Farmer uses two-ton loaf to show industry's plight

A farmer has baked a two-ton loaf of bread to highlight what he said was the "unfairness" in the supply chain and called for more support from the government.

Olly Harrison said the enormous hunk of bread is the equivalent of nearly 3,000 regular loaves and believes it could be the "biggest in the world".

To illustrate his point, the 43-year-old said he would receive £360 for the wheat used to make the loaf but customers buying that much bread in a supermarket would be charged almost £5,000.

"Where is the fairness in that?," asked Mr Harrison, who has a farm in Prescot, Merseyside.

It comes after a challenging few years for British farmers as they undergo some of the biggest changes in 50 years.

Financial pressures have increased due to controversial trade deals and the loss of subsidies since Brexit, alongside rising fuel and fertilizer costs, higher interest rates and poor weather.

Mr Harrison said he would like some "stability" from politicians and cheaper finance rates as well as a "fair price".

He said every crop had been damaged on his farm in Tarbock Green by the recent wet weather.

He said: "A lot of farms are selling up because they're losing too much money.

"We've had some terrible years. The last three or four have been horrendous."

He said it had been made worse by inflation, with rising fertiliser adding to the problems.

He added: "We don't want handouts. We just want to know if we have a bad year we're not going to go out of business."

Meanwhile, the dairy industry has been hit with volatile milk prices.

Richard Blackburn has 400 cows on his farm in Nantwich, Cheshire.

He said he wants "clarity" from politicians and for them to commit to a "national food strategy".

According to a recent survey by the NFU, 37% of farmers are considering diversifying into a non-farming related activity.

"We've lost about 75% of dairy producers over the last 30 years," Mr Blackburn said, adding it was a "tough" industry and new generations were not so choosing to go into farming.

He said he was "proud" to produce the nation's food but added it "needs to be sustainable".

The NFU wants a new government to further support farming businesses hit by some of the most challenging weather conditions in living memory.

The Liberal Democrats have promised an extra £1bn for sustainable farming and a greater ability to trade with Europe.

The Conservatives said they would increase the UK farming budget by £1bn over the next Parliament and increase grants to farmers.

Labour has said it would reduce the country’s reliance on imported food and improve post-Brexit payments.

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