Language / perception of agriculture ?

martian

DD Moderator
BASE UK Member
Location
N Herts
Interesting times.

Sarah Singla came to talk at the first Groundswell Show and one of the things she said that stuck with me was that, in a farming family, it used to be the slightly half-witted child who'd stay behind and farm, whilst anyone with 'get up and go', got up and went. Now farming has got interesting, it's the clever ones who want to stay. Admittedly she's from France, where farmers are well-respected anyway, but we ought to realise that we are the heroes of the future, not just feeding the nation, but regenerating our soils, sorting climate change and the rest.

There's a real Millwall fan mentality (in the UK anyway) with farmers, 'everyone hates us and we don't care'. It's not good.
 

Granite Farmer

Member
Mixed Farmer
It's an epic failure of the education system, as seen in many parts of the world, not sure why, maybe the roots of the myth lie back in the depths of the European class system? :unsure:
That said, intelligence is not always linked to education and or academia.
IMO you are either high IQ or not and education etc has nothing to do with it as you say. Having said that, academia and education will unlock its full potential though.
 
IMO you are either high IQ or not and education etc has nothing to do with it as you say. Having said that, academia and education will unlock its full potential though.
True to a point, education mind you is not just from a formal educational institution, it can be anywhere, anytime. Academia on the other hand can be a hindrance as they tend to go in conformist tangents driven by politics.
 

Farmer Roy

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
NSW, Newstralya
In the 1970's we were shooting cattle because they were worthless . . .
In the 1990's people were killing sheep with a hammer blow because they couldn't afford to shoot them . .
Today cattle are worth $3 / kg liveweight & fat lambs are over $200
In the 1970's feed grains were worth $70 / tonne, today over $300 / tonne ( admittedly our domestic climatic conditions are driving that price )
Ok, in the 70's a new Landcruiser ute was less than $10000 & now a new one is about $60000. Basic farm worker wages were $100 / week now nearer $1000.
But that's the way with all things & industries.
You have to ask, who is half witted ?
The young enthusiastic ones who can see opportunities & are not restricted by their own paradigms, or people who complain about prices / the industry / not being able to make any money etc etc, but continue doing the same thing ?
 
Last edited:

Farmer Roy

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
NSW, Newstralya
Interesting times.

Sarah Singla came to talk at the first Groundswell Show and one of the things she said that stuck with me was that, in a farming family, it used to be the slightly half-witted child who'd stay behind and farm, whilst anyone with 'get up and go', got up and went. Now farming has got interesting, it's the clever ones who want to stay. Admittedly she's from France, where farmers are well-respected anyway, but we ought to realise that we are the heroes of the future, not just feeding the nation, but regenerating our soils, sorting climate change and the rest.

There's a real Millwall fan mentality (in the UK anyway) with farmers, 'everyone hates us and we don't care'. It's not good.

I have really noticed what you say in the first paragraph happening here in the last few years.

Your second paragraph really resonates with what I have been reading on TFF as well

the other thing ive also noticed on TFF is the paradox of people constantly talking about the need to produce "cheap food for the masses" while complaining about farm gate prices ?
 
Last edited:

Treg

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cornwall
From what I 've read agriculture has one of the highest educated work forces in the UK & you just got to read some of the anti farming post on here & some of the public still think we're lords of the manor, driving round in our Range Rovers.
 

Kiwi Pete

Member
Livestock Farmer
In order to let go of the all-too-common victim narrative, we need another narrative that's "good to go", and many people just don't have one available.
Their parents probably didn't have one either, BUT in all fairness very few industries have swallowed as many lies as agriculture.

The disillusionment is palpable today.
 
From what I 've read agriculture has one of the highest educated work forces in the UK & you just got to read some of the anti farming post on here & some of the public still think we're lords of the manor, driving round in our Range Rovers.

Yes we're usually portrayed as either a knob in a Range Rover or a straw chewing, half witted peasant.
Not somewhere in between.
(halfwitted, Range Rover driving peasants need not reply).
 
In order to let go of the all-too-common victim narrative, we need another narrative that's "good to go", and many people just don't have one available.
Their parents probably didn't have one either, BUT in all fairness very few industries have swallowed as many lies as agriculture.

The disillusionment is palpable today.
Eh? , think some of us are getting beyond palpable. I could quite easily move out to Cowichan Lake and tell everyone to feck off. :rolleyes:
 
True to a point, education mind you is not just from a formal educational institution, it can be anywhere, anytime. Academia on the other hand can be a hindrance as they tend to go in conformist tangents driven by politics.

Yes. Jordan Peterson was talking about why do we assume that education is a thing that starts at 12 and finishes at 21? Resources available now mean anyone can educate themselves and continue too for virtually free if they want.

Best thing you can have be in my opinon is to be Curious and to try and maintain that curiosity. This enables you to always learn and be open to new ideas with ease.
 
Yes. Jordan Peterson was talking about why do we assume that education is a thing that starts at 12 and finishes at 21? Resources available now mean anyone can educate themselves and continue too for virtually free if they want.

Best thing you can have be in my opinon is to be Curious and to try and maintain that curiosity. This enables you to always learn and be open to new ideas with ease.
Jordan B Peterson is probably the most important Canadian from this decade.(y)
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 62 35.0%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 28 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.3%

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/
Top