The AHDB Petitioners have welcome the Government ’s response to the consultation confirming that the tater and horticulture sectors levies will be face-lift . However , as forebode , engagement levels with farmers and agriculturist have been abysmal , with just 0.25 % of eligible levy payers responding1 , half the number who responded in 2018 , they write in this article .
The campaigners described the answer to the Defra - lead consultation as ‘ abysmal ’ , with only 120 ( 10 % ) levy remunerator from the horticulture sector and 33 ( 2 % ) from the potatoes sphere irritate to respond . Even Defra was careful to point out that ‘ Public consultations are not necessarily representative of the wider population ( in this case of all levy remunerator ) ’ .
word that Defra is recommending a zero - betray levy from 1 March 2025 is also welcome , as the legal appendage to officially terminate the levy may take a few months . The response to the news show that the spud and horticulture sectors will remain in scope of the AHDB Order is more guarded .
" We recognize that there were a range of view express about horticultural R&D and Defra believes that there may be demand for some people to apply the services of AHDB on a voluntary footing . afford that AHDB has already disband its horticultural and potatoes substructure , this seems unlikely , but we confirm the principle that growers can opt where to drop their own money on R&D. "
“ Although Defra annotate that ‘ many growers from horticulture subsectors who reply to the reference said they want a statutory subsector levy to continue , ’ this is still a minority view from just 120 respondents , ” stressed Lincolnshire prime grower Simon Redden . “ It is wrong for the NFU to rede this audience as meaningful , and any effort to allow statutory levies to creep back in will be vigorously opposed . ”
The campaigners also said it was disappointing , but not surprising , that Defra stressed that , ‘ Public sector fund through the farm budget in England will not pay for research or other actions that were , or could sensibly be carry to be , funded through levy en masse investing . ’ At a time when the world is facing a solid food crisis it is too bad that this politics will fund tree planting and re - wilding but will not help amend the efficiency of level-headed and sustainable food for thought output .
The majority of growers will now welcome the chance to plan their next business activities , including R&D , without the unneeded and unhelpful tax burden of the AHDB levy , especially in these incertain times .
For further information or consultation requests , please contact:[email protected]John Bratley , 01775 840322Simon Redden , 01775 722670Peter Thorold , 01775 840360
