Looking after the environment, supporting innovation, improving productivity and investing in the next generation of young farmers is crucial in the expected Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) overhaul post 2022, said agricultural experts speaking at the Three Counties Farming Conference.

They consider it likely that subsidies will have to be earned in Michael Gove’s vision for a 'green Brexit'.

New Zealand special agricultural trade envoy, Mike Petersen, was positive about the future. “The UK should learn lessons from New Zealand, but the two are extremely different. New Zealand was ‘broke’, and subsidies were removed overnight, but when I talk to New Zealand farmers nobody wants to go back to where we were pre-1985. The opportunity for UK farmers to thrive is significant. Countries will want to trade with the UK, but strong farm leadership is vital.”

Former environmental secretary, the Rt Hon Owen Paterson indicated the CAP reform would include a reward based system. “Ceasing production subsidies would bring many benefits to consumers and producers. It does not mean stopping financial support for farmers; it could even mean increasing support by adopting practices similar to those in Switzerland, rewarding farmers for the environmental and public goods they provide.”

Country Land & Business Association deputy president, Tim Breitmeyer, said: “You can’t justify giving people money just because they own land, they have to do good. We need investment under a new contractual relationship, with the same level of subsidy, but we need to reward farmers for investing in the countryside and employing good environmental practices.”

Meurig Raymond, NFU president said: “While I’m not going to stand here and demand we have the same £3.2 billion funding post 2022, we must not be disadvantaged to EU competitors. Here’s a sobering thought: when you subtract the diversified farm income farmers have earned, 85% of what is left of the farm income is delivered through farm support. Uncertainty is paralysing for UK farmers, and we need a transitional free-trade deal with Europe to see us through this period.”

The Three Counties Farming Conference, in association with Bruton Knowles, was chaired by farmer and BBC Countryfile presenter, Adam Henson, who fielded questions to the panel for an hour after the speakers made their cases.

The next Three Counties Farming Conference takes place on 15 November 2018.