Minette Batters on the Radio this morning

[Jrp221]

MB is on Any Questions tonight.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Which is as indicated earlier, is why farm support and the CAP came about in the first place.

To guarantee a supply of food.

Look where that's got us though.

 

[Bossfarmer]

If farmers cut production, supplies will drop, prices will rise and farming becomes profitable. It's that simple.

Doing what Minnie wants, maintaining production while keeping prices low is commercial suicide.

Spending more on inputs because the price wheat or whatever might go up, is speculation.

if we cut production we are displaced by other countries, theres basically a dig for victory campaign going on in the EU just now, not to mention the likes of China and india subbing their farmers fert, dont underestimate how mch cereals these countries grow

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

if we cut production we are displaced by other countries, theres basically a dig for victory campaign going on in the EU just now, not to mention the likes of China and india subbing their farmers fert, dont underestimate how mch cereals these countries grow

Great, so there's lots of cheap grain coming our way.

Er, does that mean we must spend more on growing it here, so that our beloved trade can buy at world prices but save on transport? Farmers could still be selling at or below the cost of production under those circumstances.

Maybe the environmentalists are right we should just plant trees and buy on everything from abroad. You seem to suggest there's plenty to choose from.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

if we cut production we are displaced by other countries, theres basically a dig for victory campaign going on in the EU just now, not to mention the likes of China and india subbing their farmers fert, dont underestimate how mch cereals these countries grow

So if we follow Minettes assertion that we should all maintain/ increase production, we would be like lemmings buying expensive inputs and jumping off the cliff on poor sales.

The more times I listen to the interview [I hope everyone does], the worse it seems to get.

And having listened to this several times now, I get the impression she is only trying to get the government to subsidise the gas for CF. {sponsors of their conference}

You are being very cynical.

But you have every right to be, the way the NFU have pushed Red Tractor over the interests of and to undermine UK farmers means trust and respect has gone now. Harsh, but fair

I am a natural born cynic, but in this case I'm only trying to dissect what I've heard.
She said the godawful line 'government must do something' and the only suggestion she made was limiting the cost of gas.
How is limiting the cost of gas going to help farmers if it's not to be made in to fertiliser?
Who is going to get this lower cost gas?

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

So if we follow Minettes assertion that we should all maintain/ increase production, we would be like lemmings buying expensive inputs and jumping off the cliff on poor sales.

The more times I listen to the interview [I hope everyone does], the worse it seems to get.





I am a natural born cynic, but in this case I'm only trying to dissect what I've heard.
She said the godawful line 'government must do something' and the only suggestion she made was limiting the cost of gas.
How is limiting the cost of gas going to help farmers if it's not to be made in to fertiliser?
Who is going to get this lower cost gas?

Maybe she really meant: "Farmers aren't going to buy inputs at these levels and if they don't, my (corporate) members can't survive. So if government chucks in a load more money, everything can carry on as before."

 

[Ffermer Bach]

So if we follow Minettes assertion that we should all maintain/ increase production, we would be like lemmings buying expensive inputs and jumping off the cliff on poor sales.

The more times I listen to the interview [I hope everyone does], the worse it seems to get.





I am a natural born cynic, but in this case I'm only trying to dissect what I've heard.
She said the godawful line 'government must do something' and the only suggestion she made was limiting the cost of gas.
How is limiting the cost of gas going to help farmers if it's not to be made in to fertiliser?
Who is going to get this lower cost gas?

If I were living in a tower block and could not afford to heat my home, I would expect any subsidy for the price of gas to be spent on my heating, not for fertliser for farmers who are all wealthy!

 

[Grass And Grain]

If I were living in a tower block and could not afford to heat my home, I would expect any subsidy for the price of gas to be spent on my heating, not for fertliser for farmers who are all wealthy!

But the fact is the economic optimum N rate is now reduced. It's reduced a bit for cereals, and a lot for grass.

Anyone hand on heart say they're upping their N fert rates this year? Most will either be same rate or lower.

So if the world ignores this fact, the world will be short of food in the next year or two.

The gas cost to heat the flat will seem like a small problem compared to soaring food prices, or indeed shortages.

From world leaders perspective, I don't think it's about farmers' wealth, it's about economic optimum N rates, the effect on world food production, and the lag time if you want to increase production back to normal volumes.


Unless gas prices settle down, it will be a bumpy few years.

 

[curlietailz]

I think once farmers “switch off” and get used to less inputs/less outputs = less work and time constraints and less chasing their tails
They will downsize, let staff go, /make redundant and spend less on machinery and local tradesmen

it will be near impossible to get farmers to crank production back up again for a good few years until the next generation come through all starry eyed full of optimism

my optimism left the building years ago and I can’t wait to become less busy with less inputs and less outputs and less stress and less expense

grumpy old woman day today !

 

[Jackov Altraids]

If I were living in a tower block and could not afford to heat my home, I would expect any subsidy for the price of gas to be spent on my heating, not for fertliser for farmers who are all wealthy!

I'm beginning to think that is the crux of why it was such a poor interview, she was desperately trying to be nice to everyone.

Farmers need to be paid more but we don't want customers to pay more.

Couldn't criticise CF or the supermarkets.

Won't criticise government but be thankful for them setting up a " Market management core group which will be industry experts working with government"

What is this group and what is there remit?

As @Humble Village Farmer said, Minette seemed to be trying to look after the rest of the supply chain by insisting farmers carry on regardless. I fear it sounds like this 'industry led' group will be trying to make us. Probably through Red Tractor.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

But the fact is the economic optimum N rate is now reduced. It's reduced a bit for cereals, and a lot for grass.

Anyone hand on heart say they're upping their N fert rates this year? Most will either be same rate or lower.

So if the world ignores this fact, the world will be short of food in the next year or two.

The gas cost to heat the flat will seem like a small problem compared to soaring food prices, or indeed shortages.

From world leaders perspective, I don't think it's about farmers' wealth, it's about economic optimum N rates, the effect on world food production, and the lag time if you want to increase production back to normal volumes.


Unless gas prices settle down, it will be a bumpy few years.

I agree, but I can just see the newspaper headlines, if gas was subsidised for farmers

 

[Jackov Altraids]

I think once farmers “switch off” and get used to less inputs/less outputs = less work and time constraints and less chasing their tails
They will downsize, let staff go, /make redundant and spend less on machinery and local tradesmen

it will be near impossible to get farmers to crank production back up again for a good few years until the next generation come through all starry eyed full of optimism

my optimism left the building years ago and I can’t wait to become less busy with less inputs and less outputs and less stress and less expense

grumpy old woman day today !

I'm beginning to think that the astronomical price of fertiliser is the best thing that has ever happened for FARMERS.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Everyone keeps saying "we can't feed the world if we are all organic", well, I know just not putting on fertliser does not make you organic, as a complete culture change is needed and farming in a more sympathetic manner, but I guess we are about to find out!

 

[Jackov Altraids]

I agree, but I can just see the newspaper headlines, if gas was subsidised for farmers

But Minette was calling for a study into the cost of gas 'from field to fork'.
Is that really the most important thing to be doing?

 

[warksfarmer]

I think once farmers “switch off” and get used to less inputs/less outputs = less work and time constraints and less chasing their tails
They will downsize, let staff go, /make redundant and spend less on machinery and local tradesmen

it will be near impossible to get farmers to crank production back up again for a good few years until the next generation come through all starry eyed full of optimism

my optimism left the building years ago and I can’t wait to become less busy with less inputs and less outputs and less stress and less expense

grumpy old woman day today !

That’s the governments plan to shut the industry down. It’s been the plan the last 15 yrs. as stated before what will be left is niche such as organic, or maybe soft fruit. Why do you think Dyson’s gone into energy sales and soft fruit production?

 

[ajcc]

MB is on Any Questions tonight.

I think they said it was live from Hereford tonight.....let’s guess at some likely questions (with her name on)....
Does the panel consider home food production to be more a national concern today than six months ago?
Is tree planting carbon offset fraud?

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

But Minette was calling for a study into the cost of gas 'from field to fork'.
Is that really the most important thing to be doing?

How long do you think it will take "industry led body" or whatever, to work out that gas has gone up in price?

 

[Bossfarmer]

If I were living in a tower block and could not afford to heat my home, I would expect any subsidy for the price of gas to be spent on my heating, not for fertliser for farmers who are all wealthy!

heatings a choice, eating isnt

 

[texelburger]

BRC own the nfu , google it .

So years ago the NFU use to fight tooth and nail to get a better deal for farmers against the likes of Supermarkets, British Sugar etc and now they've walked across no man's land and jumped into bed with them.I feel sorry for the grass root NFU farming members who are having the wool pulled over their eyes and are probably, in a naive sort of way,completely unaware.
Perhaps they feel it's better to work with retailers for a better deal and I'm completely barking up the wrong tree or maybe their main source of income comes from corporate membership so they get priority representation.
I wish they would be a bit more open about their membership,it might stop us assuming.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I think they said it was live from Hereford tonight.....let’s guess at some likely questions (with her name on)....
Does the panel consider home food production to be more a national concern today than six months ago?
Is tree planting carbon offset fraud?

I wonder too, if the River Lugg at Kingsland will get a mention?