Potato farms are closing in the UK

Published 2024년 7월 22일

Tridge summary

Small and medium-sized potato farms in the UK are facing a crisis due to severe labor shortages and unpredictable weather conditions. The Brexit vote has led to a decrease in the number of EU workers, who were crucial for the agricultural sector, and new immigration rules have limited the flow of seasonal workers. Extreme weather conditions, including droughts and intense rainfall, have damaged crops and increased production costs. Trade agreements with countries like Australia and New Zealand have flooded the British market with cheaper agricultural imports, adding to the competition and pressure on local farmers. Without significant policy changes, such as improved labor schemes and financial support, the future of potato farming in the UK looks uncertain.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

There is an alarming trend in the UK - small and medium-sized potato farms are disappearing, EastFruit reports. The decline is being driven by severe labor shortages and increasingly unpredictable weather conditions. It is noted that the Brexit vote, which was aimed at “taking back control” of borders and laws, led to an outflow of workers from the EU, which were crucial for the agricultural sector. New immigration rules not only limited the flow of seasonal workers, but also led to an acute labor shortage that local workers could not fill, writes AgroPortal. Visa rules for seasonal workers introduced by the government have proven to be inadequate, with limited use and insufficient numbers to meet the needs of the agricultural industry. Adding to the difficulties of farmers are extreme weather conditions, which are becoming more frequent and severe. Climate change has led to long periods of drought accompanied by intense rainfall, damaging crops and making farming difficult. Read ...

Source: Eastfruit