A poem of true word.

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
There was a small mixed farmer down the road in the sixties/seventies, less than 150 acres. He had a new car every year, up to date machinery, and put his 2 children through private education. Therein lies the problem, we have been financially exploited for years.
Who brought it on though? We saw “farming companies” get a hold here in the 1980’s.
They took on ever more acres with fewer and fewer temporary staff. Bigger, faster, cheaper. And the supermarkets just said “Oh so you can do it for as little as that can you? OK then we will have for as little as that.” Then Mr Big farmer started to sweat and went under only to bought out by Mr Even Bigger Farmer who said to the supermarket “Please Mr Supermarket, I can do it a penny cheaper. Please buy from me.” And so the cabbages on the wholesale market became worthless and Mr Small Farmer didn’t stand a chance.
In my view the supermarkets never really “asked” for cheap food. They just had to sit and wait for farmers to cut one another’s throats to offer it to them, in an insane drive to be the biggest in the county. Because all that matters to some farmers is being the biggest in the county regardless of whether it busts us all in the process of getting there. Own worst enemies.
 

toquark

Member
Who brought it on though? We saw “farming companies” get a hold here in the 1980’s.
They took on ever more acres with fewer and fewer temporary staff. Bigger, faster, cheaper. And the supermarkets just said “Oh so you can do it for as little as that can you? OK then we will have for as little as that.” Then Mr Big farmer started to sweat and went under only to bought out by Mr Even Bigger Farmer who said to the supermarket “Please Mr Supermarket, I can do it a penny cheaper. Please buy from me.” And so the cabbages on the wholesale market became worthless and Mr Small Farmer didn’t stand a chance.
In my view the supermarkets never really “asked” for cheap food. They just had to sit and wait for farmers to cut one another’s throats to offer it to them, in an insane drive to be the biggest in the county. Because all that matters to some farmers is being the biggest in the county regardless of whether it busts us all in the process of getting there. Own worst enemies.
Totally agree with the sentiment but isn't that the same in any private business though? There's always someone willing to do the job for less. I bet london taxi drivers, tradesmen and until recently lorry drivers are all saying the same thing.

I guess the trouble is that once that land is out of the hands of smaller owners, it'll rarely come back at a price which makes farming economically viable, whereas a joiner can always go self employed, or lorry driver buy their own truck if the conditions are right.

Not sure what the answer is really, but its a sad thing to witness.
 

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
Totally agree with the sentiment but isn't that the same in any private business though? There's always someone willing to do the job for less. I bet london taxi drivers, tradesmen and until recently lorry drivers are all saying the same thing.

I guess the trouble is that once that land is out of the hands of smaller owners, it'll rarely come back at a price which makes farming economically viable, whereas a joiner can always go self employed, or lorry driver buy their own truck if the conditions are right.

Not sure what the answer is really, but its a sad thing to witness.
I don’t know what the answer is. Scale, efficiency isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Depends how people value things though and the general drift of society. Tends to be towards easier life in the short term, but maybe we are poorer long term.
I still think there has bern undue social pressure on small farmers to pack up when it’s still viable maybe part time or as a combined other home based business along with the farming. I don’t we’ll ever sell unless we are forced. But who knows.
 

toquark

Member
I don’t know what the answer is. Scale, efficiency isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Depends how people value things though and the general drift of society. Tends to be towards easier life in the short term, but maybe we are poorer long term.
I still think there has bern undue social pressure on small farmers to pack up when it’s still viable maybe part time or as a combined other home based business along with the farming. I don’t we’ll ever sell unless we are forced. But who knows.
There probably has been pressure to get big or get out, everyone from government to buyers want to deal with fewer, bigger entities as it makes their lives easier and tends to lower their costs but yes, we do all lose something in that process.

I'm a big proponent of part time farming. I do it myself and see it as very much part of the future for smaller places if they want to stay in the game. My little place will never be paid for by farming, the loan being serviced by my other income. I suppose, therein lies the problem - I do it because I really want to do it, not necessarily because it's a wise financial decision in the short term, I'd likely be far better sticking it into stocks and shares.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 80 42.3%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 34.9%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 15.9%
  • 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

  • 1,292
  • 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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