Agricultural sector in crisis: County agrees to do all it can for embattled farmers

The war in the Middle East has intensified the intense economic pressures on Gloucestershire's agri-sector, with concerns about food production, supply and a looming mental health crisis.

Agricultural sector in crisis: County agrees to do all it can for embattled farmers

The war in the Middle East has intensified the intense economic pressures on Gloucestershire’s agri-sector, with concerns about food production, supply and a looming mental health crisis.

Rising costs, volatile markets, difficult weather and increasing pressures on labour - not helped by that war in Middle East - are increasing “real and growing pressure” on farmers.

You only have to look to what’s happening in Ireland to see the impact of that pressure, with farmers and truck hauliers blocking roads in protect and the Government threatening to send in the army.

And while the headlines around the Iran conflict (February 28, 2026) have otherwise been dominated by Donald Trump’s verbal missives, the damage being done on the ground here to Gloucestershire farmers and our agri-sector is very real.

It’s an impact that has made the county council sit up and take note, with councillors voting in favour of the auth…