16:39

Environment secretary Michael Gove has warned that farmers who are unwilling to change and adapt are set to lose out under any new post Brexit countryside deal.

Speaking at the Country Land and Business Association’s conference Gove said the government would reform the existing EU farm subsidy system to enhance the countryside and improve land use. But he said that those famers who refused to change would lose out. He said:

If you are the sort of person who has been concentrating on avoiding changing, avoiding adapting, avoiding thinking about increased productivity or indeed environmental enhancement, then you will be caught. But if you are someone who is thinking hard about all those things, there are significant opportunities ahead.

Gove’s intervention was welcomed by environment campaigners. Rebecca Newson from Greenpeace said the “broken farm subsidy system” should be a priority for government. She said:

For far too long millions in taxpayer-funded subsidies have been an extra entitlement for the wealthy families and businesses owning most of the land, instead of being used to reward farmers whose work promotes the common good. For these subsidies to be justifiable they should go to farmers who produce sustainable food, support thriving rural economies, reduce flood risk and protect our wildlife. Britain has a unique opportunity to rethink the whole concept of farm subsidy from scratch and should not waste it. We look forward to seeing the details of Gove’s plan.