Farming Connect’s focus on profits

Speaking to 150 delegates at the inaugural Farming Connect Spotlight conference, Mr Davies said that one of the most significant factors determining profitability is the overall management of production costs.

“Benchmarking your business against others, assessing where you’re at now, identifying room for improvement and acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge could be the key to your future survival and profitability.”

He added,

“Developing skills will improve the productivity and sustainability of the agricultural industry towards 2020 and beyond.”

Owen Jones, who heads the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) updated delegates on Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform and said that the future CAP would focus on enhanced competitiveness, improved sustainability and greater effectiveness.

Terri Thomas, Head of the Welsh Government’s Countryside Policy Division provided a Welsh perspective on CAP reform and discussed how the transition from an historic payment system may impact on Welsh farmers.

Issues such as the redistribution of payments, CAP greening, a National Reserve and the definition of an ‘active farmer’ were all highlighted.

Allan Buckwell, Professor Emeritus in Agricultural Economics at Imperial College London provided an insight into the global economic and population trends that would influence
farming in Wales and asked delegates to consider whether, as global markets are expanding, Wales should replicate Ireland and set targets to increase agricultural output.

National Trust farm manager Arwyn Owen, from Snowdonia highlighted how much had changed in the agricultural sector in recent years, saying that despite the challenges that lie ahead he felt that Welsh farmers were very resourceful and well placed to deal with changes.

A young farmer from Ceredigion, Sion Jenkins, gave an inspiring presentation on his experiences as a young farmer in Wales, enthused everyone with his optimism about the future for young farmers in Wales.

Speaker presentations from the conference can be downloaded from the Menter a Busnes website.