Perceptions of Natural Capital

[AgFBM.Student]

**UK Farmers / Landowners**
Hi, I am currently carrying out research into UK farmer/landowner perceptions of Natural Capital (given its potential to become a key income source in replacement of current subsidies i.e. BPS).

I would be very grateful if you could spare a few minutes to complete my questionnaire - the link can be found below

https://harper-adams.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/hrp-questionnaire-natural-capital-copy-2

Thank you!

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

I have completed it but there are a few of your questions that are illogical!
I would also say that the present situation with the Virus will have a massive change of emphasis on all of this and suddenly food will become an important priority rather than natural capital whatever that is.

 

[spin cycle]

WTF is 'natural capital'

 

[wanton dwarf]

No offence but I farm to grow food.

If I wanted to farm wildlife I would have joined a zoo .. or at the very worst become a journalist for The Guardian.

 

[AgFBM.Student]

I have completed it but there are a few of your questions that are illogical!
I would also say that the present situation with the Virus will have a massive change of emphasis on all of this and suddenly food will become an important priority rather than natural capital whatever that is.

Thank you very much for completing the survey and I am also grateful for your feedback; as this is my first major research project I expect there will be a few improvements that I could have made!
Yes I agree that the current situation will inevitability affect priorities, particularly in the short term, however, I consider it vital that the land, soils etc. (“Natural capital assets”) are sustainably managed and enhanced to allow for sustainable long term food production.

 

[AgFBM.Student]

WTF is 'natural capital'

You’re not alone...! Essentially, natural capital consists of soil/water/living things providing humans with a wide range of services/benefits that make human life possible i.e food production, flood regulation, disease management.
It’s concept is often misunderstood, as it is a relatively new term used within agriculture, hence I am undertaking research into it!

 

[AgFBM.Student]

No offence but I farm to grow food.

If I wanted to farm wildlife I would have joined a zoo .. or at the very worst become a journalist for The Guardian.

No offence taken as I also farm to grow food!! However, food cannot be produced without natural capital resources (i.e. soils, water) therefore I consider that the management of natural capital is essential to ensure long-term food sustainability.

 

[Formatted]

No offence but I farm to grow food.

Out of a matter of interest - do you intend on claiming the new ELMs payments?

 

[uztrac]

would not accept my ANSWERS !!

 

[ajd132]

No offence but I farm to grow food.

If I wanted to farm wildlife I would have joined a zoo .. or at the very worst become a journalist for The Guardian.

You don’t get it, missing a trick.

 

[wanton dwarf]

You don’t get it, missing a trick.

Don't you realise you are relying on those who have created "Recycling" .. which has polluted our seas, flooding management being put into the hands of big rats, sticks and mud. Pest control in the hands of corvids & birds of prey killing lambs. Cow welfare in the hands of Badgers.

These people are going to sell you down the river without a paddle and have a massive laugh doing so .. they are Labour, Green & Liberals .. majority of farmers are Conservatives.

 

[wanton dwarf]

Out of a matter of interest - do you intend on claiming the new ELMs payments?

Definately not. I'm not gonna be buggering about with flowers, insects and trees.

If the old man wants to do that that's up to him .. but I would rather do something else which is worthwhile rather than being another waste of time.

 

[wanton dwarf]

No offence taken as I also farm to grow food!! However, food cannot be produced without natural capital resources (i.e. soils, water) therefore I consider that the management of natural capital is essential to ensure long-term food sustainability.

Look .. can't you see the foolishness in what you are saying ?

All you are doing is bringing in ANOTHER set of rules we can all be judged on by ANOTHER set of bureacrats .. you don't see HMG not getting their taxes & payments because they didn't jump over the hurdles correctly or their face doesn't fit.

Farms wouldn't exist if they weren't already managing land well for 1,000s of years .. this is another fools errand.

What the UK needs is Farm Co Operatives .. not more navel gazing and infighting over scraps left by importers and supermarkets.

What the UK needs is rules that apply to UK farmers applies to imports .. such as banning Ukraine imported Oilseed Rape which is grown using NeoNictinoids.

Maybe when the government is faced with abiding by it's own rules it would realise how unfeasable those rules are for UK workers to make a living.

 

[steveR]

Got as far as the following on P4:

Please rank the following in the order that will impact your willingness to protect and enhance natural capital on your land (with 1 being the least impact and 7 being the most impact)

Then I gave up as I struggled to actually make any sense of it.... Sorry Helen.

 

[ajd132]

Don't you realise you are relying on those who have created "Recycling" .. which has polluted our seas, flooding management being put into the hands of big rats, sticks and mud. Pest control in the hands of corvids & birds of prey killing lambs. Cow welfare in the hands of Badgers.

These people are going to sell you down the river without a paddle and have a massive laugh doing so .. they are Labour, Green & Liberals .. majority of farmers are Conservatives.

I’m not a conservative and I think that farming in a way that harnesses our natural capital rather than trying to kill everything is going to be more profitable and better for everyone.
You are talking about 20th century farming.

 

[wanton dwarf]

I’m not a conservative and I think that farming in a way that harnesses our natural capital rather than trying to kill everything is going to be more profitable and better for everyone.
You are talking about 20th century farming.

Oh so your ancestors and you kill & killed everything on your farm ?

Of course you don't but saying so justifies the rubbish you've posted.

I'm talking about propaganda put out in the interests of a chosen few who want to make £billions by destroying UK agriculture.

Same old crap that you read in the Guardian .. scrape beneath the surface and it's all hot air and BS.

 

[ajd132]

Oh so your ancestors and you kill & killed everything on your farm ?

Of course you don't but saying so justifies the rubbish you've posted.

I'm talking about propaganda put out in the interests of a chosen few who want to make £billions by destroying UK agriculture.

Same old crap that you read in the Guardian .. scrape beneath the surface and it's all hot air and BS.

Farming has been based around not valuing natural capital. The soil is simply a medium to stand a crop in and then be fed nutrients and sprayed to control problems. We treat the symptoms of problems not that actual problems. Arable farming is stuck in a vicious cycle of constant battling with nature, waiting for the next wonder chemical rather than actually trying to find the answers within our farming system.
there’s quite a few people around the U.K. now who have embraced agroecology. Seeing the farm and it’s natural capital as one ecology, less chemical, less fertiliser, less tillage, less capital at risk, more profit, more time, more wild life.
Farming should not be one or the other, it can go hand in hand.

 

[Brisel]

Done. The funding £/ha for providing natural capital depends on the costs of providing it - you need a text box to allow participants to explain why their figure is what they've entered.

Edited to add: I'm not sure a flat rate payment is appropriate at all. Farmers will just choose the cheapest options to meet the criteria like they did for the flat rate £30/ha in ELS.

 

[Brisel]

No offence but I farm to grow food.

If I wanted to farm wildlife I would have joined a zoo .. or at the very worst become a journalist for The Guardian.

Each to their own. I manage my piece of countryside and will do what someone is paying me to do, be it produce food or public goods/natural capital/whatever. Usually a combination of them all.

It's a simple business debate really. I need to sustain the business and hopefully enhance it.

 

[AgFBM.Student]

Done. The funding £/ha for providing natural capital depends on the costs of providing it - you need a text box to allow participants to explain why their figure is what they've entered.

Edited to add: I'm not sure a flat rate payment is appropriate at all. Farmers will just choose the cheapest options to meet the criteria like they did for the flat rate £30/ha in ELS.

Thank you very much for your time in completing the questionnaire and for your feedback - it is greatly appreciated!