Big changes ahead for farmers as poll begins

The National Farmers’ Union, based in Petersfield, will launch farming’s most significant consultation over the impact of Brexit on agriculture and what a domestic farming policy should look like in the future outside the EU.

At an extraordinary council meeting, NFU President Meurig Raymond said the government must not ignore the economic importance of the farming sector, which employs 3.9m people.

He said: ‘NFU Council has agreed the principles of a domestic farming policy which will now form the basis of the biggest farming consultation in England and Wales for a generation.

‘Currently there are lots of uncertainties for farming – trade agreements, labour, financial support, legislation are all up in the air – but the NFU is committed to providing this industry with leadership.’