Gloomy farmers say wet weather is the last straw as confidence collapses in ... trends now
Farmer confidence in England and Wales has collapsed to an all-time low with more than four-fifths saying they have been negatively affected by months of wet weather.
All areas of farming – arable, livestock, poultry, horticulture and dairy – expect to decrease production over the next year, a poll by the National Farmers Union (NFU) found.
Almost 800 farmer and grower members were surveyed between November 21 and January 5 about the challenges they are facing and their expectations for the year ahead.
The results published today showed both short and mid-term confidence – farmers' outlook on the next year and next three years – to be at their lowest levels since the annual research began in 2010.
Arable and livestock farmers were found to be particularly pessimistic towards both.
Relentless wet conditions in autumn played a big part, according to the NFU, with 82 per cent of survey respondents saying their farm businesses suffered negative impacts.
All areas of farming – arable, livestock, poultry, horticulture and dairy – expect to decrease production over the next year, a poll by the National Farmers Union (NFU) found (file image)
But since January, heavy rain and storms continued to batter the UK through to April, meaning results would likely be worse if the survey were taken today.
Tom Bradshaw, NFU president, said the extreme weather was part of 'the perfect storm of events coming together'.
'I don't think anyone can underestimate the impact that this last 18 months of exceptional weather has had,' he said.
The conditions have compounded other problems for English and Welsh farmers, such as increased costs, inflationary pressures, labour shortages and cheaper imports, he said.
Results of the survey suggest that the highest proportion of farmers see the phase-out of the old EU Basic Payment Scheme towards new subsidy schemes as an issue that will negatively impact their businesses in 2024.
Closely following in second was the issue of high input costs like fuel and fertiliser, which ranked highest in last year's survey.
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