Welsh roadshow offers Brexit advice to farming businesses
A series of events across Wales in January and February will be offered to help farmers prepare their businesses for when the UK leaves the EU, expected to be in 2019.
Delivered by AHDB and Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) – the meetings will take place in Clynderwen, Brecon, Abergele and Welshpool.
Experts from the two organisations will give updates on the current Brexit negotiations and present analysis on the potential impact of Brexit on farming incomes.
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There will be specific information on scenarios in the sheep, beef, dairy, cereal and potato sectors and about the resources available. Attendees will also be helped to identify some of the steps they can take to drive their businesses forward in a period of change.
Meeting dates and 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
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% 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, an information source for farmers in Wales, will also be on hand to offer information about the support it can give farmers.