Shropshire farmers facing year of major challenges
Unsettled weather, diseases and compulsory purchase of land are just some of the issues farmers in Shropshire will have to face in the new year, according to a national organisation.
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) in the Midlands, which covers Shropshire, has said there will be many issues that need to be dealt with in 2013 to help keep farming a profitable industry.
The CLA represents the interests of landowners, farmers and rural businesses, and regional director Caroline Bedell has said there are an increasing number of threats to the industry.
She said: "One of the biggest threats to private ownership will come from compulsory purchase as a result of major projects such as HS2 train line and the National Grid connection.
"The mere threat of compulsory purchase blights your property making it impossible to sell, difficult to plan and is in danger of destroying businesses.
"The Common Agricultural Policy will be reformed next year and by levelling the playing field we should be able to compete on a more equal footing with our EU counterparts, making the industry financially viable in the long term and attractive to new entrants."
She also said members of the CLA will be 'mobilised' early in the new year to guard against the threat of diseases like ash dieback, Schmallenberg, which affects lambs and calves, or Bovine TB.
Miss Bedell said the weather will play an important role in the rural economy and the 'CLA's Water Policy looks at ways for making the most of this precious resource'.
"We cannot predict the weather, although somewhere between drought and flood would be a welcome bonus," she added.
She also said the organisation will continue to lobby for better broadband as well as monitoring planning decisions.
By Dani Wozencroft
