Fall in pound and uncertainty has led to farmers paying more to attract or retain EU workers

Brexit is about to make Christmas turkeys more expensive. Prices are to jump as a result of the fall in the value of the pound and higher wages farmers now have to pay to their east European pluckers.

Paul Kelly, the chairman of the British Turkey Federation and boss of KellyBronze, a free range producer, said the industry was being forced to increase prices because of a 5% to 7% rise in costs.

The increase in Turkey prices comes as Christmas dinner staples including onions, potatoes and sprouts are also rising in price, after the long hot and dry summer affected crops.

A £25 increase in the price of a tonne of wheat, which is used in the birds’ feed, is the biggest issue. Prices have shot up after poor harvests across northern Europe because of the summer weather while the fall in the pound has reduced UK buying power.

Kelly said he had also had to put up wages to protect take home pay for the 95 workers he hires every year from eastern Europe, who account for 77% of his total workforce at peak times. He guaranteed an exchange rate against the Polish złoty to tempt regular workers back, which he said cost him “a lot of money”.

But “at least we can get the work done”, he added.

Kelly said his biggest fear was no longer being able to attract good quality workers because Brexit gave them the impression that they were not welcome.

He said would have to slash the size of his business by at least 70% if workers did not come over from Europe because the UK government made it harder for EU citizens to work in the UK after Brexit. “It would just be me and my dad. It’s a hell of a worry.”

It had already become harder to attract workers from eastern Europe, he said. “The emotional side of things means they don’t want to come here. They don’t feel welcome and don’t see a future.”

Kelly said that further hiring problems would be a tragedy as sales were increasing and the company, which raises 45,000 birds a year, expected to sell 5% more this year.