Well. Neonictinoids have been banned in the EU for 2 years then I am not saying that it was my blog post that prompted this action. I’ll leave that for other people to say. What is very interesting is that the the bee fraternity are not convinced that the ban is the right thing to [...]
My head’s down, I’m doing our annual stock taking valuation today. Last night I did a little interview for the next FW magazine about my own start in farming. I think that the FW thought it might appease the young farmers of today. Actually I reckon it might make it worse. Particularly when I [...]
Yesterday we started planting the final field of potatoes. Then we were offered an opportunity to rent two more fields so it looks as though the tractors will still be rolling until Saturday. Elsewhere we are harvesting daffodils and tulips in decent volumes. It is a really busy time of year for us. With the [...]
I have been planting potatoes today. The joy of working on a Sunday is that I get fewer telephone calls. You can tell when I am in a tractor with time on my hands because I spend too much time on Twitter. Today, as the ripples of my spat with the farming youth were dying [...]
Potato planting is underway on our farm. The soil conditions are suprisingly good (but the temperature is still undesirably low). We are still harvesting daffodils so we are spread thinly.
You might remember that my columm about new entrants in last week’s FW magazine enlivened Twitter for a moment or two. That wasn’t the end of it. Apparently the FW has been deluged by letters as well. There are rumours in media circles of a four page letters section next week. Amazing. Having looked at the literacy [...]
I think Spring may have finally arrived. I was wearing just a shirt at one point in the afternoon yesterday. It felt wonderful. After six months of trying to work while bundled up in coat, long johns, hat and gloves like Ranulph Fiennes, the lack of restriction felt as though I had been miraculously cured from an illness. [...]
It’s Easter Sunday. We had a day off (although we are working the rest of the weekend, harvesting flowers and resuming field operations). It has been great. I have got loads done, cut the lawns, taken the dog for a walk, dropped presents off with the family and Godchildren and painted the kitchen wall [...]
“So who’s this lovely old boy?” I hear you ask. Well, I’ll tell you. It’s C. Northcote Parkinson, isn’t it. He was an economics humourist. (If, on the other hand, your preference leans in the direction of humorous economists then I recommend the writing of JK Galbraith) I am reading The Pursuit of Progress at [...]
I decided to avoid using neonicotinoid insecticides last year. There has been a lot of discussion about the harm that they do to honey bees. I am not trying to be morally superior in my position; I actually resent being given this responsibility. I’m not a bee professor (in case you hadn’t noticed). My view is [...]