Farmers still make money, says bank

02 September 1999

Farmers still make money, says bank

FARMERS are proving to be just as good at husbandry of their money as they are of their cattle, according to Ian Clark, agricultural adviser to the Clydesdale Bank.

Farmers are business-orientated and good at managing their affairs, even on a small cashflow, he told delegates at the Thainstone Spectacular show and ANM groups Inverurie market.

Mr Clark said borrowing had remained stable this year – against a rise of 15% last year – and most businesses experienced no problems servicing their loans.

He said the economics of the sector were still “very sound”, with net worth supported by decent land prices and few farms overburdened with debt.

But his optimism was not shared by Brian Pack, ANM chief executive, who said Scottish meat companies would not resume beef exports until the Date-Based-Export-Scheme was relaxed.

The groups Scotch Premier meat company was a leading exporter before the BSE crisis but Mr Pack said export was not possible at the present time without incurring losses.

Proving that the mother of a beef animal had survived for six months after giving birth was difficult, he said, as was the requirement for an abattoir solely dedicated to the export trade.

• The Herald 02/09/99 page 24