HOW'S the time bomb going on your farm? How much have you had to change in the past couple of years since the infamous Single Farm Payment came in? And just how much is it going to affect you when all subsidies come off in 2012, if that's really what ends up happening?
Just prior to going to press with this issue of Farming in Yorkshire I was guest speaker over in Cumbria for a Young Farmers' Club meeting and all of those connected with farming, of which over 75 per cent of them were, told me that they felt that wi
thout the SFP they would not be making any money.
This is a little at odds with some of the comments I have received in some quarters where I have been guest speaker for older audiences, and where many appear to be gearing up for this 'level playing field' where there are no subsidies at all and everyone has to make sure their farm can work as a proper stand-alone business - setting aside the bit about being the boys and girls who feed the nation.
Most farmers I have spoken to tend to agree with subsidies being taken off provided they receive a fair price for their product – but is that really ever going to happen?
So, what are your thoughts? What are you doing to get on track for 2012? Or are you totting up how much your farm is worth every day and getting ready to sell it on for £1m once that fateful day has arrived in 5 years' time?
I want to know and will publish all letters/emails received (so long as decent, honest, legal, etc) in both the next issues of Farming in Yorkshire and Farming in the North. And I will also possibly contact one or two of those who respond to put an in-depth story together for Country Week in the Yorkshire Post.
- Please send to: chris.berry@ypn.co.uk or write to: Chris Berry, Farming in Yorkshire & Country Week, Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 1RF by no later than 31 March 2007.
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