Surviving or Thriving? Farms

[Jackov Altraids]

Interesting program on Radio 4 this afternoon;

Money Box - Surviving or Thriving? Farms - BBC Sounds

What does the rising cost of living mean for farms, households, schools and businesses?

www.bbc.co.uk

I appreciate it may be the way it is edited, but Minette Batters seems awfully concerned that food must be affordable without mentioning how.

 

[Cropper]

She’s on another planet to the rest of us!

 

[Sid]

Interesting program on Radio 4 this afternoon;

Money Box - Surviving or Thriving? Farms - BBC Sounds

What does the rising cost of living mean for farms, households, schools and businesses?

www.bbc.co.uk

I appreciate it may be the way it is edited, but Minette Batters seems awfully concerned that food must be affordable without mentioning how.

Of course food has to be affordable, if its not then you starve. Not known anyone to survive starving to death yet.

How? Easy for those with significant non food spends.
No so for those where food, heat and roof are all they can afford.

The whole keep up with the Jones is the real issue with consumerism!

 

[warksfarmer]

Interesting program on Radio 4 this afternoon;

Money Box - Surviving or Thriving? Farms - BBC Sounds

What does the rising cost of living mean for farms, households, schools and businesses?

www.bbc.co.uk

I appreciate it may be the way it is edited, but Minette Batters seems awfully concerned that food must be affordable without mentioning how.

She’s the single worst thing ever to happen to U.K. agriculture. The sooner she goes the better.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

But apart from that, you like her?

 

[Canada Farmer]

Two things , before food is affordable it has to be grown and produced efficiently and economically and the purchase price must reflect that and any mitigation for any minor or more major environmental effects.
And secondly food shouldn't be mass produced and or excessively processed to death.
Equally if you think the basics of food should be sold at or even below cost, then equally clothing and housing should be available from those sectors at similar costings.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Of course food has to be affordable, if its not then you starve. Not known anyone to survive starving to death yet.

How? Easy for those with significant non food spends.
No so for those where food, heat and roof are all they can afford.

The whole keep up with the Jones is the real issue with consumerism!

So you didn't listen to the program I assume.
It is interesting to listen to how the 2 different farms are 'ploughing their own furrow'.
One can probably assume they were not randomly selected, but put forward by someone.

The only points I can remember Minette making was,
1, Food needs to be affordable, we can not be a nation of farm shops.
2, Farmers must embrace new technologies to aid the industries' efforts to reach net zero.

In this context, what do you think she meant by affordable?

For farmers to continue producing at/below COP?
For food prices to be capped?
To give food vouchers to the disadvantaged?

Do you think the chair of The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), in similar circumstances, would state that rents must be affordable?

 

[SilliamWhale]

Why do we need to aid the industry's efforts to net zero?

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Why do we need to aid the industry's efforts to net zero?

Because we are carrying the responsibilities for the whole chain?

I found it surprising that given the whole point of the programme was to see if farming is thriving or surviving, they didn't point out that the farming was financially dead. It was retailing and schemes that seemed to be the things making them survive.

 

[Kidds]

The problem with food is not about if it is affordable it is that it is just not valued.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

The problem with food is not about if it is affordable it is that it is just not valued.

Because nobody values something that is cheap. And food has been cheap.
The advent of food banks [as sadly necessary as it may be] has only re-enforced the notion.
The last 80 years has been one long subtle change from food being provided by farmers, to being provided by supermarkets;

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/597666/FF75Timeline-09mar17.pdf

There are many repercussions to that. Principally it is the amount of oil burnt between field and plate.

 

[digger64]

The problem with food is not about if it is affordable it is that it is just not valued.

Partner was working in a pub doing food - the attitude and the amount they just didnt bother with and binned was incredible, also the labour they put into achieving it and then binning it .

 

[betternextyear]

Now we have a busy cafe on our farm, I am astonished at the amount of food that is bought and wasted.

 

[Jimdog1]

So you didn't listen to the program I assume.
It is interesting to listen to how the 2 different farms are 'ploughing their own furrow'.
One can probably assume they were not randomly selected, but put forward by someone.

The only points I can remember Minette making was,
1, Food needs to be affordable, we can not be a nation of farm shops.
2, Farmers must embrace new technologies to aid the industries' efforts to reach net zero.

In this context, what do you think she meant by affordable?

For farmers to continue producing at/below COP?
For food prices to be capped?
To give food vouchers to the disadvantaged?

Do you think the chair of The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), in similar circumstances, would state that rents must be affordable?

A good program. I think you are being very selective on the points made by Minnette. She talked a lot about profitability. 2 farms very focused on their customers and and their own profitability. The mindset of those prepared to change and those that are not?

 

[Tarw Coch]

Now we have a busy cafe on our farm, I am astonished at the amount of food that is bought and wasted.

Christ, is the food that bad?

The only time I would leave food is if I really didn’t like it, I’ve ate food and at places I wouldn’t choose to go again but almost always cleared my plate

 

[2wheels]

Now we have a busy cafe on our farm, I am astonished at the amount of food that is bought and wasted.

i often say to the missus that restaurant portions should be 2/3rds the size for 3/4s the price.

 

[digger64]

Now we have a busy cafe on our farm, I am astonished at the amount of food that is bought and wasted.

yes but lots just doesnt even get to the table

 

[serf]

Christ, is the food that bad?

Yes , but it will be betternextyear.....

 

[SilliamWhale]

She’s the single worst thing ever to happen to U.K. agriculture. The sooner she goes the better.

NFU are promoting Red Tractor which reduces market access, adds cost and allows middlemen and nefarious influences (eg AIC, retailers) to directly influence and restrict farmers access to market at our own cost. The heavy discounting for non assured grain is heinous.

They are also trying to pretend all farmers should be to go to net zero 2040 which to achieve is going to ruin the livestock industry and is based on some extremely dodgy calculations. We should always have a discussion about carbon emissions but none of this net zero insanity, point it out for what it is - tripe.

Both of these policies are designed to be extremely intimidatory and it is absolute bullying by the very organisation meant to represent us.

The thoughtlessness and stupidity of both of these things leads me to agree with you, she is no farmers friend that's for sure, even if she is the figurehead.

 

[serf]

Ironically if people didn't waste food it wood be worth less at the farm gate cos demand would be less ....