UK farmers report income drop after Brexit trade deals
9 reported
A single-source report from The Guardian describes how UK farmers are facing financial pressure following Brexit, including lower livestock prices and reduced exports to the European Union. The article quotes Liz Webster, a farmer in Wiltshire, who says about £400 per animal has been wiped off the price for her beef cattle. The article attributes the price drop to a flood of cheaper meat from Australia under new trade deals signed after the UK left the EU. It also cites studies showing farm exports to the EU fell by nearly half in quantity and by 35% in value, and that Brexit added £7bn to UK food prices by 2023. The article notes that the government says 65% of food eaten in the UK is still grown domestically, and the farming minister stated the Labour government is backing farmers with a record £11.8bn farming budget. The report also describes changes to farm subsidies and environmental schemes, as well as trade friction with the EU that has affected small producers.
What’s reported
Liz Webster farms 647 hectares in Wiltshire and reports about £400 per animal wiped off beef cattle prices.
Livestock typically fetch £2,000 to £3,000 per animal.
The price drop is attributed to cheaper meat from Australia under post-Brexit trade deals.
A study found farm exports to the EU fell by 47% in quantity and 35% in value.
A 2023 study found Brexit added £7bn to UK food prices.
The government states 65% of food eaten in the UK is still grown domestically.
Farming minister Stephen Morgan said the Labour government is delivering a record £11.8bn farming budget.
The farm budget for England alone is about £2.3bn a year, roughly the same as before Brexit but not grown with inflation.
Only about half of farmers in England receive payments under current schemes.
Key figures
Liz Webster, farmer in Wiltshire and founder of Save British Food
Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers' Union (NFU)
Stephen Morgan, farming minister
Tom Lancaster, head of land, food and farming at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit
Matthew Browne, head of public affairs at the Wildlife Trusts
Vicki Hird, strategic lead on agriculture at The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts
Ariel Brunner, regional director of BirdLife Europe and Central Asia
Sources: The Guardian
