It's the miles in the next link of the chain - from processor to store - that are the killer. The chicken isn't using much fossil fuel while it's still alive, the moment it's dead the use ramps up; refrigeration, packaging, artic fuel. It's why the environmental attention needs to be on what goes on in the food chain, rather than on farm.
River Wye Pollution
- Thread starter Johnnyboxer
- Start date
It's the miles in the next link of the chain - from processor to store - that are the killer. The chicken isn't using much fossil fuel while it's still alive, the moment it's dead the use ramps up; refrigeration, packaging, artic fuel. It's why the environmental attention needs to be on what goes on in the food chain, rather than on farm.
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
Correct it is the muck
- Location
- South Shropshire
Can somebody please post a map of every site along the Wye where there is potential for sewage to be released into the river?
That's good to hear, so why wasn't that mentioned in the story, it's funny how the farming industry has to/ can find a way of solving this problem quickly yet the sewage industry that has had decades to sort their issues haven't despite large profits. You would have thought that someone from the chicken production side would have said look we acknowledge we were causing a problem but it's been addressed, perhaps they did but as I didn't see it I don't know or perhaps they did say it but it wasn't included, it's almost as if there is a anti ag agenda
It would be a big list, every pumping station is built alongside a river or ditch so if the area problems it has somewhere to flow into, there are at least three within a kilometre of us, one of which flows into one of our ditches the other two direct into the river which eventually goes into the Bristol Avon, at least one of the two that goes into the river must have been overflowing during the heavy rain as the pipe they pump into isn't big enough to take it during large rain events
Pistonbroke
Member
Even riverside houses with treatment plants discharge into the river. The treated water is still going ybe high in phosphate,I would think. One woman complaining on the BBC interview had a large static caravan park in the river bank at Monmouth. Wonder where theirs all goes?
The map shows from the source to the sea
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
I would disagree that chicken sheds are agri business any more than any other farm that is bigger than the one you have. Certainly some of the sheds are owned by very large companies but I can take you to quite a few owned by some quite small operators and generally they make a very good job of it.
- Location
- Northleach, Gloucestershire
Most of the big sites around that area put the litter through the biomass for heating the sheds.
Pistonbroke
Member
spin cycle
Member
- Location
- north norfolk
fair enough but if this sector isn't an example of 'supermarket vertical Integration' I don't know what is
everybody is bigger than me..I'm near bottom of pile
But the chicken muck will need to be dried first?
Bet it didn't mention the river only fails in the summer when flows are low? Or the fact the flow of the Wye in the summer is low because of the amount of water abstracted high up in the catchments by welsh water?
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
no they do not accept to dry as the fire risk is too great
SilliamWhale
Member
Whilst I agree with this I think it would be irresponsible to pretend we don't have pollution problems too
No arable farmer wants to work 7 days a week
little_p
Member
- Location
- Powys / Herefordshire
Well *they* are claiming that the phosphate levels are high up stream before Builth. Which is all rather convenient for Welsh Water because they have treatment plant down stream from Builth.
One of the those interviewed apparently sat on the Hfds Council Planning committee for yrs ...and voted many many chicken sheds through .....saying " we must support local industry "
The reporter .... has a vested interest in blaming chicken farmers not developer's......the family currently trying to get 500 houses on sites adjacent to the sewage works through a major developer !
....so I'm told in Hfd market yesterday. Locals may be able to confirm this !
The reporter .... has a vested interest in blaming chicken farmers not developer's......the family currently trying to get 500 houses on sites adjacent to the sewage works through a major developer !
....so I'm told in Hfd market yesterday. Locals may be able to confirm this !
- Location
- Herefordshire
The reporter on BBC Midlabds today is a Farmers daughter near Hereford.I wouldn't think,for one minute,a planning application would affect the way she reported the article.
They're a good family.