FARMERS leaders have called for early meetings with Andrea Leadsom, the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

And, following the vote to leave Europe, they are seeking urgent guarantees that direct payments will continue to the end of 2020 and that agreements for farmers in agri-environment schemes will be honoured.

Mrs Leadsom, MP for south Northamptonshire and previously Minister of State for Energy, took over from Liz Truss when new Prime Minister Theresa May promoted her to Justice Minister.

Meurig Raymond, NFU president, congratulated Mrs Leadsom and said: "The NFU hopes it can work with her in a similarly productive manner as it did with her predecessor Liz Truss.

"Following a period of uncertainty we are now entering a significant time for our nation following the Brexit vote and the NFU and farming industry is looking forward to working closely with Mrs Leadsom as we together help forge the future of farming and food production in this country.

"At the forefront will be a new domestic agricultural policy. This should encourage growth, innovation, productivity and profitability."

But Mr Raymond said many issues needed addressing more immediately.

He said: "We need a simpler application process and improved delivery for BPS; we need a guarantee from Government that agreements for farmers in agri-environment schemes will be honoured in full; we need a continuing commitment to the 25 year TB eradication strategy.

"Above all, we hope that Mrs Leadsom will champion British food and farming. Our industry has a great story to tell and it’s an industry that is optimistic about meeting the challenges ahead."

The NFU is to hold a series of nationwide meetings for its members so they can help shape a future domestic agricultural policy.

Mr Raymond said: "With this consultation, we can be sure that when working with Mrs Leadsom, the agricultural policy we push for will have the backing of the farming sector at large."

Ross Murray, president of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), called on Mrs Leadsom to reduce uncertainty in the rural economy by making clear commitments on five priority issues.

To ensure direct payments continue to 2020 at the same level farmers have budgeted for; to honour agri-environment agreements to the end of their contracted terms; to establish a new fully funded food, farming and environmental policy to succeed and better the CAP; to engage in full and clear consultation with farmers; and to honour commitments under current EU structural fund programmes.

Meanwhile the Tenant Farmers Association has proposed a radical change in the way British farming should be supported.

It wants the current budget retained and spent through three new pillars – one to create an agri-environment scheme which properly rewards individuals for environmental management; secondly an infrastructural grant scheme to encourage the development of farm businesses; and thirdly a pillar to promote British farm products, fund near market research, develop public procurement of British food and promote import substitution and export markets.

o Other changes to the Defra team include Dr Therese Coffey, MP for Suffolk Coastal, appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in place of Rory Stewart, who has become a Minister of State in the Department for International Development. George Eustice MP has stayed as Minister of State, and Lord Gardiner has been promoted to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. He is responsible for all Defra business in the House of Lords.