Exposed: 1 in 3 Farmers Live Below Low Income Threshold
UK - Conservatives have exposed today that 31 per cent of farmers are living below the low income threshold. The figures, revealed in a parliamentary question, showed that in 2005/06 nearly 1 in 3 farmers had an income that was 60 per cent or less than the national average wage.
22 May 2007
2 minute read
Farmers are in dire situation compared to the rest of the country -The figures also showed that farmers were much more likely to live on a low wage than all other households. Only 21 per cent of other employed households and 18 per cent of self-employed were in the same position.
Average farming income halved under Labour – Additional research shows that under Labour, the average income for everyone in the farming industry has fallen from nearly £28,000 in 1996 to less than £14,000 in 2006 and almost 80,000 people have left the agricultural labour force
The effects of RPA – The Government's disastrous handling of the RPA in 2004/05 has had a dramatic effect on the farming industry. Bankruptcies amongst farmers have increased by almost 50% since 2002. Also calls for help to the Farm Crisis Network's helpline in 2006 were 60% higher than in the previous year.
More than one dairy farm a day closes under Labour - 2,125 dairy farms in England have closed since 2002. That is more than one a day
Commenting on the figures, Jim Paice, Shadow Agriculture Minister, said: "This is a sad indictment of 10 years of a Labour Government which has brought a once proud industry to the situation where one-third of farmers live below the low-income threshold.
"This won't be a surprise to those who have suffered but will hopefully bring home to the general public the desperate straits of the farming industry and those who produce our food."
TheCattleSite News Desk
