Doubt was cast over the government’s ability to support farmers post-Brexit as agricultural ministers from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales fielded questions from delegates at the Oxford Farming Conference.
Scotland’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister Calum Kerr called on Defra to give reassurances to British farmers and talk more openly about the level of income they can expect in support payments beyond 2020 – until when Westminster has guaranteed the continuation of farming subsidies at current EU levels.
In a candid press conference following a panel discussion at the annual event in Oxford, the Scottish minister expressed concern that Defra does not have “a strong enough voice” in cabinet to attract sufficient government investment in agriculture. Subsidies are a particularly important source of income for Scottish farmers who derive two thirds of their income through EU farming subsidies.
“The treasury decides where the money goes and it is the treasury that is a threat to UK farming,” Kerr said. “What Andrea Leadsom needs to explain, given that she has previously argued against farm support, is how she would change their mind.” The SNP minister was referring to a 2007 blog post by Leadsom, in which she wrote “subsidies must be abolished”.
Similar concerns were shared by delegates at the conference, none of whom – except farming minister George Eustice – raised their hand when asked if they were confident the government has the right resources as it prepares for Brexit.
When pressed for details and commitments on farming subsidies, both Secretary of State Andrea Leadsom and Eustice were unable to comment on “specific policy details”. However, Eustice was clear that he would like to move to a different funding system with no direct payments and no notion of Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 subsidies, which he dismissed as “EU definitions, which don’t really mean anything”.
“Rather than saying: ‘Here’s a subsidy and here’s a list of environmental demands we have of you’, we should be saying to farmers: ‘You have a role to play to enhance our agricultural environment; we’re going to reward you for the services you offer.’ It’s about how we reward and support farmers,” Eustice said.
In their current form, support payments can also lead to increased rents and higher costs for farm inputs, according to the minister.
Also up for discussion at the conference was the impact Brexit will have on the devolution of powers in agriculture. Welsh environment and rural affairs secretary Lesley Griffiths said she wants to see a distinct Welsh agricultural policy, with no “rowing back on devolution”, but she stressed the need to work in partnership with Westminster and the other devolved governments to get the best deal possible post-Brexit.
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