Words, dont come easy.
- Thread starter delilah
- Start date
- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
just a question
why is everyone so focussed on Clarkson being the "saviour" ?
Yes, I enjoyed him on Top Gear ( stopped watching it after the 3 of them left ) , have read some of his books & watched his documentaries
Yes, he is no fool & is a very good presenter in his own style
But . . . .
He does come across & cultivates the image of being a bit of a buffoon, of being an environmentally "unaware" petrol head, of being a right wing red neck, even a bit of a "dinosaur".
Is this the image you want to put forward of the modern UK farmer ?
Don't most in the UK already think farmers are out-dated right wing planet destroyers ?
Im not knocking Clarkson, but he is making this show for entertainment, for money & from his particular "world view". While it might align & resonate with many, it does concern me that it may just perpetuate current negative stereotypes of UK agriculture . . .
why is everyone so focussed on Clarkson being the "saviour" ?
Yes, I enjoyed him on Top Gear ( stopped watching it after the 3 of them left ) , have read some of his books & watched his documentaries
Yes, he is no fool & is a very good presenter in his own style
But . . . .
He does come across & cultivates the image of being a bit of a buffoon, of being an environmentally "unaware" petrol head, of being a right wing red neck, even a bit of a "dinosaur".
Is this the image you want to put forward of the modern UK farmer ?
Don't most in the UK already think farmers are out-dated right wing planet destroyers ?
Im not knocking Clarkson, but he is making this show for entertainment, for money & from his particular "world view". While it might align & resonate with many, it does concern me that it may just perpetuate current negative stereotypes of UK agriculture . . .
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- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
do any farmer representative organisations ( NFU ? ) or individual industry bodies ( dairy, beef, grain ? ) ever promote social media messages like these ?
that promote agriculture as being part of the wider community, that show it as being integral to the lifestyle, cultural & economic well being of the whole country ?
,
that promote agriculture as being part of the wider community, that show it as being integral to the lifestyle, cultural & economic well being of the whole country ?
,
- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
Case in point:
Anna Hill has just announced on farming today that "methane belched by cows is a major greenhouse gas".
This is what will now happen:
Someone from the NFU hierarchy who heard that will by now have pulled out their list of farming champions.
This is the NFU's list of a dozen or so practicing farmers who are on a retainer to do media work.
They will pick the one who is most articulate on methane from cows being a natural part of the carbon cycle.
That farmer will this morning be on to farming today requesting the right to reply, which will be granted as that farmer has been on the programme before and they know he/she is good radio.
By the end of the week it is job done: Public perception altered, minimum fuss, minimum cost.
Anna Hill has just announced on farming today that "methane belched by cows is a major greenhouse gas".
This is what will now happen:
Someone from the NFU hierarchy who heard that will by now have pulled out their list of farming champions.
This is the NFU's list of a dozen or so practicing farmers who are on a retainer to do media work.
They will pick the one who is most articulate on methane from cows being a natural part of the carbon cycle.
That farmer will this morning be on to farming today requesting the right to reply, which will be granted as that farmer has been on the programme before and they know he/she is good radio.
By the end of the week it is job done: Public perception altered, minimum fuss, minimum cost.
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
Apologies, not really on topic but it’s bugging me, what’s the song?
put your ear close and I will sing it to you, until someone comes along who knows how to upload it
kfpben
Member
- Location
- Mid Hampshire
This happens already, in almost exactly the way you write. The NFU have a number of presentable farmers they ring to do media interviews. They offer media training to branch & county office holders.
Almost whenever they interview a farmer they have come through these routes.
The challenge we face is that- the environmental angle is a new, exciting and doom laden story. This sells.
We are up against the combined power of environmental NGOs, the wildlife lobby, many doctors and crucially vast corporations who see money and margin in doing away with meat and farming as we know it.
It’s not really surprising that a 50,000 membership organisation struggles against that. How many members would be willing to be interviewed live on national TV? 1%? The media always want to interview a farmer, preferably on farm, not a slick paid media bod. I think they do remarkably well all things considered.
The AHDB on the other hand appear to be utterly useless on this.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
It's an aside but it isn't it also true that this big media sphere of perception, thought, discussion and general so called consensus is often quite different to what we (both public and farmers) actually do, prioritise and experience on a daily basis.
I reckon "cows belching methane" doesn't really feature on the radar for 99% of us. But there seems to be 1% who build their lives around making a noise about it like they are some kind of self appointed messiah saviours of the world.
Similarly I hear pronouncements from the NFU on grand visions for carbon neutrality by 2040. Well maybe, but my priority this week is to rebuild my beet harvester gearbox. Next week it will be some other similar mundane practical matter. All the media stuff is just froth and noise from people who have too much time on their hands. Most of their pronouncements are so abstract, so theoretical, so esoteric and idealistic that really they are irrelevant to the daily struggle to earn a crust. It's like these media and news people live in a world of virtual reality.
Yes I'm concerned about global warming etc, and I'll do what I can to help, but I get sick of hearing single issue one sided media campaigns that really are an academic luxury for people with nothing better to do.
I reckon "cows belching methane" doesn't really feature on the radar for 99% of us. But there seems to be 1% who build their lives around making a noise about it like they are some kind of self appointed messiah saviours of the world.
Similarly I hear pronouncements from the NFU on grand visions for carbon neutrality by 2040. Well maybe, but my priority this week is to rebuild my beet harvester gearbox. Next week it will be some other similar mundane practical matter. All the media stuff is just froth and noise from people who have too much time on their hands. Most of their pronouncements are so abstract, so theoretical, so esoteric and idealistic that really they are irrelevant to the daily struggle to earn a crust. It's like these media and news people live in a world of virtual reality.
Yes I'm concerned about global warming etc, and I'll do what I can to help, but I get sick of hearing single issue one sided media campaigns that really are an academic luxury for people with nothing better to do.
Then I look forward to hearing them on farming today redressing the balance re today's programme
Are these farmers on a retainer ?
Massive generalization alert: Some of the best speakers on farming and the environment are running a business at a level such that giving time free of charge can be challenging. Ask people to fill this vital role foc and you self-select towards those who can spare the time.
The rest of your post reinforces the image constantly portrayed by the NFU; that the environmental movement is the enemy. The environmental movement is UK agriculture's greatest ally. Until the NFU understand and embrace that point then they are going nowhere and achieving nothing.
Can only agree with you on the AHDB
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Well I've not heard any correction to the statement that "methane belched by cows is a major greenhouse gas", so can only assume that no-one got in touch with them ? That's yet another reinforcement in the listening publics mind that they have to stop eating beef if we are to address climate change. It's not difficult; getting on farming today is as easy as falling off a log.
If the NFU did have, as you suggest, 1% of its membership willing to do media work then that would be 500 people. I have only suggested a dozen. Delighted that your aspirations are higher than mine. Really do feel that they need to be on a retainer though, for the reason given.
kfpben
Member
- Location
- Mid Hampshire
Looking forward to hearing you on the airwaves @delilah I am doing my bit by doing the NFU farmers for schools programme as well as appearing a few times on the TV/Radio.
I think you’re being a bit naive to think journalists would stand to be corrected every time they spouted a half truth. Journalism only survives on half-truths, suppositions and opinions. A couple of acquaintances worked for the Sun for a bit- truth doesn’t come into it. What is important to them is the ratio between sales rise if this story is printed v. likelihood of getting sued for a large amount of money.
If you listen to farming today you will have heard me. You, I, and many others are doing our bit on our home turf.
I don't see how that detracts from my point regarding the NFU being far, far better at this at a co-ordinated national level, which I am suggesting can't be achieved by voluntary effort alone.
- Location
- LINCOLNSHIRE/KENYA
The problem is the UK will never be food self sufficient there is an increasing population and declining land area. We don’t grow Bananas nor tea nor coffee. Crop yields have peaked like it or not the UK has to import. However all imports should be subjected to local standards so no chlorinated chicken or GMO’s if thats our laws
Just seen that the NFU fb page has finally been discovered by the vegans, and they are bombarding every post with 'meat is murder' comments. This is a thoroughly good thing, as it means the NFU must now seriously up their game.
Until now their fb page has steadfastly stuck to two themes:
- 'recipe of the day'
- 'this is Joe with his cows, aren't they pretty'.
These posts are an open goal for the vegans, as they do nothing whatsoever to challenge the vegan position: save the planet, go vegan.
The NFU must now, surely, change tack on their fb page and fight this head on. Put up posts explaining the environmental benefits of UK protein/ reduced food miles/ carbon locked in grassland etc etc. Save the planet, eat British.
Will watch with interest.
Until now their fb page has steadfastly stuck to two themes:
- 'recipe of the day'
- 'this is Joe with his cows, aren't they pretty'.
These posts are an open goal for the vegans, as they do nothing whatsoever to challenge the vegan position: save the planet, go vegan.
The NFU must now, surely, change tack on their fb page and fight this head on. Put up posts explaining the environmental benefits of UK protein/ reduced food miles/ carbon locked in grassland etc etc. Save the planet, eat British.
Will watch with interest.
Suffolk Serf
Member
- Location
- Bury/Thetford
It will be fascinating to see what the NFU PR department's weekend cover is like.
- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
the thing that has puzzled me for a while is why the NFU or UK agriculture doesn’t embrace the environmental movement
Yes,a few regenerative agriculture videos on You Tube linked to their website to get the message across that farming practices are evolving alongside the environment would be good.
- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
This is the Soils for Life comms team, and the audience favourite part of Monday night’s Q&A, ‘Future Alert’, was at the end of the show, when Julian Cribb, the author of ‘Surviving the 21st Century’ and Soils for Life board member, said (at 1:03:28 ):“The most important development in the last 40 years, worldwide, is that women have understood that we have a population problem and they have halved their fertility worldwide. They didn’t ask men about this, they just got in there and did it. Women are the natural leaders of our plant in the 21st century. They to lead in every single sphere. In politics, religion, business, women must be up the top. Blokes are great at making war, they’re great at cutting down forests, they’re great at poisoning things. If you want someone to lead this planet, you need someone who thinks about the grandkids, and women tend to do that. So please women in charge and we will have a sustainable civilisation.”
Follow the link to ‘Future Alert’ on iView here:
iview.abc.net.au
Follow the link to ‘Future Alert’ on iView here:
Q+A
The show that puts you at the centre of the conversation. Join host Hamish Macdonald and a panel of punters, pollies and pundits to talk through the issues of the past seven days and set the agenda for the week to come.
iview.abc.net.au