FARM DIARY

Subsidies for food production are being phased out rapidly, with only the last few remnants of the original CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) left in place. As a consequence of this, food is now costing more and will continue to rise in the shops, and British agriculture is shrinking and will continue to do so.

The subsidies paid to farmers ensured that food production grew strongly over the last 45 years or so, and food deflation in the shops became the norm. Tax payers got good value from subsidising agriculture over the years, although it could have been done far better by government and especially Europe.

The old idea of a 'cheap food policy' needed changing, and although affordable food in the fifties was a very good thing, cheap food over the last twenty years or so was not.

Food has been devalued, and the waste is now incredible at around 30% of all retail food sold. Packaging in some cases costs more than the food inside, and packaging and marketing in many cases certainly costs more than the food being sold.

As markets source the cheapest food and best deals, many British farmers cannot compete due to higher welfare standards, higher costs, or lack of scale.

At this precise moment in time, the pig producers in this country are in terrible trouble as the increased feed price cannot be recovered from the market place.

Many will not survive, and only then will the market react to supply shortage and increase prices; this means that another chunk of British pig production will have been exported for good.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette November 7