Sir, Your leading article (“Farming Out”, May 11) lists the challenges a post-Brexit British agricultural industry will face. However, until we know what size of budget the next government has in mind for the industry, no one will know what kind of agricultural and rural policy we will be able to buy.
As I see it, there are clear priorities. We must invest, particularly in technology, to remain competitive against the subsidised sector that will remain within the EU. Our agriculture has to become fully sustainable. We must not lose our high levels of animal welfare and biodiversity gains achieved through our agri-environment schemes. Finally, access to current and new markets must be properly facilitated.
Achieving these objectives, while persuading the industry’s customers to pay