Beef and sheep farmers in Wales are being encouraged to participate in a brief survey aimed at highlighting the numerous challenges currently affecting the red meat industry.

The goal of the annual 'farmer intentions survey' is to evaluate the impact of these challenges on farming businesses in Wales and to gain insights into their future plans.

In recent years, rising inflation and escalating farm input costs have posed significant difficulties for the sector, complicating decision-making for farmers.

To gain a deeper understanding of these issues, Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has created the third edition of the survey to assess the current landscape.

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The results of the first survey in 2022 revealed major concerns about rising farm input costs, along with fears that low scanning rates due to poor weather could affect flock numbers the following year.

However, the 2023 survey results indicated that pressures on Welsh flock numbers had eased slightly, and that concerns over input costs had diminished—a noticeable improvement in farmers' outlook.

HCC’s intelligence executive, Glesni Phillips, said of the new survey: “It allows us to gather up-to-date information and build a sector-wide picture of the challenges that farmers face and how these vary from year to year.

“In order to continue with this research, we would like to see farmers from across Wales completing the new survey so that we can explore the latest challenges within the sector and consider how farmers’ intentions are likely to impact the future.

"This will help us, and the wider industry, to prepare and produce forecasts for the year ahead on stocking levels and the availability of red meat for consumers.”

The online survey will remain open for two weeks, closing on September 23.

Participants will also be entered into a draw for a chance to win a £50 meat voucher.

Online survey can be found at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/phase3ENG