Shropshire farmers uncertain on Brexit progress
Two months after the EU Referendum, Shropshire farmers remain unsure about what the country's future holds outside the EU.
The NFU is in the midst of a roadshow which will see farmers around the country meet with union bosses face to face to discuss the impact of the Brexit vote.
That included events in Craven Arms and Shrewsbury yesterday, where around 100 farmers were present to have their say.
Among them was Stephen Povall, who breeds chickens and grows potatoes at Corfton near Craven Arms, and who voted in favour of Brexit. He said he felt the right decision had been made, but that progress was too slow.
"I was quite vocal wanting to come out of Europe, mostly over sovereignty, getting our country back and being more in control," he said.
The meetings heard from NFU vice president Guy Smith, and chief economics adviser Andrew Francis, who spelled out the main areas for lobbying by the industry body.
Opportunity
Those included future trade relationships with the EU, the movement of labour within Europe, and the UK's first opportunity in 40 years to shape its own agriculture policy.
The NFU came under fire in the run-up to the vote after declaring in favour of Remain, after surveying farmers – although it did not campaign on the issue.
Mr Smith said: "People now realise that it's done, and we have to see it as an opportunity. It's time to get on the front foot."
Also present at Craven Arms were two farmers from near Clun – beef and sheep producer Mervin Mullard, a Remain voter, and beef farmer Chris Blackman, who voted for Brexit.
"It's too soon to make a judgement about it," said Mr Mullard. "I want to be able to sell my animals at a decent price. How they arrange that I don't know because it's going to depend on our access to other countries, and other countries' access to us. We could all manage without subsidies, if other people didn't have subsidies to come into our market."
