Post-Brexit agriculture debated

The outlook for agriculture once the UK leaves Europe was debated at the Oxford Farming Conference’s first event in Scotland at the Royal Highland Show.

The debate examined the motion, This house believes UK agriculture will thrive outwith the European Union.

Opening the session, NFUS president Andrew McCornick said: “We have to thrive outside the EU because it’s something that’s coming in our direction.

“We are not going to pick our farms up and pick our crofts up and move them away. We have to change our mindset.”

He called on all farmers and crofters to get a copy of the union’s discussion document, Change – A New Agricultural Policy for Scotland Post-Brexit.

He said it highlighted the importance of the sector to the rural economy and why it needed continued support.

Next up, Perthshire beef and sheep farmer Jim Fairlie said there was scope for the farming industry to piggy back on the success of the Scotch Whisky industry.

However he sounded a warning over the current political framework and said he did not trust the Westminster Government.

He said: “Our biggest challenge is making sure we are still looked after post-Brexit.”

The chief executive of LEAF, which organises Open Farm Sunday, Caroline Drummond said: “I believe we will thrive because we have to.

“There is a great opportunity to co-construct with stakeholders a rural package that creates a much more united approach.”

Former Lib Dem MEP George Lyon said farmers should expect a transitional arrangement for subsidies and regulations until new deals are agreed and said the prospect of a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland should be the impetus for a good trade deal to be struck between the UK and Europe.