British farmers are struggling to find skilled employees to fill vacancies according to the latest report by dairy manufacturer Arla.

According to a survey conducted by the business, almost 65 per cent of farmers said better education and training is the most effective measure to attract more people into the industry.

The British farmers warned that an investment in skills and career pathways is critical to protecting the nation’s future food supply.

Over eight-in-ten (82 per cent) of farmers who have had an open position reported that very few or no applicants for the role have the right skills, which marks a figure that has not dropped below 80 per cent in the last seven years.

Arla’s data revealed that it takes around 105 days to recruit engineers into the supply chain compared to an average of 58 days for other roles.

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The figures also found that 48 per cent of farmers are over the age of 55 and the average age of workers in the supply chain is 46 years old, an increase from 40 in 2018.

Bas Padberg, managing director of Arla Foods UK, said: “Securing the future of British food starts with securing people.

“We need to inspire young people earlier and connect them to food. When people understand more about where it comes from and what it takes to feed a nation, helping to be a part of that becomes a much more attractive proposition. If we want a resilient food system capable of feeding future generations, we must invest in the skills, education and pathways that will build the workforce of tomorrow.”

The farmers reported that ongoing recruitment challenges are increasing costs which makes it harder to plan for the future and places additional pressure on everyday farm operations.

Moving forward, Arla is launching a new outreach programme which aims to reach over 100 schools and more than 10k young people to showcase the range of roles available in food production.