ELIZABETH Truss, the new Environment Secretary, is no stranger to agriculture and rural issues.

As Conservative MP for South-West Norfolk, she has taken a keen interest in food and farming issues.

Pamela Forbes, NFU East Anglia regional director, looked forward to continuing working with her.

She said: “After the last drought, she arranged for farmers to meet the minister to discuss concerns about water supplies for irrigated crops in Norfolk and Suffolk and has called for greater protection for farmland from flooding.

“She also knows our views regarding reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, having led a delegation to meet farming minister George Eustice in December.”

Ms Truss, who at 38 is the youngest female Cabinet minister in history, has concerns about the use of agricultural land for solar or biomass plants and the subsidies they attract.

She is concerned about food security and is keen the importance of food and farming, as the largest manufacturing industry in the UK, is recognised.

She supports the idea of Internal Drainage Boards and has long argued that the £1:£8 cost-benefit ratio formula provided by the Environment Agency for the funding of flood prevention schemes does not value farmland high enough.

On her appointment she said: “I look forward to tackling the important issues facing our rural communities including championing British food, protecting people from flooding and improving the environment.”

Ms Truss, who was brought up in Leeds and is married with two daughters, replaced Owen Paterson in the Cabinet reshuffle. Meurig Raymond, NFU president, paid tribute to Mr Paterson’s hard work and dedication to farming and agriculture.

“He showed an understanding of farmers and the farming industry and knew how important food production and food security is,” he said.

Henry Robinson, president of the Country Land and Business Association, said: “He operated in a tough climate, and took some difficult decisions. We thank him for the good work he has done as Environment Secretary.

George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers’ Association, said: “You could not doubt that he was a passionate supporter of farming, the countryside and rural Britain.”

All three were keen to meet Ms Truss, previously an education minister.

Mr Robinson said: “We hope she wastes no time in grasping the nettle on the key issues for food and farming and presents a bold vision for our industry.”

“We would like to see her continue the good policy work started under her predecessor, particularly in areas such as animal and plant health and flood management.”

Mr Dunn has already written to Ms Truss with a number of issues to discuss including:

  • Altering taxation to encourage landowners to offer long-term farm tenancies;
  • Expanding the use and scope of Internal Drainage Boards;
  • Removing the Feed-in Tariff for crop-fed anaerobic digestion systems to stop its inflationary impact on farm rents;
  • Using the Rural Development Programme for England to encourage greater numbers of breeding livestock in upland areas.