Farmers meet minsiter to discuss farming policy

DEFRA Secretary of State Andrea Leadsom met West Sussex farmers on December 8 to talk farm policy.

The visit to Applesham Farm, Coombes, near Lancing, was arranged by Tim Loughton MP (East Worthing & Shoreham) and hosted by farmer Hugh Passmore.

Applesham is an 850-acre beef, sheep and arable farm in the heart of the South Downs National Park.

West Sussex NFU chairman David Exwood said: “We were pleased with the dialogue we had with the Minister. The NFU is successfully driving home importance of British food and farming to government ahead of the forthcoming Brexit negotiations and trade deals.

“But there’s still much work to do on future policy.”

Brexit and the need for a new domestic agriculture policy dominated discussions between the farmers and the Minister.

The meeting was also attended by Environment Agency chief executive Sir James Bevan, West Sussex NFU chairman David Exwood, West Sussex NFU deputy chair Caroline Harriott and West Sussex NFU council delegate John Ford.

There were talks with the Environment Agency chief on Internal Drainage Boards.

Farming underpins the UK’s largest manufacturing industry food and drink - which is worth £108 billion and employs 3.9 million people.