WITH BRITAIN'S exit date from the European Union now postponed until May 22, if the Prime Minister can get her deal agreed by Parliament, or bumped back forward to April 12 if she can’t, a 'no deal' Brexit has become a real practical possibility – and this Spring will see many lambs born into economic limbo.

The National Sheep Association has once again reminded policy makers that its members are in the front line of the UK businesses that will suffer most from a 'disorderly' withdrawal from the Single Market and Customs Union.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “What we all feared but hoped wouldn’t happen is becoming a real possibility. While there may be no shortage of people in the UK that seem prepared to crash out and just get the job done, all evidence suggests that for the sake of the UK's sheep industry, something needs to give quickly to prevent our industry having a devastating shake up.

"We have been repeatedly warning of the risks of a no deal Brexit, and it now seems more likely than ever that our concerns may be realised.”

NSA repeated its call for MPs to support the Prime Minister's deal. Mr Stocker continued: “We have to believe that at some point in the next week MPs will again be allowed to vote on the deal, which is the key to the door for a continued trading relationship with the EU. Without that we’re facing the disturbing reality that sometime very soon we face a disorderly exit causing huge turmoil for the sheep industry.

"Beyond the uncertainty of what we are expecting now, farmers are bracing for what could potentially be one of the most turbulent years in our trading history. We still don’t know that we have third country status assured with the EU when we leave, and we still don’t have an Agriculture Bill in place. About all we do know is that the sun will come up in the morning and go down again at night while our industry is being told it should plan more effectively for the future."

While NSA has welcomed the UK Government's promise to introduce tariffs on sheepmeat imported into the UK to match the costs exporters will be facing, it noted that these tariffs would not apply to the 114,000 tonnes of sheepmeat a year entering the UK from New Zealand.

“Again, this offers very little by the way of dealing with the imminent problem of an over burden of lamb in the UK market if our exports are disrupted," said Mr Stocker. "Very quickly oversupplies will drive lamb prices down, making production unprofitable, with a need to draw on Government support to avoid forcing some farmers out of business.”

NSA is also concerned that the new UK framework for agricultural support, in the form of the Agriculture Bill, is 'stagnant' and has yet to pass through either House of Parliament. Mr Stocker added: “This is concerning, as if we crash out in the next week or so the UK will no longer be part of the CAP, and there will be no more funding from the EU. Until the Agriculture Bill is passed, it is all just sentiment. We need the legislation cleared to ensure future provisions are set in stone, to ensure security for the future of the industry.”