| News
Commitment needed to support UK
agriculture, regardless of Brexit outcome
With the referendum on Britain’s membership in the EU looming, the National Sheep Association (NSA) claims it is
impossible for farmers to make an objective decision on how to vote due to a major lack of detail on how the
Government would continue to support farming and food in the event of an exit.
he inability to give
long term
commitments is
perhaps
understandable,
but NSA believes
the current Government, at the
highest level, should give firm
T
indications of how farming and
food production would be treated
if the country was to vote to leave.
Phil Stocker, NSA Chief
Executive says: “Many people
directly involved in agriculture are
supportive of remaining in the EU
but, increasingly, I am talking to
08 | Farming Monthly | April 2016
sheep farmers who are somewhat
attracted to leaving, remembering
that the UK joined a common
market and not a ‘super state’.
However, the politicians running
the out campaign can only give a
personal opinion of what they
might like to see in terms of
investment and support for
farming and food, not solid
commitments.
“The farming industry needs
firm assurances to base their
decision on, not just opinion and
ideas. Defra is currently working
on its 25 Year Food and Farming
Plan, which NSA believes should
include a commitment to support
and nurture agriculture in order to
deliver that plan, with reference to
a future in and out of the EU. We
would like to see clear and
committed plans and intentions for
both options.
“Evidence over the last decade
or more suggests the Treasury
would reduce funding for
agriculture, even if there was an
While the farming vote overall
will be small, and outweighed
b