Farmer Roy's Random Thoughts - I never said it was easy.

Blaithin · Sep 19, 2018

Because Aussies took a word that already had a meaning and tried to apply it to a piece of equipment that already had a name... the Northern Hemisphere people will be confused?

If I got confused at Australian's grasp and misuse of the English language, I would never be able to have a conversation with them

Blaithin · Sep 19, 2018

But my Aussie translation dictionary in my mind has trouble recalling combine, capsicum and arvo at the same time. Usually I have to sit back and let the pages of my brain turn until I get to the right definition.

Farmer Roy · Sep 19, 2018

Haha - I'll let @cows sh#t me to tears take the ball & run with it if he likes.
Dunno about taking a word already in use & using it for something else . . .

I think we were calling box drills "combines" well before there were combine harvesters about . . .
That photo above was 1918 - 20 at a guess . . .

Blaithin · Sep 19, 2018

First combine harvesters were invented/used in early the 1800s I believe. They combined the reaper, thresher and that other thing I can’t remember.

If your equipment was already called a box drill what was the box drill combined with to earn a new name?

Farmer Roy · Sep 19, 2018

Not wanting to restart an old battle, but WE did invent the "combine harvester", we can call it what we like

IMAGEHeadlie Taylor's 1914 header

Blaithin · Sep 19, 2018

False.

Ukjay · Sep 19, 2018

Farmer Roy said:
so - if we get such public sympathy, why do UK farmers feel so little love ?
So - I again ask the question, why such a massive difference in public opinion

One thing I am finding - is that if you have not come from a farming family, nor had any form of agricultural qualifications from an Ag college etc, then by this background you do not know anything about the industry so basically get the 'V' sign and told your a muppet tree hugging swamp lover - whereby resented..
There are a number of people whom feel that outsiders - AKA, someone like me, should be shut out as we obviously think differently, and this I feel, if magnified across the population may result in the public then pushing back on the farming community - so the never ending circle continues!

If we run with blinkers on, and set our stall firmly in old mentality - we are inevitably running blind imho.

Farmer Roy · Sep 19, 2018

Ukjay said:
One thing I am finding - is that if you have not come from a farming family, nor had any form of agricultural qualifications from an Ag college etc, then by this background you do not know anything about the industry so basically get the 'V' sign and told your a muppet tree hugging swamp lover - whereby resented..
There are a number of people whom feel that outsiders - AKA, someone like me, should be shut out as we obviously think differently, and this I feel, if magnified across the population may result in the public then pushing back on the farming community - so the never ending circle continues!

If we run with blinkers on, and set our stall firmly in old mentality - we are inevitably running blind imho.

Interesting
Some of the best & most innovative farmers here come from non farming backgrounds . . .

Farmer Roy · Sep 19, 2018

There does seem to be a lot of "them & us" sentiment, or wanting to pigeon hole & differentiate everyone on TFF, by size, by industry, by breeding, by land ownership, hours worked, what is a "proper" farmer ?
FFS the class system really is self perpetuating isn't it, at all levels

Ukjay · Sep 19, 2018

Farmer Roy said:
Interesting
Some of the best & most innovative farmers here come from non farming backgrounds . . .

Fortunately, to balance the equation; there are many who are quite level headed and are openly welcoming - otherwise individuals like myself would be making far more mistakes than currently doing.
I find it a real shame in all honesty, as I have come to understand that the farming commnity are far more resilient on the whole than other industries, and has a great number of individuals who are great innovators and forward thinkers, which will be lost if the current mindset continues.

Farmer Roy · Sep 19, 2018

Well, if subs go there may be quite a shakeup . . .

Ukjay · Sep 19, 2018

Farmer Roy said:
There does seem to be a lot of "them & us" sentiment, or wanting to pigeon hole & differentiate everyone on TFF, by size, by industry, by breeding, by land ownership, hours worked, what is a "proper" farmer ?
FFS the class system really is self perpetuating isn't it, at all levels

Yes, it can sometimes appear that way - and it echoes the old working / middle and upper classes debates.

jellybean · Sep 19, 2018

Farmer Roy said:
Interesting
Some of the best & most innovative farmers here come from non farming backgrounds . . .

In the early days of deer farming there were many people entering the scene who were successful business men who had bought a nice house with land and had been told by the so called consultants that deer farming was what they should be doing; no work, no inputs and loads of money

. Anyway, needless to say, they soon discovered otherwise but some of their ideas on how to solve various problems were refreshing in their diversity and novelty. An outside viewpoint and a blank canvas approach can be very good at times.
I did have one chap though who asked me for a price to fence the farm for deer. I visited, walked the whole farm measuring up as I went, worked out the price on the spot and gave him the figure. Somewhat shocked at the sum he thought for a moment and asked "Tell me John, couldn't I just tether them?" Now that is thinking outside the box.

holwellcourtfarm · Sep 19, 2018

Farmer Roy said:
so - if we get such public sympathy, why do UK farmers feel so little love ? Before ANYONE comments, I will remind you that despite the PR bullpoo, we are THE most urbanised country in the western world ( Japan has a higher proportion of rural population than we do ) The vast bulk of our population live on a narrow strip of land about 100km wide, on the east coast of Australia, between Melbourne & Brisbane. The vast bulk of our population are completely removed from agriculture & farmers. You have a MUCH higher proportion of your population living in rural locations than we do. Australians are just as keen on their takeaway coffee, wifi ( we invented wifi, just so youknow ), smartphones, shiny cars, new houses & cheap junk food as anyone in the UK is.
So - I again ask the question, why such a massive difference in public opinion

cows sh#t me to tears said:
I'll take a punt and say that since we are such a relatively young country, most people aren't that far removed from a farming past. I.e. had parents or grandparents that had a farm that they visited on school holidays... I dare say with the next generation that link will be lost.

Blaithin said:
I would question why urbanization equals an image of lower public opinion or support or has anything to do with it really.

I get excess chicken eggs, I will sell them for $5 a dozen.

You know who will pay $5 a dozen? City people who are absolutely removed from agriculture. Those urbanized folks.

You know who won't pay $5 a dozen? Pretty much anyone from a rural upbringing.

It has been my experience that those least likely to pay a bit more to support local producers are the producers themselves. They will tout a variety of reasons such as they can't afford it based on what they earn to it didn't cost that much when I was younger all the way to well I can produce it myself for cheaper. Yet folks in the cities are becoming big pushers of buy local, support local. Yes, urban populations are more removed and therefore less knowledgeable than many rural folks about agriculture matters, but that's not surprising. It's not like us farmers are all great minds on how to use public transit (at least I'm not!).

I would be more inclined to say it's not that the UK faces more negativity in proportion to it's population than other countries, it's just that social media brings out the negativity in all things more. It's not that the large portion of their population is bashing them, it's that the few that are are doing it very loudly. And it's so loud that then people who don't know any better hear it and believe it and then it takes time for them to learn a more balanced perspective.

(I would also probably debate the idea of a "rural" area in the UK. I'm unsure what criteria is needed for a location to meet that, but based on the population density I'm used to, that entire country is pretty non rural.)

Actually there is still quite a bit of support for farmers here, it's just TFF distorts the reality. The "Social Media affect" is very obvious with opinionated trolls shooting their bile but the general public are not like that.

Most of the time they don't even think about farming or food. We still get very positive support when things go bad though, storms with sheep stuck in snow etc.

@Blaithin does have it right on the chronological/generational distance from farming though. Ireland still has that familiarity as most urban Irish folk still have relatives that farm but, even there, it's changing. That effect reduces the true understanding of farming as they have never actually experienced it but it doesn't mean that the urban folk don't care.

holwellcourtfarm · Sep 19, 2018

Farmer Roy said:
I went to Ag Quip last month, mainly because it was local
Apart from the steak sandwiches, the most interesting thing was a craft beer stand
Planting equipment is always what I am most interested in but have to admit my enthusiasm was a bit lacking this year
Good to have a day away & a bit of social interaction though

I gave up going to ogle the shiny kit years ago. Having become a peasant cattle farmer some years ago it has no relevance to me. I really enjoyed Groundswell last year though and will go again

(that was probably due to the "left field", slightly "hippie", open minded, see things differently feel of it though. I really hope it doesn't ever go mainstream as it would struggle to stay so thought provoking).

holwellcourtfarm · Sep 19, 2018

If any of you actually care about the way the UK is going (& why would you really) then this blog sums up why we're desperate to leave. To really find out what an area is like talk to the local police and/or GP service (family doctors) as they see it "warts and all".

This blog describes the modern UK from a serving police officer perspective, far more eloquently than I can.

https://arrestingconversations.wordpress.com/2018/09/13/the-state-of-policing-september-2018/

Treg · Sep 19, 2018

I don't think the public are anti farming, most people are very interested in what I'm doing , get the odd person who will go on about rich farmers , which yes most of us are asset rich so some think we must be earning a fortune.
I love McDonalds

they buy a fifth of UK beef, just look at the queues for the drive thru.

hendrebc · Sep 19, 2018

cows sh#t me to tears said:
Bit of a lucky escape this morning Shifting chopper cows and bull calves and several large bulls to a different paddock when one big bàstard decided he didn't like the look of me. I didn't clear the drain in the corner of the paddock ( yet somehow managed to not get 2 gumboots full of water) and went ass up after clambering out. Copped his big fat head fare in my bum. I dont know why he didn't keep going and trample me completely . Made it to the water trough where we had a bit of a Mexican stand off. Needless to say hes booked a one way ticket to the AbsView attachment 718504 picture taken through rails in yards. This prìck stands at least 6 foot tall. ( taller than me) . I'm feeling it now

FFS I thought you were getting better at the not trying to die thing

cows sh#t me to tears said:
I'll take a punt and say that since we are such a relatively young country, most people aren't that far removed from a farming past. I.e. had parents or grandparents that had a farm that they visited on school holidays... I dare say with the next generation that link will be lost.

This. I think we are 10 generations removed from the land here on average. America was only 4 in the same study but I can't remember were I read it. There wasn't anywere as far removed as the UK excepwube japan.

Farmer Roy said:
Oh yes, TFFland hate KFC ( in fact , anything to do with chicken production or meat ) McDonalds, & the public who eat it. I think they still believe everyone should live on a diet of roast beef, potatoes & milk ?

But yes, from what you describe, I think the situation in Canada sounds very similar to here.
The Australian Angus Association was very keen to have its "brand" associated with McDonalds

I knew a bloke who was a meat inspector at a local abattoir. Obviously, Maccas use "ground beef" which was always open to suggestions as to what was actually in it. He was always very defensive about such allegations, apparently their specs are very tight & they have strict quality control. Wether you like them or not, they do take their quality control & their standards very seriously.

McDonald's do a lot of good work here and have very high standards for their food as well. Don't know why people like to keep slagging them off really. Especially beef farmers

cows sh#t me to tears · Sep 19, 2018

Well now

dunno about the drill, maybe because it combined showing with fertilizer in one pass???? BUT. As for the harvester. The reason they are known as headers here has a MAJOR connection to Henty (where the field days are). That's where Headlie Taylor started his farm blacksmith shop http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/taylor-headlie-shipard-8758 sorry the article is a bit long winded

cows sh#t me to tears · Sep 19, 2018

@hendrebc

sorry

hes a big bull, I'm in a fair amount of pain tonight, wasnt impressed I had to milk this afternoon as well

but it could have been a lot worse...

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