Great Yorkshire Show: Ministers warned this is a pivotal time for farming

Any delay in designing a world-class UK policy for rural businesses would be “disastrous”, the president of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said.

As the 158th Great Yorkshire Show opened for business today, Ross Murray added to a mounting chorus of industry voices calling for agriculture to be at the forefront of the Government’s plans as it gathers itself again after a period of leadership turbulence.

Senior figures from both the National Farmers’ Union and the Tenant Farmers Association will use the first day of the countryside show to turn up the focus on their industry, and the opportunity must not be squandered, Mr Murray said.

Now is “a pivotal moment” for how food is produced, how the environment is cared for and how the countryside is managed, he said, adding: “It would be disastrous for our agricultural sector, the environment and the rural economy as a whole - and for anyone who values our countryside - if we were to lose momentum post Brexit.

“The UK deserves a world-leading food, farming and environmental policy which creates better outcomes for our agricultural sector, the rural economy, our environment and also rural communities while also delivering better value for money for the taxpayer.”

With little indication as to what British farming policy comes next, the ‘Brexit’ decision is set to be a major talking point throughout this week’s Great Yorkshire Show.

For decades British farmers have received financial support as part of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, which despite providing important economic, environmental and social benefits, is “cumbersome and unwieldy”, Mr Murray said.

The CLA leader will unveil six fundamental principles for the new food, farming and environmental policy at today’s show which it wants the Government to use in producing its farming policy.

Mr Murray said any policy must: enable farmers to be competitive at home and abroad with a renewed recognition as the nation’s primary food suppliers; promote innovative, sustainable ways to increase production and manage risk; be ambitious in meeting environmental challenges; provide sufficient funds for the policy across the UK and take a long term approach; deliver value for money, and, also, provide clear proportionate regulation.

The Tenant Farmers Association will promote its own post-Brexit agricultural policy at the show, and North Yorkshire farmer, Stephen Wyrill, the TFA’s chairman, said: “Whilst we await the appointment of the next PM and cabinet there is much that can be done to develop the groundwork on a new policy framework for agriculture and the TFA is fully engaged in making this a reality.”

Meurig Raymond, president of the National Farmers’ Union, who will also attend the show, said farmers are pulling together after a divisive referendum vote.

“As we edge forward into unchartered waters, we are determined to make sure our industry is in the best possible shape to meet the challenges ahead,” the union boss vowed.