LOCAL farmers are to press the Government for contingency plans for agriculture in case the UK votes to leave the EU.

More than 200 farmers and landowners attended a farming conference on Malvern's Three Counties showground where Gloucestershire farmer and TV celebrity Adam Hanson, asked a panel of experts: "What is Plan B? We must have a plan in place whichever way the vote goes in two years time."

The high profile list of speakers included farming minister George Eustice, UKIP MEP Stuart Agnew, Mike Gooding, managing director of a substantial farming and agricultural research business in Oxfordshire and Graham Redman, a partner at specialist agriculture consultants The Anderson Centre.

Philip Cowen, partner and head of event sponsors Bruton Knowles' rural division said: "There appears to be considerable industry support for the UK to remain within Europe, but subject to a renegotiation of Britain’s standing to ensure that the country as a whole is able to respond to market forces without the shackles of the wider group of EU nations restricting trading activity.

“There was also support for Mike Gooding’s observation that many of the nation’s more progressive farmers would much prefer to be able to farm without grant or subsidy, but in a profitable manner where market prices provide realistic returns for the produce which is ‘manufactured’ in the British countryside.”

The audience raised questions as to whether a Brussels-led system might be more sympathetic towards family farms and smaller units, than a Westminster-based policy, but rural affairs specialist Ben Compton said the question of whether farmers can make do without EU subsidies had triggered more questions than answers. He added: "Adam Henson spoke for many farmers in questioning what would happen to the industry if the public opts to leave the EU, and it was clear there really is no such thing as a Plan B in the pipeline at present. Three of the speakers were very much pro-Europe arguing for general reform of the EU to cut down on red tape and regulations rather than complete withdrawal. They felt it would be a great mistake for the UK to ‘burn its bridges’. Mike Gooding was particularly concerned at the loss of trade links, a cut in subsidies and falls in land prices if the UK left the EU. However UKIP MEP Stuart Agnew was very much against EU membership and favoured a flat payment of £80 per acre for all farmers based on a net saving of £3billion.”

Mr Cowden added: "This was the first agri debate held in the Three Counties area for some time and farmers were clearly keen to hear the details of likely policies which the ‘No’ and ‘Yes’ camps will be taking in the event of an exit from the EU. While the debate will grow as we near the in/out referendum, particularly in respect of EU financial assistance for farmers, we believe the UK population will continue to support its farmers when push comes to shove, whichever way the vote goes in 2017.”