales would remain at £238 million for 2025.”
Transition to more sustainable farming
Andrew Muir, Northern Ireland minister of agriculture, environment and rural affairs, has shared with the participants of the Oxford Farming Conference his vision for the future of farming, “where financial and environmental sustainability goes hand in hand”.
He said: “The agricultural picture in Northern Ireland is unique. It’s made up of many family farms.
“I commend so many farmers leading by example in Northern Ireland, as great custodians of our countryside. Our farmers are key to our food security, but also to addressing the environmental and climate change issues facing us.
“[…] I know the road ahead isn’t easy, especially after recent announcements on inheritance tax, which will have a disproportionate and detrimental impact on Northern Ireland if implemented, which they ought not to be.”
MLA Muir added that leaving the European Union seems like a “never-ending journey”.
He pointed out that the resource and work required to navigate post-Brexit trading rules, but also to develop and implement new schemes to replace previous common agricultural policies from the EU, are “significant and onerous”.
The minister added that the Northern Irish government is “getting on with the work to implement new support schemes”, including a comprehensive SPS veterinary agreement, which is “on the horizon”.
He added: “The overall objective is to transition to a more sustainable farming sector by seeking to implement policies and strategies that benefit our climate and environment whilst also supporting our economically and socially significant agri-food sector.”
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