ENVIRONMENT Secretary Liz Truss told delegates at The Northern Farming Conference in Hexham that farming is "a sunrise industry, with lots of opportunities."

She said food and farming is worth £100bn a year to the UK economy and employs one in eight people. The food industry is the biggest manufacturer - more than cars and aerospace combined.

Her aim is to get agriculture's importance across to people - not just for producing food but landscape and tourism - and to let people know about the exciting jobs and opportunities it offers.

On CAP Reform Ms Truss told the 270 delegates that it was not as good as it should be. Her aim is to make it as simple and straightforward for farmers. Further cuts need to be made to red tape and regulation. Farmers should be able to farm - not spend their time filling in forms and ticking boxes.

On Monday she had visited Brussels and told Commissioners that a review of the three crop rule was needed as soon as possible. "It is fundamentally wrong for people in Brussels to be dictating what crops can be grown here in the UK," she told Wednesday's conference.

She also discussed pesticides and GM legislation with them saying decisions should be made at a UK level. "At present the process is too convoluted, we need to be on a level plying field with the rest of the world." she said.

Ms Truss said decisions should also be made on a scientific level - British farmers need access to technology to compete with the rest of the world.

She had invited the Commission to Britain to see its high quality farms and meet the government. "I think it is the start of the discussions but I am determined to keep pushing the point," she said.

A delegate attacked what he said was the Government's willingness to use the "nuclear option" and take Britain out of the European Union. "It would be devastating for UK agriculture," he said, "We would be left sitting between hugely subsidised farmers in Europe and those in the United States. Our subsidies, if they existed, would be competing with hospitals and everything else."

Ms Truss felt it was perfectly reasonable for people to have their say on Europe but was confident the Prime Minister would negotiate greater decision making at a UK level.

"I would like to see a reformed policy with more decision making in Britain while remaining in a single market, that would be ideal," she said.