Farmers call for 'land army' to sustain UK food production during coronavirus crisis

Leaders and unions concerned about acute labour shortage suggest retraining those put out of work

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Farming leaders have raised concerns about a lack of available labour because of the coronavirus, with one calling for a "land army" to be recruited from people put out of work by the crisis.

Restrictions in place because of the virus are likely to prevent many of the 60,000 seasonal labourers who come to the UK each year to work on farms from travelling, and the supply of domestic workers is also expected to be reduced.