We need Brexit information now says Clydesdale’s new farm head

The man appointed as head of agriculture with the Clydesdale Bank has stated that, while the Scottish Government had given information on how farming will be in the medium term, the arrival of Brexit will bring much more uncertainty to the farming industry.

“Part of my role at the bank will be helping farmers through any changes that are coming,” said Brian Richardson who started this week with the bank after more than three decades in the livestock industry. “Farming is a longterm business and the sooner we know the direction of travel the better

Richardson said he had been encouraged by recent comments made by UK Environment Secretary Michael Gove on continued levels of support for the industry but he thought the future would still be “very tough”.

He dismissed concerns

0 Brian Richardson – Clydesdale’s head of agriculture over the farming industry’s increased indebtedness to the banks saying that relative to the asset value of the businesses, borrowing was still low. “Farmers need investment to make their businesses more efficient,” he stated.

He was also supportive of getting more of the next generation into the sector saying the bank had been involved in various initiatives helping young people and it would continue to do that. “There will be changes in the industry and we are keen to see more young people coming in,” he said..