News

United voice and less hypocrisy key to vibrant UK grains sector

United Kingdom
Published Jan 20, 2021

Tridge summary

A common voice on future policy and eliminating the hypocrisy on grain standards will be key to a vibrant UK grains sector post-Brexit, according to NFU president Minette Batters.

Original content

After four years of wrangling, the prospect of the UK crashing out the EU with no-deal was finally taken off the table on Christmas eve, as the two parties agreed a tariff- and quota-free trade deal. It was a major relief for UK farming, with most sectors – including grain production – relying on frictionless trade with the bloc of 27 European countries for profitable exports. Speaking at the first virtual Association of Independent Crop Consultants (AICC) annual technical event last week, NFU president Minette Batters told over 200 delegates that getting a deal was essential in protecting these market opportunities. And while the deal isn’t perfect – AHDB estimate that producers will have to contend with 4-8% addition export costs – it avoided the immediate disaster that some predicted if negotiations failed. Throughout the Brexit process, Ms Batters said agriculture managed to get its voice heard effectively, not only influencing the trade deal, but also the recent Agriculture ...
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