The Truth Behind DEFRA’s Farm Training Program Amid Misinformation Concerns

DEFRA Farm Training Program Clarified Amid Media Controversy

“There has been a great deal of misinformation in the media surrounding DEFRA training on how British farms operate,” said Joe Stanley, head of training at the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s (GWCT) Allerton Project, in an exclusive interview with Farmers Guide.

The controversy erupted after national media outlets reported that the Labour government would spend £650,000 of taxpayers’ money to educate civil servants about farming operations. However, Stanley clarified that this figure represented the maximum possible value of the bid, while the actual submission from the Allerton Project was approximately half that amount.

“We set out a figure that we believed would deliver good value for taxpayers’ money, so it has been frustrating to see an incorrect amount, around double the true contract value, being bandied about,” Stanley explained. “People are saying, ‘what a horrible waste of taxpayers’ money’, however, I would argue against that. This sort of training that we’re delivering to civil servants is pretty invaluable.”

The Baseline Agricultural Training program, which will run for four years, aims to provide essential agricultural knowledge to approximately 600 civil servants annually from key departments including DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency), Natural England, and the Rural Payments Agency.

The training consists of a comprehensive six-part online course coupled with practical farm visits. Participants can select from four different farm types for their field experience, including the primarily arable Allerton Project farm, as well as dairy, beef, and mixed farming operations, allowing civil servants to gain firsthand experience in their areas of interest.

Stanley emphasized the practical value of the program, noting that it will provide civil servants with a fundamental understanding of UK agriculture and its various components. The commercial module, for instance, covers farm economics alongside basic agricultural concepts such as crop rotation and dairy cow management.

“The majority of civil servants in DEFRA don’t have any prior experience of farming,” Stanley pointed out. “It’s important that they understand the basics of farming, especially when they’re putting together policy or dealing with farmers on the ground.”

The initiative comes at a critical time for British agriculture, which faces significant challenges including post-Brexit policy changes, climate adaptation requirements, and evolving environmental regulations. The agricultural sector contributes approximately £10.4 billion to the UK economy and employs around 472,000 people, making informed policy decisions crucial for both economic and food security.

Industry experts have long highlighted the knowledge gap between policymakers and farming practitioners. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has previously called for greater agricultural literacy among government officials to ensure regulations reflect practical realities faced by farmers.

Stanley also highlighted the potential long-term benefits of the program beyond DEFRA itself. “It’s not all about just keeping this information within DEFRA; we would like also to spread the knowledge throughout the government more generally,” he said. “Those people can at some point go on to have jobs in other parts of the civil service, for example, in Treasury. Then hopefully they will take that knowledge with them and help the government understand us as an industry.”

The Allerton Project, which is delivering the training, has established credibility in the agricultural sector through its research on the relationship between farming methods, wildlife conservation, and environmental sustainability. Their involvement suggests the training will provide a balanced view of modern agricultural practices while addressing environmental considerations.

As the program begins implementation, it represents a significant step toward bridging the gap between agricultural practice and policy development in post-Brexit Britain.