Opportunity knocks for industry if politicians strike right deal

FORTY-FOUR YEARS of European rule has loomed large over British farming and for some of the region’s farmers, a switch to laws on how they farm being made by politicians concerned only with domestic matters is a great cause for optimism.

A simplified administration of farming policy, strong export opportunities and access to labour are all high on agriculture’s Brexit wishlist.

Will Terry, pictured, a sheep farmer near Scarborough, said: “There is a huge opportunity to improve things from where we are. Getting back on a national basis and moving away from European rules, long term, will be a good thing. I can’t see a way of dreaming how agriculture in England can be the same as agriculture in Romania or Lithuania.”

Mr Terry, who is chairman of the regional board of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), added: “British farmers should be proud of the food they produce to one of the world’s highest standards and be confident we can market our materials to our own population and around the world, and hopefully that includes Europe.”

Under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, England’s Rural Payments Agency pays out more than £2bn a year to support the farming and food sector and a reduction in funding is expected under a new British agricultural policy.

Mr Terry said: “I can well see that the farm support from Europe is going to be smaller when it comes out of the UK Government, if it exists at all, but I am going to have to readjust the way I farm to deal with that.

“There’s a real mixture of some people wanting things to stay exactly the same as they are done today and others looking at innovative ideas of supporting the food sector, rather than farming directly.” As a sheep farmer, he fears being hit by 51 per cent trade tariffs for sheep meat under World Trade Organisation rules: “We could be looking at a cliff edge with sheep meat but I have to have trust and I have to be totally optimistic that people are going to do what benefits the UK as a whole.”

NFU regional director Adam Bedford said: “This is a big day for Yorkshire farmers, food producers and all those looking after our beautiful environment on a daily basis.

“There’s been a lot of talk about what happens once Article 50 is triggered – well, the work starts now to ensure that when we leave the EU local businesses across the supply chain can grow, thrive and focus on meeting the needs of local people.”

Dorothy Fairburn, regional director of the Country Land and Business Association, added: “Negotiating the best possible free trade deal for UK food and farming sector with the EU will be essential for the region.

“Outside the EU, new markets and opportunities also beckon and it will be important that our agri-food sector competes and trades on a level playing field.”