May 9: President Donald Trump hails trade agreement with UK as 'big deal' for US farmers and Sir Keir Starmer says British food standards are not 'compromised'

This is your farming in five, daily news update, from Farmers Guardian. Farming dominated the headlines after US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a breakthrough had been agreed on a long awaited trade deal between the two countries. President Trump confirmed the deal will include 'new market access' for US farmers to export more goods to the UK including ethanol, beef, machinery and other agricultural products. Sir Keir said the historic agreement with the US will slash tariffs which delivers for farmers, carmakers and steelworks by protecting jobs and providing stability for exporters. The Prime MInister added it was a win for both nations, with new reciprocal market access on beef – with UK farmers given a quota for 13,000 metric tonnes. But he said there will be ‘no weakening’ and ‘no compromises’ made on the very high food standards on imports with a sanitary and phytosanitary red line written into the agreement. However, President Trump was much more optimistic about the deal’s benefits for his country, adding that it could add $5bn to the US economy. When challenged on lower welfare animal standards entering the UK, President Trump said it will be the 'choice' of consumers to decide, despite indicating it could be 'cheaper' for consumers to buy. US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was also present at the announcement and reiterated how big the deal was for US farmers. "This is a big deal to US farmers," Ms Rollins added. "American beef is the safest and the best quality [meat]. It is the crown jewel of American agriculture to the world. "I have [however] never known an industry which has been treated so unfairly as agriculture." While most farming unions have welcomed the deal, farmers themselves have been far from happy and seen through the cracks of what it could mean for the sector if more US beef is on supermarket shelves. Some have already called out the deal as selling out British farming, another kick in the teeth for UK agriculture, and uncertainty that words speak larger than actions, and could sacrifice their high standards. With the finer details of the deal yet to be announced, the Farmers Guardian team will be exploring what the deal will mean for farmers. In a VE Day special, Peter Lomas, who was born in 1936 in Bakewell, reflected on growing up during the Second World War and how farmers played an integral part in keeping the nation fed. Peter was nine years old on May 8 1945, and he said farmers’ contribution to the war effort, and to food security, made farming families like his very proud. He speaks about the community bonds forged during the war, along with the sadness many would have felt with the uncertainty many would have felt not knowing if their loved ones would return home. And the first trailer of Clarkson’s Farm series four has dropped online.Jeremy is taking on his most ambitious project yet, setting out to buy a pub that will reignite his Farm to Fork restaurant vision, the Farmer's Dog. But the road to becoming a landlord isn’t exactly straightforward, and with new faces, new livestock and new machinery arriving at the farm, life at Diddly Squat is busier than ever. You can receive all this and more with news and features aplenty, by subscribing to Farmers Guardian. Visit, Farmersguardian.com to find out more. Thanks for listening, take care, and goodbye. Your daily update from Farmers Guardian