Farmers at crisis point: Action needed to ensure food is grown next year
Photograph: Adam Fradgley Exposure Photography
The NFU has brought together farming organisations to agree the urgent action and key investments needed to secure the future of farming businesses as farmers and growers reach crisis point.
The farming roundtable was convened as Britain’s farmers and growers are at a financial crisis point as the worst drought in 50 years has resulted in historically low harvests, stunted grass growth and caused field crops to fail because of a lack of water.
This has been compounded by increased production costs for fuel, fertiliser and energy due to the war in the Middle East.
“We’re hearing daily about the cashflow crisis facing farmers. Whether it’s the grower in Buckinghamshire who’s down £220,000 on their usual harvest, or the dairy farmer in Dorset spending an extra £500 a day on fodder to feed their cows, the balance sheets are not adding up.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
Next generation at risk
Farming organisations have today warned that, without immediate action, next year’s food production and the future of the next generation of farmers are at risk.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “Defra’s strategic commitments last week were a welcome and important step towards building greater water and long-term resilience on farms. But farmers face an immediate crisis in cashflow and confidence.
“Rain has come too late for lost harvests and slashed yields, while livestock farmers are dealing with the worst bluetongue outbreak to reach our shores.
“Many are worried they will not have money in the bank to plant next year's crops or replace livestock lost to bluetongue.
“When we met the Prime Minister on farm in Cornwall last week, he acknowledged the scale of the challenge and said the commitments were a ‘first start’, but there was ‘more to come’. This was a welcome shift from government.
“That is why we have brought farming organisations together to agree the urgent action and investment needed to keep businesses afloat, protect next year’s food production and safeguard long-term food security.”
NFU sets out key investments needed
The key investments needed now are:
- Keep Britain Growing Loan – a government-backed, interest-free loan, linked to the losses caused by drought, which would give farm businesses the working capital to produce next year’s food.
- Fallen stock scheme – urgent government support is needed to help livestock farmers affected by bluetongue disease meet the rising costs of fallen stock collection and disposal.
For other actions that could be taken to support homegrown food production and water resilience, read our immediate asks on drought and long-term asks on water and food resilience.
Farmers at crisis point
Tom continued: “We’re hearing daily about the cashflow crisis facing farmers. Whether it’s the grower in Buckinghamshire who’s down £220,000 on their usual harvest, or the dairy farmer in Dorset spending an extra £500 a day on fodder to feed their cows, the balance sheets are not adding up.
“Farmers in England are now without the breathing space once provided by direct payments and are increasingly exposed to geopolitical shocks, as well as repeated weather extremes, animal disease and global wars.
“Action is needed now to secure the future of British farming and enable the next generation to keep producing the nation’s food. We will continue working with government to help farmers withstand this crisis and deliver on its commitment that food security is national security.”
