Agriculture must not bear the brunt of swingeing budget cuts expected as a result of this week's General Election, UK farming leaders have warned.

Despite tough economic circumstances, government should resist making short-term savings which stifled farmers' ability to invest and innovate in future, the National Farmers Union (NFU) said.

Agriculture had to be at the heart of political thinking, regardless of who was the next secretary for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), added NFU.

Nick von Westenholz, NFU government affairs adviser, said tackling TB, establishing a supermarket ombudsman and increasing investment in research and development were priorities for the secretary.

"These need to be supported by the right fiscal and economic environment - one that encourages farmers to invest in their businesses for the long-term, guaranteeing a stable, healthy and sustainable food supply," he said.

He added that it was vital the Prime Minister agreed spending plans that were devoted to productive agriculture and putting food and farming back at the heart of DEFRA's operations.

Kim Marie Hayward, National Beef Association chief executive, said the government needed to recognise the importance of the industry and "not strangle it".

"The new government needs to accept farmers are critical to the country and give them the fair hand and respect to run their businesses, protect the environment and produce food," she said.

Tackling the amount of regulation farmers have to deal with, slashing the running costs of quangos by half and give funding back to farmers for agri-environment schemes should be priorities, she added.