Farming focus

Time to flesh out future vision

THIS WEEKEND’S Countryside Live gathering, the now traditional Autumn celebration of Yorkshire agriculture, comes at a critical time for farmers. Not only is the Rural Payments Agency once again mishandling subsidy payments, but they’re still unclear on the full financial ramifications of Brexit and waiting to see whether Ministers are remotely capable of seizing the initiative and introducing even clearer labelling laws which champion British produce.

However it’s also important, if this county and country are to become more self-sufficient, that a new generation of farmers are nurtured. Yet, according to a new survey, existing subsidy arrangements are not always conducive to setting up new – and successful – farm businesses. The Government has a historic opportunity to invest in UK agriculture on its terms, and not those of the European Union, and it’s time for Ministers to flesh out a vision for the future at the very least.