Dairy (all) Farmers commodity slaves says sustainable farming trust

[andybk]

I say i agree with most of this article and applies across all sectors , and one a new system i hope will address , a very sensible piece

Why dairy farmers have become commodity slaves

The dairy industry has become increasingly intensive as it seeks to secure a foothold on the world stage. In this piece for the March 2020 edition of Dairy Farmer, Patrick Holden, chief executive of the Sustainable Food Trust, argues this is entirely the wrong direction.
I believe UK dairy farmers have become commodity slaves, trapped in unsustainable farming systems. We have been forced into this damaging consumer preference for dishonestly priced, but apparently ever cheaper, dairy products.

The truth is these trends have accelerated for most of my career. Dairy farming intensification has led not only to overproduction, but increasingly to ‘cow stories’ we wouldn’t want our consumers to know about. One shocking statistic is that more than 50% of the milk produced in the UK now comes from permanently housed herds.

I went into milk production in 1973 with 30 Ayrshires and decided to farm sustainably, but I quickly learned our practices were less profitable than those of our more ‘conventional’ neighbours. So we decided to write a prescription for sustainable dairy farming, which ended up becoming the world’s first draft of the organic dairy standards, and which gave us a better price for our milk.

More recently, we have been able to carve out a niche market for our relatively expensive Cheddar, plus I got a day job working for the Sustainable Food Trust, which has enabled me to continue to apply my principles without feeling the cold winds of the global dairy market.

Fortune

Although through good fortune we managed to escape the intensification treadmill, I do not blame for a moment the majority of dairy farmers who have had no choice but to follow the best business case. However, we are now witnessing the devastating consequences of this 50-year sequence of events, including what might be described as the ethnic cleansing by price of virtually the entire smaller scale dairy farming community, particularly in West Wales.

To add insult to injury, millions of consumers are now switching to vegetarian and vegan diets. They are repelled by the perception that the modern dairy farm cow has become the casualty of an industry with a scale, and attendant economic pressure, preventing it from being loved and cared for in a way which is consistent with our obligation to respect the lives of the animals we farm.

Can all these trends be reversed? Yes, I believe they can, but only if the dairy farming community throws its support behind a multi-pronged initiative, working on three levels. Firstly, we need top down action from Government in the form of redirected Pillar One payments, which offer rewards for dairy farmers who are less intensive, have smaller herds and whose cows go out to grass for six months of the year. In other words, those who deliver environmental and social benefits. Such payments should not be available to permanently housed herds.

Secondly, we need to apply the polluter pays principal, taxing inputs and practices which have damaging consequences to the environment and public health, including nitrogen fertiliser and antibiotic use. Thirdly, we need a harmonised labelling scheme, which empowers consumers by providing accurate information about the degree of sustainability and provenance of all dairy products.

I accept some dairy farmers and companies reading this might have legitimate concerns about the potential for dairy imports to undercut our UK higher standards and cost of production if we introduced some of the ‘carrots’ and ‘sticks’ I have described above.

We are advocating the introduction of an international system of sustainability audits, facilitating trade in sustainably traded foodstuffs and applying tariffs and taxes to lower standard imports. Some might think this is a far-fetched proposal, but in response I would remind them we are in the last chance saloon so far as climate change is concerned, and farmers are in the front line in terms of addressing most of the actions which could lower emissions, enhance biodiversity and improve public health.

We have no choice but to take these steps. If we leave things as they are, we will all be the long-term losers.

Sustainable Food Trust


Author(s) / Editor(s) / Creator(s):

Sustainable Food Trust
Year of Publication:

2020

 

[delilah]

Over the years Patrick Holden has talked an awful lot of sense. He is the only person I have heard on the radio throughout the vegan debate to explain to the general public that "If you want to save the planet, eat more red meat".
In that article he calls for 3 measures. I would add a fourth. Action on market share. All of the things he rails against, and all of the things he wishes to see, are inextricably linked to the concentration of market share in food retailing.

 

[andybk]

Over the years Patrick Holden has talked an awful lot of sense. He is the only person I have heard on the radio throughout the vegan debate to explain to the general public that "If you want to save the planet, eat more red meat".
In that article he calls for 3 measures. I would add a fourth. Action on market share. All of the things he rails against, and all of the things he wishes to see, are inextricably linked to the concentration of market share in food retailing.

we need more people like this more closely connected to policy makers , enviro lobby (RSPB and NE) is getting free reign at the moment

 

[delilah]

we need more people like this more closely connected to policy makers , enviro lobby is getting free reign at the moment

I know what you mean. But, Patrick Holden is part of the enviro lobby. More accurately, he is someone who sees no contradiction between being a farmer and a being part of the green movement.
I will say it again: The environmental movement and UK agriculture are each others greatest allies. You want the same things, and neither will achieve its objectives without the support of the other.
So, yes, what we need is more people closely connected to policy makers who understand who the friends, and who the enemies, of a sustainable, profitable farming really are.

 

[andybk]

I know what you mean. But, Patrick Holden is part of the enviro lobby. More accurately, he is someone who sees no contradiction between being a farmer and a being part of the green movement.
I will say it again: The environmental movement and UK agriculture are each others greatest allies. You want the same things, and neither will achieve its objectives without the support of the other.
So, yes, what we need is more people closely connected to policy makers who understand who the friends, and who the enemies, of a sustainable, profitable farming really are.

I think one main issue is the organic (soil association) lobby , has done a great job of alienating us normal farmers , its a shame they have some very good ideas but speeches about "chemical farming" does us all harm and strengthens the vegetarian cause, it all became a bit evangelical . organic has been all or nothing , and thats whats caused the organic message to falter in recent years when the premium is just not there to cover cost , There is a lot of difference in blanket sprays / meds and a targeted approach ,

 

[som farmer]

I would imagine most dairy farmers are well and truly on the treadmill, all having got there by 'taking expert advice' over the last few decades. We completely missed a chance to alter with the introduction of milk quota, instead of reducing milk production, it's intention, we wanted to increase, consultants, advised, buy/lease quota, spread costs over more litres etc, perfectly correct, individually, trouble was, they were giving the same advice to everyone, I wouldn't want to even try and guess, how many millions£ that took from dairy farmers, even worse, it lost all value. if those millions had stayed within the industry, we would probably all be better off.
So, for many, we still have the legacy of quota's still governing are dairies. I totally agree, the milk price is way to low, but there isn't a lot we can do about that, it's linked to world prices, which globally are to low. So how do we get off the treadmill ? We cannot set the price, so that leaves 3 options, 1 organic, oversupplied ?, or close to. 2 increase efficiency, hard for some, not for others, or 3, make sure more of the price, stays in our pockets, easier said than done.
Then, put Brexit into the pot, and a new system of payments, I would suggest now is the time to have an in depth look at our businesses, can we make best use of grants, for tech products, can we even survive without our yearly 'sub', can we change 'our' way. Our view here, is we are downsizing, getting rid of a lot of expensive machienery, and getting everything down to the bare bones, looking at 5500 litres/cow, 4000 off forage, etc, then, if the opportunity arose, in a few years time, having cut our debt well back, we would be in a position to expand, if opportunity arose. But, more importantly, not on the f'ing treadmill.

 

[andybk]

Then, put Brexit into the pot, and a new system of payments, I would suggest now is the time to have an in depth look at our businesses, can we make best use of grants, for tech products, can we even survive without our yearly 'sub', can we change 'our' way. Our view here, is we are downsizing, getting rid of a lot of expensive machienery, and getting everything down to the bare bones, looking at 5500 litres/cow, 4000 off forage, etc, then, if the opportunity arose, in a few years time, having cut our debt well back, we would be in a position to expand, if opportunity arose. But, more importantly, not on the f'ing treadmill.

think your right , cant see land holding its high price moving forward , ok might not get much cheaper but think its reached high tide , has been artificially kept high with the the cap payments so far and IHT (cant see that staying in same form moving forward either ) pay off debt tick over and be in a good place if things alter or at least till this next round of change settles down

 

[Treg]

I think one main issue is the organic (soil association) lobby , has done a great job of alienating us normal farmers , its a shame they have some very good ideas but speeches about "chemical farming" does us all harm and strengthens the vegetarian cause, it all became a bit evangelical . organic has been all or nothing , and thats whats caused the organic message to falter in recent years when the premium is just not there to cover cost , There is a lot of difference in blanket sprays / meds and a targeted approach ,

The Soil Association has alienated alot of Organic farmers as well, I spoke to them last year about their school meals & said they've made it embarrassing to be a Organic farmer.
Recently I've noticed a change in message coming out of The Soil Association, I would put up links but I've forgot who posted them on here , 2 different positive stories about British Agriculture as a whole & from 2 different Soil Association employees.

 

[Sid]

The Soil Association has alienated alot of Organic farmers as well, I spoke to them last year about their school meals & said they've made it embarrassing to be a Organic farmer.
Recently I've noticed a change in message coming out of The Soil Association, I would put up links but I've forgot who posted them on here , 2 different positive stories about British Agriculture as a whole & from 2 different Soil Association employees.

I challenged them on Thursday at their market report launch. Made them think I hope!

 

[Treg]

I challenged them on Thursday at their market report launch. Made them think I hope!

Do you think there has been a change of attitude at the Soil Association? Or do you think their not changing fast enough?

 

[Sid]

Do you think there has been a change of attitude at the Soil Association? Or do you think their not changing fast enough?

Few staff changes, I have moved cert bodies and made my views very clear!

 

[Treg]

Few staff changes, I have moved cert bodies and made my views very clear!

Have you joined us heathens at Farmers & Growers?

 

[Sid]

Have you joined us heathens at Farmers & Growers?

Wanting me to endure a 2 day inspection because I had two dairies, same feeding,same med book, same movement book,same fields records was a step (and cost) too far!

 

[som farmer]

everythings fine, till inspections, they are made harder every year, to guarantee inspectors jobs, and most of it now, is a tick box grind, I know we have to have 'rules', but at the moment, it seems to be 'off' target, which is animal welfare, and safe foodproduction.