The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has outlined a possible post-Brexit agricultural policy.

The Association has issued a draft agricultural policy, which it hopes will frame policy discussions in the case of a Brexit vote at the EU Referendum in June. TFA Chief Executive George Dunn said, “The opinion of the Tenant Farmers Association is that without a credible plan for what a post-EU Britain would look like, it cannot advocate a vote to leave the EU.  However, we have promised our members that we will keep this under review as new information becomes available in advance of the Referendum”.

Defra secretary Liz Truss is backing her party leadership and supporting the remain vote ahead of the June referendum. The government has released very few details of what farming policy could be expected to look like in the event of a vote to leave, though rebel farming minister George Eustice, who is backing the leave campaign, has given his views.

Speaking at a leave event last month, Eustice said farmers in an independent Britain could expect to receive more than they currently do from the government. Eustice claimed the vast majority of regulation affecting Defra comes from the EU, and said he would like to see the introduction of an environmental stewardship-style scheme (only simpler and with a broader remit) to improve animal welfare and wildlife habitats.  

However, speaking to Farming Online in February, Trinity College, Dublin’s Professor of European Agricultural Policy Alan Matthews pointed out that, whilst some form of farm support could be expected from the government if Britain leaves the EU, anti-EU voices who have promised to maintain or increase farm spending are not in positions of power within the UK. Several prominent voices have pointed out that successive UK governments, of different political hues, have sought to cut EU farm payments, and so promises of high payments in an  independent Britain, along the lines of Norway and Switzerland, are unlikely to materialise.

Possible farm policy

Commenting on the release of the policy on Monday, TFA’s George Dunn said, “Sadly, whilst there has been significant amounts of rhetoric, soundbites, claim and counterclaim from both sides of the campaign this has provided rather more heat than light.  The TFA has therefore decided to publish a draft, post-EU agricultural policy for consultation to assist the debate and in the hope that there will be a better level of analysis of the impact on UK agriculture of either a vote to cease to be or remain a member of the EU.”

The draft policy, which can be accessed here, includes moves to reduce reliance on imports of foods that can be produced in Britain, a preservation of farm support funding, and better delivery of public goods from landscape  management,  biodiversity enhancement and public access.

In its policy document, TFA said more effort should be put into making consumers aware of the difference in welfare and environmental standards between meat produced in the UK and that produced elsewhere. The Association’s document also notes that “The current structure of food marketing takes too much of a short-term approach to this issue [of domestic food policy] and feels that there needs to be a more adequate expression of the Government policy towards food security in the long term.”

Amongst its 14 main asks, TFA wants to see:

• The Groceries Adjudicator given more power and for the office’s remit to extend across the supply chain, not just for direct suppliers of major retailers,
• Moves to require public food procurement policies to favour British produce and mandatory country of origin labelling,
• An assurance from government that free or favourable market access to the UK food market will not be used to lever favourable trade deals in other areas such as financial services,
• The farm support budget maintained at the current level of £3bn,
• Domestic promotion of foods produced in Britain,
• A new £1bn Farm Business Development Scheme, to allow farms to grow and diversify,
• A new £1bn agri-environment scheme, with options for upland farmers,
• Longer and more sustainable farm tenancies.

On Monday, Dunn added, “As I travel around the country, many farmers in their heart of hearts would like to see Britain leave the EU. They find it attractive to consider a future of self-determination, of clear policies which would deliver a vibrant and prosperous agricultural industry, resilient against volatility and proudly supported by our own Government.  

“However, they simply do not trust that British politicians would ever deliver such a vision and are therefore more likely to vote to remain within the EU. Perhaps the choice to leave would be made easier if they knew that this would also lead to a change in Government to deliver a pre-agreed agricultural policy for Britain. However this is not on offer.”

Even with the uncertainty, and the official silence on potential government policy in the wake of an exit vote, Farming Online's latest poll results suggest more farmers are keen to leave the EU that hope to remain. However, according to the latest ORB/ Telegraph poll results, published last Monday, the ‘remain’ campaign appears to be increasing its lead, with 52% hoping for Britain to remain part of the EU, compared to 43% wishing to leave.

Mr Dunn said the TFA has published its policy asks on its website in the hope of starting debate around the kind of agriculture policy desired by farmers on both sides of the debate. The TFA Chief Executive explained, “The debate about our membership of the EU has got to be more than about subsidy payments.  We should be looking at many other areas including developing fairer supply chains, ensuring protection against inappropriate trading practices, creating a proper and progressive farming ladder and protecting the British brand.  The TFA’s draft policy addresses these and other areas.”

Asked for comment on TFA's policy document, A Defra spokesperson said, “The future of farming if we left the EU is unknown – leaving is a leap in the dark. What is clear is our food and farming industry will be better off in a reformed EU, with easy access to the world’s largest single market of 500 million consumers, which accounts for 60% of our food and drink exports worth £11 billion.

“This is the best free trade deal of all and brings significant investment and jobs to the UK, and means our businesses have a level playing field with common standards on welfare, safety and labelling. British farming will be stronger, safer and better off in a reformed European Union.”