British agricultural leaders advocated the creation of a post-Brexit immigration system that would give priority to “as much as possible free movement” to maintain the vital flow of continental labor in agriculture.

Since farmers throughout the UK experienced a 10-20% reduction in the number of migrant workers after a referendum in the EU, and industry data has warned that if this trend continues, many farmers will be forced to either stop their activities or reduce them.

Archie Gibson, executive director of seed and potato growing at Angus Agrico UK, told MPs on the Scottish Community Committee: “Nowadays, locally trained people are becoming increasingly difficult to find and we are dependent on many of our migrant workers.

If we cannot get staff, approximately 42% of farms will potentially stop working, and 58% of farmers said they are likely to contract, ”and added that in the coming years it is imperative that migrants“ feel welcome valuable. ”

James Porter of Angus Soft Fruits echoed this idea, saying to the deputies: “We cannot find workers at home and therefore cannot import all this from abroad.”