The Chancellor’s Autumn Budget has been criticised as a “missed opportunity” to support family farms in Cambridgeshire.
Farmers and industry leaders say the plans offered little to boost business confidence or address the needs of food producers.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for investment to build resilience in the sector, arguing that a sustainable farming industry is crucial for the rural economy, environmental stewardship and food security.
Tom Bradshaw, president of the NFU, said: "This was an opportunity for the government to act on the warm words it made over the summer.
"It has failed to act and has left farmers and growers feeling abandoned.
"The OBR (the Office for Budget Responsibility) has reflected that the food price inflation outlook is significantly higher than previous forecasts.
"Yet the government has failed to link domestic food production to food-price inflation, has missed the opportunity to deliver on its commitment that 'food security is national security' and failed to give farm businesses the 'breathing space' that the Chancellor said this Budget was for."
The government did announce the removal of tariffs on certain foods and fertilisers to help reduce costs.
However, the NFU said most fertiliser already arrives in the UK without tariffs, and any savings would depend on whether benefits are passed down the supply chain.
Alison Morris, chair of the NFU Cambridgeshire, said: "This Budget has done nothing to help our farmers.
"We need help now not words of we understand.
"We urgently need support from the Keep Britain Growing Loan so that we can afford to harvest the crops still in the ground and plant next year’s crops.
"Increasing the Annual Investment Allowance to at least £5m, including structures and buildings, scrapping the family farm tax would have gone some way to restoring much-needed confidence."
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