Farmers' concern over funding cuts ahead of Budget

Some farmers in Lancashire have said they are worried the government is going to cut their funding in the Autumn Statement.

They say the money is essential so they can make ends meet and farm sustainably. However, last year not all the agricultural budget money was claimed.

Farmer John Hill believes this is because the application process is too complicated.

A government spokesman said ahead of the 30 October Budget that "difficult decisions" lay ahead "to address a £22bn hole in public finances".

Mr Hill, who moved to an upland hill farm in the Forest of Bowland with his wife Eden three years ago, has about 150 beef cattle and 500 ewes said it had not been easy.

“The farm doesn't really earn the money and we've had to diversify,” he said.

“When we weren’t diversified we would be earning £1.14 an hour.

"When our first fat lambs were ready, we took them to the auction and the bidders would only pay £45 and it costs us more than that to produce a lamb."

The couple took, who took out loans to buy the animals to stock the farm, said they had to come up with an idea to keep the farm going.

They set up Lancashire Lamb Boxes and now sell meat boxes directly to customers online.

“My previous job experience was in customer service, so it has worked well for us, but it doesn't work well for every farmer," Ms Hill said, adding there were now concerns the government could cut funding for farmers.

After leaving the European Union, the government started to pay farmers for looking after the environment but last year there was money left unclaimed.

Mr Hill believes that is because the grant system is too complex.

“There are so many hoops to jump through and so much paperwork to fill out that your average farmer can't do that without employing an expensive land agent," he said.

Becky Fielding has 450 cattle at Pulford Farm Dairies, in Blackburn, and is also concerned about the industry.

“I think people are panicking at the moment,” she said.

“There's a lot of dairy farmers that are leaving the industry which is worrying. These cows are very expensive to keep.

“Farmers are wary about investing massive amounts of money if they're not sure about when or where the industry is going, or how long they'll get paid for.

“It is very expensive running a dairy farm.”

A government spokesman said the Conservatives had "left Britain facing the worst economic inheritance since the Second World War because they refused to make the tough decisions and spent money that didn’t exist".

They added: “The chancellor has been clear that difficult decisions lie ahead to repair the colossal damage left by the Conservatives and address the £22bn hole in the public finances.

“Decisions on how to do that will be taken at the Budget in the round.”

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