Council election candidates are urged to champion Norfolk farmers |
Voters go to the polls on May 7 with candidates vying for seats across the country, including all 84 divisions at Norfolk County Council.
The National Farmers' Union (NFU) says the elections are an opportunity to "shine a light on some of the huge challenges facing farmers in rural Britain".
It has identified key areas where local government support is most impactful, including training local planning officers in agricultural operations to "ensure consistent, informed decisions that support modern farming practices and diversified rural enterprises".
On rural crime, the NFU says councils must provide accessible waste disposal sites to help reduce fly-tipping, and ensure markets operating under the local authority are sufficiently regulated and licensed to prevent the sale of stolen goods.
Another recurring countryside concern is connectivity, so incoming councillors have been urged to target persistent rural "not-spots" and avoid clustering of investment in already well-served areas.
Meanwhile, councils are also being asked to procure at least 50pc of their food requirements from local farmers.
NFU Norfolk vice chairman Will Sargent, who farms near Long Stratton, said: “Having a sustainable farming industry is essential for the success of Norfolk and East Anglia and we need support at all levels of government to enable this to happen.
“Confidence remains low in the industry, and this is being exacerbated by extreme pressures on fuel, fertiliser and feed prices as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. This is in addition to ongoing worries about issues including the impact of extreme weather, access to water, rural crime, fairness in the supply chain, trade and plant and animal diseases among other things.
“Local councils have an important role to play and the NFU is engaging with candidates to highlight how we can work together to deliver national food security, drive the economy, create jobs, support the environment and protect the countryside.
“We look forward to working with newly-elected county councillors to work towards a bright future for our farmers and Norfolk as a whole."