NFU East Anglia director outlines farms' challenges in 2023

As an eternal optimist I like to start a new year thinking positively about the opportunities out there, ready for the taking.

Indeed, this time last year I was mulling over the possibility of leaving the National Pig Association after 14 years and moving to pastures new – and I’m glad that I did.

So, it’s true, you just never know what is around the corner. Undoubtedly, though, there will be significant challenges ahead in 2023 and food supply will remain at the forefront.

Without action, we will watch the inexorable collapse of our dysfunctional supply chains caused by both the failure of government to understand the issues and act, and by the imbalance of power within the chain, leaving the primary producer no option but to cease or shift production.

Already eggs, pork, salad crops, fruit and potatoes are in decline and more will undoubtedly follow.

Pork is one of the food sectors in decline due to factors including an 'imbalance of power' in the supply chain, says NFU East Anglia director Zoe Leach (Image: Denise Bradley)

I often wonder what the trigger will be for that lightbulb moment to finally happen, when someone with the ability to make a difference listens and does something about it.

Clearly the threat of empty shelves is no longer a driver, it looks like Covid has made us immune to this, so what is?

The NFU has been clear that if productivity drops because people are no longer growing the food, inflation will increase as imports will become more expensive.

Surely this scenario must be avoided at all costs, as once people take the decision to quit farming there is no going back.

We can’t just turn the tap back on. Unless we have the much lobbied for food strategy in place in 2023, British consumers’ ability to source locally-grown food is likely to diminish.

Secondly, we need much better clarity on ELMs (Defra's environmental land management scheme, due to replace EU subsidies which are being phased out after Brexit) and, more importantly, the payment rates, so that farmers can start to make informed choices.

The NFU can make some real progress here by putting farmers in touch with the policymakers, to help design and deliver a scheme that is properly funded and fit for purpose.

For some, this will come too late as they are already adjusting their businesses to function without ELMs to ensure they at least have a future, even if this means reducing what they grow.

NFU members will also want to know what becomes of the energy price cap in 2023.

Bird flu is still a major concern for East Anglia's poultry and egg industry, says NFU regional director Zoe Leach (Image: Kate Wolstenholme)

Meanwhile, avian influenza continues to pose a challenge, although the number of new cases appears to have slowed and there are positive noises about the development of a vaccine that could be administered orally.

This suggests poultry producers may have some cause for optimism, provided they can survive this latest outbreak.

The focus now is ensuring the APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) provides enough resource to enable a timely clean-up and help businesses resume trading as quickly as possible.

The financial implications of avian influenza are huge, and the emotional strain on affected farmers, their families and staff members is devastating, with many forced to re-consider their future.

The NFU is providing financial support towards legal action brought by members over the compensation issue and challenging Defra’s interpretation of the legislation.

This interpretation is leading to substantial shortfalls in the payments being made. This must stop.

The current challenges may be enough to test the resolve of even an eternal optimist, but there are reasons to be positive about farming’s future.

Before joining the NFU I knew all about the resilience within the pig sector but now I am experiencing it across all sectors.

Farmers across East Anglia are proud to produce some of the best food in the world, while looking after the natural environment, contributing towards net zero and helping to drive the rural economy.

With the right policy framework, they can deliver much more.

They want to succeed, and they will succeed if government is serious about our food and delivers policies in 2023 that enable British food and farming to thrive.