Brexit Hub

For too long, the CAP rewarded farmers for inefficiency, but new post-Brexit schemes should help farmers to improve profitability and embrace innovation, says John Henning, County Armagh beef farmer.

Though politicians are still talking about no deal as a serious prospect, behind the scenes, negotiators may be closer than ever to clinching a deal, says Jonathan Roberts, director of external affairs at the CLA.

If the Conservatives are not prepared to stand up for farmers now and protect them from low-standard imports, they should not expect rural votes when they come knocking for support at the next election, says Labour Shadow Defra Secretary Luke Pollard.

This month’s column takes the the form of an open letter to MP Lucy Frazer, who represents south east Cambridgeshire.

Hopes of getting the Government to reconsider its opposition to a low-standard import ban have been given a boost after the Future British Standards Coalition (FBSC) heard evidence that such controls would be compliant with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

The shadow Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) has said setting high UK import standards in trade deals can benefit developing countries both economically and environmentally.

In a choice between gold plating farm standards or leaving the door ajar to foreign trade deals, a majority of MPs came down on the side of the latter this week.

The ‘court of public opinion’ will force the Government’s hand on standards, president of NFU Scotland Andrew McCornick has said.

Farmers already do so much to preserve our countryside, and there is more they can do, but they must be given the tools they need by Government, says High Peak Conservative MP Robert Largan.

Farming is a resilient industry, but there is still much work to do on issues such as export certificates, trade deals and future policy to prepare us for Brexit, says Matt Legge, a sheep, beef and pig farmer from the Isle of Wight.