Farmers are continuing to struggle to find the workers they need with 82% of farmers who have had a vacancy reporting very few or no applicants for the role have the right skills, a figure that has not dropped below 80% in the last seven years.
According to an Arla survey of British farmers, almost 65% of farmers say better education and training is the most effective measure to attract more people into the industry.
Paul Dover, UK agriculture director, said there was a ‘real urgency' and the country should not be letting the situation worsen.
With 48% of farmers over the age of 55 and the average age in the supply chain at 46, Mr Dover said there was a lot of talent and experience in workforces but this needed to be blended with new individuals.
Farming workforce
He added that the farming sector, as well as food production, was a very different place to the often outdated view of what it meant to work in farming or in a factory, with those visiting farms today seeing exciting new technology of robotics, ‘fitbits on cows' and drone technology in crop fields.
Half of farmers said it was harder to keep staff now compared to before Brexit and Covid, with Mr Dover adding the reasons as to why were ‘complex' and the food sector was competing against other sectors for staff.
"It is not that we are not paying as well as other sectors," he added.
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"42% of young people say they would consider a career in food and farming. Only 4% actually do. If we were going to pick up an audience is that 38% that we need to scoop up, inspire, educate and then make that pathway really clear," he added.
Mr Dover welcomed much of the noise from the new Government on more vocational education paths, with 64.7% of farmers saying changes in schools and colleges are key to attracting more people into the industry.
"There is real hope that he is managing to deliver in what he is saying," he said.
"We would just like our share of it. Food security starts with people."
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Tim Dale, Arla farmer, said: "As farmers, we are passionate about producing nutritious food, but none of that happens without people. Finding skilled workers is becoming increasingly difficult, and it is one of the biggest challenges facing farms today."
He also highlighted the innovative progressive sector, adding the industry needed to do more to showcase the opportunities.
"Investing in the next generation is not just important for our farms, it is essential for the future of British food production."
Arla itself was working on initiatives to attract people into food production, including dedicated apprenticeships and partnerships with local colleges.
