The National Farmers Union has re-iterated its desire to see the government to place British farming at the centre of its agricultural policy.

The government has published a future farming policy update, as the Agriculture Bill goes through the committee stage in the House of Commons.

At the same time it has released new details on its future Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELM), which will see farmers paid for work that enhances the environment, such as tree or hedge planting, river management to mitigate flooding, or creating or restoring habitats for wildlife

NFU President Minette Batters said: “The new Agriculture Bill and future Environmental Land Management scheme must offer a golden opportunity for UK farming to become a global leader in climate friendly food and farming.

"What is missing from today’s announcement is how government will honour its commitment to safeguard our food safety, environmental and animal welfare standards.

“It’s imperative we don’t allow those high standards to be undermined in future trade deals by imports of goods which would be illegal for our farmers to produce here.

“We are also still no clearer to knowing what our future relationship with the EU will be and it’s far from certain that the vision of Brexit promised will be delivered.

"Despite this uncertainty, government still plans to phase out direct payments for farmers starting in 2021. When the timelines for Brexit were mapped out in 2018 the timelines looked very different. Things have changed – and so Defra's plans for transition must change too.

“Last week I agreed with all the other UK farming unions and farming organisations that ending the transition period away from BPS must be delayed.

“We have concerns that the scheme as it is will not properly reward the true value of what farmers deliver for the environment. Any new scheme must have farming at its heart and be accessible to all farmers and farm types across the country.”

Meanwhile, Mrs Batters has been re-elected as President of the NFU to represent the interests of more than 46,000 farmers and growers across England and Wales.

She will serve as president for another two years alongside Stuart Roberts as deputy president and Tom Bradshaw as vice president.

“I am so proud to be able to represent the NFU’s 46,000 farmer and grower members at this critical time when the future for Britain’s food and farming industry will be shaped."