Article

UK farmers are grappling with severe challenges, particularly climate change and extreme weather, as evidenced by the summer of 2025, which experienced one of the driest periods since 1976. The national living wage has risen from £7.20 in 2016 to £12.71, making labor costs the largest expense for soft fruit growers.

To adapt, the sector must increasingly rely on robotics. Despite misconceptions about career opportunities in agriculture, there is potential for innovation and high earnings. Frustration arises from government policies by DEFRA that do not match the operational realities of soft fruit farming, necessitating a more collaborative approach.