Farming plays a key role in our Norfolk way of life, as well as our local (and wider Eastern) economy.

Having long had a strong, personal connection with our agricultural industries and the environment, I have always strived to speak up for the sector and shine a light on all the good work it does – preserving and enhancing our beautiful landscapes, promoting high British standards and of course supplying us with the precious food we need.

That’s why I am delighted to hear that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has recently awarded farmers in Mid Norfolk £112,055 as part of the first round of the Farming Investment Fund’s Animal Health and Welfare Equipment and Technology grants.

Part of a total £19million awarded to over 3,300 farmers who successfully applied for such grants, the monies for Mid Norfolk will go towards helping local farmers invest in items ranging from livestock handling equipment to automated monitoring systems, and which will improve welfare standards, boost animal health and boost productivity and sustainability.

With #BackBritishFarming day around the corner (next week: Wednesday 13th September 2023), this is fantastic news for Mid Norfolk farmers.

I very much look forward to continuing my active support for Mid Norfolk farmers – and will be visiting local farmers again later this week to discuss the work they are doing to boost crop yields and sustainability in an environmentally friendly manner.

More information on the Farming Investment Fund can be found here.

To find out more about Back British Farming day, please click here.

To find out more about my work supporting our local farming sector, please visit my ‘Food, Farming and the Environment’ campaign page here.