Experts warn shoppers could see even more food shortages

Shoppers could see a shortage of home-grown food on our supermarket shelves as farmers warn the wet weather is affecting plantings.

Many fertile lands in South Holland are flooded or damaged by the deluge of rain that lashed the area in recent months – preventing some of our food from being planted or cleared.

Nearly 35% of food in Great Britain passes through South Holland. Any shortages are therefore expected to have a major impact and could push the country to import more food, but this will come at a cost.

The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show that child poverty has risen in South Holland as the cost of living continues to rise.

The National Farmers Union has called for food security to be made a priority for the government, and to ensure the industry is properly supported to ensure the country is fed. But after Brexit, farmers now receive money for environmental measures instead of for food production.

Simon Gadd, chairman of the Holland NFU, said: “There are still many farms in the area that urgently need support as we face one of the wettest years on record – extremes that could become the norm.

“We have farmers with fields that have been flooded since October and unable to grow crops or graze livestock.

“While our family farms bear the brunt, customers can now see its effects all year round as produce simply does not leave the farm gate.

“Traditionally we are price takers and we are likely to see tighter supply. There are questions for retailers but we will have to see what the impact is as we head into what will be a very difficult 2024 harvest.

“Food security must be a priority as we face these relentless rainfall and very difficult conditions across all our agricultural sectors.”

Much of the Cowbit and Crowland washes have been underwater due to the collapse of a bank on the River Welland and sending floodwaters into nearby fields.

The latest figures from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, which provides national statistics on food production, show the country’s wheat production fell by 15% to 1.463 million hectares – marking the biggest reduction in cropped area since 2020.

Oilseed rape is also at its lowest level since the 1980s, at 280 kilo hectares, and the amount of winter barley has also fallen.

But it is not only combinable crops that are affected by the bad weather. Due to the rain, some potatoes could not be harvested, causing them to remain in the ground and rot.

The recent cold snap is also affecting spring plantings, as soil conditions are not warm enough to promote germination. Root crops and spring vegetables are also likely to emerge later due to soil conditions.

Profound Santa Claus farmer Chris Carter says subsidies have fallen by 50% and warned in 2022 that the era of cheap food is over.

He said: “The whole purpose of the subsidies we have enjoyed in the past through the EU was to keep food prices artificially low. As we enter a brave new world, food prices are rising. Farmers’ job is to make food.

“Whitehall thinks it’s OK to import food and that the countryside will be beautiful but won’t produce food. I have told several Members of Parliament that the countryside was built on productive agriculture. The countryside we enjoy should be the result of profitable farmers planting trees and hedges.

“Do we want to eat home-produced food, because many farmers are almost saying they have had enough?

“The general public appreciates us, but today’s government is more concerned with the environment than with food production. A government has two priorities: defending the country and making sure we have enough to eat.”

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