I’m going to get straight to the point. The government is calling for more evidence on the impacts of the labour shortages in 2017, and we need your help to provide it. While the NFU’s Labour Providers Survey has already clearly demonstrated significant shortages across the season, the Immigration Minister has failed to act. That’s why the NFU’s End of Season Labour Survey, which you will be receiving in your email inbox imminently, is necessary to make it absolutely clear what the impact of these shortages have been on farm.
I cannot stress how important it is that we get a large number of responses to this survey. Government needs to understand, once and for all, that the labour shortages in 2017 have had a genuine impact on farm and that without some form of seasonal worker scheme in 2018 the situation will get worse. If you’ve had unharvested crops, significant increases in costs, or failed to meet your customers’ needs as a result of limited numbers of workers, we need you to tell us. Equally, if you’ve managed to get through this season relatively unscathed, it would be good to understand how you have managed to achieve this. We need the full picture, warts and all.
The survey may take up to 20 minutes to complete, but please do not let that put you off. A low response rate may well be seen by government as an indication that the problems aren’t really there. And if you need a little motivation, we’ve got a prize of a £50 M&S voucher and Countryside cookbook, plus a further 5 prizes of £10 M&S voucher and Countryside cookbook. Winners will be drawn at random from the completed surveys.
Finally, I’d like to remind you that the NFU also has a letter template that members can complete and send to their MPs to increase the pressure on government.
The NFU is only as strong as its members, and your support on this important matter is greatly appreciated.