Public education is key to better policy

[N Turner]

We watch how farmers and livestock operators are treated in Europe and particularly the EU and it just makes me shake my head. I don't get how people can attack the very place their food comes from.

Sadly, we aren't far behind in the U.S. and headed down the wrong track at a good speed.

I think its key to educate consumers about where their food comes from and better connect them to the farmers and stockers who feed everyone.

I recently visited a place that is doing a bang up job of bridging that gap in regards to the U.S. beef cattle industry.

Thought some here would enjoy it and maybe find some inspiration from it.

 

[kfpben]

I reckon the public know more about farming than just about any other industry. About a third of the prime time tv schedule seems to be about farming.

Clarkson’s farm, Countryfile, This Farming Life, Our Yorkshire Farm, Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter on the Farm, Farmers Country Showdown, Yorkshire Vet, Landward, Ffermio, An Croit.
Even behind the factory more often than not has agriculturally sourced products in it.

That’s before the ag shows several million people attend each year. I can’t think of any sector of the economy with greater positive exposure to the public, possibly excepting healthcare.

 

[Blank]

Some farms round our way do open days and my kids had school talks when they were younger so anything like that helps.

 

[kfpben]

Some farms round our way do open days and my kids had school talks when they were younger so anything like that helps.

We do a lambing open day. I don’t dare advertise it any more beyond a sign on the farm gate. We had 500 people turn up last year and had cars backed up on the lane 200 yards in either direction. If I advertised it hard and we had the facilities we’d get thousands.

 

[serf]

Countryfile

 

[kiwi pom]

I reckon the public know more about farming than just about any other industry. About a third of the prime time tv schedule seems to be about farming.

Clarkson’s farm, Countryfile, This Farming Life, Our Yorkshire Farm, Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter on the Farm, Farmers Country Showdown, Yorkshire Vet, Landward, Ffermio, An Croit.
Even behind the factory more often than not has agriculturally sourced products in it.

That’s before the ag shows several million people attend each year. I can’t think of any sector of the economy with greater positive exposure to the public, possibly excepting healthcare.

I'd agree and I think farmers get a lot more respect than the vast majority of professions out there.
Which is a bit weird as farm workers are generally looked down on.

 

[N Turner]

Interesting feedback. I'm glad to hear the public there is more tuned in, but that makes it all the more puzzling that policies harmful to farming are getting pushed successfully.

 

[robs1]

Interesting feedback. I'm glad to hear the public there is more tuned in, but that makes it all the more puzzling that policies harmful to farming are getting pushed successfully.

I think in general people want to support "good" farmers and think quite highly of the hard work and dedication that is required. The problem is that as soon as they enter a supermarket amnesia sets in and they buy the cheapest stuff they can and complain if prices rise. It's a difficult job to change behaviour that has gone on for a long time

 

[Spencer]

I haven’t checked my sheep all winter.. public do it it for me, at least one call a day to say they’re out !!!!

Bloody tack sheep

 

[robs1]

I haven’t checked my sheep all winter.. public do it it for me, at least one call a day to say they’re out !!!!

Bloody tack sheep

That's why I stopped having them here, more hassle than they were worth

 

[melted welly]

farm workers are generally looked down on.

By who?

 

[Kidds]

Interesting feedback. I'm glad to hear the public there is more tuned in, but that makes it all the more puzzling that policies harmful to farming are getting pushed successfully.

The issues as I see them are not about educating the public, there isn't much more you can do on that front and the public support for farmers is generally exceptionally good.
What is a major problem for farmers is the supermarkets are now pretty much the only place people get their food from and there are now only 5-6 main players. These main players have a policy of undercutting the others on price to gain market share. They no longer recognise any influence on supply and demand or the fluctuations in price that would normally cause. The farmers are the ones that take a hit there and they are generally being driven out of business due to stupidly low returns. If the supermarkets can get their supply at 50p per ton less from abroad they will do so while at the same time flying Union Jacks all over the store. Basically they are lying cheats that have fooled the public into thinking they are eating good British food while they are really eating cheap, poor quality imported slop.
The RT pressures don't help but we as a nation just can't help creating rules and then gold plating them. The clipboard warriors just lap this up of course, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if you listed "Inspectors" next to "Farm Owners" the inspectors list would be longest yet they produce nothing. All the time the inspectors do not produce anything and see it as their mission to make sure nobody else can either.
Then we have the government taking on a net zero policy and saying it is the farmers that are at fault.

I love farming but from a business point of view it is a complete folly.

 

[Blank]

Interesting feedback. I'm glad to hear the public there is more tuned in, but that makes it all the more puzzling that policies harmful to farming are getting pushed successfully.

Kind of depends how its presented. As presented the new subsidy scheme is a wonder that protects the environment and helps farmers. Having to plant trees or whatever on 10% of your land that sounds ok who wouldn't be ok with that? Apparently farmers.

Part of the reason I'm reading what's said here is so I get an understanding from the famers perspective. Somewhere in-between being told 'the WEF is out to destroy us' and 'farmers are destroying the planet' there's the truth. The more I understand the better.

 

[soapsud]

Kind of depends how its presented. As presented the new subsidy scheme is a wonder that protects the environment and helps farmers. Having to plant trees or whatever on 10% of your land that sounds ok who wouldn't be ok with that? Apparently farmers.

Part of the reason I'm reading what's said here is so I get an understanding from the famers perspective. Somewhere in-between being told 'the WEF is out to destroy us' and 'farmers are destroying the planet' there's the truth. The more I understand the better.

Look at what @hendrebc wrote here:

Unrest in Wales

The organisers of the event in Carms told us they have arranged a meeting in Cardiff to propose thier manifesto. We took a vote in carms and it was decided to agree for them to do this on our behalf. I'm happy to sit on my hands until after this meeting and until the organisers come back with...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

 

[Blank]

Look at what @hendrebc wrote here:

Unrest in Wales

The organisers of the event in Carms told us they have arranged a meeting in Cardiff to propose thier manifesto. We took a vote in carms and it was decided to agree for them to do this on our behalf. I'm happy to sit on my hands until after this meeting and until the organisers come back with...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

To be clear, I'm saying the public may be hearing about this 'wonderful' new subsidy and will unlikely understand the problems issues and trade offs. They may not realise there is a problem.

There are famers on here who it seems to me simply don't want any paper work or any regulation. There are farmers who feel peed off that cheap imports undercut them. Some just have it in for RT. Some seem content (for farmers).

There is clearly something brewing globally with climate change, war, energy and so on and it's not something that the public are fully aware of. Protests may help with that if handled with care but education is crucial.

 

[L P]

Interesting feedback. I'm glad to hear the public there is more tuned in, but that makes it all the more puzzling that policies harmful to farming are getting pushed successfully.

Trouble is, a lot of what the public see and gather totally lacks the policy behind it. Let's be honest, it wouldn't encourage viewer numbers and quite how you educate that without putting them to sleep goodness knows.

 

[010101]

Arguably, it is farmers that are learning who is in control of their land.
How penetrating the curriculum is yet to be revealed.

 

[N Turner]

Kind of depends how its presented. As presented the new subsidy scheme is a wonder that protects the environment and helps farmers. Having to plant trees or whatever on 10% of your land that sounds ok who wouldn't be ok with that? Apparently farmers.

Part of the reason I'm reading what's said here is so I get an understanding from the famers perspective. Somewhere in-between being told 'the WEF is out to destroy us' and 'farmers are destroying the planet' there's the truth. The more I understand the better.

Good for you for seeking out information.

I tend to be more on the WEF is doing harm end of the spectrum. When they said we'll own nothing and be happy about it, I took them them at their word because who on earth would state that unless they meant it.

Regardless, and more to your point, the reasonable path forward - if we ever find it - will come from reasonable people in the middle. I'm just afraid they have been silenced and will remain so until it's too late.

 

[kiwi pom]

By who?

Lots of different types as I was growing up, "low paid, dead end, dirty job" apparently.
Bit different here I think.

Trouble is, a lot of what the public see and gather totally lacks the policy behind it. Let's be honest, it wouldn't encourage viewer numbers and quite how you educate that without putting them to sleep goodness knows.

I think that's something people in all industries and professions say, what the public sees, or think they know isn't really reality.

 

[Flatland guy]

Good for you for seeking out information.

I tend to be more on the WEF is doing harm end of the spectrum. When they said we'll own nothing and be happy about it, I took them them at their word because who on earth would state that unless they meant it.

If/ when WEF have stated their intention is nobody to own anything, Is that not just going back to communisation?? They say everything goes full circle and it appears to be heading that way if that is believed.