Brexit impacts on farming
Well, we have only gone and done it! Whilst the polls were always close ‘those in the know’ were sure that the bookies had it right and we were going to stay in the EU. Wrong again, and now we have a mad scrabbling for position which just delays the difficult decisions a little further. Agriculture was the biggest recipient of EU funds and has the most to lose in a tussle with the NHS. The CLA and NFU have produced papers outlining priorities for a UK Agricultural Policy (UKAP). The core point is that agriculture has to remain a profitable business if the countryside is to retain its...
Read MoreThe Perfect Storm
This time last year we entered the spring with a level of positive optimism, crops looked well, fertiliser was cheaper than last year, grain prices where strong and potential output looked good. This gave us confidence to provide the crop with a robust disease control strategy. Once all the major decisions had been made, in terms of level of expenditure, the markets started to collapse. This slide continued as a result of the strong pound, high global production and falling demand. The only light at the end to the tunnel was that most growers had taken advantage of the higher prices at...
Read MoreFarming 2012 – a curate’s egg
It’s now nearly 8 months that Land Partners has been up and running and operating from a converted farm building in a working farm yard. Nothing brings home the vagaries of the agricultural year like watching it out the window and receiving regular updates in passing from the horses’ mouths (apologies boys). Not being the farming expert within the firm, it’s been a great reminder of all the points in the farming year which together bring success or heartache at harvest. It’s hard to remember now that we were seriously worried about drought conditions at the beginning of the year and as...
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