The Rural Bulletin: 7th December, 2018

Andrew Shirley comments

Although, as noted below, the ongoing Brexit debacle continues to hog the headlines, it is important that rural businesses don’t become paralysed waiting for the final outcome.

Renewable energy, for example, has slipped under the radar of late, but as highlighted, there are still opportunities available. Taking advantage of any alternative sources of income available – based on the right advice of course - will help mitigate the upheaval of Brexit, if and when it arrives.

Chances of no Brexit increase

The British Government continues to wrangle over Brexit negotiations, with the vote to give MPs more power to decide what happens next if Theresa May’s proposals are, as is widely predicted, rejected on Tuesday (11 December).

This potentially reduces the chances of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, something that many believe would be damaging for farmers. On Thursday, US investment bank JP Morgan reduced the chances of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit from 20% to 10%, and raised the likelihood that Brexit won’t happen at all from 20% to 40%. The FTSE 100 index strengthened slightly, although the Pound remained weak against the Dollar. 

No lynx introduction in Northumberland

Farming organisations have welcomed the Government’s decision not to reintroduce lynx to Kielder Forest in Northumberland following a review by Natural England.

“We strongly believe this is the right decision, on ecological, social and agricultural grounds,” said Phil Stocker at the National Sheep Association. Today’s victory is not just for farmers, but for the ecology of the area, the rural community and the farming economy. The threat of the lynx against sheep was very real and we could not be happier that this isn’t a risk our members will have to face.”

Scottish beef scheme deadline looms

Scottish beef producers should apply to the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) before the 31 December deadline. The scheme, which provides €38 million for beef calves born on the Scottish mainland and €6.6 million for claims from the Scottish islands, is available for calves that are at least 75% beef bred, born on a Scottish holding and kept there for 30 days.

NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick said: “This year, every penny will be needed given the rise in prices for straw and other inputs and the challenging forage conditions driven by the rainfall shortage this summer.”

Beware mis-selling as solar PV becomes viable

Small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays and battery storage are looking increasingly attractive as capital costs decline and energy prices rise, but landowners should beware mis-selling in the market. According to independent power and energy consultancy Roadnight Taylor, the cost of solar technology has fallen by over 30% this year, while wholesale energy costs have risen by more than 80% since 2016.

“Generating your own power could pay back in as little as seven years,” said chief executive Hugh Taylor. However, some installers were falsely inflating income projections for unviable sites, so it’s important to get an independent assessment. 

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