A note from our Chairman

"In common with most farmers at the moment, my attention is focused on the daily post delivery. The feeling of anticipation, or more accurately trepidation, is palpable. When the envelope arrives and I will finally know what my Single Farm Payment will be, then the planning can begin in earnest. There is no doubt that we, as an industry, are facing a challenge of massive proportions. The process that started a year ago heralded a new attitude towards land management and food production, but it is the reality of the Single Farm Payment cheque, and the knowledge that it will inevitably reduce over subsequent years, that will galvanise us all to re-evaluate our businesses.

Whether we like it or not change is upon us and is here to stay. The question is how do we choose to face it? The one certainty of the CAP reform process is that, no matter how tempting it may seem to bury our heads in the sand, doing nothing is not an option. Every farmer will need to examine their business in minute detail, analyse strengths and weaknesses and plan for the future. It will not be easy but nothing worthwhile ever is. No two farms or farmers are alike and therefore each farmer will find a different solution to the common problems facing the industry. Some will diversify, some will find supplemental incomes elsewhere, some will expand and yes, some will leave the industry. However difficult the decisions will be, it is surely better to act now and choose the direction your business will take rather than ignore it and have change imposed upon you by economic pressure later.

The SFFS is providing a framework within which the industry can move forward. One of the main recommendations of Sir Don Curry’s report was that farmers need to re-connect with the market place and shorten the food chain. It is a simple and effective message - we as farmers need to produce what our customers want to buy and we need to supply it to them as directly as possible so that we can retain more of the retail price. Within the North East region many farmers have already adopted SFFS principles within their businesses. They have identified new markets or customers and have provided new products or services. They have spotted an opportunity and grasped it with both hands and their success is an example to us all.