IT doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that energy prices are set to remain strong during the period ahead.
Farmers are already seeing this in their fuel bills and, of course, the news that fertiliser prices are about to increase significantly over the coming months is further evidence of the grip that the rising cost of energy is having on their busines
ses.
So much for the bad news: the good news is that local farmers will have an opportunity to become energy producers themselves should they chose to embrace the renewable energy culture.
In fact it's much more than a culture. The alternative energy sector looks set to become one of the world's largest industries within the next decade, such is the concern about rising oil and gas prices. So why shouldn't farmers get a piece of this action.
Consider the facts: energy will always be in demand with that produced from renewable sources always likely to receive a premium return.
Sceptics may point out that the argument with regard to need also holds when it comes to food, yet the EU's farming sector is currently being held to ransom by cheap imports. The key difference when it comes to energy production is that of transport costs.
It will always make economic sense to select a source on one's own doorstep rather than having to pay through the nose for imported oil and gas, the long term availability of which can not be guaranteed.
It's often overlooked that farmers have been in the energy business since day one. The crops they grow harvest the sun's energy while animals simply utilise the energy contained within the feed that are eating. So what we are talking about now is re-directing some of this energy to fuel our cars and heat our homes.
The week past was marked with the publication of the UK Government's strategy document, outlining how the nation can meet its future energy requirements. And while the nuclear issue grabbed most of the headlines, the emphasis placed on renewables must not be overlooked. Add in Peter Hain's commitment to setting the Province up as a role model for renewable energy and one quickly comes to the conclusion that there is a more than viable future for 'farmed' energy production here in Northern Ireland.
There has been a lot of gloom, doom and despondency permeating through agriculture over recent times, most of which has been 'fuelled' by a sense of great uncertainty over the future shape of the industry. However, this week's news on the real potential for renewable energy will be regarded by many as a welcome light at the end of the tunnel!
RICHARD HALLORAN
