Image and embrace change

opportunity for our farmers.

Our grass-fed systems of production act as a sink to clean carbon, and increased rain and temperatures are an ideal combination to grow more grass, so it may not be all bad news on the climate change front.

Embrace the information age

We are in the middle of the Information Age. The constant developments in technology and data are simply staggering. This is filtering through the entire agriculture and food industry, from farmer businesses right through to consumer choice.

It is vital all parts of the industry embrace and maximise this change.

Gadget mania and infor- mation overload are genuine risks, but the key is identifying the important data and technology to help you reach the goals of your business or part of the industry.

The digital-savvy will outperform the digital dinosaurs.

Future-proofing

Recent events suggest that Brexit is about to happen. There may be a transition period, but if it happens, it will be the single biggest event to affect our industry since entering the EU in 1973.

The Government and civil service appear to be prepared, having addressed the what-if scenarios.

However, this has had little, if any, influence on farmer decision making at ground level; life is continuing as normal.

The beef industry is particularly vulnerable and if beef farmers think the present poor price scenario is tough, a hard Brexit would change the industry for ever.

I’m not sure most beef farmers would have the resilience of pig and tillage farmers to survive such an event.

In farming circles, 2018 will probably be remembered for the summer drought, but lessons to be learned from this challenging year could be invaluable to future-proofing the entire industry. Every day is a school day.

THE DIGITAL SAVVY WILL OUTPERFORM THE DIGITAL DINOSAURS. THE KEY IS TO IDENTIFY THE DATA AND TOOLS TO HELP YOU REACH YOUR GOALS

Mike Brady is Managing Director at Brady Group agricultural consultants & land agents, email: mike@bradygroup.ie.