Fight fire with fire ?

[thesilentone]

Great thread, at last, clearly touched several nerves, don't be distracted by them

There is meat, that is very good for you in a balanced diet, just like eggs and dairy products, and there is processed meat, which is not as good for you.

Vegan products without doubt, do not provide the right amount of vitamins and nutrient that humans require, so alternative sources are needed, in addition, Vegan products probably have a greater carbon footprint (as well as being processed)

But, agriculture has NEVER lied, and tried to paint a false picture of the distress caused to the planet or it's wildlife in the production of Vegan products, unlike the Vegan extremists.

Nothing wrong with the advert, it is clear and factual, all the detractors can do, is argue and pontificate about the source of the sausage, and try and force a comparison to processed food (just like Vegan food).

Gloves, off, let the truth be known !!

 

[jendan]

about $5000 / hectare

Why would anyone want to farm where you do.Where you get burnt to a frazzle,and there is never enough rain to grow any crops?

 

[CharcoalWally]

Not just the NFU . . .
Individual farmers & farmer groups all need to be active on social media
They certainly are here & in the US

You're right. And almost everyone I know was all over that particular screenshot you posted last weekend. So, individual farmers have been becoming more "politicised " than ever before. We absolutely have to be, for no one else looks like doing it for us.

As for the point about nobody reading past the first paragraph - I was genuinely surprised at the non farming folk that picked up on the message and shared it on. They may well not be as versed in the debate as we are, so I can only assume that they must have read it.

 

[Pond digger]

Can I come as well , as you say lost cause.

Tell you what, we’ll all come!

 

[Pond digger]

Actually the vegan from the Netherlands that I was having a discussion with was exactly just that, a delusionsl raving lunatic who hates farmers!!! No exaggeration either!!! In the end I refrained from replying as if he was a vegan nutter, there would be no chance of a rational debate and secondly some of what he said just didn't ring true and a touch "indoctrinated", so possibly just a keyboard warrior.....

I suppose Veganism is bound to attract a disproportionate amount of fanatics; it’s the nature of the beast. However, as has been pointed out, fortunately many are just happy to get on with it, without feeling the need to preach, and condemn omnivores.

 

[Stuart J]

Your tweet, painting farmers as liars is absolutely not what is needed, and, like I said is pretty bloody embarrassing.

TFF managed to run a perfectly good promotional campaign in the form of the "farming is the solution" series, which is based in fact.

The BBC managed to spend yesterday morning promoting farming pretty well (the bits I caught of it on BBC breakfast).

So there's two decent campaigns.

Resorting to making stuff up paves the road to ending up like PETA, utterly devoid of any credibility. And, whilst I'm happy that has happened to them, I don't want to see it happening to us.

As I've said before, I think the notion of a vegan "war" on farming that has massive traction with the public is mildly hysterical. Less than 2% are vegan and of those, much less than that are militant (as I've said - I've been involved in the meat industry and managed to have a few vegan friends over the years). If you want to find it, like anything else, you can find internet echo-chambers where it is the prevailing mode of thought, but they don't reflect the wider population at large, who continue to buy more and more meat, especially chicken, which is rapidly becoming the UKs protein source of choice.

As for what I actually "do" to promote UK farming, it's pretty much my job (in a slightly roundabout sort of way).

Good post.

How much is a decent farm near you ?

I think I should move !

This lot are a lost cause that deserves what they will inevitably get

This thread has literally changed my thinking about British agriculture

I think what you mean is, unless everyone agrees with you and your methods, they are a lost cause.

I think these loony left, vegan,climate change campaigners will burn themselves out,I have been following the posts on this wee lassie that is sailing to America and it has restored my faith in human nature, 90 odd % off the comments are pointing out how ridiculous she is and the carbon used in building her boat people are not as stupid as the vocal minority would have us believe.

This is the most stupid argument to be found online at the moment.

Were you also saying when David Attenburgh went to see the sea of plastic in the oceans that 'I'm sure he used more plastic in getting there than what they would save' And now look at the impact that is having.

Sometimes you need to look at the bigger picture. A means to an end.

 

[Pond digger]

How much is a decent farm near you ?

I think I should move !

This lot are a lost cause that deserves what they will inevitably get

This thread has literally changed my thinking about British agriculture

Come on Clive, don’t take it to heart; debate makes a forum.

Completely agree that we need to be more proactive though.

 

[Top Tip.]

Good post.



I think what you mean is, unless everyone agrees with you and your methods, they are a lost cause.





This is the most stupid argument to be found online at the moment.

Were you also saying when David Attenburgh went to see the sea of plastic in the oceans that 'I'm sure he used more plastic in getting there than what they would save' And now look at the impact that is having.

Sometimes you need to look at the bigger picture. A means to an end.

I think you totally missed my point. Attenborough as far as I’m concerned is a senile old man clutching desperately at fame .

 

[delilah]

I suppose Veganism is bound to attract a disproportionate amount of fanatics; it’s the nature of the beast.

Now that did make me giggle, a most inappropriate choice of phrase

 

[delilah]

How much is a decent farm near you ?

I think I should move !

This lot are a lost cause that deserves what they will inevitably get

This thread has literally changed my thinking about British agriculture

blimey, has it been that bad ? glad I haven't been arsed to read on since it turned in to sausagegate.

Chin up Clive, whatever people have said, remind yourself what we keep telling Guy Smith: All criticism is constructive

 

[Hilly]

Farm4life, the guy is great, better than some stuffy git giving you an open university lecture on what’s in a bangers n mash .

 

[renewablejohn]

That’s not true, my little boy can’t have gluten and none of the Aldi sausages have it in, and I don’t think the sainsbury’s Own brand do either

Will ask again but both Aldi and Sainsbury have both said they only guarantee the Gluten free sausages labelled as Gluten free as the other sausages cannot be guaranteed not to be contaminated from an earlier production run.

 

[renewablejohn]

All Tesco finest sausages are gluten free, and very tasty.
Can definitely recommend them.

Again if you ask Tesco they will not guarantee that there sausages do not contain Gluten due to the possibility of contamination from earlier production runs.

 

[Still Farming]

Again if you ask Tesco they will not guarantee that there sausages do not contain Gluten due to the possibility of contamination from earlier production runs.

Same as the lasagna incident allegedly is it?

 

[renewablejohn]

Tesco's Finest are Gluten free, Heck are gluten free and Sainsbury's do one as well

Would agree the Heck and the Sainsbury sausage in the Gluten free section in Sainsbury's is Gluten free But sausages in Tesco's and Sainsbury's deli section the staff will not commit to Gluten free due to the possibility of cross contamination in production or so we keep getting told. Its not a big problem as we make our own Lincolnshire sausages using Gluten free bread.

 

[Adeptandy]

Tesco's finest have been proven by my Gluten & Dairy intolerent Mrs, so pretty happy with the statement

 

[Treg]

And, almost as if I made it up to prove my point about non-millitant vegans (I didn't, but you'll just have to believe me), my other half (a vegan) sent me this via WhatsApp this morning along with the caption "that woman is a bloody idiot"....https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-49...at-apps.in-app-msg.whatsapp.trial.link1_.auin

I've just watched that , love one of the comments left on Twitter....

Every time a Vegan drinks a glass of water , they make a fish homeless

 

[Canada Farmer]

I suppose Veganism is bound to attract a disproportionate amount of fanatics; it’s the nature of the beast. However, as has been pointed out, fortunately many are just happy to get on with it, without feeling the need to preach, and condemn omnivores.

Fanatic or extremist? The impression I was getting as a farmer was that all farmers have to capitulate and any nonbeliever deserves to be demonised and persecuted!!!
No , I'm not joking either, this guy seemed deadly serious.
That said, I've worked on the basis that you never write anything that you wouldn't say in person, not sure he/she/they could handle that ,eh.

 

[Pond digger]

Now that did make me giggle, a most inappropriate choice of phrase

I wish I could claim it was intentional, but I’m not that clever.

 

[bactosoil]

If stats are to be believed vegetarians amass to between 3.5-4 million people and is on a double digit increase year on year .

'Google searches are 90% up on last year on being a vegetarian '

'there has been a significant spike in the number of people going vegan in the UK since 2016, with more than 3.5 million British people now identifying as such. The research means that seven per cent of Great Britain’s population are now shunning animal products altogether for life less meaty options . The statistics show a substantial increase since those published by The Vegan Society and Vegan Life magazine in 2016, which revealed there were roughly 540,000 vegans over the age of 15 living in Britain. Supported by Gresham College professor Carolyn Roberts, the research suggests that environmental concerns are largely responsible for edging people towards a vegan diet, as people strive to reduce their carbon footprint'

trouble is the livestock sector risks being out manoeuvred by the vegetarian lobby , in fact many political and environmental groups are way ahead of all agricultural sectors and there is not one farmer led group in any position to speak for agriculture or fund the promotion that is needed ..It wont be long before McDonalds extends it vegi line up and that's another nail in the Livestock coffin
The really big farmers and landowners often don't care because they have enough money to ride a storm and wont say anything out of place in case it upsets one of their supermarket customers and the small farmers don't have the time to do anything but keep their heads above water ( and before you say it yes we will all know some exceptions to the rule)

Its a crying shame but I think @Clive is right about UK farmers and I don't think they have never have shown a true sense of unity ( other than maybe wartime) and almost certainly it will leave farmers (especially livestock) to become the things of museum exhibits .Pessimistic absolutely , hope I am wrong totally yes but sat at meetings in the City or around the country and never seen a spark or glimmer of enough is enough .Answer is million dollar question but I believe that it would have to amalgamate dozens of farming associated groups and speak as one voice with one bank account but will that happen ..... never