Roadshow Explores Brexit Impacts on Farming
AHDB and Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) have joined forces to deliver a series of events across Wales to explore what Brexit will mean for Welsh farmers and help them to prepare their businesses for leaving the EU.
Titled ‘Brexit: the implications for Welsh agriculture and your farm’, the roadshow meetings will take place in Clynderwen, Brecon, Abergele and Welshpool at the end of January and the beginning of February.
Experts from HCC and AHDB will give updates on the current Brexit negotiations and present analysis on the potential impact of Brexit on farm incomes. There will be specific information on scenarios in the sheep, beef, dairy, cereal and potato sectors. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about resources available and identify some of the steps they can take to drive their businesses forward in a period of change.
AHDB senior analyst Sarah Baker said: “Despite the political uncertainty, it’s clear that change is coming and our analysis shows that ‘wait and see’ is a high-risk strategy. The top 25 per cent of performers in all sectors, regardless of size, will remain viable in all our post-Brexit scenarios.
“There’s plenty that farm businesses can do now to mitigate the effects of Brexit and prepare themselves for the challenges ahead. These roadshows are one of the ways AHDB is helping farmers and growers improve their performance and inspiring them to succeed in a rapidly changing world.”
HCC Industry Development and Relations Manager John Richards said; “Perhaps no industry will be affected by Brexit as much as farming: due to the EU payment framework within which the industry has operated, the large volume of trade between Britain and Europe, and the potential of high WTO Tariffs if no Free Trade Agreement is reached.”
“HCC and AHDB are aiming to make sure farmers are as well-informed as possible,” he added. “It is still uncertain how the picture will look in a year’s time, but farmers will want to assess now what steps they can take to prepare their businesses for the major changes which lie ahead.”
Farming Connect will have a stand at all the events and Development Officers will be on hand to inform farmers of the range of tailored support that Farming Connect can offer to help farm businesses meet their goals through independent, confidential and bespoke advice and through providing appropriate training.
The meetings will be taking place at the following venues:
- 30 January 2018, Nant y Ffin Hotel, Clynderwen (1:00pm-3:00pm)
- 30 January 2018, Bishops Meadow, Brecon (7:30pm – 9:30pm)
- 7 February 2018, Kinmel Manor, Abergele (7:30pm – 9:30pm)
- 8 February 2018, Welshpool Livestock Market, (7:30pm – 9:30pm)
To register for the meetings or for more information, please contact HCC on 01970 625050 or email info@hccmpw.org.uk
