Research on Brexit, Agriculture and Online Politics

Dear TFF members

My name is Eliot Jones, I am from Dorset, England. I obtained a first class BSc in International Agriculture from Greenwich University in 2016. I am now undertaking an MSC at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. I am currently beginning research for my thesis and am now reaching out to you to request your participation.

I am interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the Brexit debate in relation to both the agricultural community and online social media platforms. This forum presents a very interesting case for political exchange within a demographic that has a significant stake in the outcome of upcoming negotiations with the EU. In my own extensive research of the best and most academic attempts at assessing EU and UK CAP reform and their diagnosis for the future, I have failed to find any political motivation for or against Brexit.

The landslide of British farmers voting to leave the EU, some estimate as high as 70%, has indicated a severe dissatisfaction with the current means of governance. In the 15 months since the referendum, however, this has not been reflected by UK policymakers.

It is my objective to study the way in which TFF members espouse their political preferences regarding post-Brexit agriculture. Once finished, I intend to collect and produce a list of recommendations based on my findings.

I will conduct this research with total anonymity; all participants will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and no personal information of any kind will be made public. This research is meant for me to complete my MSc degree at Wageningen University only, and will not be published. I am very willing, however, to share the results with you and the forum.

Therefore, considering the article presented below, I would like to hear how you envision farming after Brexit, good or bad, and without strong objection from the community, I will begin to study the exchange within this forum.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/aug/17/brexit-farming-reform-uk-agriculture-cap

Thank you for your time

Eliot Jones

(Graduate Researcher)
 

Pasty

Member
Location
Devon
Sun will shine. Rain will fall. Grass will grow and I'll still be a lad with a few chickens.

Hope that is of some help.

I reckon proper farmers will be along shortly.
 

Danllan

Member
Location
Sir Gar / Carms
Very pleased to see a researcher being as open as you have been. The short answer is that farming itself will carry on pretty much as before, and probably improving in fits and starts too. Some movement will be made to fit in with different markets' requirements. Sub's similar to CAP will go; any shortfall in pockets from the loss of such sub's will be made up for by 'rewards' for environmentally friendly farming - one would have to be very naïve to think it mere coincidence that Michael Gove now holds his current office.

I voted to leave the EU and have no regrets; I regard the doom-saying as just that. I think some short term difficulties are inevitable, but we will come out all the stronger economically and - although this personally political rather than strictly agricultural - we will have full national sovereignty again. That last point is why a huge number of people voted to leave, including many farmers, don't discount it in your research.

If you want to study the exchange in this forum properly, you will have to begin by looking at the threads about Brexit that were begun before the referendum. It will be a lot of work and there is a fair amount of vitriol to sift through, but there were some good discussions and points made. Perhaps the most interesting part of your research will be to see if and how individuals' attitudes and thoughts have changed as events have come to pass.

Good luck with your research, work hard, have fun and concentrate when you must. Best of British!
 

Hindsight

Member
Location
Lincolnshire
Dear TFF members

My name is Eliot Jones, I am from Dorset, England. I obtained a first class BSc in International Agriculture from Greenwich University in 2016. I am now undertaking an MSC at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. I am currently beginning research for my thesis and am now reaching out to you to request your participation.

I am interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the Brexit debate in relation to both the agricultural community and online social media platforms. This forum presents a very interesting case for political exchange within a demographic that has a significant stake in the outcome of upcoming negotiations with the EU. In my own extensive research of the best and most academic attempts at assessing EU and UK CAP reform and their diagnosis for the future, I have failed to find any political motivation for or against Brexit.

The landslide of British farmers voting to leave the EU, some estimate as high as 70%, has indicated a severe dissatisfaction with the current means of governance. In the 15 months since the referendum, however, this has not been reflected by UK policymakers.

It is my objective to study the way in which TFF members espouse their political preferences regarding post-Brexit agriculture. Once finished, I intend to collect and produce a list of recommendations based on my findings.

I will conduct this research with total anonymity; all participants will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and no personal information of any kind will be made public. This research is meant for me to complete my MSc degree at Wageningen University only, and will not be published. I am very willing, however, to share the results with you and the forum.

Therefore, considering the article presented below, I would like to hear how you envision farming after Brexit, good or bad, and without strong objection from the community, I will begin to study the exchange within this forum.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/aug/17/brexit-farming-reform-uk-agriculture-cap

Thank you for your time

Eliot Jones

(Graduate Researcher)


Loss of Glyphosate is a major issue which might (overshadow Brexit in terms of crop production possibilities on farms that are primarily arable and have to deal with weed control.
 

baabaa

Member
Location
co Antrim
You'd be better advised to speak to NFU officers who conducted roadshows before the referendum - they were astonished at how naive and ill-informed many of their members actually were, judging by some of the comments made at those meetings.
spoke to my UFU rep a few days ago, regarding brexit, his comment " Its a long time since his members have been so happy":D:D:D
 

onesiedale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Derbyshire
To analyse the data regarding the Brexit debate and social media then TFF is probably the best resource to start at. It may be worth asking @Clive if there is some way in which TFF could furnish you with some useful stats. I guess this may come at a cost,(If atall possible) but, either way the figures that TFF hold, could give a tremendous insight into collective thoughts of the industry.

You are correct in your observation that the TFF demographic does have a significant stake in future CAP reforms. But also, that demographic understands the limitations and the actual cost of delivering the CAP. The unsustainable nature of the CAP in the future in handling such a massive proportion of the EU budget is a big concern for many.

The trouble with the current UK policymakers is that they are heavily influenced by the status quo. It is far easier 'cary on as normal ' . They are probably subject to some heavyweight lobbyists too.
When the dust has settled or some real blue sky thinking policymakers are incumbent then maybe UK agriculture may find itself subjected to a serious dose of 'Rogernomics' - the NZ approach that left farmers with no subsidies.

My guess is that we will end up nearer a rogernomic outcome than a status quo outcome. Subsequently I'm making plans for my business to cope with the uncertainty and opportunity that Brexit will bring.
 

Tomtrac

Member
Location
Penrith cumbria
You'd be better advised to speak to NFU officers who conducted roadshows before the referendum - they were astonished at how naive and ill-informed many of their members actually were, judging by some of the comments made at those meetings.

H
The nfu haa
I am in cumbria and have spoken to a couple off nfu men at my two different local offices and they both shot me down about wanting out
They both told me i hadnt a clue and we needed to be IN the EU
I have been in the nfu for more than 40 years and i was very close to shoving there membership and big insurance up there A--
I never went to an eu road show as i wasnt aware of any up in my erea
If you ask my opinion they the NFU get a lot out of Europe and are so scared of there own shadow if we come out as are most mp's
But we voted out and need to come out sod crawling to them break all ties and let them come to us for our products and get back our own manufacturing plants etc
Most towns had an adas office but they were all sold as most agricultural decisions were made in the eu so the government must be having to employ and start a new agricultural office etc
I can see the uk running under the eu rules and not getting our benefits we are from Britain and we should be proud and stand up for our selves
Hell even Britain toys got sold off
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
To analyse the data regarding the Brexit debate and social media then TFF is probably the best resource to start at. It may be worth asking @Clive if there is some way in which TFF could furnish you with some useful stats. I guess this may come at a cost,(If atall possible) but, either way the figures that TFF hold, could give a tremendous insight into collective thoughts of the industry.

You are correct in your observation that the TFF demographic does have a significant stake in future CAP reforms. But also, that demographic understands the limitations and the actual cost of delivering the CAP. The unsustainable nature of the CAP in the future in handling such a massive proportion of the EU budget is a big concern for many.

The trouble with the current UK policymakers is that they are heavily influenced by the status quo. It is far easier 'cary on as normal ' . They are probably subject to some heavyweight lobbyists too.
When the dust has settled or some real blue sky thinking policymakers are incumbent then maybe UK agriculture may find itself subjected to a serious dose of 'Rogernomics' - the NZ approach that left farmers with no subsidies.

My guess is that we will end up nearer a rogernomic outcome than a status quo outcome. Subsequently I'm making plans for my business to cope with the uncertainty and opportunity that Brexit will bring.

there is no real way to analyse TFF other than read it really, we don't do anything with or sell any data
 

Pasty

Member
Location
Devon
there is no real way to analyse TFF other than read it really, we don't do anything with or sell any data
You can sell my posts if you like. I want 10% of the take and that will mean that by 2037 I might have enough to get some Pringles in Lidl as long as they are on offer. If they aren't I'll settle for the Doritos substitute which my boys assure me taste like industrial waste. Still, every little helps....
 

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
There are those who see Brexit as a disaster because it might end their subsidy payments and it might hit export markets due to imposition of tariffs.

There are those who voted for Brexit, ( despite being aware of the danger to their subsidy payments and export markets), because they were so tired of the red tape emanating from Brussels, the silly rules and overly complex schemes. (Just have a read through the NVZ rules for England if you want an example of the sort of overblown incomprehensible nonsense that is churned out by these people, or try getting any sense out of the RPA regarding your subsidy payments or lack of them.) It got to the point with our business where the cost of complying with EU requirements and of participating in their Byzantine environmental schemes just isn't worth the subsidy due to negative impact of schemes and requirements on the business. The game is no longer worth the candle. So we take a gamble and vote for Brexit in the desparate hope that we can sweep away the mess and have a cleaner fresher simpler future even if it isn't quite so cushy for those who basically want money for old rope. We had the choice of either acquiescing in a system that was rotten to the core, paying huge amounts of money out to those who needed it least, or having fresh start. God knows where it will end but we live in hope that it can't be worse that what we are leaving.

If the will and ability is there, we can build a better country, but sadly I fear the muddled lukewarm fence sitters have inherited the legacy of the visionary pioneers, and will squander it.
 

Hindsight

Member
Location
Lincolnshire
There are those who see Brexit as a disaster because it might end their subsidy payments and it might hit export markets due to imposition of tariffs.

There are those who voted for Brexit, ( despite being aware of the danger to their subsidy payments and export markets), because they were so tired of the red tape emanating from Brussels, the silly rules and overly complex schemes. (Just have a read through the NVZ rules for England if you want an example of the sort of overblown incomprehensible nonsense that is churned out by these people, or try getting any sense out of the RPA regarding your subsidy payments or lack of them.) It got to the point with our business where the cost of complying with EU requirements and of participating in their Byzantine environmental schemes just isn't worth the subsidy due to negative impact of schemes and requirements on the business. The game is no longer worth the candle. So we take a gamble and vote for Brexit in the desparate hope that we can sweep away the mess and have a cleaner fresher simpler future even if it isn't quite so cushy for those who basically want money for old rope. We had the choice of either acquiescing in a system that was rotten to the core, paying huge amounts of money out to those who needed it least, or having fresh start. God knows where it will end but we live in hope that it can't be worse that what we are leaving.

If the will and ability is there, we can build a better country, but sadly I fear the muddled lukewarm fence sitters have inherited the legacy of the visionary pioneers.


I shall be very much surprised if the Nitrate regulations are dismantled or watered down. Nitrate pollution is a key environmental issue and I expect the government will continue with regulatory controls. I stand to be corrected and you can return to this comment of mine in about five or six years if the NVZ rules are scrapped or substantially reduced.

I hope for your sake you are correct or you maybe disappointed. Hey ho.
 

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
I shall be very much surprised if the Nitrate regulations are dismantled or watered down. Nitrate pollution is a key environmental issue and I expect the government will continue with regulatory controls. I stand to be corrected and you can return to this comment of mine in about five or six years if the NVZ rules are scrapped or substantially reduced.

I hope for your sake you are correct or you maybe disappointed. Hey ho.

It's is a key environmental issue. But it could be regulated in a much simpler manner.

I have 250 sheep and some arable. I import 20 tonnes of nitrate per annum, I don't import or export muck. At a glance it is obvious I don't exceed any limit for loading the environment with nitrate or nitrous oxides, or ammonia yet soon they won't satisfied till I have analysed and weighed every load of muck spread on out of the lambing pens and a host of other recording requirements that I already have to do which add nothing at all to nitrate management.

Low intensity farming is regulated as if it were an intensive animal unit the costs in time and money are becoming unsustainable. Not a lot of people seem to realise that because they don't work at the coal face anymore.
 

Hindsight

Member
Location
Lincolnshire
It's is a key environmental issue. But it could be regulated in a much simpler manner.

I have 250 sheep and some arable. I import 20 tonnes of nitrate per annum, I don't import or export muck. At a glance it is obvious I don't exceed any limit for loading the environment with nitrate or nitrous oxides, or ammonia yet soon they won't satisfied till I have analysed and weighed every load of muck spread on out of the lambing pens and a host of other recording requirements that I already have to do which add nothing at all to nitrate management.

Low intensity farming is regulated as if it were an intensive animal unit the costs in time and money are becoming unsustainable. Not a lot of people seem to realise that because they don't work at the coal face anymore.

Yes, concur with your observation. The regulatory arrangements could and should be tailored to the impact of the business activities.
 

jendan

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Northumberland
It's is a key environmental issue. But it could be regulated in a much simpler manner.

I have 250 sheep and some arable. I import 20 tonnes of nitrate per annum, I don't import or export muck. At a glance it is obvious I don't exceed any limit for loading the environment with nitrate or nitrous oxides, or ammonia yet soon they won't satisfied till I have analysed and weighed every load of muck spread on out of the lambing pens and a host of other recording requirements that I already have to do which add nothing at all to nitrate management.

Low intensity farming is regulated as if it were an intensive animal unit the costs in time and money are becoming unsustainable. Not a lot of people seem to realise that because they don't work at the coal face anymore.
You could always ask Farmyspu to do your paperwork for you;).I think he is down your way.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 80 42.1%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 67 35.3%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,294
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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