Falling yields of key UK crops could raise food prices and leave farmers struggling
Yields of key crops have fallen significantly in this year’s harvest as a result of the hot summer and massive swings in weather, leaving farmers counting the cost and consumers facing higher prices for food.
After record heatwaves and drought, when rain finally arrived it caused problems in some areas, particularly the north and west, as farmers have struggled to bring in wet crops.
Early indications from the harvest are that yields of wheat are likely to be down by about a quarter, and those of staples such as potatoes, onions and carrots have plunged by as much as 20%. While the impact of lower yields will be cushioned by higher farmgate prices for produce, many farmers are turning to their banks for increased loans to tide them over as the costs of fuel, fertiliser and feed have all risen sharply.
Livestock farmers have been hit as feed prices have increased, while the long hot and dry spell forced many to dig into their feed reserves, and straw was in short supply in some areas. Milk yields were depressed by the hot weather, as was the fertility of pigs.
Posted by admin
on Sep 4 2018. Filed under Food security, News at Now, News From Roots.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
Loading ...