Farmers write an open letter to MPs asking them to protect food standards when the Ag Bill returns to the Commons next week

As the Agricultural Bill makes its way back to the House of Commons this Wednesday, the coalition, which includes two Yorkshire farmers, is urging MPs to “stand up for British farming”.

The Bill, which represents the biggest restructure of British agriculture since the Second World War, was sent back to the House of Lords after MPs voted down one amendment made by the peers to offer better safeguards on food standards and the second was ruled out on a technicality.

The defeated amendment put forward by Labour peer Lord Grantchester made a specific requirement that agricultural and food imports meet domestic standards of production.

And the second by Lord Curry, which was not put forward due to the use of an “obscure rule” around public funding, would have given more powers to the Trade and Agriculture Commission.

Both amendments were once again voted through in the House of Lords and will go before MPs this week.

Jim Breary, a mixed upland livestock farmer from South Yorkshire, said getting it right for future trade deals was crucial for the industry.

“Food and farming are vital both to the economy and landscape of Yorkshire and the Humber.

“There has never been a more important time for our farmers to continue to produce high quality food to keep our region healthy and prosperous.

“The thought of this being undermined by ill-thought out trade deals is frightening and frankly unacceptable.

“Both consumers and producers must stand up and fight for the future of our region and not allow the Agriculture Bill to pass without these amendments.”

The open letter refers to a report by Environmental law charity, Client Earth, which lays out how it believes the UK can follow international trade laws and restrict low-quality imports.

The letter also disputes that developing nations will not be able to trade with us under such rules, saying a number already do to the benefit of all concerned.

“We should not sign trade deals that encourage a race to the bottom for farmers anywhere,” the letter states.

“Importing low-quality agri-food products presents the prospect of pushing British farmers over the cliff-edge and further degrading the environment. Neither we nor the public want this, as repeated surveys and petitions have shown,” it continues.

Neil Heseltine, a fourth-generation farmer from Malham said it was vital Yorkshire MPs backed farmers.

“Farming is the essence of our culture in Yorkshire; 12,000 Yorkshire farm businesses are at risk of being undercut by low standard food imports from the US, Australia, and Argentina.

“Without our Yorkshire MPs backing these amendments, the UK’s door is wide open to hormone-treated American beef infiltrating our Sunday roasts or chlorinated chicken entering our supermarket shelves. MPs must show that they are listening to their constituents, the very people that put them there in the first place.”

The Government has maintained it will not allow UK food standards to be undercut.

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