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Farmers across the UK are refusing to release milling wheat and have warned “no hot cross buns for East” and there will be “no barbecue baps” which could lead to a shortage of bread.
Farmers are striking in response to Rachel Reeves’ “cruel” inheritance tax raid on farms and have come together to highlight the “fragility of supply chains” and to point out that wheat imports is far from reliable.
In 2024 British farms produced 14 million tonnes of milling wheat and around 85% of wheat in bread is from UK farmers.
A striking cereal farmer Olly Harrison said, “Milling wheat is staying on farms. Farmers that grow milling wheat have gone on strike from April 1.
“They will not be loading any trucks with milling wheat, and we will probably run out of flour.
“So, if you’re wondering why the shelves are empty, get onto your local MP and say you need to help these farmers out – you can’t carry on putting them out of business.
“If there is rationing on bread and cakes and hot cross buns, it is the politicians’ fault. It’s not our fault. We can’t carry on like this or we won’t be in business.”
One organiser wrote X, “No hot cross buns for Easter! No barbecue baps! It might be April Fool’s Day but Britain’s food security is no joke.”
It might be April fools day but food shortages are no joke. Empty shelves will be appearing so better pop to your local supermarket and grab a loaf of bread and packet of hot cross buns for Easter before they run out.
But don’t panic buy ……… pic.twitter.com/EQvlM50h4D
— Andrew Ward 🇬🇧🚜 (@wheat_daddy) April 1, 2025
The Farming Forum wrote on Monday to farmers on their blog telling miller wheat farmers to “join others and do not load form April 1st for at least the first 2 weeks of the month.”
“If you have a existing contract you have until the end of the month to deliver it.”
They added, “if you are not a milling wheat grower, you may wish to invest in your farm’s future with a trip to your local shops and buy a bit extra, get those shelves empty faster, we have seen panic buying on fuel and toilet rolls in the past.”
A Government spokesman said, “This Government will invest £5billion into farming over the next two years, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history.
“We are going further with reforms to boost profits for farmers by backing British produce and reforming planning rules on farms to support food production.
“Our reform to Agricultural and Business Property Reliefs will mean farmers will pay a reduced inheritance tax rate of 20%, rather than the standard 40 per cent for other businesses, and payments can be spread over 10-years, interest-free.
“This is a fair and balanced approach, which fixes the public services we all rely on, affecting around 500 estates a year.”
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