We have to ration food: nothing else now makes sense ! interesting article

[som farmer]

will anything change after this ? s/mkts will still want their enormous profit, and the whole supply chain has been altered to achieve that, their aggressive buying, has meant that no supplier can afford to hold large stocks, this has led to the 'just in time' supply chain, highly efficient, sales tills record what has been sold that day, computers churn the numbers, and order the replacement stock, for next day delivery, fantastic. Until there is a problem, that is, up to now, a lot of imported food, will have been en route, we don't know how that supply chain is coping, and are unlikely to be told. We are in a completely different world now, and people are scared, I certainly never expected anything like this to happen in my lifetime. But, as farmers, it is what happens after this, that is important, will the supply chain alter, will the reliance on imported food change, will the s/mkts change their buying policy, will the fact that we are reliant on imports for nearly half our food, alter anything ? We do not know.
Back to the good old EU, a co-ordinated reaction to corvid, has been sadly lacking, with individual states looking after themselves first, which is correct, the first duty, of any nation, is to protect its population, but not if you are part of a greater bloc. So the chance of a 'falling' out, is much greater, if borders are re-introduced in Europe, that will alter the supply chain, so many unknowns, the effect of 1 nasty little bug, pretty well stopped global trade/habits etc, 1 that just popped up, unexpectedly, and BOOM, everything stopped.
perhaps, we should remind gov, a hungry man, has one problem, a well fed man, has many.

 

[Hindsight]

How are food supply networks coping with coronavirus?

As the pandemic puts pressure on food supplies, how are the delivery systems holding up?

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Yale]

Supply chain cracks appearing.

Staff at ABP and Moy Park sites ‘hold walkout’ over Covid-19 concerns - Agriland.co.uk

Additional reporting by Rachel Martin Workers at two of Northern Ireland's biggest agri-food processing sites have walked today (Wednesday, March 25) over

www.agriland.co.uk

 

[andybk]

Supply chain cracks appearing.

Staff at ABP and Moy Park sites ‘hold walkout’ over Covid-19 concerns - Agriland.co.uk

Additional reporting by Rachel Martin Workers at two of Northern Ireland's biggest agri-food processing sites have walked today (Wednesday, March 25) over

www.agriland.co.uk

biggest problem is there is no fat in the chain to absorb changes and emergencies , supermarkets have been good at keeping food cost down over last decades and have no problem with that , but at a great cost to the supply chain , had they allowed all meats to increase a bit every year would keep everyone happy, but they have screwed everyone to a point theres nothing left ,

 

[Danllan]

What a load of panic-mongering, hyperbolic leftist-dogma and crap! We are nowhere near needing rationing imposed by government, there is and will continue to be plenty for everyone. The supermarkets are doing the necessary and the social distancing rules make that easier for them.

This arsehead is trying to impose his far-left state controlling dogma through the back door, and he should be despised as the disgusting little trouble maker and anti-democrat that he is.

 

[Hindsight]

What a load of panic-mongering, hyperbolic leftist-dogma and crap! We are nowhere near needing rationing imposed by government, there is and will continue to be plenty for everyone. The supermarkets are doing the necessary and the social distancing rules make that easier for them.

This arsehead is trying to impose his far-left state controlling dogma through the back door, and he should be despised as the disgusting little trouble maker and anti-democrat that he is.

Hi, I got told off for being antagonistic yesterday. I concurr with the gist of your post - can sense a bit of mild irritation on your part! We have been pondering the 2 metre social distancing requirement on a potato grading line? And also planting brassica transplants - the picture below shows the spatial arrangement of planter units - 75cm, rather than 200cm. So far staff have been very accommodating and understanding just plodding along as normal. I only hope continues that way. But as we know from various threads in past few days - it is the unintended or anticipated consequences resulting from change to usual practice that arise. Hey ho.


Best wishes,

 

[SteveHants]

I am aware that in no way should I stop producing, ( I grow chickens for the meat trade) but it is very scary numbers.
I am small compared to some but probably just a bit bigger than average family operations. What encourages me to be exposed to nearly £400K of debt every 7 weeks when the wholesale market for chicken has collapsed? Feed prices going through the roof and no confidence. Do I add to the possible food crisis and shut down?

Really? It's flying off the shelves here - woman in Aldi this morning said they had restocked the shelves of fresh chicken three times already that day - this was at about 10.15.

 

[Hindsight]

Really? It's flying off the shelves here - woman in Aldi this morning said they had restocked the shelves of fresh chicken three times already that day - this was at about 10.15.

But route to market. Chickcatcher mentions wholesale market - so I am presuming he may not be a direct supplier to processor linked with one of the supermarkets. He may supply to a processor into the catering sector - which has died. Same in potatoes - hear bout shortage and flying off shelves but chip shop trade stopped dead and the specifics of that particular crop means they may now become unmarketable. He ho we will see. Things are often more complex than firs sight. Cheers.

 

[SteveHants]

But route to market. Chickcatcher mentions wholesale market - so I am presuming he may not be a direct supplier to processor linked with one of the supermarkets. He may supply to a processor into the catering sector - which has died. Same in potatoes - hear bout shortage and flying off shelves but chip shop trade stopped dead and the specifics of that particular crop means they may now become unmarketable. He ho we will see. Things are often more complex than firs sight. Cheers.

Dunno about potatoes, but if there is a shortage of chicken meat, surely the retailers will seek to source more?

 

[Robt]

So far, only a week in. I’m quite enjoying the simplicity and the friendliness. I’m eating less, eating better. Our local village is amazing. Only ever two people at the shop . Everyone is staying at home with the odd walk per day. Everyone shouting hello and keeping apart... other than being bored silly with no work. It’s quite nice. I’m sure in town, it’s the exact opposite! I really do hope this will change people for the better! It will hopefully save the future of our local shop

 

[Old McDonald]

I'm confused, is that piece not by Tim Lang? His name has cropped up a fair bit lately for some reason. If it's the same Tim Lang that used to be an utter gobsh1te from 20 odd years ago then it's not surprising he's included lies like UK farming being responsible for 25% of greenhouse gas emmissions. Whilst there's a lot of sense in the article he stymies his good points with bad points like that. He really doesn't like farming still going by that article.

That's the same Tim Lang. As you rightly say, he has never liked farming...

What a load of panic-mongering, hyperbolic leftist-dogma and crap! We are nowhere near needing rationing imposed by government, there is and will continue to be plenty for everyone. The supermarkets are doing the necessary and the social distancing rules make that easier for them.

This arsehead is trying to impose his far-left state controlling dogma through the back door, and he should be despised as the disgusting little trouble maker and anti-democrat that he is.

I thought the posts were all worth repeating in full. Here are a couple of snippets about him.


Tim Lang has been Professor of Food Policy at City University London's Centre for Food Policy since 2002. He founded the Centre in 1994. After a PhD in social psychology at Leeds University, he became a hill farmer in the 1970s in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire which shifted his attention to food policy, where it has been ever since. Source: City University of London Staff Profile.


We also, he (Lang) says, have one of the best climates for growing food in the world - and here he knows exactly what he is talking about. Back in the early 1970s, while working on his PhD in social psychology, he and some friends took over a 105- acre hill farm in Lancashire, where they raised sheep and cows and grew their own produce. 'I became intrigued by the principles of primary production,' he says. 'The way we use water, soil and light to create what we eat.' Seven years later the ramshackle project fell apart, but by then he had become deeply involved with radical political groups, where the first stirrings of what would eventually become the environmental agenda that dominates political discourse today, could be felt. 'I would sit up on the moors where we farmed, thinking about my own diet and the whole notion of food supply.' Source: The Guardian 2007 (Yes, I know, but their website contains a lot of useful historical info).
............................................

He is asked for quotes that his PhD in social psychology taught him nothing about even more often than Monbiot is asked about things he knows nothing about. Probably more often than Packham too.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

biggest problem is there is no fat in the chain to absorb changes and emergencies , supermarkets have been good at keeping food cost down over last decades

This applies to the tangible, physical chain as well as the finances propping it all up.

We have seen how little stock retailers hold, mills and maltings are also very short on storage as it doesn't fit the J.I.T. business model dictated upon them by the retailers.

Ultimately, the only real storage of food ingredients is with the growers themselves, with barely any other storage in the chain.

The J.I.T. system is great for minimising retailers' costs, but leaves the whole supply chain vulnerable to unpredicted & unplanned sudden changes in demand.

 

[som farmer]

while I agree that there are no serious food shortages, other than caused by panic buying, the whole food distribution has seriously altered, the catering trade, has suffered hugely, but that industry has long been ascociated with cheap imports, so no real effect on the market, the leisure market, coffee shops etc, is temporarily dead, as seen by some milk buyers, dropping price, and payment terms, yet sales of liquid milk, are rocketing, especially doorstep delivery, the latter, deserve, and have earnt the bonus. It is what happens after, that concerns me, hopefully, gov will realise the current food chain is 'dangerous' and implement changes, or ignore.
As farmers, to protect our industry long term, to become more important in society, we should slow down the supply, to create shortages, a route that none of us will do, I find it ironic, that when 'issue' arises, ie weather, we all go flat out to help, and are then 'forgotten', I hope it doesn't happen again.

 

[Danllan]

Hi, I got told off for being antagonistic yesterday. I concurr with the gist of your post - can sense a bit of mild irritation on your part! We have been pondering the 2 metre social distancing requirement on a potato grading line? And also planting brassica transplants - the picture below shows the spatial arrangement of planter units - 75cm, rather than 200cm. So far staff have been very accommodating and understanding just plodding along as normal. I only hope continues that way. But as we know from various threads in past few days - it is the unintended or anticipated consequences resulting from change to usual practice that arise. Hey ho.
Best wishes,

Interesting. All of us have specialist knowledge which immediately flags up problems or successes that others will not think of, yours is a good example. I guess two options are open to you for now, give the staff some protective kit and / or more widely separate them and do more passes - both involve extra cost. Such costs can be written off, but that's not a great help in the short term.

 

[Hindsight]

Interesting. All of us have specialist knowledge which immediately flags up problems or successes that others will not think of, yours is a good example. I guess two options are open to you for now, give the staff some protective kit and / or more widely separate them and do more passes - both involve extra cost. Such costs can be written off, but that's not a great help in the short term.

Yes. Adapting the planting method to keep staff 200cm apart sounds easy but it not so easy to operate the machine in practice - irrespective of cost. Protective clothing - well face masks. As say staff accommodating so far. Of course the government has offered every working employee £500 week to not work - a further complication. I only hope for all sakes these measure taken to defeat the virus work and restrictions can be lifted soon, other wise there may well be be larger difficulties down the line. Donald Trump is actually on the ball - Again best wishes, and take care.

 

[farmerm]

Hi, I got told off for being antagonistic yesterday. I concurr with the gist of your post - can sense a bit of mild irritation on your part! We have been pondering the 2 metre social distancing requirement on a potato grading line? And also planting brassica transplants - the picture below shows the spatial arrangement of planter units - 75cm, rather than 200cm. So far staff have been very accommodating and understanding just plodding along as normal. I only hope continues that way. But as we know from various threads in past few days - it is the unintended or anticipated consequences resulting from change to usual practice that arise. Hey ho.


Best wishes,

View attachment 866078

The biggest fear I have for this sort of operation and many similar ones in veg, salad and fruit production will be how they cope when someone gets infected... how do you keep operations going if you loose a big part of your workforce to illness or isolation?

 

[Danllan]

Yes. Adapting the planting method to keep staff 200cm apart sounds easy but it not so easy to operate the machine in practice - irrespective of cost. Protective clothing - well face masks. As say staff accommodating so far. Of course the government has offered every working employee £500 week to not work - a further complication. I only hope for all sakes these measure taken to defeat the virus work and restrictions can be lifted soon, other wise there may well be be larger difficulties down the line. Donald Trump is actually on the ball - Again best wishes, and take care.

!

 

[jackrussell101]

Nations start to stop FOOD exports as coronavirus sparks supply fears

Some countries, including Kazakhstan and Russia, have started restricting shipments of food amid the coronavirus pandemic causing fears of supply-chain breakdown around the world to grow.

www.google.com

 

[Hindsight]

!

Hi - yes, an exclamation mark is appropriate. My comment was that a comment. Just that Mr trump has pointed out the medicine may be worse than the disease. Not sure I agree but I can follow his logic. As an ex military man I suppose it is the case of do you move out leaving a loaded revolver with the wounded man?

 

[Bogweevil]

Hi, I got told off for being antagonistic yesterday. I concurr with the gist of your post - can sense a bit of mild irritation on your part! We have been pondering the 2 metre social distancing requirement on a potato grading line? And also planting brassica transplants - the picture below shows the spatial arrangement of planter units - 75cm, rather than 200cm. So far staff have been very accommodating and understanding just plodding along as normal. I only hope continues that way. But as we know from various threads in past few days - it is the unintended or anticipated consequences resulting from change to usual practice that arise. Hey ho.


Best wishes,

View attachment 866078

Back to placing trays along the rows and workers spread out with dibbers! They won't like that.