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About the event

Crowds of farmers attended the event, organised by the National Farmers Union (NFU), challenging the pair on their views and hearing how their industry could be affected in the upcoming referendum.

Owen Paterson's address

Owen Paterson gave an animated history lesson into the rise and demise of the European Union. Paterson told the audience: "We've come to a very clear fork in the road but we've got to wish them well."

Speaking of his time at DEFRA fighting CAP reform, Paterson asked: "Who here would have thought up the three crop rule?"

• "Not one of you is that stupid."
• He met with the Spanish minister whose country must now try and grow a variety of crops in 45 degree heat where only an olive tree would grow.
• He met with the Swedish minister, who suffered -45 degree temperatures in North Sweden and can only grow Spruce trees.
• "You can't set the same standards across a mass that varies so much. We've been forced to accept a miserable compromise that damages our environment."

Paterson proposes that we take hold of our country and have trust in our own MPs, creating a tailor made system that is suitable for our environment and economy.

Peter Kendall's address

Peter Kendall reminded the audience that agriculture is a small industry in the grand scheme of things in the UK. With 84% of our country being classed as urban, we are by no means a priority and aligning ourselves with countries where agriculture is of higher importance is our safest bet.

• The UK is the only country in Europe with a law in place that protects badgers.
• A vote for MPs last July was cancelled because a few animal rights protesters cried outside parliament.

Counterarguments to Paterson

Owen claims that the EU is becoming the 'museum of farming' due to its inability to adopt new technologies like neonicotinoids and GMO, but if he really thinks a country that values stupidity over science is going to adopt GM in the near future, he's been sharing too much oxygen with Kerry McCarthy.

Leave campaign promises

• Michael Gove last week promised cheap food for all and reduced trade barriers to help developing countries.
• Boris Johnson offered farmers a "much fairer deal".

No one has any idea how the UK would look without the EU, and judging by track history, agriculture is not going to come out on top.

Author's conclusion

Owen Paterson had some good points that could have easily swayed some, but amid a few odd jokes about Swedish nurses that I'm not sure anyone really understood, and some rather cross farmers fed up of their questions being swerved, my mind was still made up. In ten days time I will be voting to remain in the European union. Better the devil you know, right?