GETTY Only in Wales did less than half of farmers not want to leave the EU

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In a survey by trade magazine Farmers Weekly, 58 per cent of the 577 farmers asked said they supported a Brexit vote on June 23 while just 31 per cent wanted to remain in the EU. The results appear to show farmers at odds with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), which earlier this month said it believed the “interests of farmers are best served by continuing membership of the EU”.

Those farmers in favour of Brexit said EU bureaucracy affecting their industry, as well as non-farming issues such as UK sovereignty and immigration, were among their biggest concerns. Farmers in the Midlands, the South West, the North East and East Anglia were the most inclined to back Brexit. Only in Wales did less than half of farmers not want to leave the EU.

It is no surprise that farmers want to leave the EU. Farming Minister George Eustice

Farming Minister George Eustice, who supports the Vote Leave campaign, said: “It is no surprise that farmers want to leave the EU. “Virtually every problem they bring to me is a direct consequence of dysfunctional EU rules and regulations. “The NFU’s own recent study showed that, if we left the EU, there would be a firming in farm gate prices and a recovery in farm incomes. “If we stopped sending £350 million a week to the EU, we would save more than enough money to fund a national agriculture policy. “We would regain control and have the power to deliver the change that farming craves.” Producer organisations said the poll showed the Government must start preparing plans for the possibility of a Brexit vote. Shane Brennan, external affairs director at the Country Land & Business Association, said: “We said a year ago that we expected the farming community would be overwhelmingly in favour of staying in the EU – it is startling the poll is showing it the other way round.”

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