Cumbria's Vote Leave camp said they were 'disappointed but not surprised' about the NFU's support for the UK to remain a member of the EU, as they launched their campaign at Cartmel Racecourse.
At the launch were four speakers, Lord Cavendish, chairman of the event; Paul White, the regional director of the Vote Leave campaign; David Campbell Bannerman, the Conservative MEP for the East of England and John Stanyer, the Ukip chairman for the North West.
The NFU’s ruling body backed a resolution concluding farmers’ interests are best served remaining in the EU, after a gruelling four hour debate.
Peter Kendall, former President of the NFU, said "Britain's membership of the EU is essential for the farming and food industry so it is hugely significant that the NFU has today confirmed that it believes UK agriculture will have a more secure future within the EU."
But North West Chairman for UKIP, John Stanyer said farmer had suffered greatly from EU regulations.
"I am disappointed but not surprised with the stance the NFU have taken. They have given the least possible endorsement they could and confirmed they will not be actively involved with the campaign to stay in the EU, but I think that they should have remained neutral and not come down on either side.
"When I attended the Cumbrian farmers meeting on the topic last week we had about 40% of farmers who wanted to remain in the EU, 40% who wanted to leave and about 20% who are still undecided. However, what we have noticed is that as each day goes on more of the farmers who are wavering are siding with the Vote Leave Campaign.
"People seem to think it's the older farmers who want to leave but it's the other way round, it's the younger farmers looking ahead to the future who are worried about remaining in the EU.
"Since the decision was announced last night I have had hundreds of farmers contact me today complaining about the result of the vote. At the end of the day the decision to remain in the EU has been made by a small representative panel and doesn't fairly reflect the real feelings of farmers across the county.
"We recently learnt in a poll that Cumbria is one of the most Eurosceptic counties in Britain and I believe that this is because the needs of Cumbria seem to be constantly disregarded. We need more autonomy over our own regulations."
The NFU said it will not be actively campaigning in the referendum; it will not be joining with any campaign groups and 'it will not, in any circumstances, advise its members how to vote'.
Defra minister George Eustice said the UK government will give more to farmers than they do now as he outlined his vision for UK agriculture outside the European Union.
Eustice drew attention to non-EU nations like Switzerland and Norway and how their governments gave more to farmers than the UK does.
"Where power has been ceded to the EU, we see inertia, inconsistency and indecision," the Farm minister said.
"The achievements we cherish most of all are those where we have secured opt-outs from EU initiatives."
Eustice said the UK gives money to the EU, which they convert into foreign currency creating unnecessary exchange rate risks.
"The system has been through various changes over the years but remains a centralised and bureaucratic policy. In its current form, it attempts to codify and regulate almost every conceivable feature of our landscape and almost every conceivable thing a farmer might want to do with their land."
He said some 80% of legislation affecting DEFRA comes directly from the EU.
But Kendall said: "Being part of the single market - our home market of 500 million consumers - is crucial to the long term prosperity of farming in this country.
"We saw from the NFU's own report earlier this month that leaving the EU could hit our industry hard and their support today demonstrates that walking away puts too much at risk.
"Leaving the EU would make trading farm products significantly harder, financial support uncertain and leave farmers facing years of uncertainty.
"That is too much of a gamble and one our industry cannot afford to take.
"That is why I fully welcome the decision from the NFU who have made it clear that Britain's farmers are stronger, safer and better off in the EU."
