Brexit fears may lead to farmers’ early retirement says new SRUC report
For Scotland read “England”…. This article tells us:
One in five Scottish farmers and crofters may retire early due to fears over Brexit, according to a Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) survey.
Over half of those surveyed say Brexit increases business uncertainty – this may lead to lower on-farm investment that will have negative consequences for the wider rural economy.
The survey findings were revealed today in Rural Scotland in Focus 2016 – the fourth edition of the biennial report produced by SRUC’s Rural Policy Centre. The report argues that in an ageing industry more control must be passed to younger people who may be more ready to adopt the new approaches that often drive business improvements.
Steven Thomson, Senior Agricultural Economist with SRUC, said: “Brexit is clearly causing uncertainty – and some farmers have told us that means they are thinking of retiring earlier than planned. Scottish agriculture is used to change. Some of that has been in response to market demands and environmental pressure, but a key driver has been the various CAP regimes. Our report shows how vital that support has been – and still is – to the industry, especially the beef and sheep sectors.