Calls for post-Brexit '˜revolution' over farming subsidies

The new Northern Hill Farming Panel will represent farmers from five northern uplands including the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Nidderdale AONB, and individuals can become members after the first year. Farmer-led, the goal is to represent hill farmers to Government ministers in discussions on how they can help foster a more sustainable future and early issues it will consider include the EU referendum result and the Countryside Stewardship scheme.

Chairman Richard Betton, a hill farmer from Upper Teesdale, said: “The panel agreed that there is a need to communicate the importance to society of maintaining active hill farmers in terms of environmental benefits, skills, knowledge and social vitality. The resource of farmers itself is valuable and once lost cannot be replaced.”