TODAY’S FARMERS will have to become more business-like if they are to take advantage of long-term financial assistance.

That was the stark warning issued this week by independent agricultural consultant, Peter Cook, who said farmers in the future would have to learn to adjust to global price pressures and become even more proficient in filling out forms if they are to attain much needed additional support.

Speaking at a Campbell Dallas panel evening, in Perth, he said: “There are some tough times ahead. Famers are going to be more exposed to real world market prices and if you want financial support you are going to have to justify it a lot more because there will be a lot less of it around.

“Taxpayers want to use that money on other things, so to grasp any sort of subsidy you are going to have to become businessmen.”

Mr Cook was also forthright on the future CAP reforms, and stressed that while breeding sheep and cattle numbers are falling seriously low in many areas, headage payments are not the way forward.

“It has been a fascinating, brilliant time for sheep farmers – we sold lambs at £91 per head before Christmas and the cast ewe trade is getting stronger and stronger – but these rapid price changes are all down to supply and demand which works when it is allowed to. Headage payments depress the market and knacker prices.”