Labour shortages plaguing South Holland's daffodil picking industry

Labour shortages continue to plague South Holland’s daffodil picking industry.

Farmers are set to start picking the flowers during February, with the stems collected for distribution before bulbs are replanted.

However, staff shortages which first reared their head in the district last year continue to cause problems.

F Dring & Sons’ Moulton farm provides Spalding’s Lingarden Bulbs with their daffodils. Farmer John Dring says its business was affected when members of their European workforce travelled home in 2020 and never returned.

He said: “I suspect it will be the same this year. I’m certainly not expecting it to be any easier.

“Last year, a lot of workers went home because of Brexit and Covid at Christmas and then couldn’t come back because of restrictions.”

The farm requires workers for picking flowers in the early months of the year, with bulbs being replanted and then picked again during the summer.

Mr Dring said a lot of of their daffodil pickers tend to be Eastern European, with up to 70 workers needed each day at the height of the season.

“They’ve probably found work at home now, so they potentially won’t be coming back. I don’t know,” he added.

“You only have to turn the news on to hear about labour shortages. All the factories around here have signs up saying they’re recruiting, and you never used to see that.

“If we don’t pick the flowers, we don’t make any money out of them. It’s quite serious.”

As daffodil picking hasn’t started yet, Mr Dring said it is difficult to tell how many staff the farm will have when it does get under way.

“Last year when we were busy, we had three days where I needed people in and had no one turn up for three solid days.

“Then when they did, there was probably 30% less than what we needed.

“I haven’t got a crystal ball, but I can’t imagine it’s going to be any easier. I’m sure it will be the same if not worse.”