Andrew Griffith MP brings together South Downs farmers for Farming Summit

The local MP hosted the summit at Hurlands Farm in Selham, and brought together farmers with a senior representative from the Rural Payments Agency, the Government body responsible for subsidies designed to support agricultural businesses.

The summit is a larger style event open to all farmers across Mr Griffith’s constituency, and is in addition to his regular smaller roundtable meetings he hosts with food producers, the National Farmers Union, and the Country and Land Association.

A range of issues were raised by local farmers, who shared their concerns ahead of the upcoming budget and what any Government decision may mean for farming subsidies. This follows the Government’s decision to ‘claim back’ the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ underspend from the Department’s budget to support farmers.

Commenting on the event, Mr Griffith said: “Engaging with our farmers and food producers is so important. They work from dawn until dusk, put food on our tables, and protect the countryside patchwork which makes the South Downs special.

"There was real concern from farmers present that the Government is not taking farming seriously. A number of those in attendance shard their fears that reforms around planning will put their farms at risk from landowners choosing to ‘rewild’ rather than produce food or that they would be unable to build new structures, such as barns or cafés, that they need to diversify.

"Our food producers and farmers will always have my firm support.”