8 Oct 2025
Grain farmers being ground down by rising production costs
Grain farmers are being ground down by rising production costs. As of July, the amount of all harvested crops was down 2% on last season - and the amount of unsold grain was up by almost 21,000 tonnes. Grain growers have said their profits are being eroded by massive jumps in the price of farm machinery, Russia's war on Ukraine resulted in cut price grain internationally and the added expense of kiwi grain navigating dangerous export routes. Chair of Federated Farmers Arable Industry Group, David Birkett spoke to Lisa Owen.