Growers urged to complete next Defra seasonal labour survey

Growers urged to complete next Defra seasonal labour survey

Update 12/10/18: The next survey has now been sent out to a selection of growers.  This is likely to be the most critical quarter for shortages and so it is imperative that growers respond.

Although we now have a pilot scheme for a new seasonal workers scheme, there is still much more to be done to secure a full scheme post Brexit. The more robust data that Defra is able to collect, the stronger the case will become for a full seasonal workers scheme. 

Defra is running a quarterly survey asking farmers and growers to provide information on their labour requirements for temporary workers.

The survey will ask selected farmers and growers to provide information on their required temporary labour over the preceding quarter, and of the actual use of temporary labour in their farm business over that period.

The survey will complement existing work by Defra with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on a two year programme to improve official data relating to agriculture and migration patterns, including temporary working.

The survey will not be sent to all farmers and growers. Instead, a representative sample of farm businesses will be randomly selected to take part in the survey. Selected businesses will receive an email or card in the post in Late July to participate in the online survey, and will have around three weeks to respond.

NFU Chief Horticulture Adviser, Hayley Campbell-Gibbons said: "If you are contacted by Defra to complete the survey, I would encourage you to fill it in and share your experiences. The NFU has provided a wealth of evidence on seasonal labour shortages during 2017 and 2018, but this is a prime opportunity for growers to connect directly with government."