Defra ‘ends over three decades of funding’ for Young Farmers’ Clubs

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed that its longstanding discretionary grant to the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs (NFYFC) - in place for more than 30 years - will not be renewed moving forward.

NFYFC disclosed that it received the news in July that the grant had been discontinued, a development the organization called “disappointing,” yet reaffirmed it would not abandon its government relationships.

The small but vital funding previously enabled NFYFC to engage directly with policymakers through targeted training, events, and research, helping young farmers understand and adapt to evolving agricultural policies. Many of these resources are still accessible via the NFYFC’s Knowledge Hub.

In a contrasting statement, Defra insisted that no final decision had been made to terminate support. The department emphasized that it had allocated £30,000 to NFYFC for the 2025–26 financial year and continues to collaborate with the federation to build a robust, future‑focused agricultural system that balances food production and environmental stewardship.

Political voices quickly joined the debate. Shadow farming minister Robbie Moore condemned the move, calling it “outrageous” for the government to pledge to support young farmers only to remove their backing. Describing the NFYFC grant as a “tiny sum” with outsized impact, he expressed concern about the government’s broader stance toward emerging talent in farming.

With the grant’s future now uncertain, NFYFC is actively pursuing alternate funding sources to ensure it can continue its work supporting and representing the next generation of agricultural leaders.