There were plenty of reassuring words on offer last week for the local agri-food industry when Defra Secretary of State, Michael Gove paid his second visit to Co Antrim in only a couple of months.

Following a meeting with senior industry representatives, and a visit to the Robson farm in Ballyclare, the Secretary of State was the main guest at a north Antrim DUP dinner in Ballymena on Thursday night.

He told the assembled audience that NI had “a special place in his heart” and that our interests will be defended around issues such as a frictionless Irish border, and access to labour after Brexit.

“I am conscious that in the room there are differences of opinion on Brexit, but one thing I can say with confidence is that, as we take decisions, the destiny of NI is in our decision making,” he claimed.

During his speech, he was clear that Brexit will happen, and that the agri-food industry can compete and succeed in the world after Brexit, so long as we don’t compromise on animal welfare or environmental standards. He talked about new and rapidly growing markets in south America and southeast Asia.

On a future trade deal with the remaining EU 27, he said that the aim was to secure a new arrangement. “We want to be the best of neighbours and the best of friends. But if there is no trade deal, those who suffer most will be in Europe, not the UK – the likes of beef farmers in the Republic of Ireland, wine producers in France and Spain, market gardeners in Holland. I am confident, with enlightened self-interest, we will get the right outcome,” he said.

With the UK and EU divided over the so-called Brexit bill, he predicted that it could be the end of the year before negotiators move on to talk about future trade.

He also touched on the future of farm support, recognising that upland farmers, in particular, need direct payments, and again giving an assurance to NI that money will be allocated based on current arrangements. “I hope to continue to divide it up (UK CAP money) as previously. Support to farmers will be at least as generous as we currently are, into the next parliament,” he said.

Conference

Back in July, the Defra Secretary set out his stall for a “green Brexit”, and while it wasn’t language he used in NI last week, at this week’s Tory party conference in Manchester he was back talking in those terms.

“The CAP has been a failure – environmentally damaging and socially unjust. It’s damaged natural habitats, hit biodiversity and harmed wildlife. Leaving the EU gives us the chance to secure a special prize – a Green Brexit,” he said.

He also talked about how leaving the EU means the UK can improve animal welfare, support more humane methods of farming and restrict the live export of animals.

However, perhaps most notable was his attack on the CAP for channelling money to wealthy landowners.

The point he missed was that there was an opportunity to put a limit on payments during the last reforms – across the UK regions, this only happened in NI (the Basic Payment Scheme, excluding greening, is limited to £150,000), although it was a largely symbolic gesture here.