Defra Secretary Michael Gove has met with over 40 farmers in Nottinghamshire to ask about the future of the farming industry once the UK leaves the EU.
Mr Gove was speaking at Starkey’s Fruit Farms, Southwell in Nottinghamshire. The event was organised by by local MPs Robert Jenrick and Mark Spencer.
Around 40 farmers, growers and rural businesses attended the meeting.
Questions asked ranged from the UK's alternative to CAP, TB testing, maintaining food standards and the risk of cheaper imports, and cattle movement rules.
Mr Gove said he wanted to better understand what farmers wanted in a post-Brexit landscape.
He said: “We are going to leave the EU and we are going to see change and I want to see a deal that works for British farmers.
“There are some opportunities there, but obviously we have got to make sure we get some big decisions right.
“I want to ensure that British farms are producing more, growing more and selling more, and farming is in a better state than what I inherited.”
'Very generous offer'
Mr Gove was asked about the future of EU migrants post-Brexit.
It comes as news that the number of seasonal workers coming to work on British farms has dropped 17%, leaving farms 'critically short' of people to harvest fruit and veg, a survey by the National Farmers' Union shows.
And a recent industry survey by British Summer Fruits showed that prices could soar by 50% if the UK cannot gain access to EU workers after Brexit.
He said: “The Prime Minister has made a very generous offer to EU citizens and EU nationals that we want to ensure everyone who has been here for five years gets the right to stay in the UK and everyone who has been here for less than five years can apply to stay in the UK.
“I think that is a very generous offer, and the heads of various European states have welcomed that offer.”
The Prime Minister has unveiled proposals for EU nationals who have lived in the UK for five years by a specific cut-off date to be given the chance to take up 'UK settled status’.
'Farming is a big part'
Mr Gove was asked about the Conservative Party's relationship with the DUP, and whether their alliance will push farming to the back of priorities.
Mr Gove said: “One of the interesting things about the arrangement with the DUP is that farming is a big part of it.
“Of course, over the next few years we’ll have an opportunity to ensure that money is spent more widely.”
The movement of goods and access to labour across the Irish border after Brexit are 'key concerns' for farmers on the island of Ireland, according to the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU).
The DUP manifesto says the party wants a "comprehensive free trade and customs agreement with the European Union."
The DUP say they are a 'friend of the farmer and of natural heritage'.
Michael Gove concluded: “Brexit is a good opportunity for us to provide access to world markets for farmers in Nottinghamshire.”
