A Future for Young Farmers

Earlier this month in Westminster, I attended a debate about young farmers and the future of British agriculture. Listening to those at the start of their career, with dreams of owning their own farm, I was buoyed by their enthusiasm but it was also clear that, without urgent support, we risk losing the next generation completely. 

For an industry that contributes over £14.5 billion to the UK economy and is indispensable to our environment, national security, health, and rural heritage, we are at a defining point. Only 5% of farmers are under 35, while 40% are over 65. 

This is a generational imbalance that risks tipping the sector into long-term decline. 

It comes after an extremely tough few years in which farmers have had to absorb and adapt to one shock after another: extreme weather contributing to three of the five worst harvests on record since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and now renewed global instability is hitting the farming community again as fertiliser and red diesel prices have skyrocketed during peak planting season.

Add to that ongoing policy uncertainty, including the changes to the Inheritance Tax and closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, it is no surprise that many young people feel they are being hit from all angles. 

When I spoke with ‘Berkshire Farm Girl’ Eleanor Gilbert, she put it clearly: “One of the barriers facing young farmers today is access – to both land and financial support.” 

Eleanor stressed that the lack of affordable rural housing puts huge strain on young farmers working demanding hours, and the need to establish locally focused procurement schemes, so young farmers can sell high-quality, fresh British produce directly into local supermarkets. Together, these changes could help to break down barriers to entry but help young farmers build sustainable farming businesses over the next decades. 

We need to listen and engage with the next generation who understand the day-to-day realities of farming better than anyone. So, in contrast to the damaging Governments decisions, the Liberal Democrats are focused on three key priorities:  

1. Farm First Scheme: A national training programme modelled on Teach First that will create 1,000 two-year placements for graduates and career-changers. Providing crucial training in modern farming, strengthening school-farm partnerships, and teaching children the importance of local supply chains. 

2. Long-Term Funding Through Environmental Land Management Scheme: Accelerate the Environmental Land Management Scheme with an additional £1 billion a year to the farming budget. By establishing 10-year funding cycles, it will give farmers much-needed certainty, particularly after a period of insecurity hanging over their head since the family farm tax announcement in 2024.

3. Reverse Harmful Government Decisions: Across three fronts, we are continuing to oppose the halting of new applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive, challenging the DEFRA budget cut (2.3% annually), and maintain our calls for the Family Farm Tax to be scrapped entirely. 

Both locally and in Parliament, I have proudly stood with farmers on these issues and, alongside Liberal Democrat colleagues, I will champion their crucial contribution and push for the support they deserve. 

As current pressures take their toll, we must back our young farmers and create the training routes and long-term funding that gives the next generation the confidence to build a future in this vital sector.