Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to support young farmers to stay in farming and to encourage new entrants to become farmers.

Having a skilled workforce in place, attracting new talent and ensuring there are opportunities to enter and progress through the farming sector is vital for the future of UK food and farming. The Government recognises there are barriers facing young new entrants to get started in farming including the high cost of land and access to finance.

The Government is exploring the range of different farm business models that can open up opportunities for new entrants such as agricultural tenancies, share-farming, contract farming, franchise farming and joint ventures. These business models can provide young new farmers with an opportunity to gain experience and build up capital to progress their careers in farming.

The Government is currently providing additional support for young new entrants into farming through the EU Basic Payment Scheme where eligible farmers aged between 18 and 40 can claim a 25% uplift on up to 90 hectares of their Basic Payment Scheme payments for up to five years after they have started in business.

Support is also provided through EU Rural Development Programme schemes including the Growth Programme and LEADER providing help for rural entrepreneurs including farmers setting up a new business or expanding or improving an existing business. In addition the Countryside Productivity scheme provides support to help increase productivity and enhance the competitiveness of farming and forestry industries. Defra also provides grant support to the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs to provide training opportunities for young farmers and we are working with the Food and Drink Federation to treble the number of apprenticeships across the sector.

Whilst the UK is a member of the EU these funding streams will remain in place and Defra continues to engage with young farmers to help shape our future plans for UK agricultural policy outside of the EU.