A number of key themes emerged at the first of a series of meetings held in Armagh this week by the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) as it seeks to engage with members around the wider issue of Brexit.

Unsurprisingly, the strong message from the floor was that any future Government support for agriculture must be targeted at those who actually produce food. The concept of farmers working together in a formal producer organisation structure also found favour as did measures and schemes to make farming more efficient. However, perhaps the clearest message of all is that farmers would much prefer to get a fair return from the marketplace rather than rely on Government handouts.

The problem for the union leadership is that food prices would have to rise significantly to make up for the lost income from subsidies. That is a long-term process. In the meantime, they have little option but to argue that the government continues to put money into agriculture.

In his introductory remarks in Armagh on Monday night, UFU president Barclay Bell acknowledged that Government at Stormont get the importance of agriculture, but he said that the big fear is that the message will not get through at Westminster. “The four UK unions need to go in together with one message. Make no mistake, there are serious challenges in all of this,” he said.

Outlining some potential options for future Government support, UFU chief executive Wesley Aston suggested that there could be broader environmental payments open to all farmers, as well as some form of insurance-type scheme to mitigate against price volatility. Beyond that, there is the possible option of measures such as capital grants, support to young farmers, retirement schemes and selective agri-environment payments.

Trade deals

Ultimately, the type of support system required could be dictated by trade deals. The more open our trade borders, then farmers are more exposed to cheap imports. Perhaps then there is a greater argument to target support payments at UK farmers.

On existing EU rules and regulations, Aston also pointed out that these laws will be transposed into UK legislation once we leave the EU. There will then be a process to go through each regulation to make sure it is fit-for-purpose at a UK level. “Evolution not revolution – the rules are with us for the foreseeable future,” he said.

A series of follow-up meetings with members are due to take place in January 2017.