Farmers are ‘second-most respected profession’ in UK

The public has voted farmers and growers as the second-most respected profession in the UK for the third year running.

The NFU’s latest Farmer Favourability Survey, released for Back British Farming Day, illustrates the extent to which the public values farmers for producing high-quality food, caring for animals and protecting the countryside, often in the face of extreme weather and economic pressures. 

Ranking farmers and growers second only to nurses, the survey also found that 92 per cent of people feel it’s important that Britain has a productive farming sector, and 89 per cent say British farms should grow as much food as possible to support national food security.

More than three-quarters of respondents said they trust British food more than food from the rest of the world.

With new ministers in Defra, the NFU believes there is an opportunity to make farming’s case strongly to a new top team. The union is calling on the government to recognise and reflect on the continued public support with policies that truly value domestic food production and farming’s environmental delivery.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “Back British Farming Day is about recognising the value of our farmers – not just for the food they produce, but for the role they play in our communities, our economy and our environment. And clearly, the public is behind us.

“Over the past decade, NFU campaigns have helped deliver landmark changes for farmers, including the introduction of ‘Buy British’ buttons on eight major supermarket websites and driving the launch of No. 10’s Farm to Fork Summit. More than a quarter of a million people have also recently backed the NFU’s petition calling on the government to protect family farms from the family farm tax.

“Meanwhile, over 40,000 people agree that children should learn more about agriculture in schools – which is why NFU Education runs programmes like Farmers for Schools, where farmer ambassadors visit secondary schools to share their experiences and challenge misconceptions about farming. We’ve also recently launched the AgriFuture Scholarship Programme that offers mentoring, outdoor learning and career inspiration for young people from underrepresented backgrounds.”

Bradshaw warned that many farmers and growers are facing a wide range of challenges, stressing they need confidence to invest for the future. 

“Key to the long-term future of our farms is improving the profitability of sustainable food production,” he added. “One simple thing the government can do is the right thing on inheritance tax to avoid bereaved farming families having to fork out for an unaffordable tax bill – something we know the public stands behind.

“Our submission to the government’s Farm Profitability Review outlines how it has the potential to improve competitiveness and profitability, helping to underpin national food security and meet our domestic environmental targets.

“As we mark 10 years of Back British Farming Day, the NFU remains committed to championing a thriving future for British agriculture – one built on public trust, political partnership and pride in our homegrown food.”