Industry Eye: Election uncertainty reigns as parties set out their policies for the rural community

A Labour government is bound to protect the number of quangos that it has created since coming to power.

The red tape in particular surrounding the administration of EU legislation and brown envelope subsidies and grants is sure to weigh heavy on many rural voters.

Most in the farming sector have endured six years of chaos with RPA and DEFRA and are keen for change.

The Conservatives look set to reform our regional development agencies and provide science based decisions on growing of GM crops; vital, I believe, in the future of world food production.

The Liberals; well I read recently that they would like to reduce farm subsidies to provide loans for biogas plants, clearly a lack of understanding of what the issues are surrounding biogas.

Its worrying also, that all parties seem to intimate more environmental legislation and talk of "restoring biodiversity" but I doubt the volatile nature of commodity producing farm businesses can sustain further financial burdens.

But, whoever does come to power, we are concerned that the capital gains tax rate will come under pressure and we anticipate an increase from the current 18 per cent rate at the next budget.

If you are looking at transferring property to the next generation or even looking at selling, perhaps this is better done sooner rather than later whilst the CGT rate looks favourable.

The agricultural farmland market in Yorkshire has little to offer for purchasers at the moment, and perhaps now this is a great opportunity to sell while the demand is strong.

So if the election frenzy is getting too much, we would like to invite you to a series of evening talks and discussions throughout Yorkshire on renewables, focusing initially on wind turbines, hopefully one topic which has cross party support!

We'll take you through the benefits and returns achievable but most importantly, the pitfalls and what to avoid!

The small wind market is really "noisy" and it's hard to know which way to start out, so we'll give some pointers and run through the options available.

The first meeting is May 5 at Malton Rugby Club, followed by May 11 at Driffield RUFC, May 12 at Hull RUFC and, finally, Ripon Golf course on May 25.

Finally, for those in the East Riding, we are running in conjunction with the Driffield Agricultural Society a Farm Diversification Award, with a prize of 500 to be presented at this year's Driffield Show on July 21.

Closing date for entries is May 30 and is a really good opportunity for those small rural businesses to receive recognition for their achievement and help raise their profile in the county.

Politics are bound to be headline grabbing for the next two weeks and we may be heading for a hung parliament; the rural vote could be crucial in up to 30 seats.

Personally, a change of government is desperately needed for the farming sector and it can't come any quicker.

CW 24/4/10