Apologies if this has been debated previously but I have just read an article on Yahoo and it appeared at face value to be a good idea. The excerpt reads as follows...

 I think a possible alternative to totally organic farms or to legislation regarding animal welfare would be open farming. In this, farms that participate would not promise no cruelty or pesticides, etc. Rather they would promise to be open to inspection by anyone who pays an inspection fee. Just the naming and shaming would help to make the animal process more humane. Obviously farms that already have nothing to hide would sign up first as there would be no cost involved. If sufficient market share was created, or sufficient publicity, the alternative question would arise in peoples minds: what am I eating that is so shameful/dirty that it has to be hidden? I realise this is a topic, not exactly a question but I was wondering about the feasibility of this project?

Is open farming feasable or just another potential nightmare for the industry?

MFP. I think it would be an absolute farce. Why no pesticides? Somebody who knows nothing, might perceive cruelty where there is none. What would be the gain?  We have already had 2 inspections this year(FABBL and RPA), although I am happy enough to show interested parties around or let them picnic in a field, I have no desire to let even more bogus inspectors nose around. The bottom line MFP is I can see nothing to gain from your idea. We already have the farm open Sunday which gives the city dwellers a good opportunity to see around the farms.

I can't agree that no cost would be involved, what about the insurance for having members of the public trapsing through the farm inspecting stuff they haven't got a clue about?

The fact you mention anyone inspecting paying a fee makes me interested.  I think MFP you would find that the general public(at least our general public) doesn't really care enough to do inspections, especially if they cost.  You must be one of the 10% or so who really does care where their food comes from enough to do something that requires extra money and effort.

I think the main problem would be that potential thieves would be sizing up the place. However, to take the question further than Open Farming and into the field of Open Politics, I think a better idea would be to institute a system whereby Inspectors appointed by the NFU would visit the homes of politicians and inspect them to ensure that all the regulations they impose on us have been adhered to.

I can think of the checks required on electrical equipment, safe storage of chemicals, disposal of rubbish, burning of brash, burying of deadstock in the garden, employment of au pairs, sites visited on-line etc.

What else do readers think our representatives should inspect during their surveillance visits to the homes of our MPs?

As smallholders, we sell almost all of our produce directly rather than via wholesales and retailers, and in effect all customers are already friends, and welcome to come and see us an any reasonable time.  This works well, and I'm not aware of anyone being put off by the fact we aren't organic (though we do only use minimal quantities of animal medicines and pasture herbicide).  I'm not suggesting that this approach would be easy for those farming on a larger scale, but a few already effectively do it, and there is no doubt that the public don't care a damn about organic or other assurance schemes if they can come along, see the farm, and talk to the farmer.  Extremely few of us, smallholders or full scale farmers, have anything to hide (except from Pikies).

                                                                       Dick Plumb

Peter Wells:

What else do readers think our representatives should inspect during their surveillance visits to the homes of our MPs

How about CRB checks  (esp on Ministers) on the grounds that they work with vulnerable adults and children i.e. us the sitting duck electorate?

Like Dick Plumb, we sell all our finished lamb direct to the public.  All our meat customers have an open invitation to visit the farm any time, as long as they phone first. There are a few who drop by at lambing time, but very few.

Unless you sell through a farm shop or market otherwise direct, how would a consumer know which farm his/her last Sunday roast, the roast spuds, vegetables or the flour for the Yorkshire Pudding came from?

Like Dick and Jacobus we sell lamb, pork, eggs and surplus fruit and veg. to the public mainly neighbours. People remark that our eggs taste better than Farmer B's helped no doubt by our very free ranging hens. It's nice to see people interested in where there food comes from except when they turn up in force, without prior warning, at the evening round and then ask if we can show great aunt Bertha and her unruly offspring round the farm.

This always seems to coincide with several sheep going badly lame (they are fine the next day) and one or more piglets escaping which causes great hilarity amongst the spectators. Still, if they buy our produce whom am I to complain? 

farmerbill; I think the idea is to add some transparacy to the farming industry by putting the consumers in touch with the "faceless" producers. The excerpt was taken from Yahoo and was suggested by a gentleman on a Q & A session when Hugh Fearnely-Whitingstall was guest editor for the day (I should have made this clearer on my original post!).

If the idea was implemented it would eradicate the need for government inspections and would surely have a positive effect on the industry and if you are happy to show people round anyway then why not generate an income from it?

Oh and for the record I agree with you that there is not a need not to use pesticides; not everybody wants or needs to farm organically.

moaningfarmerpalmer:

If the idea was implemented it would eradicate the need for government inspections and would surely have a positive effect on the industry and if you are happy to show people round anyway then why not generate an income from it?

Would it have a positive effect, or would you just get people like ILuvTesco and Heli8or searching out a bad farm then taking their camera?  The reason these inspections are carried out by officials is that they can distinguish between the vast majority and the few "bad eggs" who just see their farm as a way to make easy money.

moaningfarmerpalmer:

If the idea was implemented it would eradicate the need for government inspections

what an excellent idea, brilliant

no more dairy, rpa or ib inspections, i could get them to look over my books as well so no more revenue or vat inspections

a walk past the slurry store and the brook - no more environment agency

Where do i sign!