The government's decision to keep the tax relief on red diesel in today's Budget has dominated responses from the agricultural industry.

NFU president Minette Batters said: "Changes to this duty could have virtually doubled fuel costs for farmers and with no current alternative fuel for agricultural vehicles, this would have left farms immediately uncompetitive with many other countries who continue to provide lower fuel duty for their agricultural industries.

“This lower fuel duty on red diesel recognises its importance to farm businesses, their ability to produce food for the nation and the fact this machinery is mainly used off-road on farms."

Likewise, the The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) welcomed the news that the red diesel subsidy will remain.

RABDF chairman Peter Alvis said: “Although agriculture only accounts for 7 per cent of the total lower rate fuel use in the UK, the knock-on effects would have been felt right throughout the supply chain- including increased costs for consumers.”

The NAAC spoke for its agricultural contractor members. Chief executive Jill Hewitt said: "At a time of massive uncertainty, following a grim, saturated autumn and winter, contractors will be relieved that they can continue business as usual.

"They do not have the margins to absorb what could have been a doubling of fuel prices, with businesses already struggling with cash flow after losing winter cultivations work, plus the knock on impact that will have if spring crops are not drilled."

The Budget also delivered increased an extra £2million to combat fly-tipping, a crime that farmers frequently have to foot the bill for.

NFU Mutual’s rural affairs specialist Rebecca Davidson said: “Fly-tipping, like other forms of rural crime, is increasingly being carried out by organised criminal gangs and funding for a digital waste tracking system will help to investigate the increasing problem of waste crime.”

For farmers in the rest of the country hit hard by the wettest February on record there was some relief. The Budget promised an increase of £5.2billion into flood defences alongside £120million for the repair of damage caused by this winter’s storms.

Read more: Budget 2020: Round-up of announcements made by Chancellor Rishi Sunak