Good afternoon,

Whilst spending a lot of the week struggling to make sense of what is going on, I have also been looking into the impact the war on Ukraine is going to have on farming and food supplies.

Being one of the largest wheat exporters in the world, there is likely to be a grain shortage now that Russia has cut off Ukrainian supplies, which will impact importing countries predominantly in north Africa and Asia where bread is a staple but the climate is too hot to grow much of their own wheat.

In order to offset the shortfall in supply, grain exporting European countries will probably use a significant amount more nitrogen fertiliser, which doubled in price last year - making our homegrown chicken & cow poop hot property. Whilst climate health would benefit from reducing artificial fertilisers, we know that turning organic overnight has an immediate reduction in grain production and so requires a slow and considered weening off period.

Much of the EU’s meat and dairy industry relies on imported feed from Ukraine so the increase in grain prices will certainly have a knock on for grain-fed animal products, too.

All things considered, it’s going to be shit-show but rising food costs seem a privileged concern in comparison to what the people of Ukraine are facing at the moment.

In more cheerful news, the farm shop is open and stocked with fresh steaks 11am-4pm tomorrow and Wagyu burgers being served by the 3Bros 1pm-4pm. If you’d like to come for lunch, I’d really recommend booking online as we have a limited quantity available. We hope to see you tomorrow.