Suffolk farmer warns diversifying his business is 'essential' to survive
Around 80% of farmers feel pressured to develop new revenue streams to combat tough conditions
Farmers in Suffolk are telling us the industry is so volatile they're being forced to make money in other ways.
A new report shows around 80 % of farmers, who've been impacted by things like higher cost inflation and pressure from retailers, are being forced to diversify their businesses just to survive.
Tom McVeigh farms just outside of Debenham.
He tells us, at his farm, he's had to expand into hosting events, weddings, glamping and cooking classes to boost revenue: "Farming is a very difficult industry to be in.
"The revenues we make are quite low, especially compared to the high investments we have to make.
"The weather's also a big problem, it can throw away all the plans you make and force you to change everything."
This is something Tom tells us he's had to deal with recently: "Earlier this year I was selling grain at a loss for three months because I had to sell it to have the cash flow for the remaining months.
"The price of wheat is volatile and it went below what it cost me to grow it."
"We're trying to do five or six jobs without necessarily having the skills"
Whilst diversification can help bring in more money, it comes with its own challenges, namely high investment costs and new skills, as Tom explains: "We're used to just having the role of producing food.
"Now we have to be able to market or retail food, or communicate with other people who can do those things for you.
"We're trying to do five or six jobs without necessarily having the skills."
Tom tells us he'd like to see the new Labour Government commit to introducing a food security plan and insuring continuity: "The last government committed to spending every year for farmers over the duration of Parliament.
"We need the new government to do that as well, because we really wouldn't be able to function as our businesses without the certainty that these mechanisms will be in place throughout that whole period."