The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has recently published data showing that 71% of farmers are “not at all confident” that changes to regulations will lead to a successful future for producers.
Defra’s Farmer Opinion Tracker was updated, with the latest data in April 2026 finding that farmers on 57% of holdings said that they either fully (7%) or roughly (50%) understand Defra’s vision for farming.
Reflecting industry reaction, Tony Goodger, head of communications at the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), commented: “The farmer opinion tracker shows that when asked about the need to make changes to their businesses in the next five years, 82% responded that they were either making or would need to make changes. Nearly a quarter of these said that they would stay farming but need to increase productivity. Among the reasons given for the need to change were trade agreements with other countries (37%) and the need for food security and supply (26%).
“However, with 42% saying that they were ‘not at all confident’ in being able to deliver the changes that they need to make, it is time that the Government took a stand and ensured that all planning applications from farms are classed as ‘permitted development’ and allowed to proceed without the divisive and unworthy activities from groups and individuals that are being stirred up by deep pocketed agitators who, in many cases, are based overseas.
“We note that the recent Labour Rural Research Group report on the future of the rural economy includes a recommendation to ‘Expand permitted development rights for farm diversification and water storage’ and we fully support this view.”
Of those surveyed, 36% of farmers said they were making changes to their farm business, while a further 46% said they would need to make changes in the next five years.
Survey respondents were asked how external factors were affecting changes needed for their farm businesses.
The most commonly cited changes related to reducing input costs and overheads. These were mainly reductions in inputs, although respondents also mentioned other costs such as contractor use and staffing. Respondents also described adapting to weather and climate pressures through changes to cropping, land use and livestock systems.
Livestock farms more often described changes to stock systems, feed, climate resilience and scaling back as ways in which they were making changes due to external factors.
Food security a key concern
Among those who chose to comment, food security, trade policy and imports were closely linked concerns. Defra found that comments suggested that domestic food production was not being given “sufficient priority” in current policy and decision-making, and respondents questioned whether food production was being adequately supported or valued, particularly where they perceived environmental objectives, imports or alternative land uses to be taking precedence.
Several comments linked food security to national resilience, arguing that reliance on global supply chains, geopolitical instability and climate change increased the importance of maintaining domestic production capacity. Trade policy and imports were often described as contributing to concerns about domestic competitiveness and viability. A central concern was that cheaper imports and trade agreements could make it harder for domestic producers to compete, which respondents linked to longer-term risks for production capacity and national resilience.
In April 2026, farmers on 35% of holdings felt positive about their own future in farming (very positive 3%; somewhat positive 32%). This was consistent with the 33% reported in April 2025. In April 2026, approximately 53% indicated that they are not at all positive and the remaining 12% were unsure of how they feel about their own future in farming.
