Farmers must be involved in Brexit talks
FURTHER to the triggering of Article 50, we are waiting for the formal commencement of negotiations with Europe on our exit agreement, or perhaps more importantly for us as farmers, an agreement on our continued access to the Single Market.
That deal will have significant effects on our farming industry and even Theresa May is back tracking from her suggestion that no deal would be better than some sort of deal, as the full extent of the implications of not being part of the Single Market are considered.
If you were expecting some sort of instant change then I’m afraid you woke up disappointed the day after Article 50 was triggered.
The whole withdrawal agreement process is meant to take two years but it will take far longer to unravel and rebuild the relevant legal mechanisms and framework.
With no clear vision yet being shared by the Government of what the agricultural policy will look like, Agri Advisor has been working hard on behalf of its clients to make decision makers realise that farmers can’t just change the direction of their business overnight.
The day after Article 50 was triggered I explained to the Westminster Brexit Forum that Welsh farmers need to be involved in shaping future agricultural policy and need to be given clear policy guidelines, as early as possible, so they have time to prepare for the potential changes to their support mechanisms.
Agri Advisor feels it is important to update those living and working rurally about what is happening in regards to Brexit as this significantly affects them now and in the future, so we have put on meetings this week across Wales which we are inviting farmers and landowners to attend to get the latest up-to-date information on Brexit.
The free to attend events will be held on April 11 at the Bear Hotel, 63 High Street, Cowbridge and April 12 at the Agri Advisor’s headquarters in Llys y Llan, Pumsaint, Carmarthenshire. All events will start at 7.30pm with a warm beef roll, tea and coffee available from 7pm.
Agri Advisor are acutely aware that it is also time to fill in your Basic Payment Scheme forms, so as part of the Brexit Roadshow we will be happy to help with any BPS, Glastir and Capital Grant queries you have.
Agri Advisor is a bilingual legal firm, specialising in advising farmers and landowners. We have offices in Welshpool, Carmarthenshire and just outside Cardiff in Groesfaen.