By SCM REPORTER
BRITAIN’S farmers are being forced into fuel rations as the spiralling war in the Middle East sends shockwaves through the nation’s food chain.
Fields in Essex and Scotland have become the front line of a global energy crisis, with suppliers limiting diesel deliveries to ensure tractors don’t grind to a halt mid-harvest.
Industry giants have moved to “guarantee” that every farm receives at least a trickle of fuel, but the move has sparked fears of “empty shelves” and skyrocketing shop prices.
The crisis hit boiling point this week as the conflict—which has already seen the vital Strait of Hormuz effectively choked off—sent the price of “red diesel” soaring.
The agricultural fuel, essential for everything from ploughing to planting, has jumped by a staggering 55% in a matter of weeks. Some farmers are being quoted as much as 135p per litre, nearly double the 67p they were paying just last month.
”If we don’t have fuel to provide plants with nutrients and protection, they could die, and we’ll be at a great loss,” warned Buckinghamshire farmer Richard Hedy.
The rationing comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer prepares to chair an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday to tackle the “inescapable” price rises hitting British families.
While the Government has urged the public not to panic-buy at the pumps, the reality on the ground for the UK’s 100,000 farmers is far bleaker.
