Is it safe being a farmer during a recession?

People have to eat and people die. That is why during a recession farmers and undertakers are the two safest professions to be in according to John Lloyd Jones OBE, Chairman of the Countryside Council for Wales, who was speaking at NFU Cymru’s annual Conference in Ceredigion recently.

"What will happen to farmers during this recession?" was the question posed by John Lloyd Jones to local Ceredigion NFU Cymru members. He answered, "Recession started 12 years ago for farmers and if we survived that then we will survive in the future. People have to eat and given the likely increase in the demand for food, farming is a relatively safe industry to be in.

"Will land prices crash like house prices seem to be doing at the moment?" asked John Lloyd Jones and he answered, "I don’t think so. There was a quote made 150 years ago ’invest in land ’cause they’re not making anymore of it.’ That quote is still true today. In fact I have heard that the Dutch are currently buying land in the UK as they view it as an economically viable investment."

Ed Bailey, NFU Cymru Vice President said, "Farmers are constantly facing new challenges and now that we are officially in a period of recession we need to be cautious. Yes, I agree with John that farming does tend to be safer perhaps than other industries during these times of recession but we have to be aware that the lack of income coming down the farm lane will affect investment on the farm."

Ed Bailey also told the meeting that NFU Cymru would not give up its fight against EID and the individual recording of sheep. He encouraged all those present to complete the NFU questionnaire on how the new regulation would affect their farm business decisions.

A copy of the questionnaire will be in the February edition of Farming Wales, you can also download it off the NFU Cymru website: www.nfu-cymru.org.uk, or contact the NFU Cymru Builth office on 01982 554200 and a copy will be posted to you.

David Evans, the new County Chairman for NFU Cymru in Ceredigion, closed the meeting by thanking John Lloyd Jones and Ed Bailey for speaking at the annual conference.