A FOURTH generation farmer has warned a vote to leave the European Union could decimate Yorkshire’s agricultural landscape.

Jonathan Beresford believes the consequences of ‘Brexit’, the loss of agricultural subsidy and additional tariffs on exports could put him and other farmers across the region out of business.

The 41-year-old, who farms beef and sheep at Tenley Farm in Hellifield, has voiced his support for the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign ahead of the referendum on June 23.

It comes following a warning from Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss that, outside the EU, tariffs could add an additional £155 million to the cost of lamb and mutton exports, making British lamb a less attractive prospect for Europeans, compared to New Zealand and Australian competitors.

Mr Beresford said: "Europe takes 40 per cent of our lambs.

"France and Greece take the biggest amount. Without that trade, sheep prices would fall.”

Like many others in Yorkshire, Tenley Farm benefits from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) – the biggest of the European Union’s rural grants and payments to help the farming industry.

Mr Beresford added: “We can't survive without the farming payment. Margins are already low. We'd go out of business.”

Responding to Vote Leave’s claim the short-term impact of Britain’s departure from the EU would be worth it in the long-run, Mr Beresford said he was unconvinced Yorkshire could bring back years of farming history once it has been lost.

"A lot are saying if they ride it out it will come better, but I personally think a lot will not be able to last that long,” he added.

“It would have a devastating impact in this area, particularly up in the Dales. Everybody would go out of business.

“Things would look very, very different without any livestock.”

Mr Beresford also agreed with the argument put forward by supporters of Remain that British produce might become less of a player on the European stage if it leaves the EU, which risks undoing years of reputation-building.

He said: “People want to buy British now, but if we left it would hurt us and it would be very difficult for us to replicate what we have now.

“The EU speaks up for us; it backs farms. We’ve watched steel and coal mining industries go. If we leave the EU, farming could be next.”

Julian Smith, Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon and a campaigner for Britain Stronger In Europe, said: "Yorkshire has a long and proud farming heritage. Mr Beresford's warning serves as a stark reminder of the risks a vote to leave would pose to agricultural communities across the region.

"The Out campaign's suggestion the long-term benefits of 'Brexit' will outweigh the short-term losses will be of little consequence if farms like Mr Beresford's are driven out of business. Vague promises are simply not good enough. Livelihoods and centuries of history are at stake."