There was a mixed response to the Autumn Budget from agricultural organisations that expressed concern about the imbalance of support offered to urban and rural areas.

Responding to the Autumn Budget statement, the NFU president called the government to prioritise the need for the nation’s ability to produce food and care for the countryside.

NFU president Meurig Raymond said: “We are disappointed to see no meaningful measures to help prepare farming businesses for life outside the EU in today’s Budget statement. With most of the emphasis on urban growth, there is little in the way of measures to benefit rural communities.

“Farming meets 61% of the nation’s food needs and forms the bedrock of the UK food and drink sector which contributes £112bn1 to the nation’s economy and provides 3.8 million jobs. Farming makes a significant economic contribution as well as caring for our iconic British countryside and putting safe, affordable British food on tables across the country.

“British farmers perform a unique and irreplaceable role in delivering these contributions. Increasing the nation’s ability to produce food needs to be seen as a strategic goal for government and we will work in partnership with government departments to establish the best possible business environment for our members.”

Tim Breitmeyer, president of the CLA which represents landowners, farmers and rural business across England and Wales, responded to the Budget: "We need more homes of all types across the whole country. It is worrying for a Chancellor to be so explicit in describing a policy so completely focused on urban areas. The shortage of homes in rural communities is no less acute than in our towns and cities. Rural landowners stand ready and able to play their part in delivering the homes people need. Another budget has gone by without making simple changes to tax and planning policy that could make a big difference.

“Rural people will raise a wry smile at the promise of next generation 5G mobile coverage as the much of countryside struggles to get even basic coverage. 5G investment must not come at the cost of delivering the well overdue connections that rural areas need.”

Commenting on the Autumn Budget, Tim Price, rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, said that farmers could welcome some tax measures and the avoid of increase on fuel:

“There was good news for self-employed farmers and all those working as employees that the Chancellor has stuck to the Tory’s promise to keep increasing personal tax allowances. They will be going up to £11,850 for basic rate taxpayers and £46,350 – which means a few hundred pounds more out of the taxman’s grasp.

“No increase in fuel duty rates for petrol or diesel is a huge relief for farmer and their families who currently have no alternative to using these fuels to work the land and get about in the countryside.

“Confirmation of the government’s plans to facilitate building of 300,000 new homes by the mid-2020s by the Chancellor could mean great opportunities for farmers in some locations to sell land for building to raise funds for investment elsewhere on their farms – or to diversify and provide a sustainable future for their farms and also local jobs."