Farmers in the Harrogate district have expressed fears for their future as the industry prepares for its biggest shake-up in almost 50 years.
The government confirmed this week farmers will lose 50 per cent of the support payments they receive from the European Union by 2024.
George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, said the government’s new system, named Environmental Land Management, will pay farmers if they prevent floods, plant woods and help wildlife.
But details of replacement support payments when the post-Brexit transition period ends on 31 December remain unclear.
Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society
Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the farming charity that organises the Great Yorkshire Show, said:
“It has been clear for some time that the current system of support payments will change, but there remains real anxiety about what the government’s future agricultural policy will mean for family farming businesses and livelihoods.
“Many farmers stand willing to embrace the changes ahead, however a lack of practical detail about how new support arrangements will work for farm businesses continues to make it difficult to plan for the future.”
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Mr Pulling added the society “will continue to support the farming community throughout the forthcoming transition” by “offering opportunities for skills development and knowledge exchange” and by promoting agriculture.
Sheep farmers are expected to be among the worst hit if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
The EU is the UK’s biggest export market for lamb: 90% of all lamb exports go to the EU so the industry could be devastated by tariffs.
This could have severe implications for sheep farmers in the district.
Beckwithshaw farmer David Wilson, chair of the Dalesbred Sheep Breeders Association, said many farmers could go out of business if the situation was not resolved.
Mr Wilson, whose son is the fifth generation of the family farming business, said:
“The future of farming is at stake. We just don’t know what is going to happen. We don’t know if we are coming or going.”
