Four nations unite to give young farmers a voice post-Brexit

Leaders from the four devolved nations of young farmers’ associations joined forces last week at the 2017 Oxford Farming Conference to discuss the impact of Brexit.

Representatives from the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, The Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs, The Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, and Cymru Wales Young Farmers’ Clubs will produce a policy document outlining the shared priorities for rural young people across the United Kingdom.

The future policy needs of each organisation’s members will be collected and collated, with a final report due to be published on the first anniversary of the Brexit vote.

Commenting on the group’s formation, Chairman of the new group Edward Ford said: “Now more than ever, the United Kingdom’s rural youth must pull together to have their voices heard loud and clear.

“We want to send a strong message to our elected officials that the next generation are clear in what they need to have strong and competitive businesses as we move further into Brexit.”

'Lack of financial backing'

A lack of financial backing for young farmers is a major inhibitor for young people wanting to get into farming in the next five years, post-Brexit.

An online consultation by the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) found the results in a survey titled ‘Considerations for a Future British Agricultural Policy’.

It gathered views from young people involved in farming following the decision this summer for Britain to leave the European Union.

Topics covered included future farm business culture; employment skills and training; farming regulations; building farm businesses; and farming subsidies.