The National Sheep Association (NSA) has backed the Farming Profitability Review, published on Thursday, December 18, which aims to deliver a stronger, more profitable future for UK agriculture.
Phil Stocker, chief executive of the NSA, said: “NSA is pleased to at last be able to read the extensive review.
“I’d like to thank Baroness Minette Batters for all her work in compiling this review and I am pleased NSA was able to contribute in a number of ways.
“We welcome the review’s emphasis on greater recognition of the wider economic importance of farming, strengthening market foundations and putting an economic value on nature provision, improving fairness in the supply chain and ensuring that farming businesses are better equipped to manage volatility and rising costs, something that almost every farmer in the UK has been all too familiar with in recent years.
“Many of the review’s recommendations have clear relevance for sheep farmers, particularly those operating grazing livestock systems in upland and marginal areas, where it has been identified that margins are tight, exposure to volatility is high, and access to SFI intermittent.”
The review, which contains 57 recommendations, is rooted in promoting long-term profitability and stability for the sector.
The NSA said it is especially pleased with the review’s call to better value agriculture and to support local supply chains.
This includes backing for small and medium-sized abattoirs, which the organisation argues are vital for animal welfare and adding value to lamb and mutton.
The review also calls for improved buying standards for major catering chains and public procurement, which the NSA believes could create more reliable demand for British lamb.
It sees this as an opportunity to reconnect consumers with the value of domestic sheep production.
This includes its contributions to food security, landscape management and rural communities.
The NSA has long called for farming to be treated as a sensitive sector in trade negotiations, warning that UK sheep farmers are vulnerable to being undercut by low-standard imports.
Mr Stocker said: “The establishment of a government, industry and farmer partnership, to be known as ‘FARM’ – Food Agriculture Rural Matters, to deliver the review’s ambitions, is welcomed by NSA.
“NSA looks forward to engaging constructively with Defra and other stakeholders as the review’s findings are taken forward, to ensure outcomes that genuinely improve profitability, resilience and confidence for sheep farmers across the UK.”
He warned against policies that could exclude part-time farmers from support.
Mr Stocker said: “However, NSA urges that care is taken around recommendations for an ‘active farmer’ clause, to ensure that our many part time sheep farmers are not excluded from access to funding, unintentionally excluding part‑time farmers and new entrants whose working patterns can be of a part time nature although genuinely farming.
“Any definition of ‘active farmer’ must reflect the realities of sheep production and avoid penalising those who are genuinely farming but supplementing income to remain viable.”
The NSA said it is eager to see how the recommendations will align with the upcoming Farming Roadmap and Land Use Framework.
Mr Stocker said: “For sheep farmers, alignment across these strategies will be essential to avoid conflicting signals on land use, environmental delivery and food production.”
The NSA is prepared to work with government and industry partners to ensure the review leads to meaningful improvements on the ground.
It said that for sheep farmers, the key will be turning these high-level ambitions into practical outcomes.
This includes improved profitability, greater stability and renewed confidence in the future of the sector.