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21 Aug 2018
Farmers warned over dangerous 'wait and see' approach to Brexit
AHDB have warned farmers to make sure their business was future proof now and not wait to see the outcome of Brexit.
Alex Black
Farmers have been warned playing ‘wait and see’ over Brexit was a high risk strategy and they need to look into how to make their businesses fit for the future now.
At AHDB’s latest market outlook seminar, analyst Sarah Baker warned businesses needed to be looking into what made the top performing 25 per cent of farms able to remain profitable, regardless of the outcome of the Brexit negotiations.
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“Wait and see is a high risk strategy. However, there is an awful lot people can do now,” she said.
Top performers
Ms Baker said the levy board was looking into what characterised the top 25 per cent of farms and how others could replicate their success.
Duncan Wyatt, AHDB beef analyst, said there was relative stability in the beef suckler herd in particular over the next few years.
“A lot of suckler herds were taking a wait and see approach, despite the looming uncertainty of Brexit.”
In the sheep industry, the biggest challenge was declining consumption. But analyst Rebecca Obourne highlighted this brought the opportunity to really communicate the farm to fork story which consumers valued for lamb.
She added there did seem to be a move towards some self-sufficiency, as New Zealand and Australia turned their attention to Asian markets.
But imports and exports would still be important to balance demand.
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