Farmers are calling on the industry to provide a united front to face the family farm tax
The farmers behind this week's supermarket听action are urging those planning to take part to 鈥榓bide by laws' in order to further their cause with both retailers and consumers.听
The plea comes after recently formed campaign group Farmers To Action (FTA) organised a blockade at听Morrisons' depot in Bridgwater, Somerset, last week, along with several tractor drives across UK counties.
The FTA group terms itself as a 鈥榙irect action network' which has been 鈥榮et up by farmers, for farmers'. Its mission, it says, is to defend the livelihoods of farmers while 鈥榗reating a fairer future for everyone across Great Britain'.听
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It is believed the new farm lobby group has the support of the wider #Together movement which was founded by businessman Alan D. Miller, to promote a 鈥榝ree, optimistic and prosperous future', with the body also speaking out against lockdown restrictions, vaccine mandates and net zero.
The听 blockade has however, divided opinion among farmers, many of whom have questioned why Morrisons' 鈥� one of the more farmer-friendly retailers 鈥� was targeted.
Arable farmer Martin Williams, who was one of the five organisers of the farmers' rally in London in November, which saw more than 13,500 farmers descend on the capital under the banner #WeJustWantToFeedYou, said farmers had to remain focused on providing a united front in order to negotiate with Government.
"As an industry, the only way for us to enable change will be through coalition not division. It is important that farmers have a genuine brand and should disassociate themselves with third-party activism."
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Simon Orson, chair of Midlands Farmers and one of the joint organisers of a planned event taking place across UK supermarkets on Friday (January 17), has stressed that this act is designed primarily to inform and not to disrupt.
"As far as we are concerned, the farmers who will be at supermarkets on Friday (January 17) are peaceful, law-abiding farmers who just want to inform members of the public of the issues currently facing farmers," Mr Orson said.
Blockade
Warwickshire dairy farmer and member of the No Farmers, No Food lobby Charles Goadby also condemned last week's blockade and said groups which sought to risk public backing were not 鈥榓cting in my name'.
"While I will fight for the听 future of this industry to the end, those who organised and participated in the Morrison's protest do not have my support and are not acting in my name," he told听Farmers Guardian.
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"Public support is one of our greatest assets right now and to risk that by upsetting shoppers, while also having possible knock-on effects for suppliers is madness. I would be intrigued to know why Morrisons was singled out and what, if any, understanding the organisers had of the stance Morrisons and other supermarkets have been taking and the talks that have been happening behind the scenes.听
"More than ever, this industry needs unity, focus and a clear direction, with understanding of the challenges ahead," he added.
This week's event precedes an NFU-backed , taking place on January 25. The day aims to bring together farmers from across the UK to participate in events in town centres to 鈥榙emonstrate visual support' for the #StopTheFamilyFarmTax campaign and provide an opportunity for the public to back the campaign.
