The NFU set up shop outside its headquarters in Shaftesbury Avenue, London to highlight the fact that UK farmers receive little more than a quarter of what consumers pay for their produce at the checkout.

This discrepancy was revealed by NFU president Ben Gill on the first day of the NFU's nationwide public information blitz Farming Counts, which aims to show people why farming matters to them in their everyday lives.

'Our target today,' Gill told freshinfo at the event, 'is to bring to consumers' attention the enormous price differences between retail prices, prices charges by catering establishments, and the farm gate prices.' A lack of profits is continually pushing farmers out of business, with around 400 people leaving the industry weekly. This is another kick in the teeth for farmers already struggling with the recent wages increase from the Agricultural Wages Board. 'These basic facts are not understood properly by everyone involved,' Gill stressed.

However, he believes that politicians in the UK do listen to the opinions of their constituents, and this is why he feels it is important for everyone to rally the government.

'In this country at least, politicians do listen to the opinions of consumers and tax payers and that's a key part of this campaign,' said Gill. 'It will be too late to do something in years to come if this situation continues.' Gill set up shop outside the NFU's central London headquarters, selling fresh produce to passers-by at farm gate prices.

He said: 'It is shocking that farmers get so little of the final price of food. Crops and livestock are tended and nurtured by farmers for many months or even years. That investment and care justifies more reward.

'This enormous price discrepancy shows clearly why farmers are having such a difficult time, with many not even recouping the cost of production.' The Farming Counts campaign will be rolled out across the country, with farmers taking their message directly to the public using easily understandable facts and figures.

Topics