The debate over future UK Agriculture Policy has started in earnest. It is right that the industry as a whole, including the agricultural supply trade, should labour long and hard to get it right, particularly as there are those that cry up the opportunity to abolish those dreadful direct payments - subsidies - given to farmers. There is no doubt that direct payments to farmers merit close, not to say forensic examination, in order to determine their worth to the UK economy. Not just direct paymentsreportedly in excess of ￡1 million but smaller amounts need equal justification. Brexit means that the EU institution known as the Common Agricultural Policy is, as it were, 'up for grabs'. It was known as 'Common' because it had to take into account the individual priorities and peculiarities of an increasing number of increasingly agriculturally diverse member states. Brexit means that, for the first time in many years, the UK can devise an agricultural framework oriented to the specific requirements and characteristics of the UK. Roger Dean has been looking at the background -and the options.
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