THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS GROUP
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Introduction

Concern for the obvious decline in UK Agriculture and Horticulture stimulated the formation of the Commercial Farmers Group in 1998. A group of leading farmers and growers, with a commercial track record across the range of enterprises, met to discuss a shared vision, that farming profitability is vital for the whole economy and is essential if farmers are to maintain a sustainable rural environment. It was clear, even then, to those original members that maintenance of a significant Agricultural and Horticultural sector was important and that Government policy and Media misunderstanding threatened that maintenance.

It was decided that there was a role for the Group to talk to Politicians and the Media about the realities of UK agriculture and horticulture, basing the dialogue on personal experience. Also the group agreed to finance and produce when necessary papers to illustrate their thinking. It was considered important to counter with evidence some of the misconceptions widely held about farming and farmers and to try to adjust national Agricultural Policy to one that recognised the importance of commercial success.

So the Commercial Farmers Group was born. It has of course developed and changed over the years but a number of principles have been maintained:

  • It is non political.

  • CFG has a core membership; guests are invited and welcomed at its meetings.

  • Members represent all the major commercial enterprises in UK agriculture and horticulture; plus some from the academic and financial world.

  • The aim is to ensure that modern, technological, and environmentally responsible farming in Britain is commercially viable (see Mission Statement). It is not a 'seeker after subsidies'.

  • The CFG does not wish, or intend, to cover ground already dealt with by the NFU, CLA, TFA etc. The full Group meets twice a year - in Spring and Autumn. In between, work is carried out by specialist small meetings using the help and relevant experience of all members. Over the years, the CFG has carried out detailed investigation into several major subject areas:

  • The Case for British Agriculture.

  • National Food Security in the Global Market.

  • A new Vision for Agricultural Science and R & D.
The resulting reports have been distributed in print and through the website, but most importantly, they have been the basis for personal contacts with government and opposition parties, the media and a wide range of other people in influential positions.

Current work on Agricultural Science is of particular importance where public thinking is dominated by the widespread 'anti-science' culture, and where, as a result, production R&D has been significantly downgraded at a time when it is of the greatest importance.