Radio 4 PM programme today

[lloyd]

Probably, however I thought Henry Dimbelby was quite sensible with what he was saying early on. I thought the chef was a bit stupid and Minette Batters did not make a case. What was being said was that the quality of food people are eating is generally poor which really is not to do with farmers but with the rise of processed food rather than people using ingredients to make their own. With regard to welfare of animals I defy anyone to defend intensive broiler chicken production (however it is a factor of market forces). There really is nothing wrong with the BBC (countryfile excepted) unless you want a type of PRAVDA backing the goverment and establishment all the way.

Your obviously a fan of Chris Packham then and all
the air time he has through the BBC.
Most farmer related BBC stuff is anti farming propergander.

 

[primmiemoo]

Davis didn't especially apologise, he mumbled something in his silly naughty schoolboy voice (he's got a naughty schoolboy giggle for when he says the words, "informed self-interest" on his in business programme - subtext, nudge, wink, saaay n'more!) and the rest of the item was infill to make him sound forgiven or "secretly right all along" (image of the man strutting).

I liked the contribution from the farmer from Cumbria (?), but felt Davis tried to skew things back to his original comments when that interview was over.

 

[essexpete]

Davis didn't especially apologise, he mumbled something in his silly naughty schoolboy voice (he's got a naughty schoolboy giggle for when he says the words, "informed self-interest" on his in business programme - subtext, nudge, wink, saaay n'more!) and the rest of the item was infill to make him sound forgiven or "secretly right all along" (image of the man strutting).

I liked the contribution from the farmer from Cumbria (?), but felt Davis tried to skew things back to his original comments when that interview was over.

He actually twisted the original quote that he had made, at least that is what I thought?

 

[primmiemoo]

He actually twisted the original quote that he had made, at least that is what I thought?

Wriggling little >type<, he is.

 

[lazy farmer]

Couple of things spring to mind. He quoted an article in the guardian surprise surprise which was also shown on the BBC.
Those images were difficult to watch and unacceptable. from that is not hard to see how he jumped to a conclusion about the Industry in general especially considering the business is farm assured.

 

[Lowland1]

Your obviously a fan of Chris Packham then and all
the air time he has through the BBC.
Most farmer related BBC stuff is anti farming propergander.

Why would I be a fan of Chris Packham. My kids are quite chuffed about this as they think my politics are generally slightly to the right of the Nazi party. I love the BBC Killing Eve, Fleabag, Match of the Day, The Now Show, News Quiz etc.

 

[Highland Mule]

I quite agree although they didn't really mention that British farmers are struggling to produce food to compete with cheap imports produced to much lower standards unless I missed that bit.

Devil’s advocate here - if you’re struggling to produce a high quality product that would compete with a lower quality mass produced one, the problem is probably not with your production but with your marketing. You either need to justify the higher price to the customer or accept that you produce a commodity and lower the quality down to match the market.

 

[traineefarmer]

Devil’s advocate here - if you’re struggling to produce a high quality product that would compete with a lower quality mass produced one, the problem is probably not with your production but with your marketing. You either need to justify the higher price to the customer or accept that you produce a commodity and lower the quality down to match the market.

In the race to the bottom, there are no winners.

Cheap imports are here now and more will come, let them fulfil the market's requirement while the rest of us strive to be the best we can be. UK farmers can't compete with Thai chicken or South American beef on cost but we can on quality, welfare and environmental standards. And the only way we can put UK agriculture on a pedestal and boast about it is if we concentrate on this fact.

 

[Highland Mule]

In the race to the bottom, there are no winners.

Cheap imports are here now and more will come, let them fulfil the market's requirement while the rest of us strive to be the best we can be. UK farmers can't compete with Thai chicken or South American beef on cost but we can on quality, welfare and environmental standards. And the only way we can put UK agriculture on a pedestal and boast about it is if we concentrate on this fact.

Agreed, 100%. So we need to start boasting and selling - not expecting others to do it for us (AHDB, NFU, Tesco...), but start selling “@traineefarmer beef”.

 

[primmiemoo]

Couple of things spring to mind. He quoted an article in the guardian surprise surprise which was also shown on the BBC.
Those images were difficult to watch and unacceptable. from that is not hard to see how he jumped to a conclusion about the Industry in general especially considering the business is farm assured.

Hmmm, trying to justify why loads of farmers should not have got in touch with him to tell him the truth, more like.

I think he was taken aback by the strong, but clearly civilised reaction to his ignorant, urban chatterati flippancy.