Farm union boss says industry is ready for new political agenda

But the government must not lose access to the UK’s biggest market, the EU, which offers 450m customers on the doorstep, the National Farmers’ Union leader said.

In an impassioned address, union boss Mr Raymond also defended his industry against “outdated” comments, saying that farmers understand they are the custodians of the natural environment.

“Comments that farmers are ‘drenching the countryside in pesticides’ are outdated, absolutely wrong... and paint a picture of farming which is unrelated to what really goes on in the British countryside today,” the Pembrokeshire farmer said.

Under agri-environment schemes more than 30,000km of hedgerows have been planted or restored in England, he said, while around 270,000 hectares of farmland are managed voluntarily under the Campaign for the Farmed Environment.

The “environmental criminals” are those who fly-tip lorries full of waste on farmland, he said, and urged the government to introduce tougher penalties.

Speaking to Environment Secretary Mr Gove directly, Mr Raymond addressed the industry’s future, saying: “I know you are planning on creating a future (farming) policy this year and I know you will want to be radical in your thinking... farmers in this room share that ambition.

“We want to be the first supplier of choice, servicing every price point and serving every plate, feeding Britain with food produced to a high standard, independently inspected to ensure its integrity.”

However he warned that time was running out to secure a deal with the EU that eliminates non-tariff barriers as well as secure a customs agreement.

“We must have frictionless trade with the EU. Everything else, including the final shape of any domestic agricultural policy is dependent on that,” Mr Raymond said.

“Britain’s farms need access to the EU market, we need access to a reliable workforce and we need measures to help our food and farming industry be more productive.”