Supporting our resilient rural businesses

CLA members are a range of farmers, landowners and rural businesses and when describing them I often use a key word that applies to them all. Resilient.

Against a backdrop of change and uncertainty these businesses continue to grow food, protect and enhance the natural environment, create employment, attract visitors to spend locally, and provide rural homes. They are enhancing rural communities.

Yet so many factors outside of their control can have an influence and potentially damaging impact on the success of their businesses.

To give you some examples. Since the start of the conflict in the Middle East we have seen red diesel and fertiliser prices rising due to supply disruptions. An additional cost that could not have been foreseen and will undoubtedly have an impact on farming operations. Rural communities are also those who feel the pinch most when it comes to rising oil prices.

Closer to home, latest fly-tipping statistics last month highlighted the ever-growing concerns of waste being illegally dumped in the countryside. A crime that our members have to pick up the bill for if it happens on their land.

Then, there is the weather and the unpredictability of everything from flooding to drought having an impact on all areas of farming.

Add to this the every-changing political climate and trying to get your head around the latest policy announcements and you begin to understand the multiple challenges our rural industries encounter. That’s before you start on an unaffordable inheritance tax on business assets which undermines investment.

These varying factors can define the success or failure of rural businesses. And they are often powerless to do anything about it.

It would be easy for them to feel overwhelmed. I’m sure some do. Yet time and time again they absorb the latest shocks and come back stronger. They are extremely resilient.

A resilient business is one that can withstand, adapt to, and recover quickly during challenges or setbacks.

With the right support, rural businesses can generate growth, good jobs and prosperity for every community. We should celebrate them, support them with our custom, and recognise the vital role they play in supporting the UK economy. And we should be proud of what they achieve.

We have just finished our branch committees where we discussed the opportunities to drive more demand for British produce, planning reforms and the NPPF consultation, permitting on farms, as well as business rates, inheritance tax, SFI and wider ELM schemes, Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS), water reform, infrastructure, drones, and a variety of local issues.

Branch committees meet three times a year and discuss a variety important issues which help the CLA formulate policy when lobbying government. CLA branch committee members have direct input into providing ‘on the ground’ experiences to our senior advisory team, enabling them to give real-life examples of the effect on how government decisions will affect the rural communities and businesses.

We are about to start our AGMs where new committee members will be elected to the committees. If you are interested in hearing more about getting involved in our Branch Committees, please get in touch with the CLA East office.