Crops

Growers have launched a large-scale recruitment campaign to encourage British people to provide seasonal labour to harvest crops, due to a severe lack of local workers amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The Government has committed extra research and development spending, while farmers are being urged to explore the tax benefits of bringing more innovation to their businesses.

The National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) has made its coronavirus guidance public in an effort to keep the industry safe and all contractors working in the current crisis.

Agricultural distribution and supply companies are working to minimise disruption to the logistics of getting products to farms, which could come about due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The NFU has published a Q&A for employers on coronavirus on its website from its specialist advice team.

Excess moisture in the US Midwest may delay sowings in some of the early-sown states, although the main sowing period is still a few weeks away, which may allow fields to dry.

After the exceptionally wet autumn and winter, many farmers will be assessing their options for spring cropping after winter drilling was abandoned.

Gaining key worker status for drivers supplying and distributing flour mills will be important to meeting increased demand for flour driven by ‘panic buying’ during the coronavirus pandemic.

Distributors and agronomists are asking growers to liaise with them over delivery of farm inputs and agronomy services to minimise the risk of infection while continuing to meet crop needs

Demands for ‘assurances’ on whether the number of seasonal visas on offer will be dramatically increased have intensified, as concerns over coronavirus grow.