North Yorkshire farmers forced to diversify as rising cost of living hits industry
Farmers in North Yorkshire are having to diversify as the cost of living continues to affect the industry.
They have cited the rising cost of fertiliser, fuel and animal feed as a major concern in the sector, with some prices increasing threefold.
Farmers are now having to pay out increasing costs without the guarantee they will get a return when their produce is finally sold.
Graham Clarke, of Low Swainby Farm, bought 24 bags of fertiliser this month for £12,000. The same amount this time last year cost just £4,000.
He said he was concerned by the rising cost of living affecting not just farmers but everyone - meaning customers cannot afford to keep paying inflated prices.
As a result, many in the sector are diversifying what they do.
Paul Langthorne, of Langthorne's Buffalo Produce, has 300 buffalo and is the only farm in Yorkshire to own the species. The produce made on the farm helps fulfil a growing demand on the international market.
Despite this, Mr Langthorne said he was still struggling.
"Everything is going up, fuel especially is going up, it costs us an extra £600 a week," he added.
"We're putting solar panels in to try and save on the electric, I think it's going to get more difficult."
It is not just the increasing costs that are affecting the industry, but there are also difficulties with hiring staff within the sector.
Mr Langthorne added: "Nobody wants to work weekends, we're struggling for butchers to prepare all the meat for customers. We're just struggling to keep up now. "
Some farmers in the industry are now calling on the Government to step in and help support the troubled industry by reviewing post-Brexit subsidies for farmers.
Mr Clarke said: "There'll come a point where our input costs are expensive and our saleable commodities drop.
"When that happens there will be a big shock. At the moment we're cushioned but it can't last forever...Where will that price be next March"
"We are price takers, we can't control what we get for our commodity we just have to take what it on the market"
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said food production and the rural economy will always be a priority for a Conservative government.
It said: “Our Food Strategy White Paper is an important step. We are maintaining food production, and boosting it in sectors like horticulture.
"We have launched the Sustainable Farming Incentive which will pay farmers to look after the natural assets that allow us to produce food.
“With agricultural commodities closely linked to global gas prices, farmers are facing increased input costs. That is why we have announced measures to help – like bringing forward 50% of the BPS payment to July to help ease cashflow pressures."
BPS is a Basic Payment Scheme of rural grants and payments to those in the farming industry. Farmers can apply once a year between the months of March and May and is normally paid in December.
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