Let me start by saying I am not much of a fan of factory farming. I don’t believe the concept is intrinsically beneficial for animals, people or the environment. I absolutely appreciate the concerns many people have around these large intensively famed livestock facilities and the impact they can have on water pollution, air quality and the local communities who have to live near them.
In fact, I do understand there can be potentially serious threats to public health, animal welfare and the environment that can arise from factory farming conditions. For example, factory farms are, apparently, a significant contributor of ammonia pollution in the UK. Ammonia emissions from intensive livestock farming have been linked to worsening asthma and lung function in adults and children and other health conditions. There also appears to be links between factory farming and outbreaks of avian and swine flu and they have been found to significantly contribute to water pollution in rivers and groundwater. In fact, as reported by the BBC, one of the UK's largest chicken producers and a water company will be in the High Court soon accused of polluting the rivers Wye, Lugg and Usk. This is a very heavy price to pay.
UK's biggest environmental pollution claim reaches High Court - BBC News
However, while there are a number of different farming systems and styles within the UK and I accept farms of all sizes do have a role to play in promoting sustainable UK agriculture, I have to say I do not recognise this picture of local farming in my constituency of East Grinstead and Uckfield, where there is a strong focus on balancing traditional small scale farming with conservation. A lot of our local farmers, who I know well and have visited, focus on regenerative and organic farming. All are passionate about animal welfare, protecting nature and producing high quality, local food. I have written to Compassion in World Farming to ask where in West Sussex these 3 ‘mega’ farms they mention are and why ‘our constituency stands out as being in an area of high emissions’ as described in this email campaign. As yet, I have not received a reply.
More widely, I do not believe this Labour Government’s rural policies are supporting farmers, supporting and assisting working farms, our growers and food producers in this country or indeed working to protect our vital food security. Any discussion about land use should also consider the amount of essential agricultural land that is being lost to industrial scale solar panel installations. Food security is an essential part of our national security and it is my understanding that an area of prime farmland and growing fields equivalent to around 1,300 football pitches is now covered by solar panels. It is also really important to address the cumulative impact of large-scale solar farms, given that we are increasingly seeing geographical clustering of proposed solar developments in some areas which is having devastating effects on local communities as well as local landscapes.
I was appalled to hear the Energy Secretary Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, has forced through a proposal for a ‘mega’ industrial solar farm in Leicestershire to be installed on prime farmland (thankfully being challenged). I understand Labour reforms to the National Planning Policy framework will make it easier to override local opposition to industrial livestock ‘farm’ facilities as well as industrial renewables ‘farm’ facilities. It would be hard to find anyone living near to either of these who says there is any kind of perfect experience but often the opposite.
Mims Davies MP Statement on Industrial Solar and Wind Farms | Mims Davies
Further to this, I am aware the Labour Government’s Autumn Budget has significantly impacted the horticulture sector, particularly the environmental horticulture industry and I have been contacted by several businesses in my constituency who are seriously concerned about the proposed changes to APR and BPR, the need for fairer business rates, increased NI costs and the extortionately high costs of energy. Many are struggling and are now also worried about the extra costs and regulation coming under the Employment Rights Bill. Fruit and vegetable growers need cheap, plentiful energy, a reliable water supply (much under pressure here in Sussex), access to seasonal and part time workers and, of course, fertile agricultural land.
All working farms must comply with comprehensive UK law on animal health and welfare, planning, veterinary medicines and environmental legislation. This rightly includes the Nitrates and Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil regulations, which require manure produced in livestock housing (including slurry) to be stored responsibly and for a long enough time to ensure it is spread in a way that minimises water pollution. Furthermore, the Farming Rules for Water and Nitrates regulations require these manures to be spread according to appropriate volumes, locations and timescales to minimise pollution.
Through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), farmers have been paid to manage pollution and improve soil health. However, in March 2025, the Labour Government sneaked out an announcement that they were halting the SFI scheme immediately. Details on a new scheme were promised by summer 2025 yet months passed and there was still minimal information shared about it. In January 2026, the Government announced the earliest the scheme will reopen to applications is June 2026 for small farms and those not in any other ELM scheme. There will then be a second application round opening in September 2026 for all farms.
In late February 2026, the Labour Government finally announced eligibility criteria, including that the new SFI will have a cap. I worry that this, combined with this Government's decision to reduce the number of actions the SFI supports from 102 to 71, risks a decrease in ambition. The previous Government also introduced the Slurry Infrastructure Grant which supported farmers to build 6-month slurry storage and to cover stores with impermeable covers to reduce ammonia emissions.
This Labour Government does not seem to understand that all working farms, including our family farms are local businesses, and they need long-term certainty to plan ahead. Sadly, it does not surprise me that under this Labour Government there have been record farm closures.
With regard to planning, I believe it is important that farmers, and especially small farmers, who want to responsibly expand their infrastructure are properly able to. The previous Government made substantial progress cutting red tape for farmers, including for conversions of agricultural buildings to farm shops. Storage facilities, on-farm reservoirs and glasshouses are all an important part of resilient, profitable food production. These sympathetic and suitable diversification opportunities roundly support food security and, when the Government is letting down our farmers with policies such as the Family Farm and Family Business Taxes, seek to give the rural economy a much-needed boost by giving those businesses chances that others have, ensuring locality is not a barrier to expansion.
My colleagues and I will scrutinise the Labour Government's proposals on how any planning changes will support local farmers and support rural communities. However, I would be very concerned if we see small, local family farms go under in while large factory farms - corporate agribusinesses - are enabled to expand.
I will follow this issue very closely on behalf of my constituents.
