Its old news now, of course, but having been away in America on Open Farm Sunday and unable to participate personally I have only now been able to fully assess the wonderful publicity generated by the event. There have been articles in broadsheets, tabloids, magazines and, of course, Farmers Weekly. There were pieces on radio, television and the internet and all of them, as far as I have seen, were positive.
What a wonderful job LEAF did for the image of British agriculture and home production. OK, perhaps I would say that, LEAF having once been my baby. But I take no credit for Open Farm Sunday. It was conceived after I left the LEAFchair. So, I unreservedly congratulate all involved.
Not only has LEAF improved external relationships with consumers, it has also, it seems to me, helped bring together many organisations within agriculture who have united around the Open Farm Sunday initiative.
Lets build on that; lets ram it down Defra's throat that LEAF's activities show the industry is capable of self regulation and does not need more government generated paper work; and now that we are enjoying slightly better profits, lets support LEAF with the cash it needs to fulfill its objective to become the sensible, environmentally balanced and productive face of British farming.