Given that there was so much at stake as the industry stared down the barrel of a No Deal Brexit, the whole event was conducted in a surprisingly cordial manner with none of the anger of vitriol that is usually witnessed at such events.
That’s not to say that the industry’s fears and frustrations were not communicated loud and clear to the panel. President Minette Batters was crystal clear when she said allowing No Deal to happen would be a dereliction of duty unprecedented in modern times.
She said: “We have to leave in an orderly manner. Make no mistake the US has its eyes on our market and that is a huge threat. Trust needs restoring in the Government and its willingness to protect our industry. We need a Government prepared to work alongside us.
An advocate for Brexit in any form, NFU Lancashire County Chairman Olly Harrison accepted that markets for his wheat were looking shaky and that the price he receives has the potential to drop, in the near future, significantly.
However, an entrepreneur, and to his credit, he asked a proactive question about if the Minister would seriously consider allowing E10 fuel. This, he argued, would create an alternative outlet for his grain and its introduction would also help the environment as Mr Harrison believes increasing the amount of ethanol in the fuel would be the equivalent of taking 700,000 cars off the road.
Unfortunately, the Minister was unaware of what E10 is and quickly said she’d bring the issue up with the transport secretary.
The Secretary of State said: “If there is a stronger case for moving towards ethanol because the cereals market is depressed after Brexit then this Government will consider it.”
Most years, one of the three main political parties holds a conference in our region, and every year the NFU fringe event is attended by agriculture students from Myerscough thanks to the dedication of Senior Lecturer and Researcher Anya Westland and Head of Agriculture and Countryside Craig Thompson.
This year was no exception with student Matthew McClymont asking the panel: “I don’t understand how hope can be offered with no tariff imports and deals like the Mercosur deal with South America on beef that the EU has struck. How can hope be offered to British farmers when we have no protection from zero tariff imports?”
NFU President quickly waded in offering the politicians on the panel a simple solution.
She said: “We have young people like Matthew wanting to enter farming and there is one important thing you can do for them. Give them a level playing field to compete upon.”
And on the subject of support for the industry if the UK is to crash out of the EU without a deal, Minette also got straight to the crux of the issue.
She said: “Farmers don’t want support. They want access to the market and the NFU is going to turn up the volume in this debate.”
Reaction from NFU North West members following the fringe event:
John Geldard of Low Foulshaw Farm in Kendal
“Talking about legislation that would force stock to be taken to the closest abattoir is recognition that the Secretary of State is ill informed about the livestock industry. We have a responsibility to show the Secretary of State reality.”
Tom Rigby of Johnsons Farm in Warrington
“Minette is doing a brilliant job of holding Defra to account and Neil Parish is a good friend to farmers. The organic sector is taking a big hit because of Brexit. We need a deal to be in place or just stay.”
Jonathan Hewitt of Red House Farm in Altrincham
“The NFU is leading the industry and is trying its hardest to get a better deal for farming from the heart of government. Minette continually drives home the message to politicians about what’s required if we’re to have a positive future.”
Mike Packham of Docker Hall in Kendal
“After what I’ve heard tonight I have very little confidence. As an industry we are looking at the introduction of an environment bill rather than a food production one. The Government should not listen to the environmental lobbyists as much as they appear to.”
Daniel Cottam – A third year Agriculture Degree student at Myerscough College
“I don’t think a No Deal Brexit would be a disaster. Being in the red with regards to climate change has pressurised the industry into doing better, especially with the NFU’s aspirations of agriculture being carbon zero by 2040. Perhaps we’ll respond just as well to the pressures of Brexit.”
Roger Bainbridge of Ullathorns in Kirkby Lonsdale
“We have spent all evening talking about tariffs and the Government’s desire to keep food cheap yet there has never been a time in our history when we have spent so little of our wages on food. Our priorities are all wrong. The percentage of disposable income spent on food needs to rise.”