The National Farmers Union has continued to deliver the message of an 'urgent need' for the trial introduction of a Seasonal Agricultural Permit Scheme to alleviate labour pressure on agricultural and horticultural businesses.
Both NFU Deputy President Minette Batters and NFU horticulture board chair Ali Capper have featured in the national media communicating that message to the public this week.
Ms Batters featured on Radio 4’s consumer affairs programme 'You and Yours' highlighting that the horticulture sector is on “red alert” as the weakening pound is making farm work in the UK not as valuable to seasonal workers, many of whom have been returning for several years.
She says that the labour problem existed before the referendum vote to leave the European Union but the result has 'fast-tracked' the problem for the sector.
'80,000 seasonal workers needed to pick crops'
The agricultural industry has very specific needs for labour, and the NFU has been in discussions with the government on this.
Horticulture alone needs around 80,000 seasonal workers to pick and pack fruit, vegetables and plant crops across the country. This is expected to rise to 95,000 by 2021 based on today’s growth projections.
NFU horticulture board chair Ali Capper said: “Our message to the Home Office is simple: without workers to produce iconic British crops the industry will contract and imports will increase.
“This goes against everything the public tell us about wanting to support British farmers1 and wanting to see more British food on supermarket shelves.
“We’re already experiencing a shortfall in EU workers resulting from long-term declines and exacerbated by the referendum outcome.
'Urgent concern'
The NFU President Meurig Raymond has also raised concerns around the UK's need for seasonal labour from abroad, saying it was an 'urgent concern' for many farmers.
He said: "Access to non-UK labour is an urgent concern for our farmer and growers, and the food processing sector. We discussed with Mrs Leadsom possible solutions, including the urgent need for a substantial trial of a visa-controlled Seasonal Agricultural Permit Scheme.
"And due to confusion caused by Brexit, we called for the Government to reassure all EU citizens already working here of their right to remain in the UK."
The farming industry told the government it would struggle to survive without the seasonal flow of labour from the continent. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is just one of the organisations that said the uncertainty for migrant workers may affect investment and job creation.
CLA President Ross Murray said workers from the EU and beyond play a "crucial role" in the rural economy: "In agriculture alone more than 30,000 permanent workers and an estimated 67,000 seasonal workers overseas help keep our shops and market stalls stocked with UK produce," he said.
