02/01/2009 - Red tape to hit farming in 2009
The New Year could see a massive reduction in farm production throughout the UK due to previously unfavourable weather and the rise in "pointless" red tape, a union chief has warned.
Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers' Union said despite farming being in a stronger position than most sectors to handle a recession, the credit crunch is making it hard for farmers to finance growing crops and paying for increases in the cost of animal feed and fertiliser. He also warned difficulties in raising funds to meet new regulations will hit farmers hard next year.
The wet autumn saw crops fail and land become difficult to plant on due to conditions after heavy rain. These factors are expected to result in a fall in wheat production of at least 1.4 million tonnes from last year's record highs.
In the dairy sector, milk is expected to fall to 12.85 billion litres by April 2009, 8% down on the peak in 2000, as farmers face falling global prices and costs of £50,000 a farm to deal with EU regulations on slurry.
And the NFU president said "hugely complex and, frankly, pointless" rules requiring electronic tagging of every sheep could lead to reductions in flocks.
Copyright © Press Association 2008
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