Many of us think very carefully about the food we
purchase- how far it has travelled; how it has been produced and whether its
trading was ‘fair’ enough to enable the farmers to make a decent living.
Unfortunately there’s a global trend for farmers to
receive an inadequate share of the consumer price, whether for coffee, bananas,
wheat, milk or pig meat.
In the UK the farming community is facing many pressures,
and sadly those pressures are proving too great for some.
At the moment there is a threat of TB infection amongst
cattle and although milk prices for some farmers have been maintained at
current levels, these are still very low. At the same time with the increasing
cost of fodder for animals, some pig farmers are finding it difficult to make a
living.
A few facts:
·
Of every £1 of food brought by consumers only
7.5p goes to the farmer compared to 50p 50 years ago.
·
Dairy farmers are going out of business
faster than ever before because the price paid to them is so low.
·
Farmers are some of the most at-risk
occupational groups for suicide.
·
14% of Britain’s total employment depends of
farming in some way.
·
Almost all farmers are involved in
environmental improvements as a normal part of the farm management.
So how can you help?
Chose local and in season produce.
·
Look out
for labels, such as the Red Tractor, LEAF Marque and the Lion on eggs.
·
Ask our
retailers, restaurants and pubs where their food comes from
·
Visit the
local countryside for a walk or visit a local farm on Open Farm Sunday held
each year in June.
You might also want to support charities that support our
farmers. These include:
Thanks to the Farm Crisis Network for much of the
information contained in this article.
