Earlier this week, the Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) held an event to consider the future for young people in a NI farming industry outside of the EU.

With follow-up meetings planned, the meeting on Monday is hopefully the start of a process whereby the YFCU can come forward with a policy position around Brexit.

In the past, tackling such detailed and important issues is something the YFCU has probably tended to avoid, often deferring to the position adopted by the Ulster Farmers’ Union. However, Brexit is different, as it is young people who will be most affected by the decision taken on 23 June to leave the EU.

While coming forward with a set of priorities that suits a broad membership base will be challenging, perhaps the biggest challenge will be to find a policy that gives equal opportunity to everyone who wants to productively farm.

The downside of the existing CAP regime is that it has encouraged some people to hold on to land, who should otherwise have exited the industry years ago. Encouraging longer-term leases as in the Republic of Ireland is one potential solution, but future support for agriculture must be targeted at those producing food in an environmentally sustainable way.

But, as an industry, we must try to get away from the historical tie that comes from owning land in NI. None of us should make our sons and daughters farm, and we should always encourage young people to have an open mind to change, and not lumber them with our own prejudices. Farming is a great way of life that brings freedom, variety and plenty of job satisfaction – a daily commute to Belfast would quickly teach you that. But, ultimately, farming must be profitable, or more young people will look for an alternative career. Decisions taken in the next few years will define our industry for many decades to come.