AS the dust settles on an historic farming conference season in Oxford, grassroots delegates' surprise at their own agreement with the Tory environment secretary has been tinged with lament that even he may not have the power to make his green dreams come true.

Michael Gove made history last week by becoming the first environment secretary to speak at the Oxford Real Farming Conference – founded as an organic, free-range rival to the bigger and more corporate Oxford Farming Conference.

Delegates at the real conference at Oxford Town Hall got a chance to quiz the Conservative on his new, post-Brexit policy announced at the corporate conference, which would see EU basic farm subsidies replaced with grants for farmers to plant woodland and wildflowers.

Conference organisers said he talked in a relaxed style and many found themselves applauding his plan.

However, the man who founded the real conference – Wolvercote farmer Colin Tudge – has now said that cracks quickly began to appear.

He said: "The secretary is certainly saying all the things that we believe is the only way to deliver our food and farming future, such as touting the benefits and competitiveness of small to medium mixed farms, or recognising that present-day farming is largely not sustainable or socially desirable.

"But how much power does he actually have given that he’s a member of a party and a government, both subject to banks, corporates and multilateral agreements, all of which must surely exert more pressure as we go through Brexit and our various trade negotiations?"

Another concern is the unavoidable issue of succession.

Mr Tudge explained: "Defra Ministers don’t stay in this job very long as a rule.

"Do Mr Gove’s welcome and refreshing statements really represent a change of mood in government, or is he a maverick who’s work will be undone?"

He and his fellow conference organisers said they were clear that the farming community must see what action comes from the statements made last week, particularly regarding public payments for public good, as a next step on from the CAP payments.

He concluded: "We should maintain the grassroots energy that the ORFC represents, it as crucial as it ever was.

"It is tempting to rely on government when such positive things are being said, but we must not leave our futures solely in their hands. Too much depends on it."