According to a recent survey of UK farmers, there is growing concern in the agri industry over input costs. More than 300 growers responded to a wide range of questions covering key current issues including the impact of Brexit, new UK farming policy, input cost inflation, and how these factors might affect future plans for farming businesses.
Looking forward, 37% of respondents felt that UK agriculture would be worse off as a result of Brexit over the long term, and just 16% believed prospects for farming would be better. A total of 20% of farmers cited increased costs, with 19% anticipating less industry support and 17% mentioning labor shortages.
There were significant regional differences in the reported impact of Brexit, with 58% anticipating new agricultural policy to affect them negatively in Scotland whilst that figure rose to 86% in England.
A massive 82% of farmers believed that higher input costs had not been reflected in higher farm gate prices. 24% of respondents said they were very likely to cut production if prices do not represent those higher input costs more fairly, and 47% said they would consider it.
Source: thescottishfarmer.co.uk