East Yorkshire Turkey Farmer Closes Business Due to Soaring Costs

A turkey farmer has announced his family’s decision to close their business, citing escalating expenses. John Wright, based in East Yorkshire, stated that his financial calculations revealed the venture was no longer viable, attributing this to increased energy and fertiliser prices, alongside diminished household spending power. He remarked, “Who can afford a £100, hand-plucked, 5kg turkey this Christmas? I know I can’t.” John Howe, chairman of the Kent-based Traditional Farm-fresh Turkey Association (TFTA), commented that producers unable or disinclined to invest in their operations were “falling by the wayside.” He noted that the association’s membership had decreased from 40 to 29 over a ten-year period. Mr. Wright, 35, conveyed, “A lot of people are really upset we won’t be selling turkeys this Christmas.” He added, “Over the years, many of our loyal customers became good friends. We were part of their Christmas tradition.” He further explained, “I didn’t want this to happen, but it was impossible to carry on. Everything was stacked against us.” The turkey rearing operation was initiated by Mr. Wright’s father, also named John, in 1989. The family typically sold approximately 1,200 turkeys each Christmas. Mr. Wright recalled, “My dad started off delivering turkeys to local butcher shops.” He continued, “We then began selling at farm shops, as well as direct from our farm.” He also mentioned, “We would even Fed Ex turkeys, posting them as far as Scotland and London. We gained a good reputation.” Mr. Wright indicated that the conflict in Ukraine, a source of fertiliser essential for poultry feed, had resulted in significant price increases. He stated, “In a short period of time, the price went from £200 to £800 per tonne.” Concurrently with the increase in fertiliser expenses, the farm’s energy costs also escalated. Mr. Wright explained, “It became incredibly expensive to keep a chiller unit chugging away for a month in the lead-up to Christmas, which was obviously our busiest time of the year by a long stretch.” He elaborated, “It was costing us up to £6,000 a month to run a chiller. It couldn’t carry on.” He also observed that numerous households had faced difficulties with living costs in recent years. He commented, “Speaking to others in the poultry world, it seems people are not prepared to spend £100 on a turkey when you can spent £17 for a frozen crown at the local supermarket.” The persistent danger of avian flu also contributed to the family’s choice to cease operations, according to Mr. Wright. He remarked, “People think it’s gone away.” He clarified, “It hasn’t. There was a case recently near us.” He added, “Poultry farmers live in fear of getting the call, knowing a case would mean your entire flock having to be killed.” Mr. Howe, representing the TFTA, stated, “It’s sad when a business is forced to pack up or they can’t see a future. A few of us are growing but the rest seem to be falling by the wayside.” He further noted that turkey farmers presently “need nerves of steel,” requiring both the financial capacity and business insight to invest in their enterprises. Mr. Howe asserted, “It’s certainly not an old man’s game.” He concluded, “I’d have stopped had it not been for my children who bring modern skills to the business.” In the interim, Mr. Wright, whose family farm is now vacant, revealed his decision to pursue a livelihood by supplying gas to pubs and restaurants.