Farmers want early Brexit signal from government

Farmers want an early commitment from government to ensure British farming is not disadvantaged by the outcome of the European Union referendum.
National Farmers' Union president Meurig Raymond said British agriculture must not be disadvantaged by Britain's decision to leave the European Union.  Pic: Joe Giddens/PA WireNational Farmers' Union president Meurig Raymond said British agriculture must not be disadvantaged by Britain's decision to leave the European Union.  Pic: Joe Giddens/PA Wire
National Farmers' Union president Meurig Raymond said British agriculture must not be disadvantaged by Britain's decision to leave the European Union. Pic: Joe Giddens/PA Wire

A new British agricultural policy will have to be drawn up now that Britain has voted to leave the EU and there are plenty of questions about what that policy will look like.

Farming is currently supported by EU money like no other industry through the Common Agricultural Policy. The policy accounts for just under 39 per cent of the total annual EU budget, according to the National Farmers’ Union - which equates to 23p a day for every European citizen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Last year, UK farmers received almost €3.1bn (£2.4bn) in direct payments and they have access to €5.2bn (£4bn) in funding allocated to the UK for rural development projects between 2014 and 2020.

Through access to the European single market, the UK exported £12.8bn worth of agri-food products in 2014 - approximately 73 per cent of British agri-food exports were destined for other EU countries

Now, new trade deals will need to be struck.

Meurig Raymond, president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), said: “The vote to leave the European Union will inevitably lead to a period of uncertainty in a number of areas that are of vital importance to Britain’s farmers.

“The NFU will engage fully and constructively with the British government to construct new arrangements. This needs to happen as soon as possible.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Our members will rightly want to know the impact on their businesses as a matter of urgency. We understand that the negotiations will take some time to deliver but it is vital that there is early commitment to ensure British farming is not disadvantaged. It is vital that British farming is profitable and remains competitive, it is the bedrock of the food industry – Britain’s largest manufacturing sector.”

Mr Raymond said that the NFU has called an extraordinary meeting of NFU Council, its governing body, for next Friday, July 1, when the situation will be discussed further.

Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society - organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show - said he was “surprised” by the outcome of the vote.

He too called for clarity for farmers.

Mr Pulling told The Yorkshire Post: “Clearly the whole country is clamouring for information about what this means. While I think it is unrealistic to receive detailed policies at this time, I think farmers are looking for a broad policy statement from government.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Common Agricultural Policy sees farmers receive subsidies as direct payments and for environmental management. The policy was last reformed in 2013 and in its current form runs until 2020.

Mr Pulling said: “The first thing that needs to be addressed is, will this support be honoured? If it will take us two years to negotiate to get out of the EU, is it worth dismantling that support when it runs out in another two years down the line? That would give farmers a bit of certainty. There has got to be a clear case for giving farming that time and that certainty because it is a big chunk of their income - for a lot it is the difference between profits and losses.

“I don’t want to plea that farming is a special case but the fact is it relies on a lot of money through the CAP and that needs clarifying sooner rather than later.

“Going forward, what farmers want to know is what the policy of the British government is to support the industry in comparison with the EU.”
Mr Pulling said that the Society would be discussing whether there was enough information about Britain’s agricultural future for next month’s Great Yorkshire Show to host a public meeting that would bring the industry together to discuss the situation.

Related topics: