He writes:
“Good luck!” is a comment I’ve heard a few times in the last few weeks. Not least at several of the 18 regional meetings the NFU undertook jointly with the AHDB at the end of October. For those that couldn’t make it, the point was to share analysis on the potential impact of various Brexit deals, along with explaining the policy and investment that the NFU is asking for to ensure the long term profitability, resilience and overall success of farming.
Anyway, back to luck. The point is the NFU isn’t simply leaving the outcome of future agricultural policy down to luck. The focus of the roadshows was about empowering the membership with the best insight and knowledge so that they can do two crucial things at this time of great uncertainty.
Firstly, taking a comprehensive look at the business and identifying what might need to change. It’s a well-worn trope that the only thing that is certain is that nothing is certain. But change, whether to a lesser or greater extent, will occur thanks to Brexit. Yes, many developments from consumer habits to the size of the labour pool were taking place anyway, but Brexit has the potential to speed changes up or alter them entirely.
The NFU is not in the business of telling its members how to farm. What we can do, however, is bring expert analysis and advice, in this case the AHDB, directly to the membership, with a view for members to leave thinking about how they might act upon it.
Despite the uncertainty, it makes more sense than ever to understand the wider situation and look at how an individual business can put itself in the best place to navigate these shifting sands.
Secondly, taking action to stand up for farming. The wider situation I mentioned above will dictate the environment that farm businesses will operate in and actions they might take. Moreover, it does not come about by accident. Sometimes it’s totally invisible, other times it’s a national campaign, but in both cases key decisions are driven by people simply talking. In tangible terms, this has meant farm policy funding secured to the same level until 2022 for example. However, there is clearly much more to do - fortunately both individual members and the NFU are well-placed to do it.
In the social media jungles of today, farmers have a truly unique and authentic voice – something that recent awards have recognised. Farming is central to the very emotive issues of food and the environment and we have an incredibly good story to tell on both counts. NFU staff and officeholders are out there on a daily basis talking with politicians, officials in Government, industry representatives, media outlets, non-governmental organisations, supply and food chain companies, retailers and the general public on many fronts.
During Brexit, having as many people on-side as possible will be crucial. Members are our biggest resource of all in spreading the message and the NFU has a wealth of resources to help make the case.
The NFU isn’t expecting lady luck to hand deliver a good Brexit deal for farmers. We know it will be hard-earnt. But with the valuable resources we’re putting in the hands of members they can think about both practical business actions and with us make the best case for British farming.
More of the NFU's work on Brexit on behalf of members: