Ed Davey urges Government to back Somerset farmers
“Somerset’s farmers, who put food on our tables and look after our countryside, are being squeezed from all angles. It’s vital that we all Buy British."
Last updated 26th Aug 2025
The Liberal Democrat Leader is calling for a new fund to “futureproof” the industry and prevent “lost generations” of farmers due to Labour’s Family Farm Tax.
The cost of strawberries may be down this year due to crop conditions, but Davey warned that we have “to support our producers in good times and bad times” and that the Government must do more so the burden doesn’t just fall on consumers during a cost of living crisis.
The Liberal Democrats are urging the government to set up a new Farming Innovation, Exchange, Learning and Development (FIELD) Fund to help farmers share know-how, navigate environmental farming schemes and improve their business viability. This fund would help futureproof British farming from what the party fears may become a “lost generation” of farmers.
The Liberal Democrats argue that funding farmer to farmer networks will also help to tackle the mental health crisis in farming communities and support the next generation; passing on tips and tricks from more experienced farmers to younger farmers and building a trusted network to support farmers throughout their career.
The party also wants to address the problem of not enough young people being encouraged into farming, with just 5% of farmers under the age of 35.
The party has called on the Government to scrap their Family Farm Tax which is hammering the industry and increase the farming budget by £1bn a year to help support farms on the brink and help guarantee the country’s future food security.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey MP said:
“Somerset’s farmers, who put food on our tables and look after our countryside, are being squeezed from all angles. It’s vital that we all Buy British. The Government has to support our producers in good times and bad times.
“These communities are the backbone of our rural economy. In an ever more dangerous world, to push so many of them to the wall threatens our national interests and food security. It is the Conservatives who started this assault on British farmers. Sadly, the Government has picked up the baton and is hammering British farming once more.
“We are facing lost generations of farmers, and we cannot let that happen. The government must scrap their disastrous Family Farm Tax, and back our call for a new fund to help farmers on the brink.”
Tessa Munt, Liberal Democrat MP for Wells and Mendip Hills, said:
“There are nearly 4,500 farms in Somerset, and there’s no doubt their futures are in danger.
“Much more has to be done as a matter of urgency to incentivise young people into the profession, and to support young farmers to stay in farming.”