With Britain voting to leave the European Union last month how will the UK’s farming industry, which relies heavily upon EU money, be affected?

Subsidies

As one of the biggest buyers of British wool, Standard Wool UK is keen for the government to support the country’s farming industry which will no doubt be negatively affected without EU support.

Annually, farmers receive more than £2bn a year in subsidies from Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy, they also export large amounts of produce to the EU and hire seasonal labour from abroad. The ‘Leave Campaign’ promised to protect the £2bn should Britain leave the EU.

Three concerns have been raised by farmers following the referendum result:

• Access to the European market (farmers export 38% of UK lamb and three million tonnes of grain per year)
• Exports could be hit with tariffs
• Availability of labour

Commitment

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Meurig Raymond told thetelegraphandargus.co.uk: “The NFU will engage fully and constructively with the British government to construct new arrangements. This needs to happen as soon as possible.

“Our members will rightly want to know the impact on their businesses as a matter of urgency.

“We understand that the negotiations will take some time to deliver but it is vital that there is an early commitment to ensure British farming is not disadvantaged.

“It is vital that British farming is profitable and remains competitive, it is the bedrock of the food industry – Britain’s largest manufacturing sector,” he said.

Counter

Interestingly, Dairy Farmer Malcolm Fewster told thetelegraphandargus.co.uk that he voted to leave because of the principle of having a self-governing country and being able to make our own decisions.

However, he did concede that leaving the EU may prove costly for some farmers.

“Europe is a massive advocate of agricultural subsidies with billions going into common agricultural policy, but we contribute far much more into the pot than we get back,” says Malcolm.

He added: “As far as trade and things I think trade will be fine with Europe. I cannot see that they would cut their nose off to spite their face.”

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