NFU president Minette Batters has warned that a no-deal Brexit could decimate farms across the UK.
Speaking at the National Farmer’s Union (NFU) conference in Birmingham, she warned UK Environment Secretary Michael Gove not to compromise UK food standards post-Brexit.
Leaving the EU without a deal would be a catastrophe
“In a recent radio interview you warned of the dangers of leaving the EU without a deal. You said 'winter is coming'.
“Well, for me as a farmer it’s starting to feel cold – almost Arctic,” Batters said.
“It’s absolutely shocking that farmers – and wider British businesses – are in this position. I make no apology for saying that leaving the EU without a deal would be a catastrophe for British farming.”
Batters criticised the government for leaving UK farmers in a situation where it was still not clear what terms of trade would be in operation post-Brexit.
“A no-deal Brexit could mean that there is no market for 4.5m lambs.
“Free and frictionless trade is essential,” Batters said.
Farm payments
In what appeared to be a direct reference to Gove’s public goods payment plan, Batters insisted that you “can’t live off the view”.
Batters said that more emphasis needs to be put on profitable food production that also delivers on environmental goals.
She urged the Secretary of State not to sell out on British food standards in any new trade deals post-Brexit and criticised him for not paying out farm payments on time last year after drought and hardship hit the farming community.
“What people really mean by ‘cheap’ imported food is, more often than not, food which would be illegal to produce here,” Batters said.
She said that the UK was currently 60% self-sufficient in food, a figure which had previously been 80% and that the UK has the capacity to increase its food production.