The commencement of a new year is a time to look back over the past year, and look forward to the next 12 months.

Following the Brexit vote someone said that we will see more volatility in markets. This has certainly been seen since leaving the EU, but certainly not all due to Brexit. We have seen inflation in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, that hasn’t been experienced for over a generation.

The inflation of the main inputs for beef farms was unprecedented and is likely to continue for the early part of 2023 and maybe beyond, depending on how the Ukraine war progresses leading to financial pressure for many businesses.

The cost of living crisis is likely to continue and reduce demand for higher value cuts of beef, therefore restricting price increases at the farm gate. With the low profitability and high cull cow values a continued contraction of the national herd will be likely to continue in 2023, giving concerns over the critical mass that is required to support the many upstream and downstream businesses.

The demand for land for forestry continues to keep land values high and beyond what many farmers can fund, in order to expand their businesses and has also removed tenancies making it harder for new entrants to get a foot on the farming ladder. This is of concern for the maintaining vibrant rural economies in the future, It would be a hope that all sectors of the food industry and government would put food security higher in their agendas. Without supporting farmers food security will replicate the situation seen in 2022 with energy, where prices will spiral.

Labelling of meat products is also requiring change going forward, to prevent the misleading of the consumers as happens presently, and legislation is needed so that the hospitality sector has to state where the meat is sourced. Without this consumers have no idea of the food miles or production methods used in the food they are eating.

The progress of a new support system for agriculture has been described as glacial, with little indication of what conditionality measures are to be incorporated. Many of the SBAs members are hoping for more progress in the next 12 months, in order that they can better plan for the future.

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Another hope for 2023 would be that Government would put more resources into research, that would get more accurate calculations for the carbon footprint of agriculture, along with exploring new products and technologies that can assist beef farmers improve efficiency and reduce emissions.

The SBA are now organising the Scottish Beef Event, that has been postponed from 2021, to be held on June 6, at Dalswinton Estate, near Dumfries, courtesy of Peter Landale. The estate runs 550 Aberdeen-Angus and Beef Shorthorn cross cows bred to Charolais, Aberdeen-Angus and Beef Shorthorn bulls to produce mainly forward stores and herd replacements.

Covering 5000 acres, the estate has land from the River Nith to the top of the hill incorporating wind turbines along with forestry and various diversified enterprises.

The event will be focused on the environmental issues facing the beef industry, with relevant seminars from keynote speakers. A farm tour is also part of the day and it is hoped the sun will shine to make the day even more enjoyable for attendees.

The SBA board looks forward to continue representing the beef industry and influencing a future that can deliver for individual businesses in beef production, whilst improving biodiversity and aiming for net zero.