Party policies: Tim Farron, Liberal Democrats

Why should farmers vote for your party?
The Liberal Democrats are the party of rural Britain and the only party which prioritises and values British farming. Our policy of an Independent

Supermarket Regulator will ensure farmers receive a fair price for their produce from supermarkets and processors so they not only survive, but also thrive.

We will also reform the Rural Payments Agency to ensure the money goes to family farmers who genuinely need it and we will take decisive action on bovine TB.

Where would you make spending savings and improve efficiency in Defra and its agencies?
There is a huge amount of money wasted in Defra, from quangos to RPA inefficiency.

We will end Single Farm Payments below £300 and save at least £7 million which can be redirected to hard-pressed farmers.

We will also review all Defra quangos to cut inefficiencies.

It is a crying shame the expertise of young people who have family and/or academic backgrounds in farming are not being used in Defra. We will place them at the heart and head of the department to ensure the voice of the farming industry is properly heard.

How would you ensure the UK’s voice is heard in Europe in negotiations over farming regulation?
We must be at the forefront of farming discussions in Europe to ensure we are a powerful and proactive voice for British farming.

British representatives have lagged behind the rest of Europe and have been caught off-guard by legislation such as EID.

We are committed to working closely with Europe to prevent ill-advised legislation and to ensure British farmers get the best deal possible.

How would you tackle bovine TB?
The time has come to introduce a science-based cull. This should take place in targeted areas, preferably with hard boundaries, so we can see the impact on badgers outside and inside the culling zone and the rates of bovine TB in cattle when regular culling takes place.

A badger cull, with vaccination, regular testing and compulsory post-movement testing for cattle moving from high risk areas to low risk areas, would provide farmers with greater protection.

Would you introduce an independent body to take over animal health policy, alongside a levy on livestock producers?
We don’t object to the introduction of an independent body to deal with animal health policy, however we are completely opposed to the Government’s motivation for introducing the body to legitimise ‘cost sharing’ so farmers pick up the tab.

Why should an innocent farmer have to pay because of the Government’s negligence over animal diseases? When there is an animal disease outbreak, farmers already end up bearing vast costs.

We will not support funding the independent animal health body if farmers are forced to meet its costs.

Would you negotiate to retain Single Payments (or a version of) in the next version of the Common Agricultural Policy? Or do you believe all funds should be shifted to Pillar Two?

The Labour Government has pursued Pillar Two with great zeal and, in doing so, has ignored market unfairness.

It is because of that unfairness farmers need the direct support from Pillar One to stay in business.

Before getting rid of Pillar One payments, we need to ensure the market is fair and farmers receive adequate prices for their produce. Until then we will fight to retain direct (Pillar One) payments.

How would you encourage new entrants into farming?
By introducing farming apprenticeships, starting with a hill farm apprenticeship scheme to provide business advice and skills learning for prospective hill farmers.

Under our scheme, upland farmers would be rewarded for their efforts by encouraging them to diversify into more profitable areas of farming – such as the untapped potential of anaerobic digestion – while passing on the skills, knowledge and understanding of hill farming to future generations.

How would you help farmers adopt measures that tackle climate change?
The key is to make farmers aware of the ‘green’ alternatives and support farmers to implement them.

We would deliver cuts in greenhouse gas emissions through better management of the countryside by encouraging wider adoption of good agricultural practice; investigating different ways of spreading manures on land to reduce methane emissions by investing in anaerobic digestion; and rewarding farmers by increasing financial support including giving them the opportunity to earn a living by developing carbon-sinks including woodland and peatland.

Would you encourage, domestically and at EU level, the growth of GM crops?
If GM can make a contribution we have a choice about whether to make use of it.

There is certainly a need for a fresh debate on GM, particularly if we are to cope with food security issues raised by population growth and climate change.

Farmers will increasingly need the freedom to choose modern and efficient high-yielding farming methods, but it is important they are based on tried-and-tested science.

What would you do to encourage agricultural research and Development (R&D) in the UK?
This Government has scaled back the amount of funding invested into research for sustainable farming which shows where its priorities lie. Labour’s under-investment in agricultural R&D has left a legacy of neglect for the countryside which could last well into the next decade.

A Liberal Democrat Government would reverse this trend and provide the financial support necessary for the farming industry to meet the challenges of animal health, environmental responsibilities and food production.

What is the single most important issue facing farmers?
Making a living by achieving a fair price for their produce.

Many farmers are struggling to stay afloat as a result of all the bureaucracy as well as unfair prices. We must tackle both to ensure we have a thriving farming industry able to feed ournation in times of increasing food demand.

The Liberal Democrats will remove unnecessary red tape and introduce a strong supermarket regulator to ensure fair trade for British farmers.

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