Mark Wooding calls for a rural revival with support for farmers

Farming sits at the heart of our rural communites in Devon. Many jobs are indirectly dependent upon farming, and the whole 'look and feel' of the countryside is a result of it. Without farmers Devon would not be Devon! Mark Wooding, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate in Central Devon, sets out the need to support farmers as they face an unprecedented crisis.

Developed by farmers for farmers, the Liberal Democrat manifesto for farming sets out some key priorities.

• Introduce a holistic and comprehensive National Food Strategy to ensure food security, tackle rising food prices, end food poverty and improve health and nutrition.
• Accelerate the rollout of the new Environmental Land Management schemes, properly funding it with an extra £1 billion a year to support profitable, sustainable and nature-friendly farming.
• Maintain high health, environmental and animal welfare standards in food production and guarantee that all future trade deals will meet them too, ensuring that Britain’s farmers and food manufacturers are not put at an unfair disadvantage.
• Give Britain’s farmers the ability to trade with our European neighbours with minimal need for checks by negotiating comprehensive veterinary and plant health agreements.
• Support farmers properly in restoring woodland, peatland and waterways, creating new natural flood protections and managing land to encourage species recovery and carbon storage, while producing food for the table.