Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Family Farms Challenges In South West Devon

03 December 2024 · 0 other contributors · 919 words

Opened by Rebecca Smith Con South West Devon

Responding minister: Not recorded

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Rebecca Smith raised concerns about family farms challenges in south west devon in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.

Key points

  • Ms Smith expressed concern about the challenges family farms face in South West Devon due to smaller average farm sizes compared to regional and national averages.
  • Ms Smith highlighted issues with agricultural property relief and capital grants that affect ageing farmers planning to pass their farms to the next generation.
  • Ms Smith requested DEFRA to establish a working group on uplands and to consider joined-up thinking across various funding pots to support struggling farmers.

Key requests to Government

Ms. Smith asks DEFRA to provide updates on the establishment of a working group on uplands, specifically looking at this issue in future. She also calls for joined-up thinking across various DEFRA funding pots to support farmers who are struggling with their SFI funding and other environmental initiatives.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Rebecca Smith Con South West Devon

Ms. Smith is concerned about the challenges faced by family farms in South West Devon, noting that the average farm size in Devon is 16% smaller than the south-west and 34% smaller than across the country, leading to tighter profit margins. She highlights issues related to agricultural property relief and capital grants programs, which are crucial for ageing parents who expect to pass down their farms to the next generation but now face uncertainties. She also mentions specific challenges in upland farming on Dartmoor, including concerns about land designated as moorland permanent grassland pasture that falls through funding gaps, and requests for flexibility on stocking rates.

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