Farmers Across Britain Rally for Support Amidst Fears of Industry’s Uncertain Future
Farming is a way of life for Rhodri and his family, who reside in the Welsh mountains. As he watches his young son play in the puddles beside him, Rhodri expresses his deep connection to his land and the fear that he may be part of the generation that loses everything.
“It’s a perfect storm,” Rhodri says, as he walks across his farm in the early hours of a winter morning. The looming threat of losing his livelihood keeps him up at night.
For many farmers across Britain, this fear is all too real. They have sounded the alarm, questioning their futures as the government introduces new regulations and policies that they believe will push them out of business. Brexit has also brought about a shortage of affordable labor, further adding to their concerns.
In March, hundreds of tractors filled the roads of central London, bringing traffic to a halt as farmers made their way to parliament to voice their frustrations. This was the culmination of years of mounting frustration and a headline-grabbing moment.
The issues facing farmers are complex and multifaceted. They blame the government for throwing them “under the bus”, pointing to the lack of affordable labor post-Brexit, new regulations to tackle climate change, and the realization that buying British is a luxury many cannot afford.
One of the farmers at the forefront of this fight is Rhodri, a sheep farmer in Wales. For him, subsidies make up 40% of his income and before Brexit, this money came from the EU. However, with Brexit, subsidies have become a devolved issue and from 2025, Rhodri will be required to dedicate 10% of his land to trees and another 10% to natural habitat. This is a loss he fears his business will not be able to sustain.
For Rhodri, this means making the difficult choice between keeping fewer sheep, which will reduce his earnings, or buying hay for the winter, which could actually increase his carbon footprint. Losing the small amount of land where he could plant trees is a major concern as it is vital for feeding his flock.
Welsh farmers are not just angry about subsidies; changes to rules on tackling bovine tuberculosis (TB) and the use of farming chemicals have also sparked protests outside the Welsh parliament. In February, thousands of brightly colored wellies were placed on the steps of the Senedd, symbolizing the thousands of farming jobs at risk.
To address these concerns, the Welsh government has set up a working group with farmers to achieve a “sustainable” agricultural sector in Wales. In a statement to the media, the government emphasized its commitment to ensuring the industry’s future by combining traditional farming practices with cutting-edge innovation and diversification. It also stated that its policies are aimed at enabling farmers to produce high-quality Welsh food while safeguarding the environment and addressing the climate and nature emergencies.
However, the anger and frustration are not limited to Wales. In Kent, 300 miles away from the Welsh mountains, pig farmer Jeff Gibson also took part in the London protest. With pork production at a five-year low in Britain, Jeff has serious concerns for the future of his industry.
As he scatters food to his hungry piglets, Jeff explains how the British pork industry has been decimated in the last 10 years due to heavily subsidized European imports flooding the market. He believes this has made pig production in Britain almost impossible.
The future of British farming remains uncertain, and farmers across the country are calling for support and solutions to ensure the survival of their way of life.
