Labour has missed the deadline for working out how it can help farmers improve the profitability of agriculture. Guido can think of one simple trick Reeves could do…
Former NFU President Baroness Minette Batters was appointed to lead a review of farm profitability on 7 April this year. DEFRA said at the time:
“This government has heard the challenges faced by farmers, and the difficulties faced in realising satisfactory profits from their hard work… The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has asked Baroness Batters to lead work to advise him on profitability, to identify recommendations and actions that will support farming profitability as part of this government’s New Deal for Farmers.”
It added in strict terms: “The final report will be delivered within six months of appointing the Farming Profitability Review Lead.” Oops!
DEFRA has not responded to a request for comment on its failure to review the profitability of farming. Labour’s agriculture strategy there…
