To date, there remains little clarity on UK government thinking on the future for agriculture post-Brexit.

But that should change later this year when the government publishes a consultation on future farming policy. Notably, that policy is to be broken down into a consultation on farming and one for the environment, perhaps highlighting that Defra (the lead department in Westminster) puts an equal weighting on food production and green credentials.

Attendees at last week’s Oxford Farming Conference who went along expecting to hear the latest insight from government probably left disappointed. In her address, Defra secretary Andrea Leadsom gave little detail, batting away questions on specific policy areas, effectively telling those present that they will have to wait until the consultations are launched.

EU red tape

Where she did make some headlines was her promise that Brexit will bring with it a bonfire of EU red tape. She cited three examples – no more 6ft EU billboards put up when a business achieves EU funding, no more debate over what constitutes a hedge, a bush or a tree, and no more three-crop rule (greening requirement for arable growers). It was hardly inspirational thinking. In the next breath, the government is talking about improving the environment and higher animal welfare standards post-Brexit. The bonfire might not last too long.

What we do know is that farming policy is changing, and direct payments will end to be replaced by agri-environment type schemes and probably insurance/margin protection measures. It is also clear that while there will be some regional flexibility, the over-arching policy will be devised in London, not Belfast.

In all of this, what there must be is a transitional arrangement put in place, as the ending of direct payments overnight would have a dramatic negative effect on the wider agri-food sector. Therefore, for the industry here there is a major job of lobbying work to be done, and no doubt, that requires a functioning government at Stormont.