A report by Development Economics, and commissioned by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has highlighted that agriculture across Britain and NI delivers a return to the economy and wider society 7.4 times the value of the support it receives in direct payments.

The report authors looked at the output value of agriculture, the money spent on inputs and also included the recreational value of the countryside to the wider general public. The total value came to £46.5bn in 2015. Total costs, which include direct payments worth £2.8bn, came to £6.3bn.

Highlighting the main conclusion of the report on the first day of the NFU annual conference in Birmingham this week, NFU president Meurig Raymond put it directly to Defra Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsom that “money invested into farmers was money invested wisely”.

He said that government investments in Crossrail or HS2 are projected to give a return on investment of only 2:1. “Farming is good value for money,” he said.

During his opening address, Raymond focused on Brexit. He highlighted that his organisation wants continued unrestricted access to the European market, continued access to a competent and reliable workforce and a new agricultural policy that assists a productive, progressive and profitable farming sector.

Responding, Secretary of State Leadsom insisted that support for food and farming will continue after the UK leaves the EU. “I will fight your corner at every opportunity,” she said. On future trade with the EU, she said that the Government wants the best possible market access, with zero tariffs across Europe, and in relation to new trade deals, she said she was committed to ensuring a level playing field to our standards.

Immigration

On access to foreign workers, she pointed out that immigration was a key reason why people voted to leave, but that she would seek to establish what the industry needs.

Leadsom also used her speech to reinforce the importance the British government places on protecting the environment and on animal welfare, and how she wants British agriculture to lead from the front on reducing the amount of antibiotics used in livestock production.