Time to rip up stewardship?

[cornishfarmer]

With the price of grain going through the roof and the likely hood of a world shortage of grain is it time for the government to be forwarded thinking and let farmers plant barley/wheat for one year only rather than birds seed and other stewardship options?

 

[yellow belly]

they only need to say that you can grow crops and not claim that year stewardship money with out any penalty
leaving the stewardship scheme intact for the following year

i have put the question to rpa just waiting for the writen reply

 

[jack6480]

No, you are talking like a dairy farmer

 

[Doom and gloom]

Disagree strongly as I want to save the planet and not contribute to filling already large stomachs,sounds like the foreword thinking flower growers wish they had never signed up,tough.

 

[Two Tone]

This farm ended its last MTS 31/12/21 and we haven’t heard yet about a new agreement for 2022. We were never offered a years extension.

We have been looking at not doing a new 2022 agreement and planting crops on some or all of it. It would be easy on anything that was in AB9 Winter Bird food. But not so on AB1 Nectar Flower mixes and AB8 Flowery Margins. I wouldn’t want to rip them out, to have to replant them again later. Nor would it appeal to plant another crop in these fields when a Winter crop is already established in the middle of it.

Since nothing is signed yet for a new agreement, we are free to do what we wish. But how far do we go?
The areas with AB1 and AB8 aren’t really ever going to produce a decent crop. However the AB9’s could be brought back into the arable more easily .

The next question is how to get hold of Roundup to destroy the old AB9 and the fertiliser/seed for the new crop?

All in all, I’m probably better off hoping that we do get the new MTS agreement through and sign it. Those areas in AB1, AB8 and AB9 were put in the most difficult parts of the farm for a reason. Better to concentrate on the better land in crops.
Should high grain prices continue, in 2024 when we could end our MTS and switch to ELMs, we can consider the situation again then.

 

[B'o'B]

I would say it’s more likely they would reduce or scrap the biofuels mandate. Could very quickly free up huge tonnages of grain and oilseed for food.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Just claim 'Force Majeure' due to the war in Europe and put all your stewardship agreements in the bin.

 

[Green oak]

Why produce more for a short time goal. Or produce less for more money. Reduce inputs save a environment win win.

 

[Wolds Beef]

They may have to consider better payments for SFI because of this! @Janet Hughes Defra

 

[yellow belly]

Why produce more for a short time goal. Or produce less for more money. Reduce inputs save a environment win win.

if the ukraine russia war results in no grain exported from the black sea then every acre should be used to produce food

 

[Billboy1]

They may have to consider better payments for SFI because of this! @Janet Hughes Defra

sfi should be more money before all this . to carry on with it in times like this is immoral !

 

[britt]

Nothing cures high prices like high prices. This won't last long and farming is a long term business.

 

[Courier]

I would say it’s more likely they would reduce or scrap the biofuels mandate. Could very quickly free up huge tonnages of grain and oilseed for food.

Highly unlikely considering the penchant for energy is instant, whereas a food shortage is still looking a way into the future….(for the wealthier countries which have the power to do anything about it).

 

[tepapa]

Where is the need to produce more food? As a nation we throw away tons of the stuff and consume far too much. The country is a long way from starving but it may be get a disruption to what we eat, how much we eat and what we waste.
Jumping in to produce more at the first sight of a shortage won't teach anyone (public or government) except that if there's a chance of an extra pound a farmer will produce food regardless of whether it's profitable or not. Things would need to get harder on people for them to realise the value of food and where it comes from.

 

[7610 super q]

I can see merchants eagerly jotting this down to use as an excuse next harvest to talk the price down.

 

[Lincsman]

I would say it’s more likely they would reduce or scrap the biofuels mandate. Could very quickly free up huge tonnages of grain and oilseed for food.

Dont forget that wheat going for ethanol has 40% of it returned back to farmers as cattle feed.

 

[Clive]

CSS could be more viable that cropping

can you get enough N or fuel ? never mind the cost of it

morally wrong but morality could cost ?


how many farmers have x5 the capital required to grow a crop now ?

 

[Hindsight]

CSS could be more viable that cropping

can you get enough N or fuel ? never mind the cost of it

morally wrong but morality could cost ?

But CSS is a five year commitment Clive. You never seem to mention that when posting as a viable alternative to cropping. Unless i am missing something, which may be the case. are youngoing to leave the field of play for five years?

 

[Clive]

But CSS is a five year commitment Clive. You never seem to mention that when posting as a viable alternative to cropping. Unless i am missing something, which may be the case. are youngoing to leave the field of play for five years?

you think this will be over in a week ? the world has changed

you can vary arras of some options to adjust to circumstances i believe


fact remains……… how many farmers can afford the extra capital requirement now and how many can actually get N and fuel required in 2023 ?

 

[Hindsight]

you think this will be over in a week ? the world has changed

you can vary arras of some options to adjust to circumstances i believe


fact remains……… how many farmers can afford the extra capital requirement now and how many can actually get N and fuel required in 2023 ?

The ramifications will last some time. But unless government policy changes stewardship is for five years. and you are not clear which options you would take. Those that take land out of production for a fixed payment. Those that work alongside cropping, thus allowing a crop. tad more complex.

As for capital requirements. Indeed great risk.

In event risk is to great for your private capital to risk gain and reward, how about the market and or government will come along to provide support or share in the risk reward equation. How i do not know exact mechanisms. But you are an astute businessman and are already trading cash for carbon, in an unregulated market, where as a consumer of goods and services i am indirectly paying you, though i would prefer not. So whats to stop capital providers offering you cash to grow wheat. And if that were more than stewardship, what would you do.

as you say early days yet.