Have your say in the future of farming

[Wolds Beef]

Very little mention of food in the command paper, as was pointed out at a meeting the other night. I therefore have sent a short email to the defra address explaining this and how they are jepodising a multi billion pound industry. I have also said about fairness in the food chain. The way things are going politically, they might be brought to there senses sooner rather than later!! War, Pestilence or Weather related problems seem to be creeping up on us!!
WB

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Attended our local NFU consultation meeting on the proposals this morning

A reasonable crowd considering it was a dry sunny day after so much rain and lots of good discussion.

 

[Hindsight]

I attended the DEFRA consultation meeting at Calke Abbey today. About 30 - 40 delegates - bit difficult to tell as there were staff from Defra / NE present too. Judging from names badges issued mainly folk from Non Government Organisations such as Peak Park, National Trust, National Forest various wildlife trusts. I was disappointed by lack of farmers in attendance, shame as points raised in break out sessions were noted. I spoke with one of the Defra staff who told me there was a larger farmer contingent at the Harrogate meeting.

 

[Princess Pooper]

I attended the DEFRA consultation meeting at Calke Abbey today. About 30 - 40 delegates - bit difficult to tell as there were staff from Defra / NE present too. Judging from names badges issued mainly folk from Non Government Organisations such as Peak Park, National Trust, National Forest various wildlife trusts. I was disappointed by lack of farmers in attendance, shame as points raised in break out sessions were noted. I spoke with one of the Defra staff who told me there was a larger farmer contingent at the Harrogate meeting.

are Defra the consultations NFU only? I have seen none advertised (we are CLA members)

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

are Defra the consultations NFU only? I have seen none advertised (we are CLA members)

You can access the consultation here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/farming/future-of-farming/

 

[Hindsight]

are Defra the consultations NFU only? I have seen none advertised (we are CLA members)

I received a generic email in March out of the blue from a defra address with an invitation to the Calke Abbey consultation meeting. I presume my email address must be on some database. Not NFU or CLA. Think was hosted by National Trust for Defra.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

I received a generic email in March out of the blue from a defra address with an invitation to the Calke Abbey consultation meeting. I presume my email address must be on some database. Not NFU or CLA. Think was hosted by National Trust for Defra.

Apparently DEFRA are keen to consult widely outside the industry as well as inside. The more farmers that personally respond, the better. We risk our voices being drowned by vested interest groups.

There is a big risk that they focus heavily on complex environmental schemes that are costly to take part in and offer little to farmers. In that case we farmers may just completely ignore them causing the scheme to fall flat on its face which could be a catastrophe for the environment.

I'm really unsure what they expect in improving plant and animal health and welfare as well. The UK is very good at what the public see as animal welfare, healthy, calm, well strawed up in winter etc. Money for high herd health schemes would be good but go right over the heads of the public and NGO's.

Persuading farmers to increase public access is cloud cuckoo land unless they reform the access laws in parallel giving us more flexibility in managing it (varying paths temporarily, diverting paths, closing undelete paths etc).

 

[Hindsight]

Apparently DEFRA are keen to consult widely outside the industry as well as inside. The more farmers that personally respond, the better. We risk our voices being drowned by vested interest groups.

There is a big risk that they focus heavily on complex environmental schemes that are costly to take part in and offer little to farmers. In that case we farmers may just completely ignore them causing the scheme to fall flat on its face which could be a catastrophe for the environment.

I'm really unsure what they expect in improving plant and animal health and welfare as well. The UK is very good at what the public see as animal welfare, healthy, calm, well strawed up in winter etc. Money for high herd health schemes would be good but go right over the heads of the public and NGO's.

Persuading farmers to increase public access is cloud cuckoo land unless they reform the access laws in parallel giving us more flexibility in managing it (varying paths temporarily, diverting paths, closing undelete paths etc).

Concur with your comment farmers may get drowned out. The introductory presentations by Jonathon Powell of Defra and Patrick Begg of NT were good but generic and for me from Broadacre farming there was no real mention of practical production of cereals, oilseed with big tractors and combines.

In the break out sessions focus from the NGO's present seemed to be on public access, planting trees, protecting archaeology landscape and stopping farmers from 'destroying' the environment. Bit of this driven by the location and presence of Peak District folk. May have been different focus in a Lincolnshire setting.

I did raise that practical farmers would face competition from the world - I used Ukraine maize and Kansas wheat as examples - to which the reply was better labelling to ensure consumer new what was UK produced as the consumer would pay more for UK. And also that it trade arrangements would protect UK farmers. Both these comments came from NGS's that were more interested in a Subsidy system that they could access for other uses.

Whether food production was a public good was briefly debated - in general I concluded was not a high priority. And also animal welfare and compliance with regulation was considered a given - ie why were farmers being paid to comply with regulation that was required anyway.

The reduction of BPS - apparently the previous group wanted a long term transition - 10 years, our group was for a short, sharp transition of 3 to 5 years.

Interesting day out.
Interesting day.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Concur with your comment farmers may get drowned out. The introductory presentations by Jonathon Powell of Defra and Patrick Begg of NT were good but generic and for me from Broadacre farming there was no real mention of practical production of cereals, oilseed with big tractors and combines.

In the break out sessions focus from the NGO's present seemed to be on public access, planting trees, protecting archaeology landscape and stopping farmers from 'destroying' the environment. Bit of this driven by the location and presence of Peak District folk. May have been different focus in a Lincolnshire setting.

I did raise that practical farmers would face competition from the world - I used Ukraine maize and Kansas wheat as examples - to which the reply was better labelling to ensure consumer new what was UK produced as the consumer would pay more for UK. And also that it trade arrangements would protect UK farmers. Both these comments came from NGS's that were more interested in a Subsidy system that they could access for other uses.

Whether food production was a public good was briefly debated - in general I concluded was not a high priority. And also animal welfare and compliance with regulation was considered a given - ie why were farmers being paid to comply with regulation that was required anyway.

The reduction of BPS - apparently the previous group wanted a long term transition - 10 years, our group was for a short, sharp transition of 3 to 5 years.

Interesting day out.
Interesting day.

That's one of the big worries, nobody is really focussed on food production policy.

We are all waiting the outcome of the contradiction between Gove saying UK farmers high standards must not be undercut by cheaply produced foreign food whereas Liam Fox wants a trade free for all.

 

[Blod]

Attention Welsh farmers
The consultation paper(s)refer to both UK Farming and ‘within England’. One of the blocks to engagement in just about any new change is ambiguity. Give us an excuse to say ‘that’s got nothing to do with me ‘ and most of us will take it.

If Welsh Agriculture is devolved one could argue it’s not for us to try to influence English policy however, UK Farming policy is very much the concern of Welsh farmers so if there is any doubt (read it and decide for yourself) then get in there and have your say.

There are a few references to this around the forum, but worth a thread to itself with all the documents attached for you to read and also the way you actually have the chance to have a say. This is from Gov.uk below:

View attachment 639960

Historic opportunity for farmers to help shape future farming policy

DEFRA has launched a consultation into the future of British farming and the environment, placing the power back into the hands of our farmers and growers after nearly 50 years of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:

“As we leave the EU, we have a historic opportunity to deliver a farming policy which works for the whole industry. Today we are asking for the views of those who will be affected to make sure we get this right so any future schemes reflect the reality of life for famers and food producers.

“The proposals in this paper set out a range of possible paths to a brighter future for farming. They are the beginning of a conversation, not a conclusion and we want everyone who cares about the food we eat and the environment around us to contribute.”

Consultation closes 8 May 2018

Documents

Consultation letter
PDF, 157KB, 3 pages


Health and harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit
Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-0138-2, CCS1217522878 02/18, CM9577 PDF, 1.24MB, 64 pages


Annex A: Stakeholder proposals
HTML


Annex B: Current Countryside Stewardship Options - Mid Tier, Higher Tier and Capital Items
HTML


The future farming and environment evidence compendium
PDF, 9.25MB, 68 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format.

Ways to respond
Respond online

or

Email to:
[email protected]

Write to:
Agriculture Consultation Team
1b - Future Farming Directorate
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Attention Welsh farmers
The consultation paper(s)refer to both UK Farming and ‘within England’. One of the blocks to engagement in just about any new change is ambiguity. Give us an excuse to say ‘that’s got nothing to do with me ‘ and most of us will take it.

If Welsh Agriculture is devolved one could argue it’s not for us to try to influence English policy however, UK Farming policy is very much the concern of Welsh farmers so if there is any doubt (read it and decide for yourself) then get in there and have your say.

And respond to the Welsh Assembly agriculture consultation as well.



Oh, hang on, there isn't one (yet)

 

[Blod]

And respond to the Welsh Assembly agriculture consultation as well.



Oh, hang on, there isn't one (yet)

That’s kind of my point. The existing consultation papers encompass UK . It’s just that there are some England specific bits within them however I can’t help thinking that’s because some English govt employee doesn’t understand that we all live in the UK and some of us are lucky enough to live in Wales too.
@Danllan @GTB @Kevtherev @Ysgythan

 

[Steevo]

Anybody else had the email?

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/brexit-agriculture-policy-survey.225806/

 

[white_stuffed]

Done.

 

[Farmer1001]

Just over 24 hours to get your response in. Make no mistake the various non farmer organisations are making their voices heard, so don't let them influence the outcome for you - do it, as doing nothing isn't an option, even if you think (responding) it's a waste of time.

 

[Steevo]

Just over 24 hours to get your response in. Make no mistake the various non farmer organisations are making their voices heard, so don't let them influence the outcome for you - do it, as doing nothing isn't an option, even if you think (responding) it's a waste of time.

I thought the deadline was 11:45am tomorrow?

 

[Farmer1001]

I thought the deadline was 11:45am tomorrow?

 

[martian]

You've got 3 hours left then. I whacked my response in last night, it takes as long as you want to make it, but well worth doing...

 

[farmer james]

You've got 3 hours left then. I whacked my response in last night, it takes as long as you want to make it, but well worth doing...

I have just put mine in
FJ

 

[Farmer1001]

A total of 44,000 responses received. Poor show considering 17 million voted leave including 58% of farners. Btw according to FG on Twitter, twice as many took part in a consultation on the banning of ivory.