George Eustice's announcement "The path to sustainable farming." 2021-2024

[DrWazzock]

It certainly smacks of Big State. The biggest State we have ever known since the Forestry Commission bought loads up in the 1950's.
I can see these ELMS packages ending up as long term leases in effect. They won't want them ploughing up after 5 years. The "farmer" will be sidelined, merely letting or relinquishing the land unless he's a red hot environmentalist with the skils that DEFRA see as being required to generate these new natural landscapes.
Its a leap into the unknown and I'm not sure anybody really understands where its heading, least of all the government. Its a Zac Goldsmith pipedream.

 

[delilah]

Hmmmm , it’s some years since Tony Blair said of the supermarkets that he knew they’d got you guys in a headlock, not a lot has changed

The devil will be in the details but actions speak louder than words.....I still don’t know what it all means

for sure, but it's a crack in the door. the difference now from when blair was around is that there is greater awareness of the environmental imperative to relocalise the food chain, which fits in with farmers having more power in the marketplace.

 

[DrWazzock]

for sure, but it's a crack in the door. the difference now from when blair was around is that there is greater awareness of the environmental imperative to relocalise the food chain, which fits in with farmers having more power in the marketplace.

It's just words. Can't see them doing much. The want open access to imports and to prettify the countryside.
They will say anything in these papers.
Round and round it goes.

 

[delilah]

It's just words. Can't see them doing much. The want open access to imports and to prettify the countryside.
They will say anything in these papers.
Round and round it goes.

they want to meet their climate change commitments, they want to keep the green lobby sweet, they want whingeing farmers to shut the fudge up.
all we have to do is explain how home production ticks those boxes and the jobs a good un.

 

[Tarw Coch]

they want to meet their climate change commitments, they want to keep the green lobby sweet, they want whingeing farmers to shut the fudge up.
all we have to do is explain how home production ticks those boxes and the jobs a good un.

You make it sound so simple

However if they allready have ideas ingrained in their heads of what they want to do it could be a task verging on the impossible to get them to change their minds.

I wish I shared your enthusiasm/optimism

 

[Sonoftheheir]

I wonder how things would be now if the pandemic had caused food imports to stop dead. Supermarket shelves empty of food, hungry people would be calling out for more homegrown produce etc.

It would be bollox to the environment we need food.

Bit like the environmental impact of all these Covid tests and PPE wastes don’t seem to be worried about at all.

 

[DrWazzock]

they want to meet their climate change commitments, they want to keep the green lobby sweet, they want whingeing farmers to shut the fudge up.
all we have to do is explain how home production ticks those boxes and the jobs a good un.

If they were that bothered about the milk price they could set a legal minimum in parliament tomorrow just as they can bring in Covid rules with a day or twos notice. But all we will get is weasel words, intentions and indications. It doesn’t amount to a hill of beans.
There is nothing stopping anybody selling direct and local today. It doesn’t need the go ahead from high. If the will or need was there it would be a booming sector but there isn’t huge demand to honest and there never will be. It’s so much easier to do a shop on a Saturday morning at a supermarket.

 

[teslacoils]

Take lump sum.
Buy small farm in France.
Export food to UK.
Sit back, light pipe. No need for slippers as nice and warm.

 

[DrWazzock]

The whole thing is designed to create and fund a new environmental industry and pay the wages of those they employ. Fair enough but it’s an industry built on sand, economically unviable IMO.

 

[JP1]

Take lump sum.
Buy small farm in France.
Export food to UK.
Sit back, light pipe. No need for slippers as nice and warm.

^^^^^ Post of the week right there. Les mots justes

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

^^^^^ Post of the week right there. Les mots justes

Wonder if we could get a TFF bulk deal on French Farms?

 

[Chris F]

Take lump sum.
Buy small farm in France.
Export food to UK.
Sit back, light pipe. No need for slippers as nice and warm.

That gave me a proper chuckle - we will need to form a good co-op if in the France though. And put aside a lot of time to demonstrating and picketing.

 

[Chris F]

Response from the Soil Association:

Helen Browning Chief Executive at the Soil Association said: “We welcome this update on immediate next steps for farm policy, though at this stage the downside and exit routes for farmers are more detailed than any future schemes which may provide financial support. It’s heartening to see the wind of change in Defra and the commitment to engagement and co-design of future incentives and support.

These plans are currently largely opaque and while a shape is emerging, it’s not one farmers could yet take to their bank manager! There is remarkable consensus emerging between farmers, environmentalists and citizens about the opportunity to set a new course for farming and food, to transform it from being at the heart of the challenges we face now, to right at the heart of the solution.

“Government has a huge responsibility to channel this consensus into action, and fast. With market disruption, Brexit looming, weather patterns changing and the lifebuoy of CAP support rapidly deflating, there’s a burning platform…. but leadership, investment and a robust approach to protecting our standards in trade deals will be needed to ensure that all progressive farmers and land managers can make it through these choppy waters.

“Our vision is a farmer-led transition to agroecology that helps to restore nature, tackle climate change and support healthy, diversified and resilient food production. An early test of whether government shares that vision will be a commitment to whole farm approaches, and support for systems like organic which deliver multiple benefits for society, nature and animal welfare.”

 

[DrWazzock]

It’s a fairish thing that they will fund this new environmental industry with taxation but where will the profit come from to generate the tax revenue to fund it and to fund the public sector? Or more likely will these environmental schemes just be an extension of the public sector. What will underpin the economy? None of it adds up but that doesn’t seem to stop anybody nowadays.

 

[ewald]

Plant trees and sequester carbon here, to get a nice warm fuzzy feeling.
Import food from recently deforested areas, using all the agchems banned here, ticks all the political boxes...

 

[nelly55]

One question what are they going to do about air travel,while we are saving the planet does everything else carry on as normal.Plus are all households to be made to turn their gardens into nature trails.I can’t be bothered anymore the Torys will never get my vote again infact I may never vote again.Please Please can we run this country for the good of this country not by those who shout loudest and wave the finger at anyone who dares to question them.

 

[Fish]

Take lump sum.
Buy small farm in France.
Export food to UK.
Sit back, light pipe. No need for slippers as nice and warm.

Got started on this, wife and kids hold duel nationality so we can just take the lump and leg it.

 

[Goweresque]

Bit like the environmental impact of all these Covid tests and PPE wastes don’t seem to be worried about at all.

Yes single use plastics suddenly have had a bit of a PR makeover.........they've gone from killing the planet to essential items overnight!

 

[teslacoils]

100ac stock farm and house in France £350k. Plus a govt who give a sh!t, fellow farmers who stand by you, and a public who buy your goods.

I'm just going to put it out there to new entrants, that you'd be better off learning French than going to ag college.

 

[delilah]

You make it sound so simple

However if they allready have ideas ingrained in their heads of what they want to do it could be a task verging on the impossible to get them to change their minds.☹

I wish I shared your enthusiasm/optimism

It is simple.
They haven't got it ingrained in their heads what they want to do, because they don't know what to do, hence all the fluffiness in this document. They are hoping someone will tell them what to do. Hence all the consultations, and reference to the National Food Strategy. You can summarize today's release in one word: Help !

There is nothing stopping anybody selling direct and local today. It doesn’t need the go ahead from high. If the will or need was there it would be a booming sector but there isn’t huge demand to honest and there never will be. It’s so much easier to do a shop on a Saturday morning at a supermarket.

100%.
Just as well,then, that my suggestions don't contradict any of that.