Video: Farmers give thumbs up to sector’s future

Farmers are feeling positive about the future of the industry, despite the uncertainty created by Brexit, according to a straw poll at the NFU conference.

All of those that Farmers Weekly asked gave a thumbs up to the sector’s future.  

The dairy industry’s emergence from crisis and the shake-up that Brexit will bring were the main reasons people said they felt positive.

However, keeping hold of British standards and preventing cheap imports, was also important, said farmers.

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Andrew Griffiths, a dairy producer from Cheshire, said long-term Brexit would allow UK farming to stand on its own two feet better, although it would be tough to start with.

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Michael Oakes, dairy farmer and NFU dairy board chairman, said he felt positive now that dairy prices were starting to improve. 

Drew Coppinger, a Shropshire calf rearer and the agricultural innovation manager at 2 Sisters, said he felt positive about Brexit but it was important the UK maintained its high food production standards.