Every household in the country will see their weekly food bill rise further because of this government’s latest attack on our farmers.
From January a hefty carbon tax will apply to sectors importing “carbon intensive goods” such as fertiliser, steel and iron. It will see the cost of fertiliser rise by up to £100 a tonne.
It is something I have been campaigning against and will keep calling for these ridiculous plans to be dropped.
Many farmers have said they are considering leaving their fields fallow because the rising costs (imposed on them since Labour came to power), means they risk selling next year’s crops at a loss.
Less produce and grain will put our food security at risk and increase our reliance on imports at a time when households are already struggling.
It beggars’ belief government cannot see this and are pushing ahead with this ‘environmental tax’.
Last week I met with one of my arable farmers in High Legh who feels government does not support or value British farmers – something I agree with. He told me he is spending an extra £5,000 a month on Red Diesel alone. His cost of fertiliser has also doubled to £500 a tonne, both largely linked to the conflict in the Middle East and show no signs of easing.
With rising costs but static grain prices, profitability is on a knife edge and it will only take a poor harvest when it is either too dry or too wet to create a real issue. He already diversifies (as do the majority of farmers) and supplements his income by working as a contractor spraying for other smaller farms (as he has the equipment needed). He cannot afford to hire more staff to ease the burden of his 90-hour week because of increases in staffing costs including minimum wage and Employer National Insurance Contributions.
Farmers want to keep farming, but they are saying they cannot make the business pay. They cannot charge more for their products with many in fixed price contracts (like dairy farmers) and so while costs continue to soar, income streams stay static. It is time we show farmers we value the work they do in putting food on our tables.
Time and again this government proves it doesn’t understand the rural economy and certainly doesn’t understand farming and this carbon tax is the latest in a long line of attacks on the sector. I hope government sees sense and drops these plans before it is too late.
