Thank You, Alice Thomson

[Bald Rick]

Some of you may have read her article/comment piece in yesterday's Times entitled:

Britain needs its farmers more than ever

Makes a very refreshing change to read something in praise of farming/farmers in mainstream media and warns of the dangers of outsourcing food to third party countries

From her twitter account -

https://twitter.com/x/status/1235102772669763584

The comment piece is behind a paywall but re-iterates most of what is said on here with regard to Tim Leunig, rewilding, vegans, importing foodstuffs et al but I will quote this paragraph and the final paragraph:

"Astonishingly, food production was barely mentioned in the government's original Agriculture Bill, it was all about improving air quality, access to the countryside, preservation of soil, encouraging wildlife and reducing flooding. They've had to revise the Bill after this was pointed out, but farmers are increasingly bewildered. They have no idea what their purpose is any more. Professor Michael Winter, a rural policy expert at Exeter University, says farmers are 'under attack from ministers, lobbyists, environmentalists and vegans' and are increasingly seen as pariahs rather than providers."

"George Eustice, the new environment secretary, needs to reassure farmers as well as revitalise farming. If they quit, we would have to find new custodians of the countryside and it would be far more damaging than if we got rid of government advisers like Dr Leunig."

 

[uztrac]

Yes,I read said article yesterday,and agreed with the paragraph that you highlighted.

 

[Bald Rick]

Lead letter in today's Times is from a Rutland farmer, Richard Harvey. Don't know if he's a TFF member and wants to post it here? If not, I will paraphrase later but I expect contrary letters in tomorrow

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I can’t believe in this day and age food security isn’t the countries biggest concern!
We should be self sufficient

 

[Hindsight]

The letters in todays The Times

Sir, Many farmers will shed tears of joy today. At least one journalist understands the important social, environmental and economic role played by Britain’s family farms (“Britain needs its farmers more than ever”, Alice Thomson, Mar 4). Nowadays there are often tears of despair around farmers’ breakfast tables. They are wrongly accused of being murderers of farm animals, of being global warmers, of being destroyers of wildlife and habitat and, recently, of being an unnecessary and expensive luxury by our government.

Farmers often comment that “the public will not appreciate us again until there is a food shortage”. Perhaps the breakdown of trading relationships around the world, the onset of global pandemics, climate change and population growth are about to bring this time nearer.
Richard Harvey
Farmer, Owston, Rutland

Sir, In 34 years working for the National Farmers’ Union (and later for Defra) I heard many foolish things said about farming by politicians, civil servants and the media. However, the reported views of the Treasury adviser Tim Leunig on the redundancy of our farming industry takes some beating. It is worth remembering that in 1974 there was a dramatic shortage of sugar in this country after the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement with Caribbean countries broke down. There were queues outside shops, some of which rationed sugar, and a predictable media frenzy ensued. Ministers eventually negotiated access to EEC sugar supplies (from beet sugar stocks). It was a salutary reminder of how vulnerable we are to world events and how excessive reliance on food supplies from abroad runs the risk of “security of supply” suddenly no longer existing.
Shaun Leavey, FRAgS
Sherborne, Dorset

Sir, I know that farmers where I live in Devon feel beleaguered but from my research and policy work I also know that many in government, including the new environment secretary, are committed to a sustainable future for farming. Surveys by the Centre for Rural Policy Research have shown that farmers have a growing commitment to combining environmental management and sustainable food production, but confidence is fragile and advice and support will be needed as new policy priorities play out. Balanced research will give us the hard evidence on how best to secure a positive future for our countryside, including those who manage it.
Professor Michael Winter
Centre for Rural Policy Research, University of Exeter

Sir, Climate change emphasises the need to manage our landscape to absorb carbon and provide a home for nature and ourselves while growing food and raw materials. It is a complex balance, achieved by people with hard-won skills. Many of these people feel their skills are no longer valued.


It is not just farmers we need. The government’s new forests are long-term projects requiring careful management and the skills of experts. It will take decades, even centuries, for the trees we plant to become true forest. They compete with weeds, disease, squirrels and deer. Human help is critical. The biodiversity of our Ancient Woodland, in particular, was achieved through active management.

Now more than ever we need the people who manage our landscape.
Sir Harry Studholme
Former chairman, Forestry Commission

 

[Hindsight]

Lead letter in today's Times is from a Rutland farmer, Richard Harvey. Don't know if he's a TFF member and wants to post it here? If not, I will paraphrase later but I expect contrary letters in tomorrow

I have just cut and pasted the four letters in The Times,

 

[Bury the Trash]

I can’t believe in this day and age food security isn’t the countries biggest concern!
We should be self sufficient

Nope I dont understand it either ,
Apart from Corona virus all the news is full of is this airline company gone bust