L13 - Politics Of Farming

The Politics of Farming: Corporatism Undermined

• Overview: Examines the transformation of British farming politics through the lens of corporatism and rural social movements.

  • Sections:

    1. Introduction: changing politics

    2. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) & corporatism

    3. Biosecurity crises

    4. Conclusion: from ‘farming interest’ to ‘rural social movement’?

1. Introduction: Changing Rural Politics

• Key Themes:

  • Post-war political consensus

  • Breakdown of consensus beginning in the 1970s

  • Impact of animal health crises

  • Transition from a focus on ‘rural politics’ to ‘politics of the rural’ (Woods 2005)

  • Indicative of changing power dynamics in rural Britain

2. The National Farmers’ Union & Corporatism

Origins & Development of NFU

• Foundation:

  • Established in 1908 during an agricultural depression

  • Approximately 47,000 members, representing 2/3 of agricultural land (2023)

  • 80% of members are full-time farmers at its peak

• Role:

  • A powerful trade union advocating for agricultural interests

NFU Characteristics

• Mission:

  • Champion of British farming

  • Largest farming organization in the UK

• Services:

  • Professional representation and services for members

  • Independent voice for farmers

• Location:

  • Main office in Stoneleigh Park, with regional offices in London, Brussels, Wales, and England

• Financing:

  • Funded by member subscriptions, politically unaligned

Understanding Corporatism

• Definition: A cooperative partnership for mutual benefit (similar to Scandinavian model)

  • NFU's role with the government

• Requirements for Corporatism:

  • NFU must be:

    • Prominent

    • Self-regulatory

    • Cooperative

NFU's Corporatist Development

• Historical Engagement:

  • Collaborated with government from 1939-45 during state intervention

  • Recognized as the official representative of farming due to the 1947 Agriculture Act

• Activities:

  • Lobby Parliament

  • Cultivate governmental contacts

  • Participate in rural working parties

  • Represent in Brussels via British Agriculture Bureau (post-Brexit)

3. Biosecurity Crises

Context & Significance

• Pollution Regulation:

  • Initially perceived as non-rural issues pre-1980s, e.g., Control of Pollution Act (1974)

  • 1986 report linking pollution to intensified animal farming led to changes

Reaction to Pollution Issues

• Discovery in the 1980s:

  • Recognition of farm-related pollution by:

    • National Rivers Authority (1989-96)

    • Environmental groups like Friends of the Earth

    • Increased scrutiny from neighbors and media

• Consolidation:

  • Formation of the Environment Agency in 1996

BSE Crisis (1986-2000)

• Disease Overview: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease related to human CJD

  • Initial identification in Kent in 1986

  • Major impact on UK cattle herds (1/3 affected, 4.5 million slaughtered)

• Key Events Timeline:

  • June 1988: BSE made notifiable disease

  • July 1988: Ban on ruminant protein in cattle feed

  • March 1996: EU ban on all UK cattle products announced

  • October 2000: BSE Inquiry published, criticized UK responses

Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD, 2001)

• Characteristics: Highly infectious but rarely fatal, significant economic impact

  • Initial detection in Essex; spread via animal movement

• Government Response: Ultra-cautionary measures led to significant rural business shutdown

4. Conclusion: From ‘Farming Interest’ to ‘Rural Social Movement’?

Ongoing Pressures on Farming

• Challenges Faced:

  • Economic decline in farming incomes due to price drops and export bans

  • NFU increasingly sidelined in political discussions and decision-making

Shift from Corporatism

• Ideological Changes:

  • Shift in influence from NFU to recognition of diverse rural interests

  • Expansion of rural environmental and social objectives leads to questioning of traditional farming practices

Emergence of a Rural Social Movement

• Rural Crisis:

  • The need to connect agricultural practices with broader social issues

  • Ongoing rural transformations affected by various socio-political factors such as Brexit, COVID-19, and environmental policies

• Future Questions: How to integrate diverse voices representing rural struggles into a cohesive movement?