Farmers are being encouraged to reveal how or if they have been able to reinvest in their own businesses to grow and build the domestic poultry meat industry. It is hoped this information will help shape the NFU’s future dialogue in ensuring the industry has an opportunity to grow via current planning legislation or any taxation issues.
This is the first NFU survey of its kind since 2009, which revealed the industry had been suffering from poor returns over the previous decade which in turn had led to poor capital investment. The 2009 survey revealed that the average age of broiler sheds in the UK was 24 years old with 60% over 20 years.
Poultry farmer and NFU Poultry Board member Kinsey Hern is leading the survey.
“It is vital that as many poultry farmers as possible fill in this survey so we can establish what challenges we face going forward,” he said.
“As a growing industry, we need to ensure we have a robust and fair planning system so farmers can replace their old, existing sheds with minimal red tape and beauracracy. At the same time, they also need to be able to expand their businesses to meet a growing demand for quality British chicken meat.
“It will be particularly interesting to see what impact ‘horsegate’ and the subsequent sourcing of British poultry meat by retailers has had on the nations stock of broiler sheds”.
Michael Parker, Head of Taxation at the NFU added:
“This survey could provide vital evidence of how the tax system acts as a barrier to investment in new buildings and how changes to the tax system could stimulate both investment and growth.”
Chris Potter from the British Poultry Council (BPC) commented: “The BPC is delighted to be part of this important survey that will be vital to assess poultry housing within the UK”.
Not only of great interest the results are of help when it comes to lobbying local planning authorities and government for changes to the planning and taxation system.
To complete the survey click on the document below and send it to NFU Poultry, Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, CV8 2TZ or email Z2FyeS5mb3JkQG5mdS5vcmcudWs=