Kieran Coughlan: Looking ahead at farming's future
In For Prices Over Fertiliser Input And The And Major Dairy Grain Recent Fuel, Writes With Farming Kieran Has Settled The Months A Coughlan As Outlook Such Markets, Rural Accountant Lift Prices A And Settling Of
Next week, I'll be out and out at AIB's agri seminar on Planning for a Farming Future. Speakers will include Carbery chief executive Jason Hawkins, Teagasc Agri Catchment specialist Eddie Burgess, AIB agri advisor Shane McCarthy, and yours truly.
The event is destined to give a fantastic insight into where the industry is at farm and processor level and, indeed, where we fit into overall government and EU policy objectives.
There is some comfort in knowing that we’re all facing disruptions, and whilst every farmer’s circumstances are different, meeting up and teasing out the issues can help.
Thankfully, the outlook for farming has settled over recent months with a major lift in the dairy markets, a settling of grain prices albeit at lower than what one would wish for. Equally, input prices have also settled over the past year, particularly on the fertiliser and fuel fronts.
Of course, the outlook on derogation is the great elephant in the room, which has undoubtedly affected confidence in the dairy sector, if not land prices on the rental and sales side in the more intensively farmed areas.
The recent changes announced in the Budget around Agricultural Relief and the active farmer test at the land owners' side will be teased out on the night, which should give clarity on whether external factors affecting land prices are likely to remain influential.
On the finance side, understanding where your business is at, the options for financing investment in either land or infrastructure, such as slurry storage and dirty water storage, as well as profiling your business's resilience to potential regulatory changes, will help farmers in their decision choices.
If you'd like to join us, the event will be held at Fernhill Hotel, Clonakilty, Co Cork, on Tuesday 22, at 7:30pm. If you're interested in coming along, contact your local AIB rep to reserve a place.
