New powers handed to Natural England and the Environment Agency mean they have been set up as judge, jury and executioner – and farmers can expect nothing but trouble.

The warning has come Derek Mead who farms near Bridgwater and aims to be the next NFU president, who has accused the union of failing farmers by allowing ministers to strengthen the agencies' hands.

The move means farmers could face on-the-spot fines for environmental infringements in future, rather than the current system of warning letters, cautions or – in exceptional cases – full criminal prosecutions.

But, said dairy farmer Mr Mead, the real purpose of the move was clear – to recover even more of the two agencies' running costs from farmers.

And, he said, the NFU had clearly failed by allowing the changes to be introduced.

"If the NFU didn't see this coming then it should have" he said.

"On the other hand if it has been formally consulted and hasn't objected in the strongest possible terms then that is a disgrace.

"By and large farmers are aware of their environmental obligations and the problems they will face if they ignore them. We are, thanks to this government, the most highly-regulated industry in the country.