Shropshire Star comment: Let’s help farmers by going local
People in Shropshire and Mid Wales will no doubt support calls from farmers’ leaders to make agriculture a top priority after Brexit.
They want British farmers to become the supplier of choice to UK consumers, with shoppers favouring home-grown produce rather than imports from abroad.
It is a message that many will subscribe to. In recent years there has been an increasing support for British produce. More consumers are choosing to buy local produce from farmers’ markets. And people have shown themselves willing to pay a few pennies more for goods such as British milk, where support for local produce outweighs the desire to get the lowest price.
There are many reasons why we should support British agriculture. Firstly, it is essential to keep local people in work and in rural areas such as Shropshire and Mid Wales, many people rely on employment in this sector.
The supply chain also provides employment for many more people who have roles to play in logistics, animal husbandry, processing and similar industries.
Another compelling reason for us to support farmers is that they are the custodians of our countryside.
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Hedges, fields, trees and wildlife all rely on the good practices of farmers to thrive. And that means we have farmers to thank for the idyllic landscape that we enjoy when we take a trip into the countryside.
And so while the Government has the lead role to play in maintaining British agriculture and ensuring Britain continues to enjoy a degree of self-sufficiency, the public can also play a part.
Consumer choices can have a profound effect on local farms.
The general public can decide to choose British fruit and vegetables over those grown overseas. It can make similar choices when it comes to buying meat, dairy and other goods.
Farmers need stability in order to plan for the long term and knowing that they are supported by the British public goes some way to providing just that.
The National Farmers Union is right to call for the Government to support agriculture as we approach Brexit. We also have the power to make a difference at the tills.
