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<p>The UK agricultural sector is highly resilient and adaptable and operates in an
open market with the value of commodities established by those in the supply chain.</p><p>
</p><p>The recent prolonged period of wet weather has impacted the UK arable and livestock
sectors in several ways. These include late/limited planting opportunities for arable
and horticulture crops; delayed turn out of grazing animals and the associated risk
of diseases in keeping animals housed indoors for longer periods than usual, concerns
about the potential scarcity and cost of straw; a build-up of stored slurry and reduced
application opportunities; and wider concerns about the impact on mental health of
farmers. Yields and productivity will also vary depending on individual farmer decisions,
region, area and in the case of the arable sector, crop and soil type amongst other
factors.</p><p> </p><p>A number of individual farms have clearly been affected by
the wet weather. While the current market assessment is that there may be implications
over the coming months for certain commodities, particularly in the expected yield
and quality of several arable crops this summer/autumn, it is still too early to predict
the full impact on domestic food production, especially if the weather improves in
the coming weeks.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to monitor the on-going situation, working
closely with the industry and through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG).
The UK AMMG held an interim meeting on 16 April to specifically consider the impacts
of the weather on each commodity sector.</p><p> </p><p>The Farming Recovery Fund has
been opened to provide farmers support to recover from uninsurable damage with grants
of between £500 and £25,000 to return their land to the condition it was before exceptional
flooding of Storm Henk. The fund was initially opened in nine English local authority
areas where the Flood Recovery Framework has been activated to help farms which have
experienced the highest levels of flooding. Eligibility for the Fund is actively under
review.</p><p> </p><p>This forms part of a package of support available to farmers
through the Flood Recovery Framework, including a grant of up to £2,500 through the
Business Recovery Grant Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Food Security Report (UKFSR)
sets out an analysis of statistical data relating to food security, fulfilling the
duty in the Agriculture Act 2020 to present a report on food security to Parliament
at least once every three years. It examines trends relevant to food security to present
the best available understanding. The report was last published in December 2021 and
will next be published by December 2024.</p><p> </p><p>Starting this year, we are
strengthening our food security monitoring by producing the Annual Food Security Index.
This will complement the UKFSR with a shorter and more regular report. The first version
will be published at the Farm to Fork Summit in the Spring.</p><p> </p><p>The next
UKFSR, which will be published later this year, will include analysis on the risk
of flooding to food security as part of its assessment of longer-term climate-related
trends.</p>
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