Biggest change for 50 years needs some serious planning

While we wait for detailed policy to emerge, now is not too early to start planning for the future and remodelling what your agricultural business will need to do to succeed in a new context.

After what has been a difficult year, with the additional challenges around Covid-19, this is a critical time to refine both long and short-term farm business plans.

With sectoral upheavals and so much change on the w a y, prospects look different now than they did 18 months ago.

As is often the case, we have seen a great variety in harvest results across the UK, and in the north of Scotland the farming year has probably been more positive than many had imagined at the start of 2020.

Those who were not able to sow crops last autumn due to poor weather have been worst affected, which we know will result in some gaps in normal cashflow during the next 12 months.

It is always beneficial for farmers to be proactive in these discussions with their bank manager as it is a lot easier for us to react quickly and positively to those businesses which are on top of and understand their numbers.

We like to see ourselves as part of a farm’s support network: able to assist during the good times while also there to help when the gaps need filling.

Covid-19 has been a huge test for the wider farming i n d u s t r y, not just in keeping everyone safe but also in getting produce into the food chain and keeping the supermarket shelves filled.

After an initial

challenging period during lockdown, the food supply chain then settled down. However, the experience has helped highlight the important job farmers do in feeding the nation, and refocused the debate on food security.

As we look forward, we need to start thinking about the significant changes in policy around Brexit and the environmental agenda.

These have been described as a revolution in farming, and few would disagree.

And, while we do not have all the answers on

future policy, we do know the direction of travel and some of the timing.

Wo r k completed by AHDB indicates there are productivity gains to be made, and that there is also a big gap in the UK between the best and worstperforming units, indicating improvements are possible for many.

There will undoubtedly be many changes in the future and some of the considerations which businesses should ask themselves may include:

• How can we make our business sustainable and resilient?

• Where do we see the balance of our farm between producing crops and food versus environmental schemes?

• What processes on the farm can we change that will support our longerterm goals of sustainable production with a focus on productivity and reducing cost?

• What opportunities are there to use new technology on the farm to meet our future goals?

• We need to carry out a carbon audit to understand how our farm measures up on CO2 emissions, as this will help to identify some

quick wins towards the industry’s goal of net zero.

There is no doubt that this, the biggest change in agriculture for 50 years, requires some planning.

That is why it will be so important that farm businesses sit down with their advisors to look at all aspects of their enterprise, and be prepared to consider the varied options available to them to make sure it is future proof and successful against this new background.

Making changes takes time so the sooner we start, the better.

I see a positive future for

farming, different!

As the more nuanced debate around food security and standards develops, post-Covid, food production will continue to be a key focus for the industry.

I think in the future, we will be producing as much food, albeit from fewer acres and potentially fewer farmers, with others focusing on the environmental aspects of land management. but it will be

is head at the

CHALLENGING TIMES: Covid-19 has been a huge test for the wider farming industry in keeping the supermarket shelves filled.