A farmer in Keswick has voiced his “disappointment” over a new landmark Agriculture Bill to provide the legislative framework for the replacement of the industry support schemes which is on target to pass through Parliament by the summer.
The bill will provide a range of powers to implement new approaches to farm payments and land management. In England, farmers will be paid to produce “public goods” such as environmental or animal welfare improvements.
However, Will Cockbain of Rakefoot Farm, told the Keswick Reminder: “I am disappointed that an amendment to the bill, which would have meant food imports being subjected to the same high standards of production as British farmers, was defeated during a debate. British farmers have worked tirelessly to drive up standards of production in terms of animal welfare, environmental sustainability and food safety over recent years.”
Concerns about antibiotic use has led to a 53 per cent reduction in use by UK farmers between 2014 and 2018 and the carbon footprint of UK farming is approximately two and a half times lower than the global average.
“For the Government to keep saying that it has no intentions of lowering British farming standards is missing the point, any new farming scheme domestically may well reward public goods and animal welfare in the future although we are still a very long way from seeing the detail of that scheme. But if imported food does not have to meet the same standards it is a betrayal of British farmers and the high standards we have,” said Mr Cockbain, who is also chairman of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association
He has no doubt that food safety standards will be maintained, but says the Government must not confuse consumers with food safety and animal welfare or environmentally sustainable production. “Food can be safe without high standards of animal welfare or environmental sustainability. The much-publicised chlorine washed chicken is I am sure very safe, it is the fact that it has been produced in such a way it requires chlorine washing that is the issue,” he added.
TV chef Jamie Oliver has thrown his support behind a petition to change the Government’s mind on this issue, which within a few days of its launch has more than a million signatures.
Keswick’s Conservative MP Trudy Harrison reaffirmed her support for the bill. She said: “Having left the EU, I am delighted that we can take back control of our agricultural policy and fund our own farm payments domestically. I welcome the opportunities to move towards a new system that rewards farmers for enhancing the environment and producing their food in a sustainable way that arises from leaving the Common Agriculture Policy.”
However the newly elected Penrith and the Border MP Neil Hudson, also a Conservative, voted against the Government and for the amendment, which would have maintained British food and animal welfare standards for future trade deals and imports.
