The Farm Survey 2021 was carried out in March 2021 for the first time since 2014.
During the COVID pandemic it was felt that there was a lack of up to date information about Herefordshire’s seasonal workforce in terms of providing necessary support during an outbreak. Therefore, it was recommended that a new survey should take place.
The results showed that:
- 59% of respondents intended to recruit in 2021
- 4,500 seasonal overseas workers are expected on Herefordshire farms during 2021, 34% more than the 2014 figure
- Two thirds of overseas workers are still expected to come from Bulgaria and Romania (who were previously covered by the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Scheme). However, a higher number than previously are expected to come from outside the EU and farms also intend to employ more British workers this year.
15 farms expressed concerns about being able to recruit enough workers this year. Reasons given included the requirements placed on EU workers due to Brexit e.g. having to have applied for ‘settled status’, the cost of travel, and Covid restrictions / concerns.
The survey also detailed the difficulties that farms had faced in 2020. Out of 15 farms:
- 11 experienced a shortage of seasonal workers linked to COVID-19
- 7 experienced loss of crops because of labour shortages
- 5 experienced a shortage of seasonal workers linked to Brexit
- 3 experienced loss of crops for other reasons, e.g. weather
A full summary of the results can be downloaded from the Understanding Herefordshire website.