I am proud to represent one of the most rural constituencies in the country, and so it was great to be able to support Tynedale and Ponteland's famers and growers on Back British Farming Day last week.
The National Farmers' Union provided me with the Back British Farming emblem- a wool and wheatsheaf pin badge- to wear with pride and convey my thanks to the farmers who feed us and take care of our countryside.
The food and farming sector is worth more than £120 billion to our national economy and provides jobs for nearly four million people.
The NFU launched a new report on Back British Farming Day, asking the Government to complete a comprehensive report on UK food security later this year, covering the country's production of key foods and its contribution to global food security. This would be the first meaningful assessment of UK food security in over a decade and the first under the requirements of the Agriculture Act that mandate reporting every three years.
I fully support the Back British Farming campaign. Farmers in Tynedale and Ponteland play an undoubtedly crucial role in producing food both for our local area and the nation, so I was delighted to be able to thank them for their vital work.
