Two young Devon farmers have told the South West Rural Productivity Commission about the challenges facing their businesses as Brexit nears.

Cathy Case, a livestock and cereal farmer from the South Hams, and Richard Tucker, a dairy farmer from Tiverton, spoke at the commission’s evidence session in Exeter.

Cathy said that a lack of broadband connectivity was causing problems for many rural businesses and that there also needed to be changes to the planning system to ‘future-proof’ businesses and make it easier for farms to diversify or provide accommodation for staff or family members.

She added that although Brexit would undoubtedly bring challenges there would also be opportunities for farm businesses to grow.

“We need to see this as a real opportunity because we are not self-sufficient in many commodities,” she said.

Richard said efficient succession planning was vital for bringing younger people into the industry and said there needed to be practical help for the next generation of farmers.

Food and farming is likely to be one of the sectors most affected by Brexit – and the South West’s economy is heavily reliant on it, with the landscape managed by farmers a key selling point for the two million or so overseas visitors who come to the region every year.

In economic terms the farming industry is worth £1.4 billion directly to the economy of the South West, supporting 27,300 jobs and 8,800 businesses. It also provides the raw materials for the food and drink sector, which is worth about £2.6 billion and employs around 60,000 people.

In its evidence to the Commission the NFU called for increased use of Enterprise Zones (such as Food) to enable business clustering and offer planning and rate relief, and for more fiscal incentives like increased capital allowances for farm buildings – out of date infrastructure is a key barrier to growth for the industry.

The NFU also emphasised the importance of taking a scientific, evidence-based approach to policy making, and providing education and training to make sure farmers have the skills needed to apply the latest agri-tech innovations to deliver sustainable, resilient and profitable agricultural practice.

The South West Rural Productivity Commission was established by four Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in the South West of England: The Heart of the South West (HotSW LEP), Dorset, Swindon & Wiltshire (SWLEP), and Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly (CIoS LEP).

Its aims include: finding opportunities for LEPs to drive rural productivity improvements; driving growth by finding the links between rural and urban economies; securing Government support in the 2017 autumn statement and influencing national and local policies to improve rural productivity.

Chaired by David Fursdon, who is also chair of the South West Rural and Farming Network, it is currently taking evidence from a range of rural businesses and will produce its final report by the end of July.