How is Brexit for you?

Bald Rick

Moderator
Livestock Farmer
Location
Anglesey
No, not a political thread per se but our freedom hasn't half caused some issues .........

Just since Jan 1st on this farm:

1) Deal to send 60 pedigree heifers to N Ireland ....... no deal because there are no lairage facilities on either side of the water for a physical vet inspection prior to the voyage across the Irish Sea

2) Teat foamer kit from Germany impounded in Felixstowe until £190 import tax paid (probably this new VAT thingy?)

3) Enquiry in import truck load of heifers from Denmark .... no go as "arrangements not yet in place" but it looks like there is no problem from Germany

4) Deal to sell surplus blower trailer to N Ireland. Yes fine but you need a Phytosanitary Certificate (good for 14 days) before it moves off farm. If it was going to Europe (incl S Ireland) then it is chargeable but as it's N Ireland, it's free. Praise the Lord & pass the salt.
Got it after 2 inspectors turned up this morning and after some additional washing on cross members

20210217_101654.jpg


That's four things with likely more to come as I still cannot get an answer to a cattle import question.

Anyone else got stories as we march to the Sunny Uplands?

(BTW was told that it is taking some tractor exporters up to 6 hours to get their machines to "pass" standard)
 
I saw an artisan cheese producer saying she could no longer send cheese parcels to NI, because the small retail orders (£15 to £40) couldn't justify the admin and hassle of new protocols...

I assume a grain/seed sample would come under the same photosanitary requirements?
 

yellowbelly

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
N.Lincs
Looks like you 'global world players' are having sh!t loads of problems and I understand your frustration and can sypathise.

Speaking purely selfishly, as a small peasant farmer, I can say it's been a walk in the park. Neither Brexit nor Covid have bothered us much - never go / have any desire to go anywhere much (busy lambing anyhow, so never go far anyway) and sheep are ££££ :greedy::greedy::greedy:
So much for the post Brexit £60 lamb:whistle:
As far as we're concerned, it's 'What's not to like :scratchhead:'.
 

Lowland1

Member
Mixed Farmer
With lockdown in place i would think for the majority of the population they have no idea of the affects of brexit which is exactly as the Government wants it. For us exporting fresh produce from Kenya to the UK Brexit has helped as it is much harder for fresh produce to move into the UK from Europe hauliers are not keen of the hassles involved especially when you add in Covid.
 
Parts value £2k returned to manufacturer in Italy for a customer to be serviced and returned back to UK has so far attracted £400 of surcharges.

Food starch samples to France (Value under £20) have in general been delivered next day, but one has been pulled for random inspection and is currently 16 days in customs....

Given up on even thinking about doing short notice dedicated Same-day deliveries from Yorkshire to Paris which I have done previously on a number of occasions, and come back to sleep in my own bed.

Firm we have worked with in the past has filed for administration - hit by covid and looking forward could see no other way through, will probably Phoenix in due course.


 
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teslacoils

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
My small side project of buying / selling videogames has stopped posting to the States and Europe. Us due to covid. Europe due to Brexit. Mainly as buyers don't want to take responsibility for any potential costs and I don't want the hassle once it leaves the UK
 

JeepJeep

Member
Trade
After an initial drop off... It's Increased Euopean Sales and they are paying in £s not Euro's

Providing the Customs forms etc are bang on with details I'm seeing far quicker Shipping into Europe on smaller Items with Royal Mail. Royal Mails prices hardly budged.

Larger Stuff to ship into Europe is a bit more expensive... Has been since before Xmas when the Dover f**k up happened.

Not brought anything in from Europe this year as I've had no need.. It's all come from the USA and it's business as usual and slightly cheaper.
 

melted welly

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
DD9.
Lot of forms to fill in, lot more people involved in process of moving fresh veg to NI. I don’t see us serving that market next season, I also think NI producers and processors may very well turn inwards to serve home market only.

There is a balance to be struck as to whether the hassle/risk is justified by the rewards in some of these (or lack of) trade agreements. At the moment I don’t think it is.

So, in answer to the question, “how is Brexit for you?” the Brexit reality has us questioning our future direction, which is quite possibly a positive thing.
 

Tractorstant

Member
Location
Monaco.
As someone who is the other side of the water, it's a total pain in the arse with a lot of forms to be filled out regarding British Nationals living in the EU. Now GB is classified as a 3rd Country. It was so easy to travel before. Importing parts like others have said is ok as long as you have the right paperwork and fill out the forms meticulously.

Good news, British clients no longer have to pay VAT to use their boats in EU waters....20% saving right there.
 

capfits

Member
On this farm nothing yet has been apparent.
However plenty of neighbours are seed potato producers, no good, and it may affect ground rents in due course.
Personal occasionally buy stuff from Europe for hobby, pointless for sub £100 and puts you at a disadvantage in the €2000 pricing. Certainly look harder at total costs.
 

upnortheast

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Northumberland
No difference here so far.
I suspect the chances of 15 million brits having their covid jab in Feb would be a dream if we had still been in Europe. How do you put a price on that ?

Got semen to go to sweden shortly & enquiries for cattle to NI. Would like to think in a couple of months some common sense will prevail with the paperwork & bureaucracy
 

toquark

Member
No difference at all really. Remarkably the sun still rose on January the 1st and if anything prices have held up remarkably well since. Though I do agree that lockdown may have ameliorated some of the effects in the short term.

As with importing & exporting to mainland Europe (and NI), there will be inevitable wrinkles but once everyone gets used to it, it'll settle down and just become the new normal.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.9%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 63 34.2%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.3%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 6 3.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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