The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has today published an updated paper on its vision for the future of farm productivity and the need for DEFRA to revise the current structure of its Farming Investment Fund.

TFA Farm Policy Adviser, Lynette Steel said, "With the Government's renewed focus on promoting growth, including within the agricultural sector, now is the right time for DEFRA to refocus the Farming Investment Fund, so that it can make the most of the budget allocation. Every farming business is different, and we would like to see the scheme move away from a list-based system to a more bespoke, plan led scheme."

Through the productivity measures in the Agriculture Act 2020, and the objectives highlighted in the Government's Growth Plan, published on 23 September, the TFA believes there is a recipe for a scheme which focuses investment on farm-based needs.

The TFA believes that an initiative which supports individual businesses to make long-term plans to invest in their holdings regardless of their status of occupation is vital. A platform such as the Farm Productivity Scheme set out in the paper, will provide all farmers with the opportunity to make a step-change in their businesses and lead to an economic transformation in the agricultural sector.

"Whether investment is required in infrastructure, adopting new technology or identifying methods to better use available resources. The TFA believes that encouraging and supporting farm business planning through centrally funded local advisers will assist with the enhancement of farm productivity," said Lynette.

The Government is planning to set out plans on growth in the sector later this autumn. In advance of that the TFA is keen to work with DEFRA to re-design the existing offering to enable long- term productivity growth, resilience and competitiveness.