THE National Farmers Union is urging new Defra Secretary Michael Gove to make it a priority for any future Brexit deal to secure the best possible access to the “vital” EU market.

President Meurig Raymond published an open letter to Mr Gove, 49, in which he stressed the value of farming to the UK economy following the former education and justice secretary’s appointment.

Previous Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom was moved to the role of Leader of the House of Commons as Prime Minister Theresa May reshuffled her cabinet after last week’s General Election.

Mr Raymond’s letter said: “We are looking to Defra to work with us and our members, to champion farming within the Government. Our shared aim is to ensure a productive, progressive and profitable future for British farmers and assurance to British consumers.

“With farming arguably the sector most impacted by Brexit, NFU members need certainty as soon as possible that this Government will make Brexit a success for British food and farming.

“To achieve our potential, we need a future post-Brexit trade arrangement that delivers the best possible access to the vital EU market, as well as continued access to a competent and reliable workforce.

“With your experience in reforming policy environments, we look forward to working with you to create a new wider policy framework that better delivers for British food and farming – and for our nation.”

Mr Raymond also called on the new Government to ensure the 25-year TB eradication strategy is implemented in full and support the reauthorisation of glyphosate.

The National Sheep Association said Mr Gove needs to demonstrate an understanding of the issues facing agriculture.

Chief executive Phil Stocker said: “There may well be more to Michael Gove’s empathy with farming than meets the eye, but NSA immediately received an alarming number of concerned contact from members on the day following his appointment.

“We share this concern and are asking Mr Gove to urgently give the sheep industry some confidence that he understands the value of our sector – I’d like to see an immediate commitment to achieve tariff free trade routes into the EU post-Brexit.

“There are two distinctly differing views within senior members of Government – those who advocate raising production standards and quality and those who see Brexit as a chance to import increasingly cheaper food into the UK.

“Just over a year ago, Michael Gove showed he was clearly in the cheap import camp, while being interviewed on BBC Radio 4. Any Secretary of State with a responsibility for Britain’s farming and food agenda cannot move forward with that vision for the future, we need some clear statements of intent urgently.”

In one of his first interviews since being appointed, Mr Gove was asked about the loss of EU subsidies and if he could guarantee them until the end of the current parliament. Mr Gove said it was a manifesto commitment.

On the issue of supply of future unskilled labour for farmers after Brexit and the possibility of a visa scheme, he said: “As we bring migration down to sustainable levels, we’ll do so in consultation with industry and one of our most important manufacturing industries is agriculture, so we need to make sure that the workforce and support is there.”

Mr Gove said he wanted to enhance the environment and also ensure the UK continued to produce high-quality food, adding the best means to do that was to “exercise appropriate humility and listen and learn”.