"While farmers are well used to dealing with variation year on year, the volatility we have seen in the last few years is not sustainable. Food security is national security, and that's why we need the new Government to be prioritising food production in its policy-making."
Total farm income profitability fell by more than £1 billion according to latest figures from Defra.
The Government body said large decreases in crop outputs, poor yields and high global costs from the war in Ukraine had driven a 19% drop in farming profitability in England between 2022 and 2023.
Overall total farm income had stood at £4.5bn, while farming's overall contribution to England's economy also fell by 8.7%, but income from diversification had increased from £1.321bn to £1.393bn.
READ NOW: Figures reveal farm incomes have dropped by almost 50%
Defra said the cost of production totalled £15bn for farmers in England, with animal feed costs contributing £5.459 million, with the value of intermediate consumption items remaining stable despite fertiliser prices decreasing by £337m following easing of prices on the global market.
Crop output fell by 13.1% in 2023, with wheat seeing the largest decrease at £1.2bn less than in 2022, the area and yield of wheat planted in England fell between 2022 and 2023 by 5.3% and 5.6% respectively.
The value of milling wheat and feed wheat prices had also decreased by 13% and 21.6% respectively.
Poor weather led to variable wheat quality, reducing the percentage of homegrown wheat which could be sold at the highest price category.
Total livestock output in 2023 had remained at £12.4bn, with an increase in poultry output of £380m and a £353m decrease in the value of milk.
Responding to the figures updated on July 11, NFU president Tom Bradshaw said the last few years had demonstrated the 'volatile environment' in which farmers and growers are trying to make a living.
"We have moved from high commodity prices and soaring production costs in 2022 caused by the tragic situation in Ukraine, to much lower income figures in a weather-affected 2023, as commodity prices fell but production costs remained high," he said.
"While farmers are well used to dealing with variation year on year, the volatility we have seen in the last few years is not sustainable.
"Food security is national security, and that's why we need the new Government to be prioritising food production in its policy-making."
