Midland Farmer


EDITORIAL


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Farmers must not pay price of rushed Brexit deal


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Midland Farmer is a controlled circulation magazine published monthly for farmers and growers in the Midlands (Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire) or companies supplying goods and services to the sector. To be included on the circulation list, a farmer must have a minimum of 70 acres of land, or 50 dairy/beef stock, or 50 breeding sows/250 growing stock, or 15,000 laying hens/broiler chickens. Intensive horticulture units are required to have a minimum of two hectares.


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oris Johnson understandably made a big song and dance after fi nally securing a Brexit deal with the European Union. But it’s clear that the Prime Minister must tie up lots of loose ends so it works properly for agri-food exporters – and ultimately for UK farmers too. Tariff-free trade has been largely secured. But this is not the frictionless deal that many had been hoping for. The non-tariff barriers – including red- tape, inspections and certifi cation – are huge and costly, hampering trade in both directions. Imports of farm machinery and spare parts are taking longer. So too are shipments of livestock feed and animal medicines. Exports are taking longer too – reducing the shelf-life of perishable products including meat and fresh shellfi sh. The government insists that much of this is due


to “teething problems” as people get used to the new way of working. That may be part of the reason. But it is also evident that changes in our trading relationship with the EU are deep and signifi cant. Take the example of second-hand farm machin-


ery. Many used tractors are exported from the UK to Europe. But these must now be cleaned and free


from mud and vegetation – and examined by a De- fra inspector before they can be shipped abroad. The reason? To help prevent the spread of plant and soil-borne diseases from country to country. It wasn’t a problem when the UK was an EU member. But now we are outside, we are deemed to be a phy- tosanitary risk and must take action accordingly. There are other examples too. Meat processors


have warned of mountains of paperwork. Hauliers are driving around with lever-arch fi les of documen- tation in their cabs, having to rummage through to fi nd the right piece of paper with the right stamp before being allowed to proceed. This costs both time and money. And that’s not


good in an age of just-in-time deliveries and sup- ply chains operating on the thinnest of margins. The problem is that costs get passed back down the supply chain to the farm gate. Which means farm- ers pay the price.


The government needs to sort it out. The poli-


ticians in power are those who promised life after Brexit would be better than life with Brussels. They must act urgently to deliver that vision – before more people lose their jobs and livelihoods.


OPINIONJohann Tasker


Contents


Vol 10 • No 1 • February 2021


News .................................................................... 4 Arable .................................................................. 8 Crop storage .....................................................19


Animal health ................................................29 Midland Machinery .................................... 37 Final say ........................................................... 39


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