Brexit special: How leaving the EU will hit arable farms

The regulations governing plant protection products are likely to be ‘lifted and shifted’ as part of ‘The Great Repeal Bill’, according to AHDB’s Horizon report ‘What will happen to plant health and plant protection product regulations after Brexit?’

Following this, change is possible and the industry needs to think ahead regarding what it wants and needs to compete effectively in a changing global trading environment, as well as satisfying consumer preferences in a domestic market, says the report.

Burden

It may transpire the regulatory burden might not be reduced as much as farmers might hope and, in any event, this would probably take a number of years to achieve.

It is also likely the environmental, conservation, consumer and public health lobbies will continue to be influential and exert pressure for more stringent regulation of agriculture and plant protection products in particular.

Achieving the right balance between regulation and productivity in all areas is an age-old challenge and this is no less true of the position the country finds itself in now, it concludes.

Speaking at BP2017 Sharon Hall of the Potato Processors’ Association says: “Regarding plant protection products, we ask the Government to ensure there is a level playing field with the EU as a minimum.

"We want the UK to have access to the same plant protection products as the EU as a minimum. We also ask Government not to gold plate standards compared with the rest of Europe which would weaken the UK and make it less competitive.”

In all scenarios, farm businesses in the top 25 per cent of performers remain viable post-Brexit, regardless of size or sector, says AHDB.

It says:

• Use tools, such as by benchmarking, to know your relative performance
• Pursue practical ways of improving output and containing costs
• High performance is not necessarily associated with larger farms

1) Evolution

• Free Trade Agreement made with the EU
• Agriculture support, labour costs and regulation unchanged

2) Unilateral Liberalisation

• No trade deal with EU, but UK unilaterally lowers all tariffs to zero
• 50 per cent reduction in agricultural support
• Permanent labour costs rise

3) Fortress Britain

• No deal with EU
• WTO tariffs apply
• 75 per cent reduction in agriculture support
• Labour (permanent and seasonal) costs rise