Wash-out a ‘perfect storm’ for farmers

Warning of production cuts as wet spell hits confidence

FARMERS’ confidence has collapsed to an all-time low in England and Wales, with all areas of the industry saying they will have to decrease production next year following months of wet weather

More than 80 per cent who took part in a poll conducted by the National Famers Union (NFU) said they have been negatively affected by rain and flooding.

As a result, arable, livestock, poultry, horticulture and dairy farmers all expect to cut production over the next year.

The NFU also warned that many farm businesses are at risk this year, while the cost of farm produce will be pushed up for consumers.

The survey of 800 NFU members, conducted between November 21 and January 5 about the challenges they are facing and their expectations for the year ahead, was actually predicted to be even worse if it had been done now as heavy rain continued to batter the UK until the end of April.

However, the results that have been released today were part of “the perfect storm of events coming together”, NFU president Tom Bradshaw said.

The conditions have compounded other problems such as increased costs, inflationary pressures, labour shortages and cheaper imports.

The survey results suggest that the highest proportion of farmers see the phase-out of the old EU Basic Payment Scheme in favour of new subsidy schemes as an issue that will negatively impact their businesses in 2024.

Closely following in second was the issue of high input costs like fuel and fertiliser, which ranked highest in last year’s survey.

Meanwhile, concerns over farmgate prices – what farmers are paid for their produce before transport costs – jumped by 10 percentage points this year.

Mr Bradshaw added: “I don’t think anyone can underestimate the impact that this last 18 months of exceptional weather has had.

“Confidence has collapsed after months of devastating flooding, unsustainably high production costs and low market returns, and against a backdrop of reduced farm support as we transition to a new domestic agriculture policy and associated farm support.

“Any business owner knows that without confidence and a steady cash flow, business will struggle to re-invest and remain viable.”

Office for National Statistics figures show that more than 8,000 farms were lost between 2019 and 2023.

Some 65 per cent of farmers told the NFU that their profits are declining or their business may not survive, compared with 50 per cent who said the same last year.

Experts recently warned that lower yields from key crops could lead to higher food prices if the losses cannot be offset by imports from a stronger global market.

But Mr Bradshaw argued that relying on imports is “naive at best and foolish at worst” as climate change grows as a risk to food systems globally. “Britain cannot afford to lose its ability to feed itself,” he added.

With a general election planned for this year, Mr Bradshaw said farmers were looking for policies that will underpin profitable food production.

Farming minister Mark Spencer, inset, said backing British farmers was at the heart of the Government’s approach.

“Our farmers have faced one of the wettest periods on record in England, and I have seen first-hand the impact this has had,” he added.

“The Farming Recovery Fund is offering support to farmers to help recover from uninsurable damage and we are looking at how we can expand the scheme .

“I will continue to listen and work with farmers to look at what further support can be offered during this challenging period.”

ENVIRONMENTAL concerns are now at the forefront of many people’s thinking, informing lifestyle choices ranging from how they travel to what they eat.

Those factors will be a key factor in the way millions vote at the General Election. More than ever before, how Britain tackles climate change and plots a course into a more sustainable future will be high on the political agenda, especially for the young.

And one of the factors in concentrating minds on the environment is proximity to nature under the care of zoos and aquariums. A fascinating study by the University of Sheffield, in partnership with Chester Zoo, finds that spending time in attractions visited by vast numbers of people every year makes them think more carefully about conservation.

This in turn influences positive changes to their behaviour, for instance checking if the food they may buy contains ingredients such as palm oil, the production of which can damage the environment.

These are important steps to take. While governments can set national policies to help the environment, and nations should co-operate in global initiatives, countless millions of small acts and consumer choices combine to make a huge change for the better. Equally importantly, they engage people, foster consensus among the public over steps that need to be taken and allow individuals to feel that they are making a useful contribution to tackling arguably the most pressing issue of our age.

The research from Sheffield and Chester is further evidence of how exposure to the wonders of the natural world awakens a passion in people to do their bit to preserve it.