The likely ramifications of Brexit dominated a lively discussion between BAGMA (British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association) Director Keith Christian and Service Dealer columnist Martin Rickatson in the most recent episode of the Inside Agri-Turf podcast hosted by Chris Biddle.

 

The episode was recorded this week in the midst of the still-ongoing negotiations surrounding the terms of the UK’s formal withdrawal from the EU on 31 December, with most companies still ‘in the dark’ about new requirements and regulations.

 

Keith said that they were constantly revising and issuing guidance to BAGMA members, but suggested that any dealer involved in importing or exporting should employ an agent to handle the paperwork.

 

The current state of the industry during this disruptive season was discussed along with the on-going consolidation of dealers, the emergence of robots into the agricultural market, possible mergers and acquisitions amongst manufacturers and the likely impact on the machinery sector when subsidies to farmers was phased out along with a shift in focus towards more environmentally sustainable farming methods.

 

Both Keith and Martin agreed that the industry now faced a quadruple sets of factors against which to set future business prospects, the two long-term issues of weather and the economy, added to which now are the impact of the current pandemic and the uncertainties surrounding Brexit.

 

LISTEN TO DISCUSSION