Food security is set to “quickly rise up” the UK’s political agenda according to the Farmers for Action (FFA) group.
According to FFA spokesperson, William Taylor, “strong consumer sentiment questioning the overall availability of food in the shops” will be one of the force that will increase the spotlight on the food security debate in the UK.
The FFA representative is due to attend Save British Farming’s press day, which will take place in London on Tuesday, April 29.
Taylor said: “Twelve farmers are going out of business across the UK every day.
“The issue of food security is fast becoming a priority. If present trends are maintained, the UK government will soon be issuing ration books.”
Farmers
Meanwhile, the issue of persuading the UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves to engage with the agricultural sector on the Inheritance tax issue continues to dominate the thoughts of farming leaders.
Taylor puts little store on a growing belief in some quarters that the chancellor may announce amendments to the inheritance tax measures later in the summer.
“I see little evidence of this becoming a reality at the present time,” he said.
FFA has previously advocated for farmers to withdraw produce for sale if the chancellor does not amend the new inheritance regulations measures and this would include dairy farmers not sending their milk for processing.
Taylor said: “I know of three dairy farmers in Northern Ireland who have traditionally used fresh milk as fertiliser source on both grass and cereal crops.
“And there is firm evidence to confirm that, even at a farmgate price of 40p/L, using milk this way is at least cost neutral, relative to the purchase of chemical fertiliser.”
According to the FFA representative, the application process could not be simpler – mixing 75 litres of milk plus 25 litres of water in the sprayer would be the application rate for one acre of winter wheat.
“Obviously, farmers can adjust their dosage from there. We even have cereal growers considering purchasing milk from their neighbouring dairy farmers instead of purchasing fertiliser depending on the requirement at the time,” Taylor said.
“This story is a game changer for the dairy industry in these times, with some farmers in Great Britain currently supplying Muller being told their milk is not being collected on occasions.
“In short, if the current milk price is equivalent only to the price of fertiliser, then farmers can certainly avoid a possible loss situation by purchasing less fertiliser.”
