The floods are hitting farmers really hard...

[WendyWeber]

...I hadn't even thought of that before. Crops badly affected, livestock drowned, no feed for the rest...BBC report

Very

As if they weren't having a hard enough time already

Sounds awful situation for a lot of them.

In gloucestershire because of the lack of water. The farmers haven't enough water to give to the cows to produce enough milk and yet again no-one helps them. They were out in force in their tractors towing people out of floods though. They do seem to be a dying breed unfortunately but who can blaim them?

Not enough water for the livestock.

These people were already at the end of their tether.

It's a sad and very vulnerable nation that puts its own food producers out of business.

It will hit home to a lot more people over the coming months. Many products are going to increase in price.

I know our region is one of the big pea producers (especially for Birds Eye and the other frozen food companies). About half of the crop is ruined, with possibly more losses to come.

I couldn't buy brocolli anywhere on tuesday and they had pit up a poster at the veg shop warning that there will be a shortage of various veg for a while, an that prices will increase.

TBH, supermarkets were lowering hte cost of food so much it's one of the major reasons British farmers are under threat.

there was a farmer featured on the news a few nights ago - he's lost £200K and will get no help with that - he will have to stand the loss

In other words, he'll have to sell what he can and then go bankrupt.

And the real bankrupcy is the nation who doesn't support its food producers.

This will come home to roost, people, probably within our own lifetime, you mark my words.

Pets are also suffering .

It's not just the risk of drowning, in areas where the water is cut off, how do farmers make their livestock has enough to drink? Also, if farmers have not been able to get haylage in, it is going to be a really hard winter for them, too.

I also feel for anyone who has horses - just imagine what it must be like if you simply can't get to them to make sure they are OK - I had trouble getting to my horse the last time it snowed, because the road that leads to her field was blocked. And folk who've been evacuated who have pets must be struggling, too.

you can bet the supermarkets won't take the hit - they never do. they won't pass on increased prices to the suppliers, but they'll pass on any reductions.

This is the most positive thread I have read about British Farmers. I am a Farmer's wife and when I saw this thought that people may be having a dig at farmers again (sorry, but it happens all the time). THnak you all for thinking so kindly about the farming community, their livestock and livelihoods. BTW am fortunate enough not to be in a flood stricken area but feel greatly for those who are.

Once again , you are all lovely!

It is vital to support our nation's food producers in every way you can! Especially now.

They were being cheated by supermarkets selling artifically cheap food, now this.

Now more than ever, they need our help!

We've cut back in other areas, because it's so important to us to source our food from British growers/producers.

When you can no longer feed your nation, you are held to ransom by whoever can provide you with the sustenance.

And if you gripe about the increase in prices now, just wait another 40 years . . .

It's not too late!

Keep British farmers in mind when you food shop!

Lostmykeys - have you read negative threads for farmer here? I was under the impression that most thought and knew the farmers are getting a really rough deal and quite often with threads we are reminded to buy from farmers markets, farm shops and local butchers etc rather than big supermarkets.

Brilliant expat, now convert the majority of the country! You should be touring the country promoting in this way. Very few can see the problems we will have in the future if we don't support our domestic food producers. So many people want quick, cheap and convenient food.

Anyone with half a brain will realise that farmers are held to ransom by supermarkets most of the time.

People who gripe about the high cost of food should be forced to live off an allotment they have to tend themselves for a year.

No furball, am relatively new. Its just that everywhere I go, including work I get ribbed about wealthy farmers etc. living off the back fo the government etc. and made the terrible assumption that threads on here would not be very positive either. So sorry to have had this opnion, but delioghted to see the support that is there.

That quick and convenient crap excuse for 'food' is killing this country, slowly but surely.

Yeah, I'm a food snob, but fgs, we're talking about not just what you put in your mouth, but peoples' and animals' lives and future here, including our childrens'.

LMK - I am related to some poor farmers ( and some rich ones)

And yet you don't hear that same lot bitching about wealthy and profiteering supermarket big bosses and shareholders living off government-subsidised tax breaks and the procedes of ripping growers off, do you?

Cuz that's what I tell everyone who feeds me a line of tripe like that. I ask them, 'Ever tried growing your own?' I lived on a vegetable farm in Alsace, France when I was 15.

Never thought about food the same way again!

LostmyKeys, I'm sorry that you've been made to feel that way. It's a small minority of urbanites who don't understand were food comes from.

Food will go up in price as a consequence of the weather. In a way, I hope it does ... prices have been artificially low for decades. You can make perfectly good food from very little. During WWII, rations effectively equaled creativity.

And what farmers make on milk is a disgrace.

What Lostkeys is saying it true, though, Des . The BBC grabbed people off the street and told them about how milk prices were going to have to go up. And most of them bitched about it. Then drink water and shut up!

Don't get me going on milk!!! We are not even dairy farmers, but the fact that Asda now do 2 x 4 pint bottles for £2 is a disgrace. And what frightens me even more is the prosect of milk being imported into the country - it was not deisgned for long distance travel! Not to mention food miles etc etc etc

Totally agree. It's hardly worth having a dairy farm anymore.

Not given to conspiracy theories generally, I can't help but think that the Government just wants shot of all farmers so they can build fecking houses.

And import shite.

No, it's so that more fat cats can afford to buy 'titles' and nice, big second homes that Phil and Kirsty help them find as a 'bolthole'.