“I assure you the NFU will do everything that it can to make sure that a ‘no deal’ Brexit doesn’t happen” – that was the message from NFU president Minette Batters at the recent Pembrokeshire NFU Cymru county conference.

Held at the Nant-y-Ffin Hotel, Clynderwen, Mrs Batters assured the packed room of members that the NFU was doing everything it could to prevent a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.

Mrs Batters said: “Leaving the European Union without a deal would be catastrophic for the agricultural industry. We have now seen what the tariffs would look like and while the proposed tariffs will offer limited protection to some sectors there would be no protection for the arable, egg, or fruit and vegetable sectors. This would obviously have significant effects locally here in Pembrokeshire.

“Food production must be at the heart of the UK Agriculture Bill. Protection for our high standards of production are paramount, we are not prepared to leave the European Union without legislation that would safeguard our food safety, high animal welfare standards and environmental protection. We simply cannot see this country importing food that is illegal to produce here.”

Mrs Batters told members that a united front was essential going forward.

She said: “We are working very closely across the UK. The NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers Union have written a letter to every MP in the UK expressing our concern over the impact of a ‘no deal’ Brexit for UK agriculture, this is such a powerful message. We are all joined up with our thinking and working together gives us a much stronger voice.”

John Davies, NFU Cymru president also spoke to members and said how great it was to see so many young members in the room.

“It is so important that the youngsters get involved in shaping the future of their industry," he said.

"We are facing unprecedented challenges at the moment, bovine TB continues to cause untold financial and emotional distress to many hundreds of farming families in west Wales, and the introduction of disproportionate new water quality regulations to the whole of Wales are a matter of concern to every farming business.

"But it is so important that we also recognise the opportunities we do have, here in Wales, and with the right policies we can work with Government to sustainably grow our world leading food and farming sector.”

Clare Morgan, NFU Cymru Pembrokeshire county chair, said: “I’d like to thank both Minette and John for coming along to the meeting and showing us just how united we are as a union. We are lucky to have such strong minded, passionate people fighting our corner, and helping to secure a productive, profitable and progressive agricultural industry for years to come.”