As leading names in the county’s farming community predicted another year ahead of political turmoil, the Treasury confirmed this week that the total budget for area-based subsidies will be the same in 2020 as it was last year.

Next year’s £2.8 billion support cheque will be the first payment funded in full by UK taxpayers as it will be made after the UK has left the Common Agricultural Policy.

The confirmation had been widely expected after the Conservatives made an election pledge to match the current annual budget for agriculture for every year of their parliamentary term.

The exact payment rate a hectare would be decided later in the year by Defra and the devolved administrations, a Treasury spokesman said.

“But while I welcome the commitment, the payments need to be distributed without any delays and lessons must be learned from previous years,” said National Farmers Union Cumbrian council delegate, Alistair Mackintosh.

“While 2019 farm payments seem to be on time so far, they need to pull their fingers out and focus on getting Environmental payments out now, and not just 30 per cent, or 50 per cent or 70 per cent in September,” he added.

Last year, said Mr Mackintosh, market, Brexit and regulatory uncertainty left many farmers with less confidence to invest in their businesses.

“But I can foresee another year of turmoil as the Government seeks to broker a trade deal with the EU by the end of the year,” said Mr Mackintosh.

Eddie Eastham, who farms at Longburgh, near Carlisle, is currently the chairman of the National Sheep Association Policy and Technical Committee, and a past chairman of the NSA Northern region.

He says: “As a region with a strong sheep farming tradition, obtaining a favourable Brexit deal is crucial for the future of this area. We have had assurances that a no deal at the end of 2020 should not be feared. Further, that a free trade deal with the EU can be reached by the end of 2020. Also that British farmers will be protected from lower standard products entering the UK.”

The Agriculture Bill will come back in broadly the same format as presented to Parliament last year, with one or two changes or additions that farmers “need to watch for,” Country Land and Business Association (CLA) president Mark Bridgeman revealed following a meeting with Defra secretary Theresa Villiers.

The Tenant Farmers’ Association (TFA) national chairman James Gray said that alongside achieving a good trade deal with the EU, farmers must ramp up efforts to secure new markets for their produce.

“To this end, AHDB should concentrate its efforts in promoting market development," he added.