Where’s UK food production headed?

[Martin Holden]

Obvious title but the more I read and hear, the more I feel the politicians don’t seem to value food security aka home production at all. Many farmers rightly considering taking the environmental package not to grow a break crop (apologies I can’t recall its title) but to grow wilding type things). Harry Metcalfe gave a straightforward description in his last video and his chilling words were something along the lines “this government don’t want me to grow food”. I thought that a “thunderbolt statement” but it has some resonance with what we read and hear from Westminster. I’d have thought that after the Ukraine crisis, food security would be top of all agendas? Or it’s this too simplistic a view??

 

[dave78+]

Obvious title but the more I read and hear, the more I feel the politicians don’t seem to value food security aka home production at all. Many farmers rightly considering taking the environmental package not to grow a break crop (apologies I can’t recall its title) but to grow wilding type things). Harry Metcalfe gave a straightforward description in his last video and his chilling words were something along the lines “this government don’t want me to grow food”. I thought that a “thunderbolt statement” but it has some resonance with what we read and hear from Westminster. I’d have thought that after the Ukraine crisis, food security would be top of all agendas? Or it’s this too simplistic a view??

Nothing within the walls of the UK Houses of Parliament are ever "top of the agenda"

 

[spin cycle]

I don't care....let the b'tsrds 'reap what they've sown'

 

[Clive]

i reckon there will be 20% less land in combinable crops next year

who would grow high risk OSR or other break crops at a loss when there is css options paying more without any risk ?

as above - i don’t care if this makes food short, maybe that’s what we need to push prices to more viable levels ?

 

[Werzle]

Abroad

 

[Bury the Trash]

Machinery sales will plummet.

 

[Yale]

Gov need to make their mind up sharpish. As one supermarket says ‘when it’s gone, it’s gone’, and we will all be gone.

 

[Martin Holden]

i reckon there will be 20% less land in combinable crops next year

who would grow high risk OSR or other break crops at a loss when there is css options paying more without any risk ?

as above - i don’t care if this makes food short, maybe that’s what we need to push prices to more viable levels ?

Clive I follow your thinking. But what a waste of land

 

[Bury the Trash]

eh what is meant by wasted ? where's it going ?

There's plenty of actually wasted food in the Country mind you

 

[Clive]

Clive I follow your thinking. But what a waste of land

depends on your point of view I guess - its clearly the preference of our government and tax payer so who are we to argue ?

imports are cheaper and better for (OUR as in UK's ) environment it seems ........ pass the buck

 

[Clive]

There's plenty of actually wasted food in the Country mind you

....... and guess who has been made responsible for that ? ........ yep its us farmers wasting by far the biggest % followed well behind by household and catering ......... according to a SUPERMARKET report I read and they of course waste less than. just 1%


sorry but I've had enough of playing cards in this rigged casino, house will always win

 

[Two Tone]

When I was at school studying for my ‘O’ level Geography in 1976, I distinctly remember that UK Agriculture was regarded as a ‘Primary’ industry, being essential for food production, therefore prioritised for certain inputs, such as fuel, over other Secondary and Tertiary manufacturing industries.

When the heck did that all change?

 

[The Seeker]

Well I’m in the prime of my life , I should be excited to farm, to take things on it’s not a big set up but it’s manageable but for the last year I wake up EVERY night around 3am wondering Why bother why put my neck on the line for everything all the greif and stresss ,,,, lots of stress everyone wanting to tell you all the things you should be doing all the time ( like I’m some idiot ) no, graze like this, feed ewes like that ? Vets plan , soil samples , on an on and on all with associated cost that no one talks about We have diversications and tbh it’s chalk n cheese money wise but WHAT ARE WE ALL GOING TO EAT??

 

[glasshouse]

When I was at school studying for my ‘O’ level Geography in 1976, I distinctly remember that UK Agriculture was regarded as a ‘Primary’ industry, being essential for food production, therefore prioritised for certain inputs, such as fuel, over other Secondary and Tertiary manufacturing industries.

When the heck did that all change?

Blair changed it

 

[Clive]

WHAT ARE WE ALL GOING TO EAT??

food ........ there is plenty of it grown in other countries, and its cheaper given the uneven playing field UK farmers are expected to trade under


stop worrying about what people will eat, it's not your problem

my priority is to feed my own family first, everyone else comes a distant second place to them

 

[Grass And Grain]

If 20+% of arable land goes into CS options (I suspect it will), then we'll probably get a half decent price from the other 80% where we're producing. Also less work and stress. What's not to like.

I'm doing my bit with 40% out of production. Looked a bit silly last year, but better off this year.

Not sure where that leaves livestock producers. With expensive feed and straw? We need a successful livestock industry for both the livestock farmers and the arable farmers.

 

[Two Tone]

Blair changed it

Well, the bugger never told me and he’s not having my ‘O’ level back!

 

[The Seeker]

food ........ there is plenty of it grown in other countries, and its cheaper given the uneven playing field UK farmers are expected to trade under


stop worrying about what people will eat, it's not your problem

my priority is to feed my own family first, everyone else comes a distant second place to them

True so what’s the point in any of this if all that happens is that other country’s do exactly what we could do here ?? Nuts simple as that

 

[Martin Holden]

depends on your point of view I guess - its clearly the preference of our government and tax payer so who are we to argue ?

imports are cheaper and better for (OUR as in UK's ) environment it seems ........ pass the buck

Precisely. Dim wits think passing the buck to other societies solves all the problems at home. Sometimes I really wonder at the lack of common sense.

 

[Two Tone]

I’m sure many of us wonder just how long the Public will regard their “Public money for Public goods” as being in any way any kind of value when they see fields not growing crops and their housekeeping food bills going through the roof.

When I first started doing Mid Tier Stewardship in 2016, many in the village here, thought it was wonderfully.
Now their tune has started to change and I’ve already received complaints, especially about the uncut hedges!
They now start to see it all as a mess!