In the government’s latest attack on UK agriculture and horticulture, Defra has ended its grant funding for the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) after 30 years.
The news was broken on social media by Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Robbie Moore MP on the same day the Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer vowed to “work with” young farmers at Prime Minister’s Questions.
The NFYFC confirmed to Farmers Weekly that it had been told in July that the discretionary funding would not be renewed, which it described as ‘disappointing’. In a statement it added, ‘We remain an active stakeholder, representing the views of our members and the next generation.”
The value of the grant has not been revealed, but its withdrawal has been seen by some as deeply symbolic of the Government’s anti-farming agenda.
Mr Moore commented, “In the grand scheme of things the NFYFC costs Government a tiny sum but makes a massive difference not just for Young Farmers, but all Young People interested in the countryside… Labour are not just going after farming businesses, and those older farmers fearing inheritance taxes, they’re coming for the next generation as well. Outrageous.”
Defra denied the claim funding is going to be stopped, but also refused to confirm or deny, when asked on at least two occasions by Farmers Guardian, if a grant renewal meeting had taken place in July with NFYFC regarding funds no longer being available to support the grant past March 2026.
“No decisions on funding have been made yet and to suggest otherwise is false,” a Defra spokesperson commented. “We have provided £30,000 to support the important work of the NFYFC in the 2025/2026 financial year.”
