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Select Committee · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

The future of farming

Status: Open Opened: 6 Dec 2024 11 recommendations 7 conclusions 1 report

The agricultural sector is experiencing a period of significant change as it transitions away from a legacy direct payments regime towards nation-specific farming schemes. The future of farming inquiry will provide consistent scrutiny of the issues facing the sector as it transitions. It will focus on farmers, farming communities and the agricultural sector, and seek … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - The Government’s vision for farming HC 906 16 May 2025 18 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
4 Recommendation 1st Report - The Government’s vision fo… Deferred

Urgently set out vision for farming sector and food security in 25-year Farming Roadmap.

The Government should urgently set out its vision for the farming sector, achieving food security and the future of the Farming and Countryside Programme in its proposed 25-year Farming Roadmap, and in advance of making significant major changes to farming policy and support mechanisms. The 25-year Farming Roadmap should bring … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response discusses inheritance tax reforms and agricultural property relief, which is unrelated to the recommendation for a vision for the farming sector or the 25-year Farming Roadmap, thus deflecting from the original request.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
8 Recommendation 1st Report - The Government’s vision fo… Deferred

Require Government to outline next SFI iteration and farm profitability plan by October 2025

The Government should set out what the next iteration of SFI will look like and the date it will be open for applications in the response to this report. It must also state how it intends to increase farm profitability, using a sector-by-sector approach, no later than October 2025. (Recommendation, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government defers providing full details on the next SFI iteration and its application date, committing to more information later this summer. It also defers stating how it will increase farm profitability by announcing a new review of farming profitability, to be led by Baroness …
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
20 Jan 2026 The Baroness Batters DL View ↗
16 Dec 2025 Dame Angela Eagle MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emily Miles · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Gareth Baynham-Hughes · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Mike Dowell · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Mike Rowe · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs View ↗
1 Apr 2025 Colin Faulkner · Seafish, Daniel Zeichner MP · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Emily Miles · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Janet Hughes · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Mike Dowell · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs View ↗
14 Jan 2025 Dame Tamara Finkelstein · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emily Miles · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Jonathan Baker · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs View ↗
11 Dec 2024 David Sturrock · Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), Dr Arun Advani · Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax), Jeremy Moody · Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), Robert Martin · Tenant Farmers Association (TFA), Stuart Maggs · Howes Percival LLP, Tom Bradshaw · National Farmers' Union (NFU), Victoria Vyvyan · Country Land and Business Association View ↗

Who gave evidence

18 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Emily Miles · Director General for Food, Biosecurity and Trade Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 3
Mike Dowell · Deputy Director for Marine and Fisheries Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs 2
Colin Faulkner · Chief Executive Seafish 1
Dame Angela Eagle MP · Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Dame Tamara Finkelstein · Permanent Secretary Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Daniel Zeichner MP · Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs 1
David Sturrock · Senior Research Economist Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) 1
Dr Arun Advani · Director Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) 1
Gareth Baynham-Hughes · Director of Marine and Fisheries Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs 1
Janet Hughes · Director of the Farming and Countryside Programme Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs 1
Jeremy Moody · Secretary and Adviser Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) 1
Jonathan Baker · Deputy Director of Policy, Engagement and Strategy Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Mike Rowe · Director for Marine and Fisheries Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Robert Martin · National Chair Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) 1
Stuart Maggs · Partner Howes Percival LLP 1
The Baroness Batters DL — 1
Tom Bradshaw · President National Farmers' Union (NFU) 1
Victoria Vyvyan · President Country Land and Business Association 1

Correspondence

29 letters
DateDirectionTitle
3 Mar 2026 — Correspondence from National Sheep Association relating to seasonal workers vis…
3 Mar 2026 — Correspondence from British Wool relating to seasonal workers visas, dated 15 F…
3 Mar 2026 — Correspondence from the National Pig Association relating to skilled workers vi…
13 Feb 2026 — Correspondence to Lizzie Wilson, CEO, National Pig Association, on any implicat…
13 Feb 2026 — Correspondence to Phil Stoker, Chair National Sheep Association, on any implica…
13 Feb 2026 — Correspondence from Harry Bowell, Director of Land & Nature at National Trust, …
13 Feb 2026 — Correspondence to Andrew Hogley, Chief Executive, British Wool, on any implicat…
28 Jan 2026 — Correspondence from Wendy Chamberlain MP regarding the EFRA Committee holding a…
28 Jan 2026 — Correspondence from Mike Tapp MP, Minister for Migration & Citizenship, regardi…
28 Jan 2026 — Correspondence to the Minister for Food Security and Rural affairs following on…
6 Jan 2026 — Correspondence from the Secretary of State, Defra regarding the Farming Profita…
6 Jan 2026 — Correspondence from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of St…
9 Dec 2025 — Correspondence from Sir Chris Bryant, Minister of Trade, Dept for Business and …
25 Nov 2025 — Correspondence from the Chair of the Senedd's Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs …
18 Nov 2025 — Correspondence from Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee regarding their report…
21 Oct 2025 — Correspondence from NFU regarding the UK-US Trade Negotiations and the Dairy Se…
2 Sep 2025 — Correspondence from the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs regarding …
24 Jun 2025 — Correspondence to the Minister for Nature regarding Land-Use Framework, dated 1…
18 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs regarding …
23 Apr 2025 — Correspondence to the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs following u…