East Devon MP Simon Jupp welcomes Farming Minister to Ottery St. Mary

The MP for East Devon Simon Jupp welcomed the Farming Minister to East Devon this week. 

Farming Minister Mark Spencer MP visited a farm near Ottery St Mary and joined a roundtable with local farmers chaired by Simon Jupp MP.

The roundtable event was attended by a range of horticultural, dairies and livestock farmers. The visit comes as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs set out more information on the support schemes which are available to help farmers produce sustainable food for the UK. 

The roundtable was led by Simon Jupp (Credit: Simon Jupp)

Simon Jupp said: "It was a pleasure to have the Farming Minister in East Devon to speak with local farmers. 

"As East Devon's MP, I'm working with our farmers to feedback to the government about the variety of new funding on offer. We discussed the range of support schemes available to farmers, workforce challenges, rising costs and the importance of food security. 

"The roundtable demonstrates this government's determination to work with Devon's farmers to help them create new habitats, protect wildlife, and produce the food that feeds our nation. 

"I would like to thank the Minister for his visit and the NFU for their support. I hold regular roundtables with farmers in East Devon and I will continue to do what I can to help our fantastic farmers locally and in Parliament."

Mark Spencer MP said: "As a dairy farmer with four generations of experience in the sector, I know every farmer wants to keep our focus on the opportunity we now have to secure a sustainable, productive, and profitable future for the industry we love. 

We must strengthen the resilience of our businesses whilst also protecting the environment. I am focused on helping farmers bring their businesses into the future through schemes and services designed by working with people who'll help deliver the produce we need. 

"As we make these changes, the level of funding available to farmers remains unchanged. Keeping the country fed is what farming is for and I'd like to thank all the farmers I met in East Devon for all their hard work to produce fantastic food."

Paul Glanvill, Devon National Farmers Union (NFU) Chair, said: "It was good to meet the Farming Minister in East Devon to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing NFU members. 

"We were pleased to have a constructive dialogue about a range of topics with a focus on improving the productivity of Devon farms, while caring for the environment and delivering great food for consumers. Our thanks to East Devon MP, Simon Jupp, for organising and chairing the meeting and his work to represent Devon's farming industry in Parliament."

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