Brexit accused of harming Welsh lamb and beef farmers

That one did seem a pretty obvious outcome the moment a trade deal with NZ was announced.

Pre-ref' the late Mrs P and I drove down to the Hay Book Festival. As we left the main roads, somewhere past Shropshire, and headed into Wales, we were struck by how many farms were displaying "Out" posters, placards and banners.

She said at the time "leaving the EU wouldn't do much for the lamb farmers, though".

If someone with absolutely zero knowledge of farming or economics could spot that one immediately, you do have to wonder about the acumen of our political masters.

Not sure its possible to answer that question. So much is different from 40 years ago including things beyond UK control such as the growing global market, the massive growth in meat production in Australia and NZ and the value of land in the UK. 

Previously Australia and New Zealand etc could only export meat to the UK which complied with EU reg's so while we were in we were protected from having to compete with the lower standards of Australian beef for example.
America has lower standards still as does Brazil and many other potential importers.
The EU and the UK also have some of the highest environmental standards. Rules about nitrate pollution etc. Again making it difficult to compete with non-EU producers with lower standards.

Australia rear beef using growth hormones which are not allowed in the UK or EU.
In many countries anti-biotics are used routinely as a preventative where as here they can only be used in cases of actual illness. This enables producers to raise animals in more cramped and less sanitary conditions giving a competitive advantage and increases the chances of developing anti-biotic resistant bacteria.

Bleached chicken is standard practice in the US. Rather than insist on higher standards of hygiene in meat preparation and packing plants the chicken is just washed afterwards. Again, giving an economic advantage to foreign imports.

I never actually said antibiotics were an issue in Aussie beef.
However, 40% of Australian beef is raised using growth hormones.

www.theguardian.com/food/2021/jun/06/nearly-half-of-australias-cattle-is-treated-with-growth-hormones-is-it-safe-to-eat

I'm not sure whether the meat is safe to eat or not and as a vegetarian I'm not that bothered but it does give Australian farmers an advantage over local farmers which I do care about and I don't think it is the most humane way to raise animals.
Hormones in dairy herds is where the real problems were. Most countries have banned that practice though including Australia.
At the end of the day we just shouldn't be importing meat from literally the other side of the planet when we can produce our own or import it from much closer.
The only thing that makes it economically viable to ship meat all the way from Australia in refrigerated containers is our higher welfare and quality standards.
If Brexit really was about protecting our borders we should be applying huge tariffs to discourage imports of meat from outside Europe.

Don't lie to yourself.

Loads of good has come from Brexit.
Unemployment fell to the lowest level since the 1970's, industrial activity has grown, exports have grown.
Compensating for inflation, our exports to the EU are still worth a massive lot more now than they were when we were in.

If we'd stayed in, we'd be exporting £295.2 billion to the EU instead of the £354.65 billion we exported last year.
Inflation adjusted figures from when we were in compared to the actual exports we did last year.

Our economy was £59.45bn better off last year than it would have been if we'd stayed in.