Farmer says '˜wait and see' to Brexit impact

A prominent farmer has said the agricultural community will have to bide its time before the impact of Brexit becomes clear.

Following yesterday’s historic decision for Britain to leave the EU, Trevor Passmore discussed the potential outcomes for farmers.

Mr Passmore, 66, of Coombes, runs a farm which breeds sheep and cattle. He said he would have to wait and see what the outcome of Brexit would be for the farming community.

“At the moment we get EU subsidies but they are pretty well set by the government of the day. The idea was to freeze out some of these anyway.

“We’re just going to have to wait and see what government is in power in five or 10 years time and how much support we’re going to get.”

This echoes the stance adopted by the National Farmers’ Union, which backed neither the Leave nor Remain campaigns in the run-up to the referendum.

The EU currently spends more than 40 per cent of its budget supporting agriculture.