UK Farming Minister meets NFU on soft fruit farm visit

New Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle met with the National Farmers' Union (NFU) on her first farm visit since taking up her role within Defra. The visit took place at NFU member Marion Regan's soft fruit farm in Kent and was attended by NFU President Tom Bradshaw and NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board Chair Martin Emmett.

Discussions focused on opportunities for rural growth, building a resilient food system, and the barriers to expansion in the farming industry. These include access to a skilled workforce, planning processes, and funding.

The Seasonal Workers Scheme was a key topic, with the NFU urging government confirmation of visa allocations for 2026 to provide certainty for growers ahead of next year's harvest. Before joining Defra, Dame Angela served as Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum at the Home Office, which oversees immigration policy.

Funding under the legacy Fruit and Veg Aid scheme is due to end this year. The NFU warned that some producer organisations may face closure if no replacement is introduced and raised concerns over the limited time to adapt to Defra's new funding approach.

Martin Emmett highlighted the need for clarity on future funding, the seasonal workers programme, and the challenges arising from the phase-out of existing support.

During the visit, the Minister was shown the use of robotics in crop protection. Plant health, pesticide use, training, apprenticeships, and planning were also discussed. The NFU raised the issue of securing planning permission for on-farm reservoirs, noting their importance in water storage and reducing reliance on abstraction.