With a general election happening before the end of January 2025, the National Association of Agricultural Contractors has published a manifesto calling for equal recognition of ‘farmers without land’.
According to figures from the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) more than 91% of UK farmers use contractors, with many being reliant on them throughout the year to establish crops, apply nutrients and crop protection products and harvest.
In recent years, the NAAC has been instrumental in lobbying for continued access to red diesel for not only contractors but the whole industry, and for contractors to have access to the grant funding that has come through since the UK left the European Union. This new manifesto has been drawn up to ensure that contractors remain in mind as new legislation is drawn up.
“This is about ensuring that our members continue to receive equal recognition for the role that they play in producing food and protecting the environment,” says CEO Jill Hewitt.
In the manifesto, the organisation notes the contractors are often the ones investing in new precision farming equipment, providing access to their customers who otherwise may not be able to justify that level of expense. While in a good year, this investment is justified across thousands of hectares of work, the wet weather we’ve seen since October means that contractors have had to absorb machinery and labour costs while months of work have been lost.
The manifesto contains several key points and has been sent to ministers and shadow ministers for England and the devolved governments.
Recognition of the role of contractors
It is vital that contractors are an integral part of any new agricultural or land-based policy at a Government level. As ‘farmers without land’, contractors can often be sidelined in favour of landowners, but increasingly farmers are reliant on the services of a professional contractor to run their machinery operations, look after their soil and natural assets, whilst providing a source of skilled staff.
It is critical that contractors are recognised for the essential role they play in land and environmental management. For example, spreading most of the slurry, applying plant protection products, handling sheep dip, draining and cultivating the land – all of which can have a significant positive (or negative) impact on productivity and the environment.
It is not acceptable to legislate and solely fund landowners when most farming operations can be carried out by contractors.
Farming by the weather, not the calendar
The NAAC states that unprecedented changes to weather patterns will require current farm management practices to be adapted.
‘It is simplistic to imagine that we can continue to farm by calendar dates – setting often unrealistic deadlines and putting the environment at greater risk if on-paper farming dates fall in line with bad weather.’
It calls for farmers and contractors to be able to spread nutrients onto land when the weather and soil conditions are appropriate. Legislation and industry standards must reflect the opportunity for skilled judgements to be made by land managers.
Funding for innovation
Contractors can bring forward capital investment for innovative ideas and new technology, and must remain at the forefront of funding and policy. This can make huge strides in productivity, with data management, inputs being accurately applied, soil being nurtured, and outputs being monitored for maximum efficiency.
Autonomous machinery has the potential to transform the way we use machinery, staff and technology to farm. However, initial investment is likely to come through contractors.
Support for staff shortages
All sectors of the farming industry are currently struggling with a lack of competent staff and the NAAC is working with colleges and members to try and draw in suitable staff within the UK and from overseas. In the manifesto, it is calling on the Government to extend investment in training to contractors and support the industry in cultivating a new generation of farm staff.
‘Tractor operatives sat in front of a bank of computers can no longer rely on having just good driving skills. They need IT expertise and environmental awareness. That said we still require practical expertise in sheep shearing, livestock handling and other operations that inevitably need a human touch.’
Balance productivity and the environment
It is vital that Government maintains a fine balance between productivity and food security, alongside environmental protection. This can be achieved but requires Government and stakeholders to work closely together to manage business expertise and efficiency.
Support health and safety and mental health
The agricultural industry has the worst fatality rate amongst all UK industry. This has changed little over the last twenty years. Research has suggested that farmers are also at higher risk of mental illness and suicide.
The NAAC provides safety management information and support for all its members and signposts mental health advice. It is asking that the Government supports this and similar work within the industry.
Invest in water management
Finally, the NAAC is calling for pump-prime funding for land drainage and encouragement for farmers to make this a priority.
‘We need to improve the management of water to improve the water holding capacity of the soil, prevent run-off of potential soil and pollutants into watercourses, minimise flooding in rural and urban areas, and maximise soil trafficability and productivity.’
This requires a close look at land drainage. Land drainage is the building block of productive farming. It is vital that we get it right to ensure stable soil structure, minimise run off and retain vital nutrients in the soil for plant growth and yield.
The rate of drainage installation is at a historic low. Whilst key to soil management, drainage can cost around £1,000-£1,500/acre which is the major barrier.
However, around 17% of arable soils in England and Wales show signs of erosion and 40% (2 million ha) are thought to be at risk according to The State of the Soil report from the Environment Agency. The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology estimates that the contribution of damaged soils to flooding events is £233m/year. The annual costs of soil degradation in England and Wales are between £0.9 and £1.4 billion, with a central estimate of £1.2 bn.
These costs are mainly linked to loss of organic content of soils (47% of total), compaction (39%) and erosion (12%) according to a report led by A. R. Graves in 2014 – which can be tackled by drainage.
However, whilst there is industry and research proof that land drainage can bring huge benefits to farming, land managers have tended to put this on the back burner due to cost.
For more information go to www.naac.co.uk