It may come as a shock to many of you - all of a sudden farmers are flavour of the month with politicians. The Prime Minister, no less, and his secretary of state Hilary Benn have been queuing up to reassure, encourage and show they care. Both attended the NFU centenary conference in London this week.
Benn talked of an industry that had innovated, adapted and was full of entrepreneurs. Brown gushed that it was "the hard work, ingenuity, resiliance and courage of farmers in difficult circumstances that the whole country admires". Such sentiments may have something to do with the NFU celebrating its 100th birthday or, more importantly, an increasing appreciation of the strategic value farmers bring to future food, energy and environmental security.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not knocking it. Farmers need all the support they can get, particularly from ministers and should take the praise positively not suspiciously. Working with government to find solutions has to be better than constant confrontation. But then Gordon Brown reminded us that he was treading hallowed ground. Some 50 years ago it was Winston Churchill who twice addressed the NFU annual conference and on its 75th birthday it was Margarert Thatcher who did the honours. Can you imagine Maggie with her handbag standing up in front of a vociferous group of farmers? I would love to have been a fly on the wall. If any readers/users remember this amazing spectacle do let us know.