One of the major challenges over the coming months is to come up with a future policy after Brexit that supports productive farming.

The starting point is probably for industry to convince government that productive farming is actually worth supporting. At present, everything is pointing towards future support being targeted at agri-environment schemes, which while potentially important in sustaining more marginal rural areas into the future, are unlikely to provide much support to those on more productive land. Farm lobby organisations have a job on their hands to remind government about the importance of having a secure local food supply now and into the future.

Assuming that government does recognise that, the next task is to define what productive farming actually is. It is not necessarily about asking farmers to produce more output, as that invariably leads to more work and lower prices. What it is about is producing efficiently, which means the same output, but obtained from less inputs. That has a knock-on benefit for the environment, while also lowering costs for farmers.

So how can productive farmers actually be supported, if we assume that direct payments will end (or reduce to a low level) after 2024? A return of agricultural buildings allowances would be a good start. Or perhaps tax incentives to encourage the longer-term leasing of land, which should help get land to those who actually want to farm.

In addition, continued investment is required in independent production-based research and in technology transfer to farmers. Government also has a role in limiting the threat from animal disease, and ensuring the potential from animal and plant genetics is fully maximised.

All that said, there are still a number of sectors that will be particularly vulnerable without direct payments. In particular, the suckler to beef sector, especially in lowland areas.

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Future agriculture policy in our hands