In a letter to UK retailers, National Farmers’ Union (NFU), NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru and Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) have called for commitments to support the British farming industry.
Following reports of weather impacting livestock, arable and horticultural sectors and disrupting farm businesses across the UK, farming unions have come together to address major retailers.
The letter, written on behalf of the NFU, NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru and UFU, said: “These challenges come at a time when many of our members are already struggling to remain viable due to the perfect storm of sustained and spiralling production costs, low market returns and increasing levels of regulation. This latest challenge, whilst not new, is more acute than ever, and is compounding the pressure on our members.
“Farmers and growers continue to bear the lion’s share of the rusk within their supply chains, and this is unsustainable. We are in discussions with our respective Governments on further support to assist the industry in navigating these short-term challenges, but we also recognise the important role which retailers have to play in helping the industry to withstand this latest crisis.”
The UK unions asked major retailers to implement the following measures in support of their members:
- Steadfast commitment to local sourcing: Unions asked that retailers honour existing sourcing commitments which have been made with respect to local suppliers, and asked that they send a “clear signal of support” to these producers in order to give comfort at a time where its members’ wellbeing are “already under severe strain”.
- Fair supply chains: UK unions asked that retailers “respond promptly” to any requests from members for a review of the terms of their contracts, including price.
- Flexibility on product specification: Retailers were urged to show understanding and flexibility in the presence of “unprecedented challenges”, as they said “in the face of these unprecedented challenges it is possible that what we produce may now not fully conform to the exact specification previously agreed”.
- Rapid payment of suppliers: One of the immediate short-term implications for union members was “pressure on cashflow”, said unions, attributing this to increasing costs of animal health, feed and labour. Therefore, they said that ensuring rapid payment to suppliers across the supply chain would be a “significant help” to members.
- Promotion of local suppliers: Unions asked that retailers continued promotional efforts to support local suppliers and produce, stating that UK consumers “want to keep on enjoying the high-quality food which we produce”.
The letter concluded: “It is no exaggeration to say that the current challenges are some of the most acute the industry has faced in a very long time, and we need your support more than ever to maintain food production across the UK and safeguard our food security.
“Our members will continue to work tirelessly in the face of this latest adversity to maintain their high standards of production and welfare that your customers have now come to expect. We now urge you to support our members’ efforts.”
