A Wiltshire MP has warned that the future of farming is at risk unless more is done to help young people enter the industry.
Chippenham MP Sarah Gibson says rising costs, expensive farmland and uncertainty around Government policy are creating barriers for the next generation of farmers, particularly those without family connections to agriculture.
Speaking about the challenges facing the sector, Ms Gibson said supporting British farming was essential to maintaining the country’s food security.
Young people looking to start careers in farming face significant financial obstacles, with the cost of land, machinery, livestock and equipment making entry increasingly difficult.
Access to training, finance and practical experience can also prove challenging.
Wiltshire has a strong farming heritage and specialist agricultural training is available locally through Lackham College near Chippenham, but concerns remain that many young people are not being exposed to farming and rural careers early enough.
The concerns come as farmers continue to face increasing financial pressures.
The National Farmers’ Union has warned that international conflicts, including those in Ukraine and the Middle East, have created instability in fertiliser and energy markets, pushing up operating costs for farm businesses.
Rising costs for fuel, fertiliser and energy have added pressure across the agricultural sector while also contributing to higher food prices.
Ms Gibson recently raised concerns during discussions with the Minister for Rural Affairs and says ministers must provide more certainty for farmers.
She is calling for more stable support schemes, improved access to land and finance for young people entering agriculture, greater long-term investment and action to tackle rising costs.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio Wiltshire, Ms Gibson said Wiltshire farmers face additional pressures because high-quality farmland and good transport links have pushed land prices higher.
She said sudden policy changes and barriers around training and skills were also discouraging young people from joining the sector.
Ms Gibson said: "What the Government do not seem to realise is that farming is not just any industry; it is critical national infrastructure. The UK imports around 40% of the food we consume, which makes supporting British farming essential to our food security.
"Political instability and rising costs make it harder for farmers to invest and plan for the future. Farming already carries significant risk, from extreme weather to livestock disease, and too many farmers feel they are not being backed when things go wrong.
"If we do not act now, we risk losing not just farms, but the next generation of farmers, and with them our ability to produce food sustainably here in the UK."
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