| News
Farmers & rural business owners 74% more likely
to diversify due to brexit
Diversity is the future of farming.
ore and more farms are looking
at branching out into more than
one area to establish multiple
streams of income which will
allow business to remain
resilient in times where
subsidies are falling and trade deals with the
EU are up in the air. A recent study revealed
that out of almost 300 farmers and rural
business owners polled, over 74% are more
likely to diversify their land in response to
Brexit, and this number is only going to grow as
the realities of the current economic climate
sink in. Dairy farms are keeping bees, arable
farmers are growing miscanthus in areas with
poor soil and installing solar panels, sheep
farmers are opening livery stables. It’s not just
farms either, all kinds of rural businesses are
expanding their revenue streams. Landowners
are opening glamping sites, estates are hosting
rock concerts, large country houses are
M
opening their doors as filming venues. The
examples and opportunities are endless!
With the current uncertainty of how Brexit will
play out for farmers and rural communities,
rural business owners are quickly realising that
diversification is the best was to remain stable
and increase profits. Diversification as a
movement is increasing at such a rate that The
Farm Business Innovation Show which runs
November 8th & 9th at the NEC in Birmingham
sold out the entire floor plan with six months to
go until the show! The Event Director has had
to increase the floor plan by taking an extra hall
at the NEC to keep up with the demand, and
with over 9,000 rural business owners attending
the event, the additional stand space won’t last
long.
While there is no denying that the world of
farming is at a crossroads, this can either be
seen as a problem or an opportunity. Being
able to blend the old and the new, tradition and
innovation are a huge part of what makes the
UK such an amazing place and with rural
enterprise at the backbone of the country, there
is no reason that farming and rural business
should not do the same. Many farmers are
turning just one field into something like a go
kart track or paintball battlefield and turning
enough profit from that to keep the rest of the
traditional farm going.
If you are looking to diversify your farm or
rural business, then you should be at the Farm
Business Innovation Show. Tickets for this
amazing event are free and allow you access to
the sister shows, Country House Business
Innovation, Family Attraction Expo, and Holiday
Park & Resort Innovation. You can register via
www.farmbusinessshow.co.uk
If you are interested in exhibiting or
sponsorship opportunities, contact Event
Director Gary Hall on 0117 929 6087 or
[email protected]
Black Mountains Land Use Partnership awarded grant of
just over 1 million
The Black Mountains Land Use Partnership has announced that it has been successful in securing a grant of
£1,004,155.00 from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for its Sustainable Management
Scheme project funded through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-
2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
his will ensure that the
partnership can move forward
in its aim to promote continued
improvement, restoration and
sustainable management of the
natural resources of the Black
Mountains, an iconic expanse of upland
common that spans Wales and England across
the counties of Breconshire, Monmouthshire,
and Herefordshire.
The pioneering partnership brings together
key stakeholders in the area, including graziers
from the Black Mountains Graziers Association
and private land owners; Glanusk Estate,
Tregoyd Estate, Bal Mawr/Bal Bach Estate,
Duke of Beaufort Estate, Glanusk Estate,
Michaelchurch Estate and Ffwddog Estate.
Along with public land owning bodies including
the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority,
Natural Resources Wales, Natural England,
Welsh Water and support from the Young
Farmers Club. Working together the partners
T
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
aim to improve the viability and quality of the
traditional farming practices that contribute to
the sustainable management of natural
resources. Across the landscape of the Black
Mountains these will include bracken
management, heather regeneration,
improvement of grazing land and the protection
of peat resources. Planned improvements to
livestock access will help with stock
management and also provide a better visitor
experience of the area. Local communities will
be involved through developing a rural skills
programme, engagement with schools and the
creation of employment opportunities including
two partnership ranger posts.
National Sheep Association Chief Executive
and Chairman of the Black Mountains Land Use
Partnership - Phil Stocker commented: “The
successful outcome of the SMS funding bid to
the Welsh Government is very welcome news
and the result of a huge amount of effort and
commitment from all the partners working
together in a process that has taken over a
year. The Black Mountains is a living and
working landscape that is dependent on the
viability of hundreds of private businesses
working within, and reliant on, an environment
and landscape that is sustainable, attractive,
and delivering multiple economic,
environmental and social outcomes. This grant
will not only make a huge difference to the
future of its rural communities but also to the
people who visit the area. The learning gained
through this work also has the potential to
benefit many other communities in Wales and
beyond and we are pleased and excited to now
be able to start putting some of our plans into
action.”
To find out more about how the Partnership
are working follow them on Twitter @BMLUP
and at www.blackmountains.wales
August 2017 | Farming Monthly | 07