United Kingdom farmers face rising costs and planning barriers

British farmers are facing significant economic pressure as production costs rise while the prices received for agricultural produce fall. Data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs shows that in the 12 months leading to August 2026, overall prices received by UK farmers fell by 5.4%, while input costs increased by 8.6%.

Specific cost increases include a 47.6% rise in plant protection products, a 23.3% increase in energy and lubricants, and a 13% rise in fertilisers. Conversely, prices for certain commodities have declined, with milk prices falling by 17.3% and pig prices dropping by 14.7%.

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Tom Bradshaw has highlighted additional obstacles to domestic food production, specifically citing planning delays as a major barrier to growth in the poultry sector. Bradshaw warned that the industry faces unfair competition from imports and expressed frustration with a planning system that often appears designed to block applications rather than enable them. He emphasized that investment in the domestic food system must become a political imperative to ensure food security amidst geopolitical and climate uncertainties.