Take heart from farmers in New Zealand
Farmers in the UK fearing life without support payments should take heart from their counterparts in New Zealand who are thriving despite losing government help in the 80s.
With Brexit in mind, James Latter asked some farmers in New Zealand how their businesses had altered and what message would they give to UK farmers on being cut lose from subsidies and the EU.
"In terms of production and land values the loss of subsidies had no impact for dairy," said James. "For the sheep sector there are now half as many sheep in New Zealand but lambing percentage is better and production is geared to what the market wants and is prepared to pay for."
They key messages to UK farmers:
Be more efficient, target to farm with less cost and look at other people's systems
Don't be afraid to try something different
Structure your business to survive without subsidies
Change is always upon us - under price support/subsidy system you are insulated from extremes of change hence the nervousness
"One farmer told me how he recalled going to the Paris Agricultural Show and came home with stories of the smartest kit, tractors, feed wagons etc but he considered who was the real beneficiary of the subsidy - the farmer paying over the moon for the particular equipment or the manufacturer seeking to maximise profit for its shareholders?"
