Jim Stephens, chairman, Devon NFU, writes:

In response to a recent article by Richard Haddock, Gazette, September 23, Mr Haddock has been a tireless supporter of south west farmers over the past two decades and still is, especially in terms of buying local produce for his retail business. He was a member of the NFU for many years and of course he is entitled to his views about Brexit, but in his recent article he made many erroneous statements about the union’s position, which I feel obliged to correct.

It is simply not true that the NFU is out of touch with ‘non-industrial farming’, whatever that is. The average size of an NFU member’s farm in Devon is 141 acres – hardly industrial. Across the whole country it is only 200 acres.

Family farming is the bedrock of the industry and the NFU’s membership reflects that. I, like many of the past and present county office ­holders, are from family ­businesses at the sharp end of the issues and challenges that face us daily.

The document that Mr Haddock claims is an outline of the NFU’s position on what ­agriculture should look like post-Brexit is not that at all. It is an ‘options paper’ that formed the basis of the first stage of an ­enormous consultation exercise, which we are currently undertaking with members from farms of all different shapes and sizes.

In the south west alone, scores of meetings have been held, attended by hundreds of farmers – the very ones whose views Mr Haddock claims we are ignoring. We have sought specifically the views of Devon’s youngest farmers, whose very success in farming will be dependent on future agriculture policies set by Whitehall. Their views will be drawn together into a vision for the future, which will be ­discussed by council, the NFU’s governing body, during the autumn.

Mr Haddock is quite right to say that it is council that elects the NFU’s national office ­holders; it is made up of county office holders like me, who take the wishes of members very much into account when ­casting our votes.

With mud on my boots, I am aware of the uphill struggle farming faces. The NFU does have many successes, one of which is the public recognition of British and local food, which is of great benefit to him and the south Devon area.

We are working hard to ensure the best possible ­outcome for farming and food production after Brexit, and members are always welcome to contact us with their views.