FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS CALL FOR COLLABORATIVE ACTION TO SECURE FUTURE OF UK AGRICULTURE POST BREXIT
There is a need for rural organisations to work collaboratively in order to present a united front to the Government on what UK agricultural needs to survive post Brexit.
This was the message from leading figures in the region’s industry who gathered at Newmarket Racecourse on Tuesday (12 July) for the ‘What Now?’ event organised by Ashtons Legal, Bidwells, Churchgates, CLA, and HSBC, and chaired by CLA Deputy President Tim Breitmeyer.
While the debate focused on a wide range of key issues, a recurring theme was the need for joined-up thinking on a subsidy system to replace the EU Common Agricultural Policy, with a proposal for a small team representing the industry to assist the Defra task force developing a strategy for the industry.
However, there was also an acknowledgement of the public’s influence and ensuring they understood the how subsidies were used by the modern farmer and landowner in not only producing affordable, quality food, but also sustaining rural communities and safeguarding the environment.
The fear was that without all stakeholders in the rural economy sharing a vision of its future as well as the support of the British public, a battle lay ahead for farmers to retain subsidies post Brexit – and to keep their businesses afloat.
In order to tackle food supply chains, many of which were long, and did not bring value to the farm gate, there was a call for an acknowledgement that discussions needed to be with wider than just with Defra, but also with the likes of BIS, UKTI, and the Food and Drink Federation.
With the threat of subsidies being withdrawn combined with volatility in the commodity markets, farm business diversification was becoming more important to help boost income. However, there was a plea for the introduction of help for rural businesses to get training so that the new skills needed to run these new ventures could be obtained.
Delegates agreed that farming also needed young people with new ideas to be encouraged to join the industry, but their start-ups needed to be encouraged with specific support and funding.
CLA East Regional Director Ben Underwood, who was part of the discussions with a number of members from across the region, said:
“The event gave delegates a chance to look at the way we use our land and then make suggestions on how we can make our agricultural sector resilient and profitable for the future.
“Our farmers are a crucial part of the food supply chain, which provides us with a safe and secure supply of food. They also have a vital role to play in improving biodiversity, securing our vital national resources, managing our landscapes, and helping meet the challenges of climate change.
“It was acknowledged that these objectives cannot be delivered without the Government’s support, and delegates want reassurance and an end to uncertainty brought about by the vote to leave the EU.
“We need a fully funded food, farming and environment policy to be in place and ready to be implemented before existing support is removed.
“It is clear that the industry also needs new ways of working, new business models and new skills. Similarly, there was a consensus that there is need to improve collaboration between food producers so move from a supply chain to a value chain in which retailers, processors and farmers can work together in new ways with each being properly rewarded.
“A volatile global market place has undermined profitability and the ability to plan for the long term, as well as make investments. Risk needs to be managed by a new policy, and there was interest in listening more to proposals for insurance protection schemes.
“A successful policy must also actively encourage the next generation to seek careers in farming and rural land management. While more can be done by the sector itself, there was agreement on the Government’s important role in supporting education and training at all levels.”
Gary Markham, Director of Farms and Estates at accountants Churchgates, which has offices in Bury St Edmunds and Huntingdon, said:
“With an overall reduction in support there will inevitably be hardship amongst some farmers. Churchgates benchmarking has shown a huge disparity in the performance of individual businesses. The potential turmoil in the industry will not only provide opportunities for the larger and better performers, but more importantly will also provide an opportunity for the lower performers to seek out joint ventures to gain economies of scale and access to business skills.”
Further meetings for the group to elaborate on the delegates’ initial thoughts and opinions are to be announced in due course, with the findings to be released to all attendees and fed into the CLA’s lobbying work with the Government.
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