At the risk of starting another "Big Cat Sighting" story I wonder if anyone can help Identify an animal spotted at my farm yesterday.
Tony and I was walking up the field boundry when all of a sudden about 8 foot away at the hedge fence we were drawn by the commotion of the unidentified animal was trying to squeeze through the wire fencing. It tried very hard but with a square mesh of 6 inch it didn't really stand a chance. There was some dead grass upto the fence which was obviously where this animal had been sun bathing till it was rudely interupted by us. At that point I thought it a MonkJack deer.
It fought desperately for about 5 seconds to get through the fence, then when it realised it wasn't getting anywhere it turned and fled up the field to the coppice. As it ran it went with a real spring in it's step, almost bouncing up the field. What seemed strange to me was it's tail. The tail stood ridgidly upright, about 14inch long with a white "warning sign" underside, like a rabbit does. The tail didn't go to a point like a dog might, but just seemed too long for a Monkjack although I have seen MonkJack here before.
We both turned to each other and said "What the Hell was that?" Has anyone any ideas?
Well done the BBC.!?
The programme has given a wonderful insight into the work that farmers do to bring the food to our table. It has shown that farmers are not money grabbers sponging off the single farm payment, but that they are caring people who whilst their life, (and business) is about trying to turn in a profit, that isn't at the expense of caring for their stock. We should be proud of our industry and if we don't shout from the rooftops about it nobody else will. Well done and Thank You to the Beavan Family for allowing the cameras onto their farm and presenting such a good view of farming.
All industries have people who don't agree with the way things are done. Farming is no different.. Maybe it's that caring side that lets us down or makes us feel vulnerable. Last nights show (Tuesday BBC2 8pm) showed Presenter Kate Humble crying at the loss of a lamb. It was the first one she had lost whilst assisting with a birth. It was left to the tougher farming nut and co-presenter Adam Henson to explain that even though he's been farming all his life, things like that still effect him but he has learn't that it sometimes happens and there is nothing you can do about it. I can remember the first lamb I lost more than the first Ewe I assisted successfully. One of triplets similar to last nights programme, probably had the same problem, it's lungs weren't formed properly and didn't inflate upon it being born. I tried desperately to keep the life going but it just ebbed away in your hands.
But we shouldn't be afraid to show this caring side, it will win us friends. Others do it quite cynically in the media with things that aren't as great as life and death. Be proud of Farming. It's a role that I believe the NFU should be more proactive in. Get the PR machine rolling. There is nothing as good as some fluffy animals to give some positive PR to Farming.
From Field to Fork, Farming Matters and other PR phrases, lets keep Positive Farming stories in the Mainstream press. It's the best way to keep us in the minds of our Customers.
So first of all, Happy New Year. Xx
Yes, I know it's February and I'm wishing you a Happy New Year, better late than never.
I was stirred by a couple of messages recently, (thanks Matty et al,) (see your comments are read and taken note on here...)
Although I haven't a clue where time goes these days. Now having 2 jobs, my own farm to run and 3 kids does seem to push the blog down the list of priorities a little. Doesn't mean I think of you any less, just means I haven't the time to put finger to keyboard! So let's catch up and maybe the following will go some way to explain.
So I started my contract as trainee herdsman and manager. Which soaked up all my spare time. Not that I had much in the first place. First job with our “Little Black Angus” was to top the pasture in the vain hope that any rain could produce a fresh flush of grass. However down in the South East we now know that the rain didn't come till winter time and then it hasn't stopped since. As I type this I'm looking at standing water in the fields with more rain forecast!!!
So topping. We had been given a topper that was being thrown out. We soon found out why. After ten acres the one weld (out of 4) that was still attaching the gearbox to the body of the topper couldn't take any more and the gearbox twisted on the body meaning the blades were no longer parallel to the ground, snapping the belt to the second blade and bringing the whole job to a halt. It wasn't too serious in the end, as I say we had no useful rain till the cattle where in the sheds and it was to cold for the grass to grow anyway.
Having fed the silage to the cattle since end of July it was apparent that winter was going to be long, certainly in terms of useful ration for the cattle. To give you some idea how bad things were, 12 acres of silage where cut at the beginning of May yielding 60 bales of good silage. Second cut at the end of September gave just 16 bales, basically topping the field.
So finishing the cattle was going to be expensive. They were still producing some good bodies though as was borne out by the comments from our customers.
Next came Christmas. An ideal opportunity to get more customers and the orders came good, although as most farmers who retail their own animals will tell you, the secret is to sell the whole carcass not just the prime cuts. So a retail stand next to the Turkey collection point on Christmas Eve proved very good. SOLD OUT! Words to make every accountant sing carols!!
Christmas with the kids is always a joy. Innocence and pleasure at opening their presents, pity they don't fall asleep after too much Christmas dinner though! Although plenty of Turkey and Christmas pudding ensured that I did, so I wasn't really sure what they were up to. But they had a good time which was the main thing.
The next thing was New Year. Time to get our farm going on the next stage to Agricultural money spinning. Or at least the NVZ files up to date!!!
The New Year was barely 8 hours old when the shine was taken from proceedings. A phone call that I was anticipating to wish me greetings to 2010 revealed that the last of my Grandparents had just died. No real surprise in all honesty, she was 92 and very frail but a shock non the less and bad omen for the year to come?. Life goes on we tell ourselves at times like these, so 4 days later we were selecting the next cattle for slaughter to restock after selling out at Christmas. The phone rings again to tell me that the wife of my new boss had just died. A huge shock. She wasn't as old as my Gran, although sadly she wasn't in the fittest of health it was still a huge shock. I had been sat in her kitchen chatting and laughing with her over Turkey Sandwiches and Christmas cake on Christmas Eve as we took a short break from the Turkey Collections. A wonderful woman, always with a smile and although I had only known her a short period of time I shall remember her with great fondness.
So it would seem that the world was conspiring against us.
The Day job had been making things hard for me too. Spending 4 weeks in Bristol in two months, the wrong end of the country as far as I was concerned, meant I seem to be on the back foot chasing the accounts, which is frustrating me greatly. The winter seemed to be winter. Dollops and dollops of snow. Did a load of good for while but I have to say I'm a little bored with it now. Mixed with the rain we've also had and it will be at least 3 weeks of no rain before I can put a machine on the land!!
We've put in for Planning at our farm for some sheds. Time will tell whether the domestic neighbours who were delighted that we “would be farming the land again” when we bought it will put their NIMBY hats on causing a lots of frustration.
But with 3 Birthdays since the beginning of the year, mine being one of them and it feels like I've had all 3 birthdays at once!!! The latest was our George and this was his Birthday Cake.
The year has been eventful so far and we aren't out of February yet, time will tell how the other ten months fair. Watch this space.
I'm trying to do some research about food products that "Appear" to be labled as British. However upon closer inspection they are products of the "EU" or further afield but packaged here. The products are therefore legitimately allowed to display logo's which, to ordinary members of the buying public, suggest your buying a product that has been reared or grown here in the UK.
If you have any Examples or any information on this topic please could you leave me comments.
I shall compile my findings and write further on the subject later.
Many Thanks in Advance
Story of a young mans efforts to become a farmer without the aid of inheretance.
We have the land, but no machinary. mmmmm
I contact the contractor who had previously worked the land for the previous owner. He quotes me a price. Very reasonable. Not really worth me making the effort to do some of the work myself. But there is a need to do some work that the contractor wouldn't do. So tractor and maybe hedgecutter required. Only a nice cheap one as there wouldn't be much needs doing but would give me chance to have a play.
However when I asked the contractor for a breakdown of the costs of a stubble to stubble contract so I might be able to cost some of the individual parts of the contract, he starts getting funny. Says he'll go and have a look at the land and come back to me. When he does come back he tells me he's not interested in the contract. Thanks very much! Yet another example of the cliqueness of farming and no wonder that new entrants find it difficult to get started.
So that's put me in a foul mood. I feel bad enough that I don't as yet really know fully what I'm doing, but very keen not look an ***!
The day job is very busy at the minute and will continue so for the next two months! Was flicking through FW looking at the job adverts and dreaming!!!!!!
One caught my eye, but was not very much money. It was to train and then become a manager, starting salary poor but good prospects. Added bonus is that it's not that far from home. I wouldn't miss the commute one bit. I think about it for a while. Then I had a bad day at work and in a fit of peek contacted the advertiser to see if the vacancy was still open. I put a link to my FWispace blog here and that I'd already been retraining by going to college to do a diploma.
I got a reply rather quickly! Could I fill in the attached application form and send a cv asap. So I sat down that night and tried to coble a cv together. My last cv was over eight years out of date!
Finaly at nearly midnight I emailed the form and my cv. Not expecting much response as when they read the cv it wouldn't have matched up to there expectations.
It came back at ten am the following morning. When can you come for interview? It needs to be soon and can be over the weekend if necessary!!! OMG They have read my cv and are still interested. This sounds good. We organise a date and then I start getting nervious!
What do I brush up on? What will they ask me? The interviews for the job I have at the moment were very technical and needed detailed answers!! I think of a few questions that I might be asked. Why do you want to work for us? What can you bring to the job? Basic questions. Apart from those I'm going to have to busk it and just be me. 50/50 chance, I'll either be suitable or not! Nothing ventured nothing gained. I ask a couple of friends for advice. Both give me some ideas and an insight into the company. One of which tells me she's jelious!
The day comes. Interview is at 08.30 in the morning. Good job I wake easy. Here goes in for a penny. I arrive on time. Everyone seems friendly. How many other people have been seen? Surely they are better qualified than me. I meet the interviewer. He doesn't waste any time. Straight in at the deep end. He's read my blog and really likes it. He wants to know more about me, what drives me. The questions come up I was expecting. Why do I want the job and what can I bring?
So no Bull tell it straight. I've done some research on the brand in question and what I've been told so far this morning and here is my assessment of what I can bring to the company and how I think I can take it forward. No good lieing. You only get found out in the end! That didn't put them off either. I'm taken to lunch and we discuss terms! Wow I did it. Things change slighlty but I turn the job into a contract, which suits me much better and works good for the company too.
Well, I'll refrain from asking the question, "Have you missed me?" It doesn't always reap the result you hoped for!!! It's like asking for credit. "A smack in the mouth often offends!"
So I've missed you all. I've been sooooo busy in the last 2 months since I was on here... Day job. Contract, (more on that in the next blog which I promise will only be a couple of days away,) Business and home life. Home life has suffered a bit, but had a fantastic day a couple of weeks ago, H's 6th Birthday party. Last year he wanted a Tractor party and Thanks to Ernest Doe & Sons of Rochford we pulled it off. You can read more about that here. This year what did he want. A Tractor Party! How was I gonna do that this year! Fortunately we now have our own tractor so they even got to follow it to the party as I drove it there! Wonder if they'll be same when they get older, being happy to be stuck behind a tractor! lovl.
The kids thought it fab once again, highlight of the party to have their photo taken sitting in the tractor. Now the soon to be 4 year old wants me to take it to his party in Feb! Think I might have started something here. It will be soon Christmas!!!!! We will have been in posession of our land for nearly six months now and a meeting in a couple of days may well lead to the next step of the grand plan. Fingers crossed.
I see nobody has nominated me for the Sexiest Farmer. (Not sure how I can write the next bit without some terrible puns! Here goes.) But having looked at the pics so far there is some Pretty, Stiff competition I think it will be Hard for me to win now! (There not too Bad!!!!) Anyway watch out, you may be scarred later!!! You have been warned!!
By the way, I've just realised it's two years since I joined FwiSpace. Time Flying unlike the pigs!
Professor Hugh Pennington is advocating that under 5's should not come into contact with animals at petting farms amid fears of contracting E.Coli. according to BBC News.
Professor Pennington's comments came as news that a fourth petting farm has been forced to close. World of Country Life, in Exmouth, voluntarily closed its petting areas and deer train ride following infections in three children who visited the farm last month - although the farm has not been confirmed as the source.
These petting farms are a huge source of enjoyment to mainly the under 5's where they can learn about farms, animals and the countryside. Just to see the excitement on my childrens faces when we visit some of these places means that they are paying attention and absorbing information given to them.
They are a vital tool in connecting the countryside to townies. The industry ( LEAF, NFU, Countryside Alliance, Et Al) needs to get together to draw awareness of the issue's with petting farms. They need to produce a code of conduct that these farms can put in place to reassure the public and be very specific about the risks, educate the visitors to the importance of hygiene.
We MUST NOT let these type off attractions close down for good. They are a vital tool to link Town to Country, Farm to Food.
The London Evening Standard is reporting tonight that Horton Park, Godstone Farm's sister petting farm in Epsom Surrey has been advised to close by the Health Protection Agency following fears that "hygiene standards were unsatisfactory." The HPA said it was unaware of any E.Coli infections linked to Horton Park at this time.
This is a further blow to the reputation of British Agriculture and could quite easily be picked up by the press and made into a big issue. Somebody within the "Farm Education" part of our community who is sure of their own standards needs to come forward and defend "Petting Farms" before those with negative attitudes damage the good work that has been made, to get people back in touch with the British Agriculture. We need to allay the publics fears and help them understand reality, instead of watching reality on TV all the time!
It has been reported on BBC News that 12 Children who visited Godstone Farm in Surrey are in hospital suffering from E Coli. The Farm, which has a visitors attraction, has been closed to the public as a precaution whilst the source is verified.
The Story of a young mans efforts to become a farmer without the aid of inheritance!!
So in my last blog Oh My Goodness I was waiting for the solicitors to complete the purchase of the land we had found. I have been supplied with a mountain of paperwork to read and sign off. Boundries, access rights, domestic neighbours looking for liberties. On top of all that I'm nearing the end of college for this year. Eight assignments in six weeks! Thanks very much. It's alright for the kids who only have the pub to go to at the end of each day, but I've got a family, a job and a Farm to buy. Am I complaining, well a little bit but as I try and get some sympathy from "The Better Side Of The Fence" she replies "You love it really." And I suppose I do. At last I might just realise my ambition. To Become A Farmer.
It was time for the Royal Show and I was genuinly looking forward to it. As you might have read. We managed to leave the kids with Nana and the "Better Side Of The Fence" and I went off for a day out on our own. We had a great day. Some lovely stock to see but not many useful companies or merchants to talk too. That was a dissapointment. And as for the Carcase competition, well you can read my disgust here . Whilst at The Royal news came through from my solicitor. The money had been transfered. There was no going back!!
Those of you who know me, know that when I started writing this diary, we did not have the land in our possession. This has been, to use a well trodden cliche, "a roller coaster ride" of a story told in chunks to hopefully ammuse you all. In fact I didn't think anybody would be interested in my story. It was only when I found "The Better Side Of The Fence" chortling at the computer whilst reading the blog, that I thought it might be worth continuing with my blog.
You have read the story as it has developed. If not do catch up via the links on the left of your screen. The highs and lows of my struggle to become a farmer. If it was on the tv it would have been a docusoap a bit like "Jimmy's Farm", A form of DocuBlog. A couple of weeks behind the days events, but then If I kept you upto date on a daily basis that would be twittering. Which now I come to mention it, you can now follow me on twitter @ Uponthefence Only just getting the hang of twitter, thanks to Caroline who told me I was following the wrong people. Ooops.
Several people have written comments to the blog, telling me, that their children want to do similar things and this has inspired them. Another wrote to me just the other day to say that he didn't believe his dream would be possible until he read my blog. Well now it is true.
I am a Farmer. Yippee.
I have the RPA paperwork to prove it. Double Yippee. The RPA have found me. Three Cheers to the RPA!
I still await the all new digital maps. That should be fun. Although the man from the RPA I was talking to in Newcastle the other day told me I shouldn't believe everyting I hear in the media. Fortunately for him I work in the media and I know where to take my pich of salt. The Farming press is a media I feel I can trust. All these people with problems concerning the RPA can't just be grinding axes. In the interest of fairness I will report the facts as they happen to me. As the RPA don't know who I am neither side can be accussed of bias. I'd love the RPA to be efficient as would we all. It's not about kicking the government. It's about the British Farmer being efficient in their operation, not having to waste time with beaurocracy and letting them do the job they love. Feeding people.
This episode of the diary is called "End Of Part One" because whilst I might be a farmer in title, I now have to become a farmer in name. The land has to pay for itself. This is not some extravegent hobby. This is my pension, my childrens future, I hope. It must pay it's way. I have a few ideas and hope you'll follow and support me along the way.
Thank You All Very Much for reading my blog so far and sharing your comments with me. I do enjoy reading your comments so do keep them coming. It's not the end by any means I shall keep on blogging and you'll be able to keep up to date with how we get on in our first year of trading. A steep learning curve I'm sure. And as you can imagine I'm going to be just a little bit busier.
Don't forget to RSS this blog to get all the latest updates and do let me know what you think.
I watched with interest the Newsnight last night with Hillary Benn followed by a debate by Peter Kendall obviously for this policy and some other bloke Philippe Legrain who was just an advocate of cheap food. This mans ideas was to buy the cheapest food from the cheapest labour with obviously the lowest animal health and welfare issues Brazil. Unfortunately Peter Kendall had the right answers to the debate they were supposed to be having but this bloke just rode over Peters comments suggesting Britain should be a large housing estate and we buy all our food in.
The point that Philippe Legrain was missing, as Peter failed to point out, was that if we just buy in food there will never be cheap food again in this country and we won't benefit from the price rises. At least Hillary Benn has finally woken up to the fact that "there is money to be made in them there fields". However watch out for the support money going abroad. Hillary Benn was talking a lot about helping other countries develop there agriculture!!
Farming in the UK has been reasonably recession proof at the minute. That speaks VERY LOUDLY.
Don't forget to catch up with my blog. Diary Of Becoming A Farmer for the latest on my story.
The Story of a young mans efforts to become a farmer without the aid of inheritance!!
So in my last blog Kick In The Epididymis the Bank Manager had gone away to think about my plans. I was waiting now for the second time to see if they would lend me the money to make my dreams come true.
After a few days I received a phone call. Subject to a few other checks, the answer was YES! Oh. What do I do now. It might actually happen. I'd better find a solicitor who is good at agricultural law.
It's fantastic news, but I can't shout about it too much as after all we've gone through so far, I can't get too excited until it is all completed. Word gets around college that I've bought some land. Not true yet of course, but still they keep quizzing me.
The vendor is quite keen to complete quickly and so am I but the lawyers have got hold of it now and things grind to a slow halt! Loads to think about. Access, boundries previous uses of the land.....
Also now is my chance to deal with the RPA. So far very efficient, but I am braced for that to change.
I'd better start thinking about the next crop as it's going to need sowing soon, if the lawyers let us get on with it.
So, I managed to get my mother-in-law (non farming side) to come home from her holiday early to look after the kids so that myself and the Better Half could go to the last Royal Show. Having to explain what was so special about the Royal Show worked.. I had never managed to go before and was looking forward to the premier show in the Agricultural Calender.
So we set off early and arrived just as the gates opened and trotted into the showground full of anticipation. We found a good stand almost immediately. Temporary accommodation, which the Better Half was very impressed with. We may well need some of this for us to live in before long. The Better Half was very worried about having to live in a caravan but this has allayed her fears. I was quite impressed too.
Next I wanted to see some seed merchants, grain processors and the like. Nothing. Nobody. The only thing I found was Slag Fertiliser!!! Which was useful but not quite what I wanted.
Next to the Food Hall. Not many stands, some good samples to try and we bought some beef from the butcher there, Gerald Davey & Family. Very lovely it was too, just had it for lunch today.
However it was then that I understood why it was The Royal Show was closing. In the corner, tucked away with no signs, little lighting and no explanation, was the carcass competition winners. Now I understand that the specialist refrigeration display units take careful location. However there was no notes as to why carcasses had won the prize they had. No link to other parts of the showground where the general public (non farmers) could learn more, such as the eblex stand. How can they learn to link farming and food if we don't help them and explain.
By the way the Eblex stand was excellent in explaining and demonstrating different classes of meat. All the supermarkets (except Waitrose) just had stands selling products. Waitrose had a stand in the education area explaining and demonstrating planting herbs and making salad dressing. Getting interaction with the audience. To me this endeared me more to waitrose than any of the other supermarkets.
By the way Justin King, stating that the supermarkets don't need an ombudsman, screams to me that they do. If they have nothing to hide then they would back an ombudsman. Enough said.
The Smallholders area was another of the most interactive areas. It also had most of the General public there because people where taking the time to explain what was there.
Another outrage was the pig and sheep sheds tucked out the back end of the showground so nobody was there unless they went looking for it. By the way well done to Chris Impey in the pig shed. He had interactive notes on his pig pens. Simple ideas, cards with a question on them where attached to the pen and if you wanted to learn the answer lift the question and the answer was underneath. Pity hardly anyone would have seen it!
Finally as Mildred said in his blog, not much machinery. A real disappointment.
To me The Royal was neither and education and a good day out for the general public nor something to stimulate the farmer. I do hope that RASE can make whatever incarnation The Royal takes a better experience for all.
Now that I've got your attention. If I'd titled this Safe as Houses or Haystacks, you wouldn't have even clicked the link would you.
So Let's start again.
Safe as Houses or Haystacks.
If Only!
I've just spent a horrible two days at the scene of the fire in Camberwell where three adults and two children, including a three week old baby died. It's not confirmed yet but it is thought a third child also died. What has also come out today is the horrific detail of the last moments of some of those that died. 
I can only begin to imagine what was going through those relatives minds as this tragedy unfolded.
Having family including three children of my own it really does get to you. I've been close to tears several times.
Fire does also get quite close to farmers far too often. Years ago it was seen as an occupational hazard at haymaking. Still on the photo galleries of FWi space, pictures of machinery reduced to cinders, often with the lucky escape of the farmer driving it.
Some may think that the Health and Safety Executives "Make The Promise, Come Home Safe" campaign may seem like yet another "nanny state" initiative, but nothing, especially not your work, is as important as your family. What is the point of working if it's not to be able to enjoy your life with your family.
Give your family a hug, tell them you love them and "Make The Promise, Come Home Safe!
Story of a young mans efforts to become a farmer without the aid of inheritance.
In my last blog, "Success at Last??!!" I had been waiting for the letter from the bank saying they would loan me the money to further my ambition. Having been made to wait since Christmas, it was now my birthday and the letter had arrived. I ripped it open, there at the top of the page was the heading. REJECTED. Which summed it all up. It was exactly how I felt. I was being told that farming was crying out for new blood, the agent had told me it was the best new business plan he had seen for some time. What was going on?
I was grumpy, putting it mildly. The shock possibly caused a bit of depression. To the “Better Side Of The Fence” I'm SORRY. It really was a kick in the preverbials.
I sulked for a few days and was resigning myself to giving up for a while. I kept stalling the agent, not sure why, in the vain hope that another letter would come saying, “oh sorry we got it wrong, here's the money”. The agent for the bank had asked me, when I rang to see why I had been turned down for the loan, if he could contact another bank on my behalf and see if they would lend. But that was the last I heard from him.
I was ready to throw in the towel when the “Better Side Of The Fence” kicked me, this time up the backside and demanded “was I going to let this opportunity slip away or was I going to fight”. She was right, (as usual). So I decided to see if their was banking another way. I contacted the agricultural account manager and explained my plan and asked them if they were interested. They were! So I sent them a copy of my business plan. After a bit of thought they came back and asked for an interview to discuss the plan and terms.
When the meeting came I was so fired. When the account manager told me the terms of the loan, I gave him both barrels of good argument as to why he should offer me more favourable terms if he was serious about supporting agriculture and a new business. I'm not usually like that and afterwards I surprised even myself. I thought the meeting went well and now had to wait to see what would happen this time? Had I demanded too much?
Not sure I could take any more punishment. Holding down a full time job, trying to do a diploma In Agriculture part time at college and starting up a new business. Am I Mad? Much more rejection and I soon will be.
Here we go again. The waiting game once again. Only this time I do hope it won't end in the crying game!
The announcement that defra is to set up a "Wildlife Health Strategy" looks according to the initial report "Defra Unveils Wildlife Strategy" as a way for the government to keep an arms length between them and the problem. Call me cynical, I know, but the comment from the chief vet Nigel Gibbons just has that feel about it. We need to see some evidence of assistance on the government side.
If only Defra and the government could treat the disease issues the way that Sir Don Curry suggested Set-Aside should be reintroduced in a recent 5th June FW Article. There should be more carrot and less stick.
Farmers do not want to kill wildlife. Most now understand the benefits they can bring with keeping the general public onside. However suffering of any kind by any animal is not acceptable and farmers just get frustrated that nothing is being done to prevent that suffering to wildlife except kill innocent livestock.!!!!!
The story of a young mans efforts to become a farmer without the aid of inheritance.
So we had seen a plot of land for sale. A little distance from where we currently live but not too far. It was about the right size and more importantly about the right price. The hedges were in good condition and it seemed what we where looking for. The trouble was we didn't have all the money and would have to borrow some. I contacted the agent and made an offer.................
Damn it was accepted without question. A sure sign you've offered too much.
But I still needed some money. So Where from? The first signs of the recession had been around for twelve months now, Northern Rock was a mere memory, greater problems were starting to rear their head.
I looked up several lenders and plumped for a well known agricultural mortgage lender. They obviously wanted to have an interview to see how barking mad I was? Never having made a business plan before I put the figures down I had persuaded myself with, as succinctly as possible, and went for the meeting expecting to be laughed out of the office. At least if that's what I was expecting it wouldn't be too much of a shock when it did happen. !
So what qualities do I have? Errr well I have no experience or qualifications yet! I am at college, I have life experience a loving wife and three kids, the eldest two of which fight me for Farmers Weekly each time it arrives through the post! Oh and passion by the mixer wagon full. But I can't put down that I blog for Fwi to show that passion. Oh well here goes.....
They were keen! It's the best plan he has seen by someone wanting to start up for a while. It was looking hopeful.
The recession was starting to hit hard and the banking collapse seized the banks up completely. But then the company I had chosen said in it's literature that it supported farmers and all the press where saying that agriculture was the one market that was bucking the trend.
The kids were waiting for Santa, so was I. Only my Santa was a big jolly bank manager with a sack full of cash. Christmas was coming and the goose was getting fat, whoopee, we'll be farmers by the new year. But I had to keep my feet on the ground and stick with the day job. The children kept me distracted. The postman kept me waiting.
Christmas came and went. A fabulous time was had by all. Lunch was superb thanks to Mr Paul Kelly....Although personally I think much of the thanks must go to the chef for the preparation of a wonderful feast...Who was the chef? Me of course. He He.
Finally the postman arrived. The bank must have taken my application to the Christmas party as entertainment for the night. What with all the cutting back on expenditure due to the banking crisis my application must have been a dream to them. In fact the conversation must have gone something like this.
“Miss Jones”
“Yes Mr Manager”
“Cancel the Entertainer for the Christmas party, I've just got a mortgage application from Farmers Weekly Interactives View From The Other Side Of The Fence.”
Oh Well, it was nearly my Birthday. What a Birthday present that would be. I've wanted to become a farmer since leaving school twenty years ago.
I ripped open the letter just like the kids had done a month ago with their Christmas presents...................
What did it say? Well you'll have to keep watching this blog. RSS to this blog and you'll get the next installment delivered to you as soon as it's posted.
Yesterday (Thursday) saw the untimely death of Bob Dearnley. (See News "Farmer Kills Himself" )
It seems he had become obsessed in a battle with his landlords, the council, The National Trust and The Environment Agency over is land being flooded. I didn't know the the man but from what I heard he just wanted to care for his rare breed animals and show them off to the public.
We all like the David & Golliath story, but It can be difficult to know when Goliath is going to win and when it is just best to give up something that you truely love. I'm not saying that anybody could or should have done anything different in this case as I don't know all the facts. On the surface it does appear that Goliath has one this time with some terrible consequences. It will be interesting to see the outcome of the coroners report.
What we should do in these difficult times is to keep that spirit that I've always known in farmers, to help each other out. That may be a difficult one at times because it takes a true friend to spot when someone truely needs help and to find the strength to tell them so. Even so some people find it difficult to accept help but at least you have tried.
Farmers may be bucking the recession trend but there is still plenty who are on the brink. Keep a look out for each other because farming can be a lonely business these days.
Yet again the spread of TB is progressing through the different species, it won't be long before it comes into Human population as Swine Flu is now. It's only a generation since it was eradicated from humans in this country.
I was reading last weeks FW (8th May) and the article about the pig herd infected. Now this weeks has 14 (yes Fourteen) different species infected with TB. Bovine TB Blog has some good points about the fact that the so called Badger Trust burrying it's head in the sand about this disease. It is a awful disease. No farmer would allow an animal to suffer in the way badgers must suffer with TB.
It is quite simple really, if there is not a cull of badgers soon then within ten years there will be no badgers for the badger trust to protect let alone the damage done to many other species of wildlife. It's not about cute stripy animals, I don't want to see a widespread cull, but it is too late. To little has been done for too long. Mass cull is the only way to control this now otherwise TB will become to badgers what Myxomatosis was to rabbits.
The story of a young mans efforts to become a farmer without the aid of inheritance!
So I started college. One day a week. Desperatly putting leave in to get the day off to ensure I could attend college. It was exciting. I was finally doing what I wanted to do twenty years ago. It was great!
Then there was the Farmers Weekly Awards to look forward to. Mildred found out I was going from Essex and arranged to meet me at Liverpool Street station so we could travel across London together and have a chat on the way. We had never met before and I was looking forward to meeting a fellow blogger. Imagine his surprise when we met at Liverpool Street and he realised I was one of his students!!!!! I wish I could have put it up on the blogg it was a picture. After the initial shock we had a great time a fantastic evening at the Grosvenor House Hotel. A great Advertisement Window for the world of UK Agriculture. There are some great people out there. In particular it was great to chat with Jimmy Doherty after his win of the "NFU Farming Champion of the Year". He is a inspirational figure who believes in UK Farming and is an advocate of "get out there and get on with it". With all this talk of the demise of The Royal Show, it was Jimmy's name that sprung to mind as someone who's ideas could save The Royal Show. LEAF and Ian Piggot would be another. If The Royal Show dies there is no hope of getting Agriculture back into the mindset of the public.
Anyway, college abound. Lot's of work, writing of notes, practical hands on experience and assignments AAARRRGGGHHH. But it feels good, really good.
Being twenty years older than most of the other students has it's fun at times. One of the students said to his mate on my second day after having to drive (slowly) behind me down the lane to the farm, " We had to follow The Old Guy down the lane". To his shock when I raised my eyebrows and gave him a look, I might be much older than him but I'm not deaf!!
What is really funny is they all extract the urine from me in class. However having had two assignments back with distinctions they seem to want to ask questions on how to complete the subsequent projects! Ha Ha
Lambing a few weeks ago was good. Having delivered my daughter, I thought it can't be much different!!!! I think The Better Side Of The Fence was pleased I didn't have to intervene in the birth of our daughter though.... I was given three night shifts. The kids thought it great that I was going to assist with the lambing at "Farm School" as my eldest calls it. With thirty ewes already lambed and nearly forty to go it looked promising for some "action". All we got was cold, wet and tired. Nothing even thought about it. Huh. Three days later the next night shift. Nothing again. The Better Side Of The Fence was upset that I'd been out all night for nothing. It was a bit of a blow.
The third night started a week later. Still not much had happened in the shed since the last week. It was looking like the Ram served over a couple of oestrus cycles. Nothing was showing any signs.
So I settled down to write my next assignment I'd just been given about Intensive and Extensive farming systems. I'd written most of the pass criteria before a check at 2100 revealed a ewe with feet poking out. A couple of minutes later a lamb was born. At last the duck was quashed, action. 15 minutes later her second all fit and well. We moved them to individual pens and I settled back to my assignment.
A couple of hours later and the next ewe decided it was time. First one out ok. 15-20 minutes later lots of straining but no sign of he second lamb. Time to have a look. Correct way round but one of front hooves tucked back. A quick push back and manouvre and out it came. Fantastic what a thrill to have assisted, but I was so pleased to have waited, observed and got it right that I need to intervene. More sorting of pens.
By the time we finished the night three more ewes had delivered and I'd had to assist a breach. Just like London buses, none for ages then they all come at once.
A week later when at college we were tagging, dagging and castrating during our lesson, when the person in charge of the pregant ewes brought our attention to a ewe that had been in labour for some time with no result. We quickly went to the ewes aid. The ewe was expecting triplets. The first lamb was breach and took some lining up, eventually being dragged out backwards. It was quickly motivated and started to breath. We went to get the second out. This was even more difficult. Eventually we got it out. Dead. Some of the others tried to revive it but I could see there was no life. There was still another in there. Thankfully this came out quite easily and was alive. But it was my first loss, what would have been a nice lamb, most annoying.
That's sheep though. There sole intention is to die. Your job as the shepherd is to get them to slaughter before they manage it.
The story of a young mans efforts to become a farmer without the aid of inheritance.
So we had missed out on a opportunity to own our own land and to start to farm. Hindsight is a wonderful thing or is it that it's a real pain. The land that we missed out on was priced at a little shy of £3,000 per acre. Not long afterwards everything for sale in Essex was priced at £8,000, £9,000 or even £10,000 per acre. There was no way we would be able to afford anything at that sort of price. As I've said previously we couldn't rent as we had no experience.
So it was back to reading the back pages of Farmers Weekly at the latest land for sale and dreaming of winning the lottery!! However, Farmers Weekly then started to play a role. They started "The Big Debate" about the last 50 years and the next fifty years of agriculture. I started reading the debate and thought, "I want my two pen'th." Also for those who were under the age of 35 there was places at the Oxford Farming Conference up for grabs. I wrote a little piece about my thoughts on the influences in Agriculture over the last 50 years and where farming could go in the next fifty years with the right attitude.
Shock Horror. I was really surprised when Isabel contacted me to invite me to the Oxford Farming Conference. Bayer Crop Science were my sponsor and very good to me they were too. I met some good people and made some new friends too. That was a turning point. I was delighted to find out that how I perceived the industry is how a great many other people felt. I learn't a great deal about how the leaders of our industry see the future. This did help me decide that there was a future for farming.
However the highlight had to be meeting Her Highness Princess Anne. She wanted to meet the future generations of the farming industry and find out what they thought they might be inheriting. Our group had been discussing this just before hand. Almost rehearsing what we were going to say. However when the time comes for these great moments things don't always go to plan.
The Princess Royal asked me my plans. I told her that I was looking to buy land near where I lived in Essex. But that the trouble is that prices are really high due to the large numbers of lifestyle pony paddocks. There was too many horses in Essex!!!! Not something you tell the Princess Royal that there are too many horses in the world really is it! Oops. It was only afterwards that I thought about it and realised with embarrasment what I'd said.
That few days in Oxford gave me a renewed drive that I wanted to farm and be in charge of my own destiny. I also started this blog. Now that really surprised me. That people, you, wanted to read about my efforts to become a farmer! Some good encouragement I've had too, thanks.
We started to look at the South West as prices there where still available at between £3,000 and £4,000 per acre. We found a small ex dairy farm for auction in Somerset. It had a house but in estate agent speak it had "potential." It was priced higher than we could afford but indications came clear nearer the auction that it wasn't going to make the guide price. It did mean we would have sell up and move even with the house in a state.
In the end we couldn't go to the auction as we didn't have the bank fully behind us and it would have been too risky. I spoke to the agent after the auction and found out the property did not sell at auction but just afterwards by negotiation. Time to give my shins a good kicking again as it sold for what I had expected, and what I was prepared to pay. Another opportunity slipped through our fingers.
Then a free range egg unit came for sale. Also in Somerset just the time we were going on holiday to Somerset. So we made an appointment to go and see it. It was the right size, it didn't have a house but did have planning permission to build a house. The kids loved it. 14,000 chickens was fascinating for a four year old, two year old and the baby just stared in amazement. But then too many people were interested and the price got beyond us. Back to the drawing board.
The other problem was we would have to move away from our family. I know, wanting my cake and eat it. But there we go. It has to work for all the family. No doubt having the family around will be very useful at some point.
By now I was determined that I was going to get some farming education. What I'd wanted to do twenty years ago I was determined to do now. I started to look at the local colleges and plan as many courses as I could to get some practical experience. I contacted one college and the head of Agriculture Dept was very helpful. Basically creating a bespoke course as part of the the National Diploma In Agriculture. Now all I had to do was organise my work shifts to ensure I was not working on the days I wanted to go to college. Easier Said than done!
So it's Sunday and I'm spending my time sat in Kensington, West London, writing my assignments for college and hopefully I'll get round to a blog or two. It's a lovely day, the temperature is creeping up slowly although some of you had snow again at the end of last week. Hopefully sowing of the spring crops can begin in the next couple of weeks.
The next installment of "Diary of Becoming a Farmer" is coming along and will hopefully be out later this week. I've got to finish a presentation for Tuesday first on meadows for Farm Habitat lecture first.
College is really interesting at the moment. Although, time is just dissappearing at the moment. We have constantly had at least one research assignment on the go from college since before christmas. Although I got my first result back on Tuesday. A distinction. It's a start. We have also had to do overnight lambing sessions as well. Although I've seen no action other than a dead lamb sat on by a ewe! Living up to the old saying "If your going to keep sheep, keep a shoval !"
Trying to squeeze all this in with a full time job and three kids is a huge juggling act, but hey that's life.
Mildred says he's been busy, I don't know where the time has gone since Christmas we are in MARCH !!!!
College is taking up so much of my time but is great, I'm learning so much. Hopefully I'll have another installment of the series "Becoming a Farmer" before too long. But in the meantime I've just logged on and seen Jonathan Taskers piece about the supermarket price wars and need to have a good rant and get it off my chest.
It makes me so mad. In fact I've just been talking to Mildred about this and his trip to SIMA. Everyone complains about the French going on strike at a whim. Well they have got it right. They take pride in what they do and are passionate about what they feel strongly about. Which includes agriculture and food.
A supermarket price war should not be a problem to a farmer. The farmers contract should be for the price of the commodity and it's quality. The NFU and Countryside Alliance should be ganging together and drawing up contracts for it's members that state the price for the produce to the producer which will not fluctuate after the contract has been signed regardless of the markting ploys af the retailer. If the retailer wants to be rash about getting customers through it's doors then it should work a bit harder at customer loyalty and take the price cuts on the chin themselves not expect the producer to suffer.
If enough poducers get together and start insisting on these sorts of contracts the supermarkets will eventually listen. The British shopper is a little more savy than the supermarkets sometimes give them credit for. They are becoming aware and demanding more british produce. The supermarkets are clammering for british produce at the moment because of the band wagon that has been produced by the likes of Jamie Oliver, Hugh Fernly-Whittingstall and Jimmy Doherty. If the British producers get together and hold out, not necessarily for high prices, but fair prices that are above the cost of sensible production, then I think in the long run these price wars will be a problem of the past for British Agriculture.
Don't Demand that Somebody Else does Something for you, (i.e.ombudsman). Get out there and do it for Yourself.
Ahhh that's better. Rant over and it's stopped raining, back to the lambing I suppose!
Good luck and best wishes to all those livestock farmers who have no option but to commute to their fields and animals around their holdings.
It is a while since I remember snow like this. I know some of the coverage may seem a little London centric however I think it is justified this time. It has actually snowed in London as has it and it is expected to snow heavily over the rest of the country later today.
However do check out this rather unexpected scene from the BBC Website of a Lightning Strike.
"BBC News Lightning Snow Storm"
"Lightning" I here you say "in snow". Yes in snow. It apparently hit the QEII river crossing over the Thames Estuary last night (Sunday). I was about 6 miles away at the time walking in the snow. It frightened the life out of me. The flash was so bright (because of the snow) and the bang was like nothing I have heard before. It took me an hour to stop shaking.
Jane has just written about the difficulties getting this weeks magazine together. I don't think that should be a problem with a few snow scenes pictures sent in by forum members. Good luck team. The Doe show in Essex should be interesting this week. I'm trying to go on Thursday if the weather allows. See you there.
I was very sad to learn that one of our forum members has felt pressured to remove their blog from this site.
I read the blog and felt that the comments where in no way defamatory but merely reflected the thoughts of a number of students, in the 16-19 year old bracket, as to the relevance of some of the lectures that are included in their course. However the college felt that the comments reflected badly on the college. But why didn't the college respond to the blog through the comments and right of reply system?
I know from some of the students who I attend college with (I am not 16-19 years old, not for a long time!) that their interest is all things agriculture. But the course is structured in such a way as to have formal maths or English or IT in a session called key skills. This does not engage the students and they just switch off. Then the session becomes a battle of wills, the lecturer's get frustrated the students are not interested and don't learn and this tension continues into other lectures making it difficult for everyone to learn.
I know from teaching my own children, 5 years, 3 years and 1 year, that when they have engagement they absorb information like a sponge. I taught them to count using hay bales, they learnt colours from the different manufacturers of tractors and machinery, they are learning about the seasons because of farming, they have a good understanding of where food comes from. The eldest started to learn to read from the Farmers Weekly.
I was going to write a blog about the subject of college and engaging the students, following on from the blog in question, with some other thoughts about education and our industry. Sadly I can't remember everything that was written in the blog in question, but actually it was the best blog that this person had written so far.
I also feel a little guilty as I had encouraged them to write a bit more about their life and intentions. I'm sorry.
I'm afraid to say, however, that the college has let this person down. Instead of encouraging this person and engaging them in the bigger agricultural debate they have probably made them feel scared and disillusioned. We need free thinkers in this industry as well as people keen to learn.
I may need correcting on some of the detail as I can't remember the blog in it's entirety but I throw down the gauntlet to the college's to debate the education required for our future generation of farmers and agriculturalists.
Click on the link below and Challenge Me?
"Let's Debate The Future Education Within our Industry"
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