David Handleys piece today

[Old Tup]

Interesting one one Radio 4 farming this morning…..someone proposing integrating poultry production with Dairy farming.
From what I gathered the poultry would follow the Cows on the grazing land….I think the idea was preventing pollution from the Poultry waste in intensive units.
The discussion moved to broiler production that I gathered was using the same method ….how much did the interviewee think that their product would need to retail at?
Hmmm a 12.5lb bird would retail at around £5 per kg…..did she think that consumers would be prepared to pay that amount…rather than the current price…
Yes I am sure they would once they realised the quality of the product.
Top notch…”Cake and Bread” stuff..

 

[ollie989898]

Interesting one one Radio 4 farming this morning…..someone proposing integrating poultry production with Dairy farming.
From what I gathered the poultry would follow the Cows on the grazing land….I think the idea was preventing pollution from the Poultry waste in intensive units.
The discussion moved to broiler production that I gathered was using the same method ….how much did the interviewee think that their product would need to retail at?
Hmmm a 12.5lb bird would retail at around £5 per kg…..did she think that consumers would be prepared to pay that amount…rather than the current price…
Yes I am sure they would once they realised the quality of the product.
Top notch…”Cake and Bread” stuff..

If the government had any spine they would step in and say the price for X will be this and we will ban certain production methods or imports of the same.

 

[devonbeef]

Having seen farming in Eastern Europe I am not convinced the writer's impression of livestock farming these is correct.

All land entered into any environmental scheme should be kept in a state where it is preserved and where it could be brought back into cultivation if required.

We're they not showing video's only a year ago of cull cows unable to walk, being draged in with chains to be killed in polish slaughter houses, I would say that's not good welfare, Don,t worry it will be available to buy as Irish beef.very few countries care about their stock like most uk farmers.

 

[Old Tup]

If the government had any spine they would step in and say the price for X will be this and we will ban certain production methods or imports of the same.

Don’t think you really understand Boris’s concept of Free Trade regarding Agri produce…..
The only price that matters is the lowest available.

 

[AT Aloss]

Don’t think you really understand Boris’s concept of Free Trade regarding Agri produce…..
The only price that matters is the lowest available.

At any cost regardless of the environmental consequences....

 

[Steevo]

The population are encouraged to be hypocrites.

 

[nonemouse]

The population are encouraged to be hypocrites.

Well they are governed by them

 

[JP1]

If the government had any spine they would step in and say the price for X will be this and we will ban certain production methods or imports of the same.

1. The majority Conservative Government voted against the Parrish Amendment to the Agriculture Bill
2. The newly released New Year Brexit import regs are out there. They suggest Border Control Points will be in place from July 2022 for imports - everyone knows that won't happen in time (and why state the rules start Jan 2022).

So we have the ridiculous scenario of exporting cattle potentially only being exported from UK via NI -> Eire to Spain or France ....

Meanwhile cheap meat imports can flow in and with ASF raging across much of Europe

 

[ollie989898]

1. The majority Conservative Government voted against the Parrish Amendment to the Agriculture Bill
2. The newly released New Year Brexit import regs are out there. They suggest Border Control Points will be in place from July 2022 for imports - everyone knows that won't happen in time (and why state the rules start Jan 2022).

So we have the ridiculous scenario of exporting cattle potentially only being exported from UK via NI -> Eire to Spain or France ....

Meanwhile cheap meat imports can flow in and with ASF raging across much of Europe

Well I didn't vote the bloke in. I didn't vote TM in either.

 

[Mc115reed]

That idiot Hanley and his wife are still at it then I haven’t heard much from them in years I got blocked from the Facebook page for daring too disagree with them can’t even remember what i disagreed over

 

[steveR]

It is ridicules. However as the BPS dwindles they will have less control over what we do won't they. I can see farmers doing what they do best and farm the countryside as we see fit. I am currently in an HLS scheme that is in the second year of extension, I do not envisage switching to ELMs. The only option will be to farm productively from hedge to hedge. The idea of not being told by some desk jockey what to do is very appealing...

Brave man taking the extension....

 

[farmbrew]

1st extension was no problem, fingers crossed for the 2nd

 

[nonemouse]

Brave man taking the extension....

Had 2 extensions on our hls, not heard if will get get another for this year

 

[farmbrew]

I think this year is the last, its make your mind up time next year but my mind is already made up.

 

[Lazy Eric]

He is completely correct about the NFU, we’ve always been members and supporters but after the last couple of years fiasco when we really really needed them to step up to the mark they have lived up to their nickname of No fu cking use!! The Tweenies could have negotiated a better deal.

 

[kiwi pom]

Are you one of the farms that is profitable without support?

Figures have always shown that the ‘average’ is reliant on subsidies to remain viable, especially in some sectors. If that’s the case then it stands to reason that at least half of all the farms in the UK will not be able to survive without them. The rest will just see a big reduction in their income presumably.

Let us all pray at the altar of efficiency and enjoy the widespread abandonment of rural areas.

Perhaps the slightly above average and the top 25% can farm how they want to without having to rely on subs and handouts for ridiculous re wilding green nonsense, while the average and below average keep taking the handouts or pack up?
No ones forcing farms to re wild are they?
For those that own land, it can still be rented out, sold or receive some kind of payment for doing nothing.
Some tenants might have to pack up completely if they can't make money.
Overall those producing food profitably without subs might do even better if the produce from those that can't survive without handouts isn't there any more?
A bit harsh I know but that's how other industries work

 

[neilo]

Perhaps the slightly above average and the top 25% can farm how they want to without having to rely on subs and handouts for ridiculous re wilding green nonsense, while the average and below average keep taking the handouts or pack up?
No ones forcing farms to re wild are they?
For those that own land, it can still be rented out, sold or receive some kind of payment for doing nothing.
Some tenants might have to pack up completely if they can't make money.
Overall those producing food profitably without subs might do even better if the produce from those that can't survive without handouts isn't there any more?
A bit harsh I know but that's how other industries work

You’re right, those efficient operations will get by. Those being the ones that don’t spend on anything unless they really need to. That’s great, but those businesses that don’t spend also aren’t supporting local jobs either, those which support rural communities. THAT is what ag subsidies support, not just individual farmers.

I’m in the middle. I try to run a relatively tight ship, but I do spend locally as well. I could run a bit tighter ship, but it would be at the expense of looking at the long term and at the expense of suppliers. is that good for the rural economy, or the structure of rural communities?

I’ve seen the land where these ‘efficient’ land barons live, primarily over in the Eastern counties. It’s a desolate place, with most villages either deserted during the week, or full of retired folk.

 

[kiwi pom]

You’re right, those efficient operations will get by. Those being the ones that don’t spend on anything unless they really need to. That’s great, but those businesses that don’t spend also aren’t supporting local jobs either, those which support rural communities. THAT is what ag subsidies support, not just individual farmers.

I’m in the middle. I try to run a relatively tight ship, but I do spend locally as well. I could run a bit tighter ship, but it would be at the expense of looking at the long term and at the expense of suppliers. is that good for the rural economy, or the structure of rural communities?

I’ve seen the land where these ‘efficient’ land barons live, primarily over in the Eastern counties. It’s a desolate place, with most villages either deserted during the week, or full of retired folk.

Its hard to know what the right answer is. I'm not sure there are rural communities depending on Ag in some parts of the UK anymore. Where I'm from in Cheshire most of the rural houses are owned by doctors, accountants and business owners etc. Most of the local farms were dairies that once employed people, first the workers went in the name of efficiency then the cows went, barns converted, land rented out, with a few store cattle to keep them active farmers. Some of the land went to expanding dairy farms that then started hiring and spending again.
What's better, a dozen family farms, hanging on spending nothing or Dyson buying the lot, spending millions bringing the land up to date and starting new enterprises that could employ dozens of locals?

 

[kiwi pom]

You’re right, those efficient operations will get by. Those being the ones that don’t spend on anything unless they really need to. That’s great, but those businesses that don’t spend also aren’t supporting local jobs either, those which support rural communities. THAT is what ag subsidies support, not just individual farmers.

I’m in the middle. I try to run a relatively tight ship, but I do spend locally as well. I could run a bit tighter ship, but it would be at the expense of looking at the long term and at the expense of suppliers. is that good for the rural economy, or the structure of rural communities?

I’ve seen the land where these ‘efficient’ land barons live, primarily over in the Eastern counties. It’s a desolate place, with most villages either deserted during the week, or full of retired folk.

I agree with you when it comes to the thousands of acres growing a bit of DD feed wheat and barley, employing hardly anyone and not really adding much to the nations food production. Better rotations, producing more food and perhaps introducing some livestock would seem a better use of the land but why would they make things complicated if wheat and barley gives them a good living. Perhaps that's the ground that should be rewilded? Keep quality livestock production local and import cheap feed?
I remember some years ago when the Tour De France started in the UK. Ariel shots showed a very diverse countryside until it got further south, where everything was either OSR or wheat, I remember Mrs KP saying "are there no cows in the UK anymore". It looked terrible.

 

[ajd132]

I agree with you when it comes to the thousands of acres growing a bit of DD feed wheat and barley, employing hardly anyone and not really adding much to the nations food production. Better rotations, producing more food and perhaps introducing some livestock would seem a better use of the land but why would they make things complicated if wheat and barley gives them a good living. Perhaps that's the ground that should be rewilded? Keep quality livestock production local and import cheap feed?
I remember some years ago when the Tour De France started in the UK. Ariel shots showed a very diverse countryside until it got further south, where everything was either OSR or wheat, I remember Mrs KP saying "are there no cows in the UK anymore". It looked terrible.

Or (and this will be incredibly unpopular but I’m saying it anyway)you re-wild all the hill land/areas completely reliant on subsidy and bring the livestock back to the east in order to bring back more mixed farming systems. You could encourage joint ventures between young livestock farmers with nowhere to go to partner up with solely arable farms to create a mutually beneficial system.
i think a lot of people are seriously questioning the viability of conventioral arable farming long term with its reliance on buying inputs, we certainly have for a while now.