POST-BREXIT PREPARATIONS

With much of the conference’s emphasis being placed on the effective delivery of advisory services, SAC Consulting’s programmes manager, Andrew Bauer later said that the Farm Advisory Service (FAS), which is delivered in part by the SRUC, was up for the challenge - and was in the process of gearing up for the post-brexit period.

However he revealed that while this included plans for advising on innovation, environmental measures and ways to improve productivity, it was also set to provide advice to those for whom leaving the industry might be the best solution: “Offering advice on tough decisions has to be part of the service – for while there are growing pressures on the industry there is a compelling case for offering advice on how to make a dignified exit rather than just keeping going,” said Bauer. He said this service was currently in the development stages and would be officially launched before the end of March but added that anyone who currently wanted take up the offer of one to one advice on any element of their business could contact the FAS.

However he stressed that introducing such a measure certainly wasn’t a counsel of despair nor should it be viewed as talking down the industry - and that the prime focus would remain on how to improve profitability and sustainability for the vast majority who would remain active within the industry.