Jeremy Clarkson's Sunday Times Magazine "Farming" article

texelburger

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Herefordshire
I hope @Janet Hughes Defra will read it.
I am sure most of us connected with agriculture entirely agree with what Jeremy has written. Very sad that those in high places will not read it or if they do it will not suit the Governments agenda on the future of Uk agriculture and food supplies.
What is so serious is it is just common sense that as a large island we need to be as self sufficient in food as possible.
This is what I said to @Janet Hughes Defra on a previous thread of Clives.She didn't come back to me.The more environmental schemes we do in the UK will result in more of our food production being exported to countries around the World,This is then flown and shipped to the UK creating massive emissions. Why not concentrate on producing as much food in the UK as we can but in a sustainable way.Surely this is better for the climate.
 
This is what I said to @Janet Hughes Defra on a previous thread of Clives.She didn't come back to me.The more environmental schemes we do in the UK will result in more of our food production being exported to countries around the World,This is then flown and shipped to the UK creating massive emissions. Why not concentrate on producing as much food in the UK as we can but in a sustainable way.Surely this is better for the climate.
That's the same as these biomass plants to produce leccy or heat for industry. The road mileage running woodchip/mulch all over the country (how some of it burns well is beyond me) is using far more diesel than just running the plants on diesel. Never mind being carbon neutral because you plant a load of trees, don't cut them down in the beginning of your going to have to burn all that diesel hauling them all over the country.
 

thesilentone

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cumbria
I did have a quick Google this afternoon and as far as I can see all numbers go back to some research funded by 3 big NZ companies a number of years ago.

The main argument seemed to be that the weather in NZ allows them to grow more grass for more of the year? Beyond that the slaughter process and road transportation is the same in NZ as here.

Still seems like some creative accounting to my mind 🤷‍♂️

...and that is the crux of most issues. Much of the research and peer reviewed material out there needs digging into. It can often be an off-shoot or third revision of research paid for by a very interested party, who has no mention in the article you are reading.

In some cases the peer, also has financial interest, however not made clear in the material doing the rounds.

Rather cloak and dagger I'm afraid.
 

thesilentone

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cumbria
That's the same as these biomass plants to produce leccy or heat for industry. The road mileage running woodchip/mulch all over the country (how some of it burns well is beyond me) is using far more diesel than just running the plants on diesel. Never mind being carbon neutral because you plant a load of trees, don't cut them down in the beginning of your going to have to burn all that diesel hauling them all over the country.
Goodness knows how many times I've posted this link, does anybody read it ?


 

Davey

Member
Location
Derbyshire
Goodness knows how many times I've posted this link, does anybody read it ?



All 111 pages probably not but the Executive Summary gives a good account of nobel intentions.

As with a lot of these schemes they are only as good as those responsible for their management. All too often they feel like a closed door to the average business man and a license to abuse the system to generate massive profits for those well versed in the government gravy train 🤷‍♂️
 

Raider112

Member
This is what I said to @Janet Hughes Defra on a previous thread of Clives.She didn't come back to me.The more environmental schemes we do in the UK will result in more of our food production being exported to countries around the World,This is then flown and shipped to the UK creating massive emissions. Why not concentrate on producing as much food in the UK as we can but in a sustainable way.Surely this is better for the climate.
Only an idiot couldn't cotton on to that, unfortunately our Prime Minister is an idiot and he's been convinced that as long as the UK has the figures looking good that's all that matters.
 

Pilatus

Member
Location
cotswolds
What concerns me is the mindset of those people who are in all the institutions, government departments etc , that are coming up with all these environmental schemes, and policies which are wanting more Uk food to be imported, so that the schemes which are taking Uk farmland out of production, for the sake of the environment and climate can be implemented, complete madness. :banghead: :banghead:
 

Steevo

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
What concerns me is the mindset of those people who are in all the institutions, government departments etc , that are coming up with all these environmental schemes, and policies which are wanting more Uk food to be imported, so that the schemes which are taking Uk farmland out of production, for the sake of the environment and climate can be implemented, complete madness. :banghead: :banghead:

Especially given what we are seeing at the moment about having exported our energy is leaving us vulnerable, as well as the rest of Europe.
 
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Pilatus

Member
Location
cotswolds
Especially given we must we are seeing at the moment about having exported our energy is leaving us vulnerable, as well as the rest of Europe.
Exactly, very sad that those who are supposedly guiding the government of the day can’t see it!!! It does not bode well for those of you have children, as so obvious so common sense.
But hey ho what does common sense count for in the 21st century.
 

thesilentone

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cumbria
All 111 pages probably not but the Executive Summary gives a good account of nobel intentions.

As with a lot of these schemes they are only as good as those responsible for their management. All too often they feel like a closed door to the average business man and a license to abuse the system to generate massive profits for those well versed in the government gravy train 🤷‍♂️

Well this is managed very tightly, an example was shown some days ago by an operator.
 

CORK

Member
Especially given what we are seeing at the moment about having exported our energy is leaving us vulnerable, as well as the rest of Europe.
This whole thing will turn full circle.

Food security will become a very big issue again, I am sure of it. Maybe in my lifetime, maybe not.

People have such short memories. With the current fuel issues you mention, we can see how vulnerable long supply chains are.
If China decided to invade Taiwan in the morning, the consequences for making anything with an electronic chip could be very serious.

If climate change causes more big weather events in important cropping regions, this combined with a growing population could make the stakes very high.

We can live without loo roll but civil society would become very uncivil without adequate food.
 
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SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.0%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 35.1%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.0%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

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

    Votes: 7 3.7%

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

  • 1,290
  • 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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