Witham Backs British Farming

Witham has been supporting our British Agricultural Industries for over 100 years and in a changing climate, we are proud to be helping our farming customers whatever the size or diversity of their business.

We are proud to be working with our suppliers on providing the latest technology to produce products that help serve the agricultural community in the modern world. Here we take a look at why we are Backing British Farming and have been helping to promote one of our country’s greatest assets…

Farming Demands Are Changing

We are at a pivotal time for the future of farming and the food on our plates. Nothing will determine this more than how the Government shapes trade deals with the EU and other countries around the world. Against a background of rising fears about fossil fuel prices, energy security, and climate change, there is increasing awareness that farmers have an important role to play as custodians of the British countryside and wildlife.

DEFRA and the British Government now offer schemes which are aimed at working for farm businesses, food production and the environment. Financial payments are now available for strategies such as the improvement of tree health or animal health and welfare, to improve soil health, better manage and create better wildlife habitats, woodlands, wet areas and improve flood risk and water pollution.

Why Back British Farming?

Food produced in the UK is produced to some of the highest animal welfare and environmental standards in the world. We have very robust levels of traceability which enable consumers to buy British food with confidence. British farmers are incredibly proud of the standards they produce food to, and consumers have made it clear they want these standards to be maintained, with more than one million signing the NFU’s food standards petition.

We believe it is crucial that any food allowed into this country should be produced to the same high standards, otherwise British farmers will be competing against imported food produced in ways that would be illegal in this country.

British Farming Has So Much to Offer

British farmers are world leaders in so many areas, from protecting and enhancing the environment to animal welfare and sustainable food production. But they also have a key role to play in tackling the challenges of climate change and providing further public goods like protection from flooding.

Here are some interesting facts about British Farming (Source: NFU)

• For every £1 invested in farm support, farming delivers £7.40 back to the economy.
• British Farming spends £15.3billion on goods and services.
• Agriculture provides around 475,000 jobs directly, as well as supporting a further 30,000 jobs through procurement activity benefiting other sectors of the UK economy
• Agriculture plays a vital role providing 61% of the raw materials for the wider UK agri-food industry which is worth around £108 billion of Gross Value Added to the national economy and provides over 3.7 million jobs. The agri-food sector as a whole generates around £18 billion of gross export earnings for the UK each year.
• Farming plays an important role in managing the environment of over 70% of the UK’s land area. The overall value of these habitat and species protection services is estimated to be worth around £672 million each year.
• The quality of the UK’s farmed landscape provides recreational opportunities enjoyed by millions of people each year. Overall, an estimated 3.7 billion day visits are made by UK resident adults to the countryside each year.
• The countryside is an asset important in attracting overseas visitors to the UK. Visit Britain estimate that about 20% of international visitors visit the countryside during their stays. This tourism is estimated to be worth at least £2 billion per annum to the UK economy.

How Witham Group is Helping

As a proud UK Manufacturer and reputable supplier of oils and lubricants to the British agricultural industry, Witham Group is committed to helping support high standards of operation and making a real difference to customers own supply chains by offering a unique package of sustainable credentials. In turn agricultural businesses are able to improve their own environmental objectives and goals and help join the journey for better food production and countryside for us all to enjoy. Witham have developed a growing range of award winning, biodegradable oils to non toxic and environmentally sensitive products, all designed to help reduce environmental impact, engine emissions and to improve fuel economy, as well as products which are safe for our natural countryside, wildlife, farm land, forestry, waterways and food production areas.

Witham is unique with its development of our Ultrasound based, carbon neutral blended lubricants, which means we supply products that have been made with the lowest use of energy, time and carbon usage available. Our latest products help reduce wear and tear on engines and machinery and we offer standard low impact packaging and safe and clean oil storage solutions.

We also support, and are heavily involved with, Young Farmers Groups throughout the UK, Agricultural Societies, Buying Groups and Cooperatives, Game, Wildlife and Conservation Associations, Agricultural Shows and Events, Rural and Farming Support Networks and Green Tractor Schemes to name but a few.

Witham Group is working closely with all our agricultural partners, helping raise awareness, offering sponsorship and fundraising, promoting and informing customers of the latest innovations to help British Farming achieve its goals and maintaining the highest standards of operation in the world.

– Harmston Young Farmers 

We were happy to donate clean and empty Woco paint tins and hi-vis jackets for the Harmston Young Farmers firework night, to help them raise money for the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. The jackets have our Witham logo on the back and will be used on their many other future events.