Climate change dilemma for farmers

Farming accounts for around 9 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, well in excess of its share of GDP. It produces three gases particularly damaging to the climate: nitrous oxide from fertilisers; methane from livestock and carbon dioxide from fuel for machinery such as combine harvesters.

56 per cent of the roughly 49m tonnes of CO2 equivalent emitted annually comes from methane. N20 accounts for a further 33 per cent and CO2 11 per cent.

In the midst of Brexit uncertainty, farmers consider that they are ill prepared to change their practices to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Building enclosed storage for manure to stop methane from escaping could be expensive. Changing cows' diet by adding different proteins and minerals to the feed may offer a better way forward. Arla Foods claim to have secured a 30 per cent reduction in methane emissions through this route.

There is clearly something of a policy vacuum which the new secretary of state could try to fill.

Farmers concerned about lack of Defra continuity

The lack of ministerial continuity at Defra following the replacement of Michael Gove by Theresa Villiers concerns farming leaders: Farming reaction

She is the sixth Defra secretary of state since 2010.

Michael Gove had a very clear agenda in terms of emphasising public goods and environmental benefits in future payments to farmers. Whether Theresa Villiers will continue with this agenda remains to be seen.

Farmers have, however, welcomed the appointment of Norfolk MP Liz Truss, a former Defra minister, to the post of international trade secretary.

Therese Coffey, the MP for Suffolk Coastal, has been promoted to minister of state in the department.

Blueprint for Britain's farming future

The Royal Society of Arts Food, Farming and Countryside Commission has published a report on the future of agriculture in the UK: Our Future in the Land

The report argues, 'Decades of policy to produce ever cheaper food has created perverse and detrimental consequences. Farm gate prices are low; and whilst food in the supermarkets is getting cheaper, the true cost of that policy is simply passed off elsewhere in society – in a degraded environment, spiraling ill-health and impoverished high streets. The UK has the third cheapest food amongst developed countries, but the highest food insecurity in Europe.'

Among the recommendations are:

• 1. Designing and implementing a ten-year transition plan for sustainable, agroecological farming by 2030
• 2. Backing innovation by farmers to unleash a fourth agricultural revolution
• 3. Making sure every farmer can get trusted, independent advice by training a cadre of peer mentors and farmer support networks
• 4. Boosting cooperation and collaboration by extending support for Producer Organisations to all sectors
• 5. Establishing a National Agroecology Development Bank to accelerate a fair and sustainable transition.

Direct payments to farmers would be retained at one-third of current value. In addition, farmers would be incentivised to follow agroecological principles including planting trees, creating and restoring habitat corridors and natural grassland restoration. The report does not contain any recommendations of the value of these payments for delivering environmental measures. This is always the difficulty with such proposals.

Hunt's £6bn handout is not what is needed

Prime ministerial candidate Jeremy Hunt has promised £6bn to help farmers, the food industry and fishermen with the consequences of a no deal Brexit. However, farmers would much rather compete on a tariff free market and food processors would rather not have to face more complicated customs declarations. Continuity in trading relationships not compensation is the way forward.

Of course, Jeremy Hunt would say that he prefers an orderly exit with a deal, but we are in a danger of talking ourselves into a no deal Brexit.

Meanwhile, after two decades of negotiations, the EU has concluded a trade deal with Mercosur. Farm organisations are complaining that the interests of their members have been sold down the river so that other sectors can benefit and certainly agri-business interests in Brazil are celebrating.

However, the broader point is that the UK on its own will find it more difficult to secure a good deal with the likes of Mercorsur.