A debate between 15 young and emerging industry leaders from across the UK pinpointed the top five issues as the UK prepares to leave the EU.

Trade

There is significant concern about both imports and exports in the agricultural sector. Cheaper imports could cripple certain areas whilst closing exports could also have a similar effect.

Labour

Whether it is poultry farm workers or abattoir staff, every food chain in the UK has become reliant on foreign labour to remain competitive. If this labour was to be cut off UK agriculture will struggle to compete.

Subsidy

Leaving the EU means leaving the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. This offers an opportunity to reduce the problems of the Single Farm Payment which has stifled innovation and locked land up on new farmers. However, there is an acceptance that that money will be reduced and that any schemes will need to be WTO-compliant. Furthermore, there is a drive to see increased support for green measures and increased animal welfare.

Regulation

There is massive pressure on the UK government to take a scythe to red tape. However, with market access a priority, it may make less of an impact than farmers had hoped. There is also a real concern that EU red tape could be replaced with UK green tape, to satisfy the strong domestic environmentalist lobby.

Improvement/research

Much of the UK’s research has been funded and influenced by the EU. Cutting these revenue streams is causing significant concern amongst the scientific community. However, if more farm incomes are to come from the market place, then focus will move to applying current science and knowledge transfer. The UK currently becomes 1% less self-sufficient in food with every year that passes, with productivity steadily declining since the 1980s, so there is lots of scope to do things differently.

Farmers are beginning to get their act together on their demands as the UK looks towards implementing Brexit. There is now a desire to see these demands delivered to politicians in a simple and crisp fashion. Then the industry needs to prepare to negotiate.

Listen to the reaction Meurig Raymond, president of Britain's National Farmers Union, in our podcast below:

Listen to "British NFU president on Brexit" on Spreaker.

Full coverage: Oxford Farming Conference

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Oxford Conference debate identifies five key points of Brexit for farmers

For delegates gathered at the Oxford Farming Conference, the hot topic is Brexit and how it will affect farmers. Scotland editor John Sleigh reports from Oxford University.