There has been a mixed response to the long-anticipated consultation paper published today, which is the pre-cursor to promised legislation that is required to manage the transition of the UK’s farming industry out of the EU and the Common Agricultural Policy.

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CLA President Tim Breitmeyer said: "We are up for change, we can do better than the existing EU farming policy. We can make our industry more productive and more profitable and we can deliver world-leading standards in animal welfare and environmental protection. But to do this we need certainty and time to plan. That is what we were promised and instead we have open questions, few decisions and no answers.

"In just over a year from now we will be leaving the EU. Love it or hate it, the EU has shaped the way we farm, provided most of our customers and been a source of vital income for thousands of businesses.

"Our businesses can thrive outside the EU but we need to make plans, to adapt where necessary, and to invest where possible. Government has a responsibility to provide clarity and as greater certainty as it is possible to give. We will be asking Ministers for urgent answers on when they will deliver this.

"The consultation sets out important areas where decisions are needed:  how can we manage an effective transition out of the current system, how long should it be? If money is to be removed, how much and from whom? Our message is that in the short-term, only money that is clearly necessary for transitional measures should be taken out of the system, and no business, no matter how wealthy its owners are perceived to be, should face sudden and dramatic cuts.

"In a few months the Government will bring forward legislation that will set the direction for the next generation of farming and land management. It has promised a bold vision for a profitable industry which can deliver environmental management, one we consistently have supported.  But it is the detail, not the words, that will define farming's future and this is still seriously lacking."

The Food & Drink Federation responded by saying:

“Sustainable food production must be at the heart of our new agricultural policy. UK manufacturers rely upon our farmers to provide them with a reliable source of raw materials and ingredients.

“Today’s consultation document is a welcome first step, highlighting some of the shared challenges across the food chain - whether that’s how we encourage more science graduates into our sector or boost our exports performance. 

“It is vital that future agricultural policy delivers for manufacturers, so we can continue to feed the nation in the way shoppers and consumers have come to enjoy and expect.

“In the immediacy, the ‘farm to fork’ supply chain requires certainty from Government, as our latest exports figures show, on future access to raw materials and key EU export markets.”

RSPCA Head of Public Affairs David Bowles said: “It’s really encouraging to see animal welfare playing such a significant role in the government’s proposed Agriculture Bill.

“We strongly believe farmers should be supported to improve animal welfare and we know it’s something the public cares passionately about too. This signifies a completely new era for agriculture and how we farm animals in England.

“The quality of the food we produce can become the world’s gold standard - but farm animal welfare is an essential ingredient to achieving that.  

“Around one thousand million animals are reared in the UK every year for meat, eggs and dairy products and evidence indicates that the majority are kept in ways that do not meet all their needs. This new bill has the potential to change that.

“Animal welfare improvements are not only important in their own right but can improve productivity and/or profitability for farmers.  In addition, post-CAP farm support targeted at animal welfare will also be good for consumers and of course for the animals.

“The Westminster government has committed to improving the current farm animal welfare standards post-Brexit.  Its acknowledgement that some sectors (such as sheep and dairy where the market is not providing adequate support towards higher welfare standards) will need help to achieve this goal, chimes with the RSPCA’s own views.”

NFU President Minette Batters said: "Good quality, safe and traceable food is a public right and we believe it is a public good for generations to come.  British farmers have world leading standards in food production, animal welfare and environmental stewardship and we are committed to delivering those standards now and in the future, in the face of unprecedented change for the industry.

"In order to keep delivering for Britain, farm businesses need to be productive, profitable and resilient to volatility.  This must be at the forefront of Government policy if we are to have a farming sector that feeds us, cares for our countryside and delivers economic benefits.

"While most British farmers would much rather farm without support, what we must be absolutely sure of is a level playing field. British farms cannot compete with others countries' agricultural goods on the global market if we are disadvantaged.

"It is vital that we don’t start overhauling parts of the current system which support farmers in providing a healthy and affordable supply of food, without tested and operational alternative programmes and measures in place. We will be consulting with our members as we pull together our response to this consultation in the coming weeks."

The NFU now plans to fully consult with its members in a series of regional meetings during the 10-week consultation period to put forward to Government a representative view of the consultation announced today”.

Meeting dates can be found on the NFU website.

Director of policy at the Game & Wildlife Trust & the Allerton Project, Alastair Leake has welcomed the proposal.

He said: “Across Europe politicians agree that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) needs reform. As the UK leaves the EU we have the exciting opportunity to lead the way on how this can be best achieved. Defra must be congratulated for starting an open consultation as we review our options, and early indications are positive. The GWCT supports the re-direction of payments to reward farmers, who manage over 70% of our countryside, for the work they carry out for the benefit of wildlife and the environment.”

Friends of the Earth farming campaigner Sandra Bell said:

“The environment must be at the heart of our future agriculture policy – public subsidies have been used to fund destructive food and farming practices for far too long.

“It’s great to see pesticide reduction, improving soil health, cutting climate change emissions and supporting wildlife in the government’s to do list. To deliver these in a way that reverses current damage will need adequate funding and bold ambition – including clear targets.

“Environmental measures need to be taken up across all farmed land - not just in isolated patches of good practice. A wholesale move towards farming with nature will make it more resilient to future challenges too.

“But a fresh approach to agriculture can’t work by itself. EU regulations that protect our environment must be maintained and enhanced – not sacrificed to cut red tape. And any new trade deals which undermine green standards or animal welfare must be rejected.”

NFU Scotland’s President Andrew McCornick said:

“It is the long-standing position of NFU Scotland that whilst a UK-wide regulatory framework will be important to retain integrity of the UK internal market and common standards, thereafter all elements of future agricultural policy must remain within the hands of the devolved administrations.

“We are therefore pleased that the UK Government’s consultation document commits to ensuring the right balance of commonality and flexibility for policies to diverge to meet the practical needs of the four parts of the UK.

“Whilst most of the measures proposed are for England-only, they are of significant interest as Scotland and the other devolved administrations develop their own suites of measures to support agriculture and land management after we leave the CAP.

“Of note are the possible timescales as the UK goes through an ‘implementation’ phase largely within the CAP ahead of an ‘agricultural transition’ when a new system will be phased in.

“The proposals to cap and eventually phase out direct payments in England runs counter to the real needs of significant sectors of the Scottish agricultural industry. NFU Scotland will look closely at these proposals amongst the other measures within the consultation paper and will respond in due course.

“And of real interest are the suggestions as to how recycled funding might be spent to deliver environmental benefits and drive productivity gains, whilst enhancing animal and plant health and building resilience in the face of increased volatility.  These themes are not at odds with NFU Scotland’s own thinking and the preliminary proposals that it has road-tested with members via its CHANGE discussion document.

“Over the coming weeks we will publish the next steps in our thinking, as more detailed proposals, and will seek work to with Scottish Government and other stakeholders to develop the right future support settlement for Scotland after Brexit.”

Tomas Pietrangeli, Managing Director of Arla Foods UK, said:

“Today’s announcement provides welcome clarity for our farmer owners as to how the Government sees the future of agriculture in this country. We are pleased to see that the Environment Secretary intends to involve the industry in the process through consultation.

“Arla has long been calling for the new agricultural policy to act as a catalyst for investment in a sustainable future for the dairy industry. We also support a separate transition period for agriculture after Brexit, the protection of the UK’s frictionless trade with the EU and the maintenance of its gold standard framework on animal welfare and food standards. We’re therefore pleased to see that these recommendations are reflected in the Government’s plans.

“Arla is already in consultation with its farmer owners over how today’s announcement will affect them. We look forward to continuing to engage with Government and policymakers as we work towards the future of agriculture in the UK.”

Dairy UK said they.." have long advocated that the seismic shift Brexit will create will bring with it opportunities we should be prepared to take advantage of. Any new agricultural policy that incentivises farmers for improving animal welfare, environmental standards and that promotes efficiency is for us, a positive step towards the successful dairy industry of the future.

“However, the Government must ensure that following this consultation, urgent questions on the future of farming are addressed. We broadly support the move to phase out the direct payments, so long as assurances are given that these funds be ring-fenced for the purpose of agriculture and invested to improve and maintain the competitiveness of UK dairy farms against their European neighbours.

“As an industry we need clarity from the Government on how the policies of the devolved administrations will work alongside each other, to ensure a common framework that does not distort domestic trade. We’re happy to see that the consultation recognises the importance of dealing with the border issues between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“We look forward to contributing to this consultation and working with Defra, and to shaping the future of farming post-Brexit”.