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Mr Reed said: "Food production will always be the primary purpose of the farming sector, but for all farm businesses, tenants, upland and others, to stay viable in an increasingly uncertain world and to make sure they can keep producing the food we all need, they must be able to profit from other activities"

Defra Secretary Steve Reed had his speech disrupted by a chorus of tractor horns outside the Oxford Farming Conference

Mr Reed was questioned how he will protect tenant farmers, who are threatened by eviction from their holdings, due to landlords being concerned about the Inheritance Tax bill they will face

Mr Reed said: "12,000 farms and producer businesses went bust under the last government. This is already happening. It is nothing to do with IHT. It is because the sector is not profitable

Tom Bradshaw highlighted the £140 billion food and drink sector is reliant on the raw product produced in the UK

A NFU survey of 545 livestock farmers in the South East found if there were further closures to local abattoirs, 49% of respondents said they would either have to reduce their stocking levels, stop keeping livestock or cease trading

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said the Government fails to recognise that the farming industry is in a ‘cash flow crisis' right now, with the ‘lowest farmer and grower confidence ever recorded'

Steve Reed uses Oxford Farming Conference to unveil Labour's long-term vision for agriculture

Weather woes and the fallout from the Budget dominated the past 12 months as farmers prepare to welcome 2025