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NFU president Minette Batters was entirely right when she told delegates on the first morning of her unions conference that Governments seemingly blase attitude towards food production needed exposing for what it was, naive.

The current political rhetoric, she argued, assumed that because Britain was a wealthy country it could just import much of its food. This, she stressed, must be exposed as naive in a rapidly changing world.

That notion of a rapidly changing world was a poignant one at this years event, which coincided with the first anniversary of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Indeed, Vladimir Putin was a like a spectre at the feast as, while delegates filed into the conference, TV images in the venues foyer showed his address to the Russian people on Tuesday.

It was a stark reminder of the fragile state of world affairs and how global supply chains and economics could be further disrupted by Putins actions in eastern Europe.

And, yet, it still appears that the penny has not dropped among politicians and Government Ministers about domestic food security, even at a time of conflict.

Environmental Land Management, despite progress, remains a frustrating topic for many farmers in England, especially those in the uplands, as well as tenants, who struggle to see how they can engage fully with the scheme.

Instead, English post-Brexit farming policy remains out of step with current global realities, with its focus on green ideals and public money for public goods naive at best and borne out of a more benign political environment.

At worst, however, the myopic focus on greening is a shocking example of political arrogance, a worrying example of political dogma which fails to prioritise domestic food production at a time of rapidly shifting global dynamics.

With the right support, this countrys farmers can meet the challenge of feeding a growing population at a tumultuous time in history, but that will require pragmatism and a willingness to change course from policymakers.

Without that, there is every chance we could lose a critical mass of farmers in the coming years and end up even more exposed when comes to sourcing this nations food.

And finally

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was doing so well at the NFU conference, right up until someone asked him about his support for right to roam and his views on the badger cull.

Despite warm words, his party has a long way to go to win the rural vote.