The government’s recently-announced Agriculture Bill is a "seven-year notice to quit" for British farmers, according to Tim Farron.
The former Liberal Democrat leader, now rural affairs spokesman said the EU's direct payments are a "lifeline" for many farmers.
As stated in the Agriculture Bill, farmers in England and Wales will see their direct payments phased out over a 7-year transition period, with those receiving larger payments seeing reduction at a quicker rate.
There will be an agricultural transition period in England between 2021 and 2027 as payments are gradually phased out.
But Mr Farron said the country's upland farmers will be hit with the loss of the payments most of all.
"The Government's seven-year phasing out of direct payments is effectively a seven-year notice to quit for our hill farmers," he said.
"Not only would that be a tragedy for our farmers, it would damage our landscape and reduce Britain's ability to feed itself.
"Michael Gove just simply hasn't thought this through and, for the sake of hill farmers across the county, he must think again."
After the UK leaves the EU, the focus will shift to the environment and farmers will be paid for ‘public goods’ which will include; boosting air/water quality, boosting wildlife and tackling climate change.
Party conference
The comments follow the NFU attending the Liberal Democrat party conference, the first of the busy political conference season.
Held jointly with the Food and Drink Federation, the panel of NFU Vice President Stuart Roberts, Tim Farron, FDF Chief Executive Ian Wright CBE and academic Elise Wach shared their thoughts on what the nation’s policy on food should look like.
Following the event, Mr Roberts said: “As an island nation, our domestic food supply could not be more important and as we move into more uncertain times this will come into greater focus than ever before. We only need to look back to the wet spring and dry summer to see how the impact of the weather can impact the nation’s food producers.
“The NFU has been clear that a future domestic agricultural policy needs to ensure that British farms are able to continue to supply safe, traceable and sustainable British food for all, all while continuing their care for the countryside.
He added: “Profitable, productive and progressive farm businesses are best placed to do just that and it is vital that a new policy that supports a vibrant farming sector.”
The NFU is hosting fringe events at all the major party conferences this autumn.
