A letter sent to The Telegraph by Joe Stanley, Head of Sustainable Farming, the Allerton Project.
I was disappointed to read The Telegraph’s take on the Baseline Agricultural Training programme being delivered by the Allerton Project, especially the comments of Shadow DEFRA Secretary, Victoria Atkins under whose government a highly successful pilot was run (‘Clueless’ civil servants sent to farms to learn how they work, 7th February).
The programme’s purpose is straightforward: to improve understanding of agriculture within Whitehall by giving civil servants a basic, practical grounding in how farming works. Farmers are not lining up to join DEFRA, nor is anyone expecting them to: that is not how the civil service works. What is needed is for those designing and administering policy to better grasp the realities of livestock management, cropping decisions, seasonal pressures and environmental trade-offs faced by farmers daily.
Many DEFRA staff come from non-rural backgrounds. That is not a criticism, but it does mean their understanding can lack vital context. Spending time on farms helps reduce misunderstanding, improves communication and, ultimately, leads to policies that are more workable and more effective.
This is not about turning officials into farmers, but about respecting farmers’ expertise and ensuring it informs decision-making. If we want better outcomes for food production, the environment and rural businesses, welcoming such an initiative — rather than deriding it — is surely the sensible place to start.
Further reading: GWCT Allerton Project supports delivery of DEFRA’s new Baseline Agricultural Training (GWCT)