The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC), along with several farming and environmental leaders, has expressed concern over rumoured agricultural budget cuts in a joint letter to Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner.
The letter was sent ahead of the Chancellor’s Spending Review on 11 June, 2025 amid concerns that the nature-friendly farming budget will be cut.
The letter to the Minister highlights how farmers and land managers have transitioned away from subsidies and grants to focus on investing public money in public goods. It stresses how we are only ‘half way through’ this transition.
“We joined forces with many other organisations to urge the Government not to impede the progress achieved so far in case cuts to the agricultural budget are being considered.
“We believe cuts will jeopardise the positive results already achieved during the agricultural transition. We play an integral part in future farming and land management, and we want to see continued support to further enhance benefits for all.”
The joint letter highlights the importance of the ELM schemes to the government’s statutory targets on environmental improvement, with industry leader stating there are “77,000 live agri-environment scheme agreements according to Defra’s latest figures, with millions of hectares under environmental land management.”
Funding the work will be impossible for the majority of farmers and land managers and the letter outlines the ‘catastrophic’ impact cuts will have on the government’s aims.
Fergus said it was important for NFYFC to be working with industry on these issues.
“Our inter-generational and collaborative work is key not only for future next generation opportunities and viable businesses, but to help government meet its environmental and food security targets,” he added.
The spending review is due on 11 June where the UK Government will share its spending plans for each department. A spending review is not the same as a budget, as it only states the government’s spending ‘intent’.
Signatories on the letter included the NFU, the CLA, the TFA, RSPB, National Trust, GWCT, Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), CAAV, Soil Association, BIAC, AIC.
