A mix of 18 months of dangerous climate, Brexit and different worldwide occasions have left confidence in British farming at an all-time low, the Nationwide Farmers Union (NFU) has revealed.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw has warned that the collapse in confidence has seen 7,000 agricultural companies shut down since 2019 and is now imperilling meals safety in Britain.
The NFU’s annual Farmer Confidence Survey was taken between November 2023 and January this yr, and Mr Bradshaw famous that if it had been taken at the moment the phrase “disaster” would have to be added.
He described a “excellent storm” together with volatility brought on by the battle in Ukraine and the consequences of covid. Whereas he didn’t point out Brexit by identify Mr Bradshaw listed quite a few post-Brexit adjustments together with to the subsidy regime and new worldwide commerce offers.
The NFU president blamed 18 months of unusually moist climate for a lot of the difficulties but in addition listed quite a few issues brought on by Brexit, together with the Australia and New Zealand commerce offers which include a aggressive drawback for the UK due to Britain’s larger requirements.
Nonetheless, high of the checklist of considerations was the phasing out of the Primary Cost Scheme (BPS), the continuation of the EU subsidy which had supported farms across the UK.
The survey confirmed that this was the primary subject for farmers with 86 % naming it as a severe concern.
BPS is being changed by the Environmental Land Administration Scheme however funds have dropped by 50 % at a time when farmers are having to borrow extra.
Mr Bradshaw mentioned: “Now we have been clear because the NFU for a while of our concern that the transfer away from the BPS to the general public cash for public good, whereas very well-intentioned, has taken meals manufacturing with no consideration.
“Our concern is that if members don’t have faith then we as a rustic can’t ship meals safety. Now we have all political events say that meals safety is nationwide safety. In the event that they actually imply these phrases they should ask themselves what actions they should take to rebuild farmer confidence.”
He warned “believing we are able to import our method out of this downside is naive at greatest and silly at worst.”
He added: “We want a long-term plan for the way we’re going to feed 70 million individuals on an island.”
Mr Bradshaw pointed to a different post-Brexit subject on immigration that “we nonetheless don’t have a seasonal employee scheme for subsequent yr.”
This subject has seen EU residents, who used to come back and decide fruit, cease making the journey following the UK leaving the EU.
The survey exhibits that brief and mid-term confidence is at its lowest since information started in 2010. Due to this insecurity, manufacturing intentions have additionally plummeted with all farming sectors anticipating to lower manufacturing over the subsequent yr.
The relentless moist climate has performed a giant half, with 82 per cent of respondents saying their farm companies have suffered unfavorable impacts, with combined farms, arable farms and dairy farms having taken the most important hits.