Feeding the nation.

[DRC]

I note the same for some time now, there's one or 2 around here also,thing is i dont remember it was like it 40 odd years ago, Dads neighbours seemed to generally have much more respect for each other and didn't constantly want to grab a piece of land to gain a bit more
funny thing is with some of them they don't realise, others can see right through their little conniving tactics . hmm.

I remember when if a piece of land came vacant on our estate, the other tenants would step aside for the one neighbouring it . 70 acres came up next to us, one or two rang up and said they’d not tender if we wanted it, and I was genuinely ( naively ) shocked when it went to one of the big out of town boys .
The day farming changed for me .

 

[Raider112]

This feed the nation thing comes from wartime and the post war period. Dad always said that it was our part of the war effort because farmers weren't called up to fight as the country had to be fed.
I agree with most that our debt has been paid as we have all had a belly full of being taken for granted while they treat us with contempt and the anti livestock brigade think we are fair game for every insult under the sun.
Time to look after number one but it's easier to turn crops off than livestock.

 

[britt]

Society works by people of different abilities doing different roles.
In the days of hunter gatherers some hunted, some gathered and the old or weak stayed in camp to look after the children and tend the fire.
The hunter was grateful to the gatherers when they were unsuccessful, and to the old to allow them to go and hunt.
Society is much more complex today with doctors, teachers, soldiers and even stock brokers. None of whom put food in front of anyone, but all play a part. The farmers place in society is to produce food. No more or less important than the others, when society can sustain them. But if society slips to a more basic system, war or pandemic (a proper one, not like the relatively minor one that we are currently having) being the most likely reasons, the more basic role of food provision, farmer or hunted, become more relevant.
In times of plenty the farmers role may be as a park keeper, but when food is needed we are obliged to fulfil our role in society.
But if society is not prepared to appreciate it, they can go hungry !

 

[Secret Agronomist]

Maybe getting them pished hereabouts.
Barley, alcohol
Wheat, alcohol
Rye, alcohol
Carrots and potatoes, they'll eat them if they have to.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

I just sell captured solar energy and rainfall to other farmers, now; the most expensive phrase in business is "because that's what we've always done" and I am acutely aware we are managing a business

because it looks like a farm where 'food is produced' then it is easy to see the various confusions around that, from outside the constraints of small-scale production of commodities

 

[DRC]

I don’t produce any direct food. Half the farm produces feed for chickens mostly , and the other half crops that feed a digester

 

[kiwi pom]

The Nation were telling us loud and clear 6mths ago that they wanted rewilding and imported food from wherever its cheapest.
So no, I don't feel any obligation to them at all.
In fact I'm considering a sabbatical next year, to study lynx and beaver somewhere.

Why are you worried about what others want, its your land, grow what you want. There is an argument that says, as land use is becoming more important and good food producing land should produce food and not be used for houses, conservation etc.
I'm not sure what you do if the owner of that land doesn't want to produce food on it though?

Nope. Bank account is king. Grease Profit is the word.
Everyone does it because next year could be " It ". We all think it's going to be another 1976. 1976 is a long time ago though......

If you've been in the same business long enough to remember 76, It hasn't been that bad though has it?

 

[kiwi pom]

I don’t produce any direct food. Half the farm produces feed for chickens mostly , and the other half crops that feed a digester

That's one of the problems, government subs have made AD plants profitable and farmers land owners have made more money using valuable land to feed them. They should just run on waste, freeing up land for food.
Power should come from nuclear until such times that renewables like wind and solar can keep up.

 

[DRC]

That's one of the problems, government subs have made AD plants profitable and farmers land owners have made more money using valuable land to feed them. They should just run on waste, freeing up land for food.
Power should come from nuclear until such times that renewables like wind and solar can keep up.

It’s been great for us personally though , better than keeping livestock

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Energy is energy though, isn't it?
Does it "matter" what digests and converts it, we may say it does, but I appreciate the constraints that have led to @silverfox and many others doing what they do - at the core, we capture sunshine and sell it - it makes more sense to sell it profitably to a fair bidder than automatically sell it to the lowest bidder "to feed the nation"

people are just as capable of throwing out a steak or lamb chop as they are capable of leaving a light or heater switched on,, wasteage is a massive problem

 

[kiwi pom]

It’s been great for us personally though , better than keeping livestock

Of course, I don't blame you for doing it at all, you're running a business.
It is one of the reasons the UK imports food though. Government policy has made it more profitable to produce energy.
If growing wild flowers and promoting conservation provides a better income for land owners then that's what they'll do.
Its not helping the land use problem though.

 

[Hindsight]

Society works by people of different abilities doing different roles.
In the days of hunter gatherers some hunted, some gathered and the old or weak stayed in camp to look after the children and tend the fire.
The hunter was grateful to the gatherers when they were unsuccessful, and to the old to allow them to go and hunt.
Society is much more complex today with doctors, teachers, soldiers and even stock brokers. None of whom put food in front of anyone, but all play a part. The farmers place in society is to produce food. No more or less important than the others, when society can sustain them. But if society slips to a more basic system, war or pandemic (a proper one, not like the relatively minor one that we are currently having) being the most likely reasons, the more basic role of food provision, farmer or hunted, become more relevant.
In times of plenty the farmers role may be as a park keeper, but when food is needed we are obliged to fulfil our role in society.
But if society is not prepared to appreciate it, they can go hungry !

but when food is needed we are obliged to fulfil our role in society. But if society is not prepared to appreciate it, they can go hungry !

Looks to me a potential oxymoron.

 

[Kidds]

l wonder how the s/mkts view it

As a marketing opportunity.
I will bet they have great big signs throughout the store saying how cheap their food is.
Remember the 2008 crash and all the yellow stickers shouting out how they were cheapest?

 

[DaveGrohl]

Why are you worried about what others want, its your land, grow what you want. There is an argument that says, as land use is becoming more important and good food producing land should produce food and not be used for houses, conservation etc.
I'm not sure what you do if the owner of that land doesn't want to produce food on it though?


If you've been in the same business long enough to remember 76, It hasn't been that bad though has it?

He doesn’t sound like he’s worried.

 

[DaveGrohl]

As a marketing opportunity.
I will bet they have great big signs throughout the store saying how cheap their food is.
Remember the 2008 crash and all the yellow stickers shouting out how they were cheapest?

According to Mrs G they’ve been quick out of the blocks and whacked prices up already. Perfect cover story for them. The brass neck on the t wats.

 

[som farmer]

According to Mrs G they’ve been quick out of the blocks and whacked prices up already. Perfect cover story for them. The brass neck on the t wats.

no, they are business people, both heartless, and ruthless, and very successful.

 

[DaveGrohl]

no, they are business people, both heartless, and ruthless, and very successful.

No what?

 

[som farmer]

all those, could add some expletives,
but, they run hugely successful businesses, and you can't knock them for that.

 

[DaveGrohl]

all those, could add some expletives,
but, they run hugely successful businesses, and you can't knock them for that.

Nope, I’m still not getting why you put "no" at the start of your reply to my post.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

but when food is needed we are obliged to fulfil our role in society. But if society is not prepared to appreciate it, they can go hungry !

Looks to me a potential oxymoron.

These consumers could choose to be cause in the matter of what goes into their own body, however "good-lifers" seem to be diminished just as anyone else who upholds their free choice as a value.

If you have a lawn, and bitch about the price of food in the shops in your spare time, then what's the real problem?

It doesn't occur to me that farmers "should" inherently subsidise their lifestyle choice (choosing to have lawn vs vege garden, choosing to spend time moaning vs spending time growing) by working for free (or, for working for less than 3x whatever minimum wage happens to be. given their level of investment).