Why are we handing British agriculture over to the EU? - Yorkshire Post Letters

From: Peter Auty, Great Hatfield.

Some people seem to think handing over all aspects of UK farming is the right thing for the UK. How can it be the right thing for an independent country to hand agriculture in the UK over to unelected officials in the EU.

Should the phytosanitary agreement be fully signed off, which Defra has already accepted, farmers in the UK will have no say over what crops to grow and when, what fertilisers they can use, plus all the extra rules and regulations, red tape will abound.

Farming in the UK is in such a mess, caused by successive governmental inactivity and underfunding, it doesn't need more and more regulation.

It’s time the UK had its own farming minister and ministry run by people with farming backgrounds, not the illiterate clowns at Defra.

Farming and defence are the two most important aspects of government, or should be, closely followed by education, health and social care for the elderly, welfare should be for those in dire need, not a lifestyle choice.

The phytosanitary agreement should be stopped immediately, it will be bad for the UK farmers and consumers as all the extra costs arising from the new regulations will add to farm gate prices.

Where is the opposition from the NFU, CLA or any other agricultural associations, why aren't farmers up in arms?