FARMING income in the south west fell by nearly £300million in 2023. 

Recent figures released by Defra show that the total income from farming in the south west of England was £631million in 2023, a decrease of £293million from 2022. 

According to the data, crop and livestock output were also down from 2022. Total crop output in 2023 was £1,155million, a decrease of £258million from 2022.

Total livestock output in the South West in 2023 was £3,028 million, a decrease of £115 million from 2022.

The data comes as the new labour government is set to reveal it's first budget on October 30. 

The president of the National Farmers' Union (NFU) told ITV West Country: "At the moment we are at this absolutely pivotal time, where the government can build the confidence (of farmers) and say we're with you, we know what you deliver for the country, or you can walk away from us.

"The manifestos, they're now history. We will judge them (the government) on 30th October and that is the date that really is going to demonstrate the government's support for the farming industry or otherwise. 

"What I'd say to the government now is, we see the challenges around the world, whether that be war in Eastern Europe, the Middle East as it is today, climate change taking hold. We have 70 million people living on an island here, we need a plan for how we are going to feed those 70 million people, and that requires investment from the government.

"We can't continue to deliver off investments from previous generations. We are on an absolute tipping point."