NFU North West members have taken their opportunity to speak up for farming’s future.

Their aim is to explain in detail Defra’s command paper ‘Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit’.

The paper is a once in a generation chance to ensure farming’s voice is heard.

To get a flavour of how farmers in Cumbria, Lancashire and Cheshire are reacting to the biggest farming consultation since 1947, a meeting was held at Junction 36 Auction Mart in Kendal.

The most heavily discussed issue was the phasing out of BPS (basic payment scheme).

Once Defra has the freedom to move away from the CAP rules it proposes that there will be an ‘agricultural transition’ period in England. During this period, direct payments (BPS) will continue. However, Defra is proposing to reduce and phase out direct payments completely in England by the end of this period.

John Geldard, of Low Foulshaw Farm in Levens, near Kendal, was passionate that a new agricultural policy in England should not be spoken of in terms of a reduction of money to farmers. He wants Defra to reword ‘reduction’ to ‘reallocation’.

Mr Geldard said: “We accept there is change required for the benefit of the public at large. This is an opportunity to make sure any money available goes directly through the farm gate to ensure productivity is increased for everyone’s benefit.”

The 50 strong audience of NFU members also pointed out that increasing productivity ought not to be a dirty phrase.

Will Case, of Plumpton Cottage Farm, Ulverston, said: “There is no conflict here. We need to persuade the people who hold the purse strings that investing in farm productivity brings with it significant environmental benefits.”