British farming under threat

NFU (National Farmers' Union), the umbrella organization for over 46,000 farm businesses in England and Wales, announces that a report commissioned from Promar International reveals that production costs have soared over the last 2 years, particularly inputs such as energy +218%, fertilizers +47%, transport 35.6%, diesel +32% and labor +24%.

 

According to the report, over 2 years the compounded increases in production costs were +35.5% for tomatoes, +33.4% for lettuces, +30.3% for mushrooms, +32.3% for strawberries, +27.9% for potatoes, +32% for broccoli, +28.2% for onions, +29.6% for carrots and +34.4% for apples.

 

As a result of these unprecedented production costs, but also because of various uncertainties concerning labor and seasonal work, many growers are considering reducing production next season, NFU warns.

 

NFU has called on the government to take various actions to support fruit and vegetable growers and the growth of the sector.