Agriculture Post Brexit The Bright Blue View

[Frank-the-Wool]

I attach a link to a Conservative Think Tank that has been published.
You will note if you read all the way through this that food production comes last in the grand plan.
Imports of food will be unrestricted and of no concern.

It is quite heavy going but I am sure it is what DEFRA and Michael Gove will have in mind for agriculture post Brexit.

If you thought you were a Park Keeper now, just read this!!!

https://static1.squarespace.com/sta...10941721263/A+greener,+more+pleasant+land.pdf

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Another load of twaddle to read.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Another load of twaddle to read.

I am afraid this is not twaddle.
This will become policy if the Right wing have their way.

 

[gone up the hill]

I am afraid this is not twaddle.
This will become policy if the Right wing have their way.

If that happens then UK welfare rules will have to go out of the window alongside with BS like the Red Tractor etc!

And I agree it could happen as Gove doesn't understand we cannot have high welfare/ stewardship etc rules and cut costs at the same time!

Unless the likes of the NFU start lobbying much harder than they currently are then UK AG will be sold down the river!

 

[Neddy flanders]

their proposal is to maintain subsidies at current rates for 9 years, before weaning us off.
stopped reading after this

 

[gone up the hill]

None of the authors have any intrest in food production.

Pre loaded as bad as it gets.

What they are suggesting is very complicated and unworkable on the ground!

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

If that happens then UK welfare rules will have to go out of the window alongside with BS like the Red Tractor etc!

And I agree it could happen as Gove doesn't understand we cannot have high welfare/ stewardship etc rules and cut costs at the same time!

Unless the likes of the NFU start lobbying much harder than they currently are then UK AG will be sold down the river!

How does one lobby for this eventuality?
Why should farmers be protected from world prices of food?
What is not to like for the consumer when farmers are paid to prevent flooding and provide public access and imported food is cheaper?

 

[Walterp]

First up, Abi Kay has been proved at least partially correct (and scooped the UK Press) by suggesting that the UK is increasing its offer to settle outstanding liabilities. Quality journalism, at its dedicated best.

Second up, DEFRA has not commissioned any extra research into the position of UK agriculture, nor have we yet seen the specific impact assessment. Available shortly, at all good parliaments near you, though.

Once the impact assessment is available, then we can judge if the UK government has any grasp of the direction of agricultural policy.

But, as GUTH says, the signs are not encouraging.

 

[Bill the Bass]

More obfusticated gobbledegook that only academics can understand. New clothes for the emperor anyone?

 

[gone up the hill]

How does one lobby for this eventuality?
Why should farmers be protected from world prices of food?
What is not to like for the consumer when farmers are paid to prevent flooding and provide public access and imported food is cheaper?

You lobby for the opposite of this!

Because if we aren't protected from world prices then we should have the same rules/ red tape/ welfare rules of other country's that will be importing into the UK ( and getting subs as well ) because if we don't then we cannot compete and the country will rely on imports to feed its people and sooner or later that will backfire badly.

Public already has a lot of access to the countryside, no need for them to have anymore.

As for preventing flooding, pie in the sky rubbish unless we plant millions of acres to trees/ convert it flood marshes/ bogs etc.

 

[gone up the hill]

And what they are suggesting is so complicated any funds will be swallowed up in red tape/ consultants fees, farmers will see very little if anything of the cash!

 

[Adeptandy]

At least it looks like the status quo until 2022, was concerned it would be going earlier.

 

[gone up the hill]

First up, Abi Kay has been proved at least partially correct (and scooped the UK Press) by suggesting that the UK is increasing its offer to settle outstanding liabilities. Quality journalism, at its dedicated best.

Second up, DEFRA has not commissioned any extra research into the position of UK agriculture, nor have we yet seen the specific impact assessment. Available shortly, at all good parliaments near you, though.

Once the impact assessment is available, then we can judge if the UK government has any grasp of the direction of agricultural policy.

But, as GUTH says, the signs are not encouraging.

Abi Kay doesn't know anything!

She claimed two weeks ago that the UK had agreed to pay the EU 50 billion, nothing of the sort had been agreed two weeks ago and she basically made that figure up!

Very intresting job advert on the Defra website looking for advisors to shape UK AG post brexit ( and you don't need any experience of the industry to apply for these jobs )

 

[Goweresque]

If that happens then UK welfare rules will have to go out of the window alongside with BS like the Red Tractor etc!

And I agree it could happen as Gove doesn't understand we cannot have high welfare/ stewardship etc rules and cut costs at the same time!

Unless the likes of the NFU start lobbying much harder than they currently are then UK AG will be sold down the river!

They don't care if you produce a single bit of food, thats not the point of the exercise. The public want flower filled meadows, trees and butterflies, and thats what you'll have to produce if you want the public's money......................the public don't want slurry pits, silage effluent, crop sprayers and mud on the road (or to be caught behind slow vehicles), so they're not going to pay for that, so its up to you if you want to keep doing those things on your own £££.

Sounds fair enough to me, produce what the market wants, fluffy bunnies and 'eco-services', might even get some money out of the likes of the RSPB, happy days!

 

[gone up the hill]

They don't care if you produce a single bit of food, thats not the point of the exercise. The public want flower filled meadows, trees and butterflies, and thats what you'll have to produce if you want the public's money......................the public don't want slurry pits, silage effluent, crop sprayers and mud on the road (or to be caught behind slow vehicles), so they're not going to pay for that, so its up to you if you want to keep doing those things on your own £££.

Sounds fair enough to me, produce what the market wants, fluffy bunnies and 'eco-services', might even get some money out of the likes of the RSPB, happy days!

I think the public actually wants farmers to produce food.

Its consultants like who wrote this report that claim the public want farmers to stop producing food as they want to direct the money into areas where they can advise on and secure themselves non jobs in!

 

[anzani]

Reading the authors experience and backgrounds makes one realise that they are not concerned with agriculture for food supply- Don't Waitrose deliver?

 

[gone up the hill]

UK farming unions really need to step up their game and now, not next year!

They are getting totally left behind in shaping UK AG post brexit

 

[Suffolk Serf]

I feel a game of buzz word bingo coming.

 

[Bill the Bass]

I feel a game of buzz word bingo coming.

Ooooh let me start!; 'Natural Capital'....

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

You lobby for the opposite of this!

Because if we aren't protected from world prices then we should have the same rules/ red tape/ welfare rules of other country's that will be importing into the UK ( and getting subs as well ) because if we don't then we cannot compete and the country will rely on imports to feed its people and sooner or later that will backfire badly.

Public already has a lot of access to the countryside, no need for them to have anymore.

As for preventing flooding, pie in the sky rubbish unless we plant millions of acres to trees/ convert it flood marshes/ bogs etc.

The Repeal of the Corn Laws is an interesting analogy to this.
While we understand the importance and difference in production methods, I am afraid the majority of consumers have not the faintest idea!

After the Repeal of the Corn Laws, by 1914 we were importing 80% of the wheat and 40% of meat. The German U Boats nearly starved us to death.
The Repeal in 1846 was forced after people rioted when food became short and too expensive for the poor. However it took nearly 100 years before it was decided that we needed more home grown food and the marketing boards were created and agriculture prospered for the last 65 years.

I fear history will take a long time to repeat itself.