Janet Hughes DEFRA Missing in action?

glasshouse

Member
Location
lothians
I would say that it can't incentivise sustainable farming if it doesn't connect payments to production in some form.
SFI could / should tip the balance in favour of quality rather than quantity.

And it is borderline criminal the way that those least able to afford the energy/food price rises due to all the extra environmental costs and levies which will go to rich charities and pet projects of the wealthy to enhance their lives rather than have any net benefit to society.
Its not borderline criminal, it is actually criminal
 

holwellcourtfarm

Member
Livestock Farmer
I reckon I've got a better fix that that Dave.....
That is because the ecosystem and our environment plays to rules that aren't really understandable from an urban centre.
Almost there, substitute "mindset" for "centre".

DEFRA seems desperately short of staff with genuine farm management experience at all levels.
 
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Vader

Member
Mixed Farmer
That's his modus operandi. He lulls you into agreeing with him by using lots of statements that you can agree with then distorts the science or selectively quotes biased studies (or just commonplace lies) to make his real point seem reasonable.

He is a very good orator though and does get much right.
Like lefy labour polititians...
All sounds good, but dont work in reality.
 

egbert

Member
Livestock Farmer
Almost there, substitute "mindset" for "centre".

DEFRA seems desperately short of staff with genuine farm farm experience at all levels.
Worse still.
They've one locally, increasingly being held up as a shining example- farming 'in harmony with nature' while holding down a very good policy job within DEFRA.

They're lovely people, but their personal circumstance is so wildly different to conditions most farmers live under, that it's wholly disingenuous to pretend they can be any kind of example.
I believe the production levels are on the floor.
If everyone followed their lead, we'd need to import food for yet another ten million.

Allowing themselves to be hailed thus shows a pretty meagre understanding of the wider issues.

I can't really say more, but it turns my stomach.
 

Tubbylew

Member
Location
Herefordshire

onesiedale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Derbyshire
Worse still.
They've one locally, increasingly being held up as a shining example- farming 'in harmony with nature' while holding down a very good policy job within DEFRA.
we have one up here.
Cracking bloke, very personable character from a good farming family, but sadly has a very senior position in DEFRA advising on how grant monies are best spent.
I shudder to think what his salary bracket would be
 

Humble Village Farmer

Member
BASE UK Member
Location
Essex
Worse still.
They've one locally, increasingly being held up as a shining example- farming 'in harmony with nature' while holding down a very good policy job within DEFRA.

They're lovely people, but their personal circumstance is so wildly different to conditions most farmers live under, that it's wholly disingenuous to pretend they can be any kind of example.
I believe the production levels are on the floor.
If everyone followed their lead, we'd need to import food for yet another ten million.

Allowing themselves to be hailed thus shows a pretty meagre understanding of the wider issues.

I can't really say more, but it turns my stomach.
If they have another job, they aren't farmers unfortunately.
 

egbert

Member
Livestock Farmer
I'm not really a farmer either because I derive some income from the bps. I don't suppose there are many shopkeepers, doctors, teachers or company executives with 2nd or third jobs or "diversifications".

It's not an indication of a healthy industry is it?
It's another discussion - and I'm fairly relaxed about taking other work.

But in this instance, you're more or less correct.
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
DEFRA seems desperately short of staff with genuine farm management experience at all levels.
Sad but true from my conversation with their staff at events...

Rather sad that I missed JH speaking and she was not on the Stand when I passed by this week at groundswell. :(

I was asked by a pleasant chap on the Stand if I was a Farmer?

Yes, I replied.

Are you aware and familiar with SFI and the Options available?

Yes, I replied

Will you be signing up?

No, I replied.

Oh!! Why not, do you have any experience of CS or similar schemes...?

Yes, I replied. Since 1995.... I do not consider SFI to be fit for purpose and will not be signing up unless it is altered substantially.

Oh! What would you want to see?

Better funding and simple options, I replied. I also explained my distrust of CS and NE behaviour, which he seemed aware of, and we parted on good terms..

I have shortened the actual conversation, but this gives a fair summation of it....
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Was told by an inspector years ago they did not like farming experience as woukd make them farming bias..
Dont know if true.
I think NE suffers the same problem too. I know of one I trust and who is a good egg with commercial farming background and experience, but after 20odd years, I suspect he might be getting away from his past... ;)
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Worse still.
They've one locally, increasingly being held up as a shining example- farming 'in harmony with nature' while holding down a very good policy job within DEFRA.

They're lovely people, but their personal circumstance is so wildly different to conditions most farmers live under, that it's wholly disingenuous to pretend they can be any kind of example.
I believe the production levels are on the floor.
If everyone followed their lead, we'd need to import food for yet another ten million.

Allowing themselves to be hailed thus shows a pretty meagre understanding of the wider issues.

I can't really say more, but it turns my stomach.
Is this the one mentioned in their Blog??
 

Timbo

Member
Location
Gods County
Sad but true from my conversation with their staff at events...

Rather sad that I missed JH speaking and she was not on the Stand when I passed by. :(

I was asked by a pleasant chap on teh Stand if I was a Farmer?

Yes, I replied.

Are you aware and familiar with SFI and teh Options available?

Yes, I replied

Will you be signing up?

No, I replied.

Oh!! Why not, do you have any experience of CS or similar schemes...?

Yes, I replied. Since 1995.... I do not consider SFI to be fit for purpose and will not be signing up unless it is altered substantially.

Oh! What would you want to see?

Better funding and simple options, I replied. I also explained my distrust of CS and NE behaviour, which he seemed aware of, and we parted on good terms..

I have shortened the actual conversation, but this gives a fair summation of it....
Was there any intimation of knowing there are ""short comings"" in the current SFI plan and any steps being taken to overhaul it...??
 

onesiedale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Derbyshire
Sad but true from my conversation with their staff at events...

Rather sad that I missed JH speaking and she was not on the Stand when I passed by. :(

I was asked by a pleasant chap on teh Stand if I was a Farmer?

Yes, I replied.

Are you aware and familiar with SFI and teh Options available?

Yes, I replied

Will you be signing up?

No, I replied.

Oh!! Why not, do you have any experience of CS or similar schemes...?

Yes, I replied. Since 1995.... I do not consider SFI to be fit for purpose and will not be signing up unless it is altered substantially.

Oh! What would you want to see?

Better funding and simple options, I replied. I also explained my distrust of CS and NE behaviour, which he seemed aware of, and we parted on good terms..

I have shortened the actual conversation, but this gives a fair summation of it....
I had a similar conversation with a member of the DEFRA , albeit over an ice cream rather than on the stand
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 43.2%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 63 34.4%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.4%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 5 2.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,286
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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