Farmers should embrace new era of changing energy sources

AS the rising cost of energy becomes an increasing burden on margins both inside and outside of the farm gate, producing bio crops and alternative sources of power will offer challenge and opportunity in farming over the next decade.

The challenge facing farmers is to identify the role which they can hold in the new regime, and adopt to necessary changes to take advantage of the new era. For some, it will be direct involvement in growing (new) crops. For others, it may be the provision of facilities, eg, lease of land for crop production or wind energy turbines, etc. As world supplies of conventional forms of power become tighter — and more expensive — and environmentalists and Government push for more eco friendly solutions to the effect of higher emissions on the environment, farmers will come under pressure to change from current systems in farming.

Rather than resisting change, which will not be advisable as an option, better to identify and seize the opportunity to share in the considerable returns that should become available as the focus switches from imported fuels to home produced. Already, there are those who are lined up — outside of the farm gate — to capitalise on the inevitable change. It is crucial that farmers set their position firmly to ensure that they are not short-changed in the process, and, similar to so many mainstream farming enterprises, get a tiny fraction of the retail value in return for a significant input. It is not clear that there is enough technical and forward planning information or advice available to farmers.