Farmers are hit by slump in earnings
FARMERS across a broad range of sectors in the Westcountry and beyond are facing substantial falls in their earnings due to challenges over the last year, new figures reveal.
Arable and pig producers are among those forecast to be hardest hit, while some upland and lowland livestock producers are expected to see a rise in income.
The Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has this week released the provisional Farm Business Income estimates for 2020/21, which demonstrate the level of volatility farmers continue to face industry-wide.
While some are expected to see an increase in their average incomes, particularly within the livestock and poultry sectors, Defra anticipates a sharp drop of 87% for pigs, 43% for cereals, 35% for general cropping and 10% for dairy businesses.
Challenging weather conditions, namely the wet autumn and winter of 2019 and spring drought of 2020, are expected to be key drivers influencing income – with the effects of the pandemic also a contributing factor.
Tom Bradshaw, vice president of the National Farmers’ Union, said the decreases “will be a huge blow as farmers become increasingly concerned about their bottom line, especially as they also face reductions in BPS [Basic Payment Scheme] farm support payments later this year”. He added: “Volatility is something farmers are well versed in managing but it doesn’t make it any easier to deal with.”
A SOMERSET-BASED breeder was the successful bidder on the best of an entry of pedigree Longhorn bulls at a recent timed online auction.
Leading last week’s Harrison & Hetherington sale at £3,200 was Gupworthy Spinach from Mr and Mrs G and J Woollatt in Chepstow.
Born in February 2018, this bull is by the 2016 Royal Welsh Show champion Gupworthy Onzlo and out of the Wellhead Endeavour daughter, Durham Nigella.
He found a new home with R J Sheppy and Son from Taunton.
Next up at £3,000 was the best of the junior bulls from Mr and Mrs J W Stanley in Leicestershire. A February 2020-born son of Blackbrook Baroque, out of Blackbrook Young Diamond, this bull sold to Tori Stanley from Derbyshire.
Of the females on offer, the top price was £2,000 for Newton Cheeky Moo Coo from York-based breeder, D Walker. This February 2018-born Stoke Juniper daughter sold with a pedigree steer calf at foot to Amanda Dixon, from Maryport in Cumbria. Sale averages: Seven bulls £2,414; 18 females £1,512