National Beef Association on the wrong track ?

[Raider112]

Any news in last couple of days ?
This version 2 that has been mentioned, does anyone know what the timeframe/ consultation process (?) is to be ?

No mention in the weekly Newsletter, a couple of subjects that mention how Environmentally friendly grass reared beef is, but more quoting others than saying it themselves.
They maybe wouldn't want to say too much this week as Minette Batters has been laying into the BBC regarding their meat programme by saying that there is no comparison environmentally between grass reared and feedlot beef.

 

[delilah]

They maybe wouldn't want to say too much this week as Minette Batters has been laying into the BBC regarding their meat programme by saying that there is no comparison environmentally between grass reared and feedlot beef.

And this is where the NFU are going to get themselves in as big a pickle as the NBA.
We have all manner of production systems in the UK. The NFU should be representing them all, by pointing out that there is nothing wrong our side of the farm gate.
If they wish to differentiate between UK beef and imported beef, then they need to start to get their head around what goes on in the rest of the food chain, on the other side of the farm gate. Food miles being principal.

I still haven't worked out why the NFU wont talk about, and shift the focus to, where all of the environmental damage is being caused: The other side of the farm gate.
Is it because they simply don't understand the issue ? Because they are so consumed by fire-fighting every time farming is attacked that they can't raise their eyes to see the bigger picture ?
Or is it because their paymasters in the food chain have told them to lay off ?

 

[Old Tip]

@delilah Mr Shand is still adamant they did nothing wrong and the report was misunderstood, obviously not dug a deep enough hole just yet.
The good Doctor is being very quite after her initial media burst, not sure if she’s busy making up some new figures or actually checking the facts this time.
Time will tell I presume

 

[Jackov Altraids]

And this is where the NFU are going to get themselves in as big a pickle as the NBA.
We have all manner of production systems in the UK. The NFU should be representing them all, by pointing out that there is nothing wrong our side of the farm gate.
If they wish to differentiate between UK beef and imported beef, then they need to start to get their head around what goes on in the rest of the food chain, on the other side of the farm gate. Food miles being principal.

I still haven't worked out why the NFU wont talk about, and shift the focus to, where all of the environmental damage is being caused: The other side of the farm gate.
Is it because they simply don't understand the issue ? Because they are so consumed by fire-fighting every time farming is attacked that they can't raise their eyes to see the bigger picture ?
Or is it because their paymasters in the food chain have told them to lay off ?

The carbon footprint of livestock farming is negative [in a good way] until you start a tractor or buy feed/ fertiliser.
Red meat production would probably have minimal use of machinery and fertiliser so the main issue is feed.
The NBA's proposal proves this must be the case as it only exists to try and hide the fact.
Intensive beef fed on locally grown crops and/or food waste or extensive beef on a mainly grass fed diet are sustainable.
Mr Bill Harper of Harper feeds, director of the NBA from 31/5/2000 until 11/10/19, announced his similar version of 'sustainable' beef on 1/10/20, 5 days after the NBA's announcement in the Farmers Guardian.
Given that this is bad for all Beef farmers but essential for feed merchants, where do you think the origins lie?

 

[delilah]

The carbon footprint of livestock farming is negative [in a good way] until you start a tractor or buy feed/ fertiliser.
Red meat production would probably have minimal use of machinery and fertiliser so the main issue is feed.
The NBA's proposal proves this must be the case as it only exists to try and hide the fact.
Intensive beef fed on locally grown crops and/or food waste or extensive beef on a mainly grass fed diet are sustainable.
Mr Bill Harper of Harper feeds, director of the NBA from 31/5/2000 until 11/10/19, announced his similar version of 'sustainable' beef on 1/10/20, 5 days after the NBA's announcement in the Farmers Guardian.
Given that this is bad for all Beef farmers but essential for feed merchants, where do you think the origins lie?

Sure, I'm sure you're right with regards the NBA being heavily influenced by the feed industry. Until someone can clarify who the £50k/yr sponsorship (25% of their income) comes from we would be right to be cynical.
I'm as interested in how the NFU are going to play it. They have the ear of Govt, and they are the ones who need to decide now if this is the way they are going to play their 'zero carbon' game. Beef tax today, milk tomorrow, arable day after that ? Or will they change tack now, draw a line under the whole "yes it's all our fault" line, and start to represent the industry with some fight ?

 

[Old Tip]

And this is where the NFU are going to get themselves in as big a pickle as the NBA.
We have all manner of production systems in the UK. The NFU should be representing them all, by pointing out that there is nothing wrong our side of the farm gate.
If they wish to differentiate between UK beef and imported beef, then they need to start to get their head around what goes on in the rest of the food chain, on the other side of the farm gate. Food miles being principal.

I still haven't worked out why the NFU wont talk about, and shift the focus to, where all of the environmental damage is being caused: The other side of the farm gate.
Is it because they simply don't understand the issue ? Because they are so consumed by fire-fighting every time farming is attacked that they can't raise their eyes to see the bigger picture ?
Or is it because their paymasters in the food chain have told them to lay off ?

Totally agree with you, but the big difference as far as I can see with the US feed lot system is that they use crops grown specifically for them and the ones over here on the whole use waste products from the food industry

 

[primmiemoo]

Wonder who is Private Eye's Bio-Waste Spreader columnist this week (Issue no: 1533, page 17).

Whoever she or he is, part of the column is about the NBA's document, and she or he has written the article based on what might be interpreted as a misunderstanding about why longer kept cattle on grass systems are not contributors to CO2, and should attract no penalties.

 

[Chae1]

Are the public aware of AD plants and the Rhi?

Surely these are doing much more harm to the environment than some long keep cattle on a hill.

Its absolutely ridiculous.

 

[delilah]

Good morning to the NBA lurkers on here. Just posting this link in case you missed it .

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/guardians-of-the-grassland-live-now.329758/

 

[DaveGrohl]

Are the public aware of AD plants and the Rhi?

Surely these are doing much more harm to the environment than some long keep cattle on a hill.

Its absolutely ridiculous.

Look! AD plants produce methane!! Can of worms.......... for the terminally thick.

I've never quite got the animosity towards AD plants other than them tending to make rents rise. Given that they basically use energy from the sun to provide power to selfish humans, why is this worse than digging up fossil fuels and spewing all that millenia-old carbon into the atmosphere?

 

[Chae1]

Look! AD plants produce methane!! Can of worms.......... for the terminally thick.

I've never quite got the animosity towards AD plants other than them tending to make rents rise. Given that they basically use energy from the sun to provide power to selfish humans, why is this worse than digging up fossil fuels and spewing all that millenia-old carbon into the atmosphere?

How much fossil fuels go into producing the crops that go through them?

Fuel, for planting, harvesting, hauling them across countryside after they have been harvested. Fertiliser produced from gas to make them grow.

Ad plants running on slurry, fym, fish guts and waste products I can entirely see the point of.

 

[DaveGrohl]

Well I was indeed thinking of the more traditional type, but I get your point. Then again, does anyone on here actually have figures to show the energies involved or are we all just guessing?

 

[Werzle]

Look! AD plants produce methane!! Can of worms.......... for the terminally thick.

I've never quite got the animosity towards AD plants other than them tending to make rents rise. Given that they basically use energy from the sun to provide power to selfish humans, why is this worse than digging up fossil fuels and spewing all that millenia-old carbon into the atmosphere?

I think the biggest bug bear is 20-30 tractors hauling to and from them for miles and miles on red diesel, it doesnt seem very green. Anybody with a ring fenced farm with an AD plant is fine by me even though its a waste of good feed.

 

[DaveGrohl]

How much fossil fuels go into producing the crops that go through them?

Fuel, for planting, harvesting, hauling them across countryside after they have been harvested. Fertiliser produced from gas to make them grow.

Ad plants running on slurry, fym, fish guts and waste products I can entirely see the point of.

You're obviously giving a free pass to the fish producers, slurry and fym production using fossil fuels, and all those waste products in your accounting system then?

 

[Chae1]

You're obviously giving a free pass to the fish producers, slurry and fym production using fossil fuels, and all those waste products in your accounting system then?

They are producing food though too?

The gas is just a by product from waste after food has been produced for you and me to eat.

It isn't being grown purely for gas production?

I don't know what I'm on about so I'm out.

 

[DaveGrohl]

They are producing food though too?

The gas is just a by product from waste after food has been produced for you and me to eat.

It isn't being grown purely for gas production?

I don't know what I'm on about so I'm out.

No worries, I'm just interested in the energy aspect of it. You make good points.

 

[DaveGrohl]

I think the biggest bug bear is 20-30 tractors hauling to and from them for miles and miles on red diesel, it doesnt seem very green. Anybody with a ring fenced farm with an AD plant is fine by me even though its a waste of good feed.

I get that. I looked into building our own before it was fashionable, before the world became obsessed with climate change let alone veganitis. Reducing fossil fuels spewing into the atmosphere seemed like a good idea before all this started, getting paid for it seemed like a great idea. Small scale wasn't viable then but I've remained mildly interested.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

I think the biggest bug bear is 20-30 tractors hauling to and from them for miles and miles on red diesel, it doesnt seem very green. Anybody with a ring fenced farm with an AD plant is fine by me even though its a waste of good feed.

Yep, when you hear of guys hauling only having time to do 2 or maybe 3 loads in a day due to distances involved, 50+ litres burnt just to haul 1 load of maize, besides sowing, harvesting, fertilizer costs etc.
Makes no sense.

 

[redsloe]

Yep, when you hear of guys hauling only having time to do 2 or maybe 3 loads in a day due to distances involved, 50+ litres burnt just to haul 1 load of maize, besides sowing, harvesting, fertilizer costs etc.
Makes no sense.

It does if your a contractor doing the job! More reason to buy big new shiny tractors and keep the prices rising out of reach for the rest of us!

 

[Henarar]

Yep, when you hear of guys hauling only having time to do 2 or maybe 3 loads in a day due to distances involved, 50+ litres burnt just to haul 1 load of maize, besides sowing, harvesting, fertilizer costs etc.
Makes no sense.

100 mile round trip one farmer was doing