“Something in the order of 10% of global fertiliser production has already been lost.
“If you can’t guarantee you can get hold of those products like fertiliser and red diesel that you need for food production, then that risk is going to be too great.”NFU President Tom Bradshaw on ITV Tonight
Middle East conflict
ITV Tonight featured an interview with NFU President Tom Bradshaw in an episode which explored how the conflict in the Middle East is driving up bills. Tom spoke about how the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could affect availability of fertiliser on the global market.
NFU East member Lee Stiles of Lea Valley Growers Association also spoke on the programme about how rising production costs could cost the business £15 million this year alone.
Meanwhile, Tom was interviewed by LBC News from the Devon County Show and by BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today about the government’s announcement that the fuel duty rate on red diesel will be cut by more than a third from 15 June.
BBC News Online reported this week on the pressures the Middle East conflict is placing on British farmers. Lancashire member Jon Forshaw and Merseyside member Olly Harrison highlighted the impact of rising fertiliser costs on their businesses.
Tom Bradshaw discusses the impacts of the Middle East war on ITV Tonight
Jimmy Russo discusses the impact of rising fertiliser prices on ITV Tonight
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) trade deal
NFU President Tom Bradshaw was quoted in both The Times and The Guardian, highlighting farmers’ relief that the UK–GCC free trade agreement safeguards Britain’s high food production standards and offers export opportunities for lamb, dairy and oats.
Tom was also quoted by Politico in an article about the trade deal saying he was “pleased the government had listened” to NFU concerns.
In other news
BBC News Online interviewed West Sussex farmer Frans de Boer on his use of an anaerobic digester to generate biogas electricity, following a report by the National Preparedness Commission stating that biofertilisers could reduce the UK’s vulnerability to market volatility.
Isle of Wight member Tom Turney and Hampshire member Jo Butler spoke to The Telegraph about how they have diversified their farms, highlighting NFU comments that diversification is essential for bolstering farm incomes.
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