Family farm threat
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is warning that traditional family farms could soon disappear.
NFU president Tim Bennett warned that cheaper food and changes to EU agricultural subsidies would bring about the death of smaller farms.
Changes to agricultural subsidies mean these are now based on how farmers care for the environment and landscape rather than issues of production.
Brussels is encouraging cover for ground-nesting birds and wild flower meadows, which the NFU says will inevitably leave smaller farms out of pocket.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Bennett said: “From a social point of view, I think it’s a tragedy, because the main message being given at the moment is that the world wants cheap food and if you’re not prepared to do that, you are not in the marketplace.”
Many farmers will need to rely on income sources such as tourism to continue to farm.
