Muck spreading is also only putting back on the soil what was taken off and alot of energy is consumed in that virtuous circularity paradyme.. It is why outdoor wintering, bedding with sand etc actually benefits soils much more if not efficient milk and meat yields per Kg per day per Ha...
NFU claiming credit for 25% SFI cap
- Thread starter Mad Farmer
- Start date
SFI payments are not HIGH enough to replace lost crop income.. Never were.. never will be...
Hindsight
Member
- Location
- Lincolnshire
They are if one is a Landowner receiving a first charge and divisible surplus from the farming activities undertaken by a contract farmer who bears the machinery costs and managements. In effect in that situation SFI is a better 'rent'. And despite what Clive says the same applies on Grade 1/2 land capable of 10 t/ha wheat - unless dependent on commodity prices and yields. More certain. Law of unintended consequences. Interesting times.
Yes.. but it ignores all of us who have fixed costs to cover before we wake up in the morning in Saltburn Manor and decide which flunky will grow crops outside my window next season doesn't it??? It is a Scheme designed by the Idle Rich for the Idle Rich...
- Location
- somerset
The NFU like to think they are 'important', and like to look as if they actually represent farmers. No doubt they like to think we have a duty to feed the nation, having seen a potential threat to that, they have run to guv, pointing it out, and duly received a pat on the head.
well, NFU, the simple fact is, we do not have a duty to feed the nation, that, like defence, is purely and solely the guvs responsibility. Just because it suits guv's policy of cheap food, and they encourage that, the NFU lap it up, fall for it hook line and sinker.
the problem with low prices is simple, we produce to much, forget about imported product, that is a variable cost, dependant on what happens, in other countries, fuel costs, instability etc, make increasing imports, more variable.
the great thing about the 'greening' schemes throughout europe, it reduces production, reduced production means more competition for importing food. The more important imports become, the less control one has on price.
one has to be pretty stupid, not to realise less product = more money. Economics, in its base form, is simple, accurate and obvious, the whole thing is based on supply versus demand.
and the NFU have pointed that out to the guv, like good little boys, guv has listened, thought 'oh shite', and tried to reduce the risk of dearer prices.
but farmers want dearer prices, we desperately need them, but the NFU obviously think we don't, because they think its still our duty to feed the nation.........
well, NFU, the simple fact is, we do not have a duty to feed the nation, that, like defence, is purely and solely the guvs responsibility. Just because it suits guv's policy of cheap food, and they encourage that, the NFU lap it up, fall for it hook line and sinker.
the problem with low prices is simple, we produce to much, forget about imported product, that is a variable cost, dependant on what happens, in other countries, fuel costs, instability etc, make increasing imports, more variable.
the great thing about the 'greening' schemes throughout europe, it reduces production, reduced production means more competition for importing food. The more important imports become, the less control one has on price.
one has to be pretty stupid, not to realise less product = more money. Economics, in its base form, is simple, accurate and obvious, the whole thing is based on supply versus demand.
and the NFU have pointed that out to the guv, like good little boys, guv has listened, thought 'oh shite', and tried to reduce the risk of dearer prices.
but farmers want dearer prices, we desperately need them, but the NFU obviously think we don't, because they think its still our duty to feed the nation.........
A farmers first duty is to feed their OWN family and thats what is currently missing??The NFU like to think they are 'important', and like to look as if they actually represent farmers. No doubt they like to think we have a duty to feed the nation, having seen a potential threat to that, they have run to guv, pointing it out, and duly received a pat on the head.
well, NFU, the simple fact is, we do not have a duty to feed the nation, that, like defence, is purely and solely the guvs responsibility. Just because it suits guv's policy of cheap food, and they encourage that, the NFU lap it up, fall for it hook line and sinker.
the problem with low prices is simple, we produce to much, forget about imported product, that is a variable cost, dependant on what happens, in other countries, fuel costs, instability etc, make increasing imports, more variable.
the great thing about the 'greening' schemes throughout europe, it reduces production, reduced production means more competition for importing food. The more important imports become, the less control one has on price.
one has to be pretty stupid, not to realise less product = more money. Economics, in its base form, is simple, accurate and obvious, the whole thing is based on supply versus demand.
and the NFU have pointed that out to the guv, like good little boys, guv has listened, thought 'oh shite', and tried to reduce the risk of dearer prices.
but farmers want dearer prices, we desperately need them, but the NFU obviously think we don't, because they think its still our duty to feed the nation.........
The NFU,CLA and TFA are NOT important... WE are important if we choose to employ them??
- Location
- Essex
Legume fallow and over winter cover crops are two easy ways to improve soil health, as is companion cropping and no insecticide. Some farmers have been doing these for years without payment.
Most SFI options are designed to reduce damage or improve habitat.
In my view SFI is just another cropping option and if we were listening at college, every such decision should be stress tested with a partial or comparitive budget anyway.
They are not "easy" ways as they have costs and consequences but they are a way to rest the soil if it can be done without tillage.. If tillage is used they only achieve soil health neutral outcomes according to the latest science sadly ...but the real winners are salespeople...
gone up the hill
Member
- Location
- Devon
Yes you can still put 25% of your land into those high paying options now capped, the problem is thou if you can only put 25% of a parcel into an option then it makes it nigh on impossible to get anywhere near that 25% unless you have blocks/ strips of those options in nearly every field which is just not practical/ workable on many farms.
There is no justification for now having a two tier SFI scheme, yes Defra have pulled similar stunts in the past like this but that was not for the main sub scheme but bolt on's like CS etc and that is why people are getting so pee'd off with what they have done this time and its made worse when so many options for grassland etc have not even been announced !
As for the NFU, its quite clear that they are not working in their farmers intrests and it would be intresting to know if the big hitters put in large SFI claims covering most of their farms before this week or not !
- Location
- Yorks
If DEFRA do their job correctly and make farming sustainable and profitable, then they wouldn't have had too much worry about farmers putting too much % into SFI. That's unless they don't care about farming profit and sustainability, and just want cheap food.
Huno has a fair point that SFI/CS field scale options hardly lay enough to cover rent, finance fixed, and variable costs, but @Huno , unfortunately SFI pays better than cropping OSR or a poor drought ridden or flooded crop of spring barley drilled in May.
True. NFU have found that out by experiencing membership resignations. Glimmer of hope seen from latest NFU actions on GFC.
Yes agreed SFI does look super tempting today but by summer we will have all forgotten about this winter and could plant sunflowers instead of OSR if the predicted drought arrives? Cheers
Hindsight
Member
- Location
- Lincolnshire
You still haven't read the Defra March 26th updated guidance have you. I did post it for you to look at. You might find it helpful to read. Hey ho.
- Location
- Yorks
Actually, yes, you're right about those options, I take back what I wrote.
We've used legume fallow for soil improvement, a replacement for OSR and to spread workload.
gone up the hill
Member
- Location
- Devon
Yes thanks for posting that and i have read it.
Have also been told by an agent who sent me updated guidance the same date that it will be limited to 25% per parcel for most of the capped options ( as someone else posted on here )
Which is right who knows but hopefully your guidance is.
- Location
- Essex
Num3 is a no brainer if you want the forage. Not expensive to sow, no fertiliser requirement and you can cut in the first year.
NUM3 and AB15 are not NO BRAINERS..
It would take me a full day to explain those options to anyone who really wanted to understand but its Easter now!! Farmers really need to start listening to real farmers who have done these SFI options under CS for years.. Not advisors and influencers
- Location
- somerset
we are dairy farmers primarily, and for several years now, have grown herbal leys, by choice, on a dry farm, they give more reliable yields than prg. They pay £141 ac, where's my lost income ?
we have some steep slopes, that don't produce much, in a normal year, put them into one of the mixes, and get £350 ac/year. We have hedges, can pull money on just 'assessing' them.
l accept on top quality land, its better to farm it, but who has 100% land like that, with no hedges, so there is usually some ground you can have a bung on
it's the potential yield drop, across the uk/europe, that could have the greatest effect on prices, and we need prices to rise, and that will only occur, when demand exceeds supply.
TelesnaAg
Member
- Location
- Portland, Victoria - Australia
I think it is very clear they were told to do this from above...sticks out like dogs balls imo, you can tell alot by the wording.
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