Workers thin on the ground

There are mounting concerns a labour shortage could lead to crops being left unharvested this summer.

The pool of migrants prepared to work for low wages was diminishing, said Chris Kaufman, T&G national secretary, with UK workers unwilling to accept low wages. He called for a national strategy to do more to encourage employers to attract young UK workers with decent wages.

The NFU also warned that the Home Office decision to restrict the Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme to Romanians and Bulgarians would exacerbate the shortages.