More than 80 per cent of farmers who took part in a poll conducted by the National Famers Union say they have been negatively affected by months of wet weather. It means that arable, livestock, poultry, horticulture and dairy farmers all expect to decrease production over the next year and the NFU has warned that many farm businesses are at risk this year while costs to buy farmed goods will be pushed up for consumers.
'Confidence has collapsed after months of devastating flooding, unsustainably high production costs and low market returns, and against a backdrop of reduced farm support as we transition to a new Domestic Agriculture Policy and associated farm support. “Any business owner knows that without confidence and a steady cash flow, that business will struggle to re-invest and remain viable.