He said the increased cost of diesel had dealt “a massive hit” on farmers, and lowering the duty on red diesel was a “good start”, but added there were other pressures which still needed addressing.
“The cost of fertiliser has rocketed, so the cost that we’re paying out to produce food is really quite astronomical,” he said.
“Bluntly, we can’t keep absorbing those costs.”
Garratt urged the government to look at planned levies on fertiliser, and said it would almost double in cost if a scheduled increase came into effect.
He said farmers in Shropshire had found ways to be “incredibly efficient” adding that they employed a lot of people across the area but this was being put at risk.
“Confidence in the future has never been lower, and farmers are very reluctant to invest in the future at the minute,” he said.
