Calls for PM to act: Farms take Brexit hit due to ‘unprecedented’ labour shortages October 29, 2021 “Unprecedented” farm labour shortages caused by Brexit and the pandemic should be addressed imminently, the chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has said, as he urged the Prime Minister to take “urgent action”. Conservative MP Neil Parish on Thursday wrote to Boris Johnson to ask for fast-tracked visas, more relaxed English language [...]
BREAKING: Animal Rebellion takes over govt building in Westminster, activisits threaten to stay ‘indefinitely’ October 26, 2021 Animal Rebellion activists have scaled a Government building in Westminster and say they plan to stay there “indefinitely”. Four activists from Animal Rebellion, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, used ladders, ropes and harnesses to climb the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) office as high as “20 metres” at around 6am on Tuesday. [...]
Calls to protect farmers from Kiwi meat and dairy products after post-Brexit trade deal with New Zealand October 21, 2021 The impact of the post-Brexit trade deal the government has struck with New Zealand will be felt by farmers in such a way that they require protection, the Scottish Government has said. Responding to the deal struck between Boris Johnson and Jacinda Ardern, the Scottish Government said it would not offset the effects of Brexit. [...]
Agriculture giant Olam looking to raise £2bn in London food ingredients IPO October 6, 2021 Olam International, the global agricultural commodity trading giant, is considering raising £2bn through the IPO of its London-based food ingredients unit next year, the firm has announced this morning. Five global banks have been appointed to work on the IPO, which would likely rank among the biggest offerings in London over the last few years. [...]
Mass pig culling inevitable if abattoir labour shortage persists, vets warn October 6, 2021 Vets working to tackle pigs’ overcrowding in farms have said Prime Minister Boris Johnson is not taking the abattoir labour shortage seriously, and soon ‘mass culling’ would be the only option left to farmers. Duncan Berkshire, a vet in charge of liasing with the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs to manage the pigs’ overcrowding, [...]
UK pig farmers begin culling healthy animals amid major labour shortage October 5, 2021 Pig farmers have today been forced to begin the UK’s first cull of healthy animals since records began, as acute labour shortages leave abattoirs unable to process enough of the country’s meat. Around 600 healthy pigs have been slaughtered and had their carcasses thrown “in the bin” today, as farmers were forced to begin killing [...]
Public opinion and hungry investors push more farmers to convert land as number of solar farms swells to 2,500 October 4, 2021 The number of solar farms in the UK increased 12 per cent last year, from 2,250 in 2019/20 to 2,510 last year, according to new data shared with City A.M. today. This growth is coming from farmers who are increasingly using their land to erect solar farms. Converting this land to be used as solar [...]
Turkey farmers blame Brexit for labour shortage that would ruin Christmas September 26, 2021 Brits face the threat of no turkey this Christmas as a result of Brexit and subsequent lack of labour, the Traditional Farm Fresh Turkey Association (TFTA) has warned. While small local farms are unlikely to be impacted, the UK’s supermarkets could see a ‘national shortage’ of turkeys in the run-up to the festive season due [...]
UK farmers over the moon as Biden agrees to lift 32-year old US ban on British lamb September 22, 2021 President Joe Biden’s administration is planning to lift a 32-year old ban on the import of British lamb, in a move that has delighted sheep farmers in the UK. Prime Minister Boris Johnson highlighted the move to lift the ban while speaking to reporters in Washington D.C. earlier this afternoon, as he admitted he is [...]
UK food producers push PM to grant 12-month visas to solve supply problems August 27, 2021 Companies from across the UK’s food chain are calling on the UK Government to grant thousands of extra one-off visas to solve Brexit-induced supply chain problems that now threaten to ruin Christmas. Companies and lobby groups representing food production companies from paddock to payment counter want a 12-month visa to be created for HGV drivers [...]