The future of arable cropping

[Farma Parma]

Care to give us the lowdown on some of their ideas? And by their, I mean crackpot interest lobby groups. And by ideas, I mean stuff they can force on us for no cost which increases the interest groups profits.

its all in early stages will know more things in the new year but its trying to work out what everyone gets paid for forgiving up cropping for instance to earn this new type of Sub payment that's going to be the main challenge & will they pay us what we need it to be at ??? LL rather concerned about there rent levels being sustained ive also heard.... if SUB vanishes if its not rep with something else Rents will have to tumble
but that will still be a right challenge but all technically legal to expect. or us Tenant folks are history, unless all the inputs also fall inline, Maybes Clives got that sorted on the other thread eh

 

[Farma Parma]

Care to give us the lowdown on some of their ideas? And by their, I mean crackpot interest lobby groups. And by ideas, I mean stuff they can force on us for no cost which increases the interest groups profits.

Ideas in the Sky ive heard was 20% annual Cover-cropping to stay for 12months then pull out & drill the following years crops
20m buffers anywhere there is watercourses on edges of fields
Poss Tree Planting ?? so many issues to get that off the ground tho

No one directly around here does covercrops there simply isnt the window to do it & sow a winter crop then after, spring yes possibly
but v few tried this.
You finish Harvest up here & cultivate & sow winter crops pretty much straight away, no breaks at all.

 

[Hindsight]

Letter in todays The Times


EU AND PESTICIDES
Sir, Matt Ridley (comment, Dec 9) argues that the EU is absurdly risk averse when it comes to the regulation of pesticides. He appears to advocate that Europe should adopt the more lax environmental standards found elsewhere in the world where, for example, farmers can still use neonicotinoid insecticides and lethally toxic products such as paraquat that have long since been banned in Europe.
Ridley argues that glyphosate is less harmful than coffee but does not mention the three recent court cases in the US that found glyphosate to be the likely cause of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in humans (which is particularly concerning as glyphosate is a common contaminant of bread, biscuits and cereals). Nor does he mention the growing body of research that glyphosate is harmful to wildlife such as bees (it impairs their navigation and knocks out their gut flora, making them more susceptible to disease).
Given that biodiversity is already in catastrophic decline, the deregulation of pesticide use could be the final straw for much of our wildlife, and would have major implications for human health.
Professor Dave Goulson
School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex

 

[Brisel]

Goulson is anti all pesticides & does not see the bigger picture. He doesn't get the connection between the loss of neonic seed dressings and the vast reduction in oilseed rape grown which is a key pollen source for bees.

 

[Flat 10]

Goulson is anti all pesticides & does not see the bigger picture. He doesn't get the connection between the loss of neonic seed dressings and the vast reduction in oilseed rape grown which is a key pollen source for bees.

And if he was scientifically any good would teach at a better institute than the university of sussex. Just saying.

 

[Brisel]

What's the future for arable now we know the election result? I'm repeating what Minette Batters told us yesterday so I don't claim the original thinking on this.

Tory majority = Brexit with a deal, though the tight time frame means we may end the one year transition period without any meaningful trade deals in place. The EU won't even start negotiating until April and we have until June to apply for an extension of the transition period for 1-2 years. Boris's arrogance will mean he wants to "get Brexit done" so will not apply for the extension. No tariffs on imports, no deal on exports & Boris's deal means no EU subs whilst paying into EU. Unlikely level playing field for farm standards i.e. chlorinated chicken imports but even tighter UK production standards. Possible cliff edge WTO tariff wall if we don't at least get a European deal signed before the deadline. Glyphosate and other pesticide losses? We'll have to tow the EU line if we want access to their markets, so not good.

Big reduction in the UK beef herd and sheep flock, so less demand for feed grains. Likely restructuring of UK farms for a big drop in production as we chase carbon payments instead of loss making production. BPS will taper off by 2027 at the latest but no guarantee of this either though we'll find out more as the Agriculture Bill goes through.

Long term? An opportunity for focusing on public money for public goods, carbon sequestering and trading. Still 67 million mouths to feed here and a resurgent economy will mean more discerning buyers if we can convince the public to eat carefully not just cheaply.

This is one of the worse scenarios for the medium term in UK arable. At least under the Labour and Lib Dem manifestos we were looking at another referendum though yet more time delays on the way to it. No doubt this post will be seen as Remoaning!

 

[Brisel]

And if he was scientifically any good would teach at a better institute than the university of sussex. Just saying.

I shouldn't "like" that but I do! Big fish in a shallow muddy pond?

 

[czechmate]

What's the future for arable now we know the election result? I'm repeating what Minette Batters told us yesterday so I don't claim the original thinking on this.

Tory majority = Brexit with a deal, though the tight time frame means we may end the one year transition period without any meaningful trade deals in place. The EU won't even start negotiating until April and we have until June to apply for an extension of the transition period for 1-2 years. Boris's arrogance will mean he wants to "get Brexit done" so will not apply for the extension. No tariffs on imports, no deal on exports & Boris's deal means no EU subs whilst paying into EU. Unlikely level playing field for farm standards i.e. chlorinated chicken imports but even tighter UK production standards. Possible cliff edge WTO tariff wall if we don't at least get a European deal signed before the deadline. Glyphosate and other pesticide losses? We'll have to tow the EU line if we want access to their markets, so not good.

Big reduction in the UK beef herd and sheep flock, so less demand for feed grains. Likely restructuring of UK farms for a big drop in production as we chase carbon payments instead of loss making production. BPS will taper off by 2027 at the latest but no guarantee of this either though we'll find out more as the Agriculture Bill goes through.

Long term? An opportunity for focusing on public money for public goods, carbon sequestering and trading. Still 67 million mouths to feed here and a resurgent economy will mean more discerning buyers if we can convince the public to eat carefully not just cheaply.

This is one of the worse scenarios for the medium term in UK arable. At least under the Labour and Lib Dem manifestos we were looking at another referendum though yet more time delays on the way to it. No doubt this post will be seen as Remoaning!

Sounds like I’m going to have ex pats queuing up to buy my spare farm here ..

If you’ll still be able to sell one in uk?

 

[Flat 10]

I shouldn't "like" that but I do! Big fish in a shallow muddy pond?

And needs to take a populist line to keep his profile up and keep the funding coming in............
Not necessarily aimed just at him as i think this happens a lot.
I do wonder what A-levels you need to enter his university.

 

[Brisel]

Sounds like I’m going to have ex pats queuing up to buy my spare farm here ..

If you’ll still be able to sell one in uk?

There's a reason we're leaving the Union

I see no reason why land won't be sought after over here. It just might not be by so many farmers for a while.

 

[czechmate]

There's a reason we're leaving the Union

I see no reason why land won't be sought after over here. It just might not be by so many farmers for a while.

So; land owning farmers who want to farm, selling up and moving somewhere they can?

 

[bobk]

Sounds like I’m going to have ex pats queuing up to buy my spare farm here ..

If you’ll still be able to sell one in uk?

Put it on the market , you'll soon find out if there's any demand

 

[czechmate]

Put it on the market , you'll soon find out if there's any demand

Oh, I'm sure there is not ; just yet ...

 

[bobk]

Oh, I'm sure there is not ; just yet ...

You would only sell it if you got a daft offer .

 

[ollie989898]

The UK also has wasted millions on HS2. The uk also wastes 14 billion per year on foreign aid. The uk also wastes millions a year on prescriptions for paracetamol. And there’s loads of examples of this country spending investing on things that don’t or ever will show a financial return.
It doesn’t matter about biotech investment because it’ll be diverted to organic investment.
Organic is coming and will be forced on us. Adapt or get out while you can.

The UK does not really waste millions on prescriptions for paracetamol. It is true that the NHS will spend (I think it was 14 million but can't remember) an amount of money on what could be considered run of the mill things like Paracetamol, however this is due to a few reasons:

1. They may be prescribed in place of stronger medications as part of a cascade.

2. They may be prescribed and used in a differing form to that sold on the high street- I/V paracetamol is actually very effective and may present fewer complications or compliment other medicines (ie using it with morphine).

3. People who are hospitalised for whatever reason are not encouraged to simply take whatever medication they can buy from Boots down the road. If someone is hospitalised and has a need for an every day medication, they are prescribed and given it under the direction of clinicians and so it is best dispensed by hospital staff.


I too was nearly incensed to learn that the NHS was wasting money on pills you can buy over the counter, but had to shut up and learn not long after when my wife was given I/V paracetamol during pregnancy because of an extreme fever they needed to get under control.

Unfortunate this is one of those cases where there is much more behind the tabloid headlines.

 

[bobk]

The UK does not really waste millions on prescriptions for paracetamol. It is true that the NHS will spend (I think it was 14 million but can't remember) an amount of money on what could be considered run of the mill things like Paracetamol, however this is due to a few reasons:

1. They may be prescribed in place of stronger medications as part of a cascade.

2. They may be prescribed and used in a differing form to that sold on the high street- I/V paracetamol is actually very effective and may present fewer complications or compliment other medicines (ie using it with morphine).

3. People who are hospitalised for whatever reason are not encouraged to simply take whatever medication they can buy from Boots down the road. If someone is hospitalised and has a need for an every day medication, they are prescribed and given it under the direction of clinicians and so it is best dispensed by hospital staff.


I too was nearly incensed to learn that the NHS was wasting money on pills you can buy over the counter, but had to shut up and learn not long after when my wife was given I/V paracetamol during pregnancy because of an extreme fever they needed to get under control.

Unfortunate this is one of those cases where there is much more behind the tabloid headlines.

Just as an aside , we had to buy some paracetemol from a french pharmacie , 2.28 euro ffs . it's 30p at wom .

 

[ollie989898]

Just as an aside , we had to buy some paracetemol from a french pharmacie , 2.28 euro ffs . it's 30p at wom .

I can't be bothered to look but the NHS is probably buying it for 5/8ths of sod all. I used to pay the prescription charge for some pills (£7 or whatever it is) and I looked them up on the formulary and they only cost the NHS £2.16 a pack.... So I was actually paying for more than just my own pills, although the NHS pays the GP £150 every time you go.

 

[bobk]

I can't be bothered to look but the NHS is probably buying it for 5/8ths of sod all. I used to pay the prescription charge for some pills (£7 or whatever it is) and I looked them up on the formulary and they only cost the NHS £2.16 a pack.... So I was actually paying for more than just my own pills, although the NHS pays the GP £150 every time you go.

No wonder they keep ringing to make me have an appointment ..... told them I'll come when i'm ill

 

[ollie989898]

No wonder they keep ringing to make me have an appointment ..... told them I'll come when i'm ill

Sorry, sloppy prose- its around £150 per registered patient per year I think.

 

[bobk]

Sorry, sloppy prose- its around £150 per registered patient per year I think.

That's even worse .