Farming confidence at all-time low

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, sector leaders have warned.

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% of survey respondents saying their farm businesses suffered negative impacts.

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 now.