Archive Article: 2001/02/02
Rally offers huge chance to fight back
The Countryside Alliance is one of the few, possibly the only organisation, capable of putting a quarter of a million people into London to march. With the whole-hearted support of agriculture and its allied trades that number could swell to nearer half a million on Mar 18. The political clout that would give agriculture would be colossal.
Since devolution the government needs to win a majority in England not just in Britain to maintain the moral authority to govern it. If one considers there are 45m eligible voters in Britain about one-third dont vote leaving 30m who do. There are 120 mainly marginally held labour seats that have a rural element. Half a million people marching in the same direction would be an awesome sight to a politician.
On Mar 19 the woes of agriculture would be of great concern to the government. The agricultural policy of devil take the hindmost pursued by both Labour and the Tories would be rapidly reviewed for the impending election.
I, like many farmers, am demoralised after being harassed and bullied from every quarter. But here is an unexpected chance to fight back. I fear if we dont take it, we can look forward to another five years of being booted about at the whim of politicians and the myriad of pressure groups that have their ear.
Richard Tonks
Ventonwyn Farm, Tregony, Truro, Cornwall.
NFU backs FW Trolley Watch
British farmers should be proud of their achievements when it comes to the Little Red Tractor logo and the high standards that lie behind it. It is a glimmer of hope in depressing times.
I therefore welcome the support by FW on Trolley Watch to see how supermarkets present British food (Opinion and Farmlife, Jan 12).
It is vitally important that initiatives such as this receive the full support of the industry. It perfectly complements our own tractor trail scheme to provide a measure of the success of the British farm standard logo. A recent survey by the BBC found that, incredibly, after just seven months more than a quarter of people recognise the logo – thats 15m people. This is a brilliant achievement and it is astounding that the BBC chose to portray it so negatively.
Good luck to all those farmers who take you up on your challenge to monitor the use of the little red tractor and put up banners on farmland. Keep up the good work.
Ben Gill
NFU president, Agriculture House, 164 Shaftesbury Avenue, London.
Fed up with radio show, too
As a refugee from BBC Radio 4s Farming Today, I very much agree with Nick Adames email (Letters, Jan 19). Is it not sad that, at the present time when our industry is fighting for its life, we have so little support from our own so-called radio programme, Farming Today?
Perhaps a better title would be The Compassion in World Farming Show, or better still, a games show entitled Greenpeace Meets the Friends of the Earth in the Walled Garden with the Organic Cabbage. Although I jest, this is a very serious issue. I only wish that the BBC presenters would use more material from your own publication. I would recommend your Opinion column in the same edition, which said: "Its war. Messy and brutal and fought to win." Hear, hear.
David B Kelsey
Cedar House, Woollett Hall Farm, Water Lane, North Cray, Sidcup, Kent.
No chance of real farming
With reference to Nick Adamess letter (Jan 19) concerning Farming Today, I used to turn on the programme in the hope that we might occasionally get something concerning real farming. But every time it was same old thing – 100% BSE Today. I realise how disastrous it has been, but there are many other aspects of farming. I couldnt agree more with everything Nick Adames said in his letter.
Finally I was at last years Royal Show at Stoneleigh for the first time in three or four years. I came across the BBC stand by chance and took the opportunity to convey similar views to those expressed by Mr Adames. I finished by telling the lady that, in its present form, the programme was a waste of time.
East Lothian farmer
Name and address supplied.
Are cats next to be criminalised?
If hunting with dogs is to be banned, surely the widespread practice of turning out domestic cats at night to hunt small mammals and ground-nesting birds must also be criminalised?
N D Bushby
26 the Street, Beachamwell, Swaffham, Norfolk.
Single issues are a sound tactic
I recently retired as chairman of the CLAs Clwyd branch and my responsibilities brought me into contact with single issue pressure groups. The presence of Winnie the Pig in Parliament Square clearly focused the problems of the pig industry; although there were several Winnies during the protest. It is less reassuring to read that 25% of pig farms wish to quit, which will lead to more imports of food which should have been produced at home.
My work brought me into contact with the fuel protesters at the Stanlow oil refinery and the GM protesters at the Welsh GM crop at Sealand. In both cases I was impressed by their ability to communicate and check the thoughts of the public. I had not expected this partnership approach, but only the combined actions of farmers and hauliers working together brought about the fuel protest. I do not believe that the NFU is equipped to answer the need for farming to improve its public relations as is shown by the failure of its little red tractor campaign.
An unelected assembly hidden away in central London is no longer the best option to improve the public relations of the farming industry. One has to be impressed by the way that single interest pressure groups have won public attention for their case.
I shall support the Countryside March on Mar 18 because I think it is an opportunity for all those who live and work in the countryside to demonstrate how this government has neglected the rights of people who do not live in towns and cities.
Arnold Pennant
Nat Gwilym, Tremeirchion, St Asaph, Denbighshire.
Our anger in the right words
I have been reading farmers weekly for years, but I think without doubt David Richardsons column (Jan 5) was quite the best article I have ever read. It should be photocopied and sent to every Member of Parliament, the NFU and anyone else who may have an inkling of what we really think.
His column should be published word for word in all the national newspapers for everyone to read. Perhaps then, the public may begin to understand how angry we are.
Jane Stockdale
Oatcroft Farm, Bursall, Skipton.
Cow whispering for happy herd
I am a farm worker and recently, while feeding my herd of sucklers, I discovered that they were intrigued by me talking to them. I have continued to talk and sing and have noticed that, not only are they more confident around me, and other humans, they seem to be eating more and producing more milk. That results in the calves growing more quickly.
Many people have read the book The Horse Whisperer and this technique is fairly similar. The only words that spring to mind when describing this process is cow whispering. The only means I have to explain this is that the more confident and comfortable cows feel around humans, and their own environment, the happier they become. That means that they spend less time being distressed and more time eating.
It may result in farmers having much less trouble with their livestock because I feel the technique would also work on other animals. So this new art of cow whispering could benefit many farmers throughout the UK. If anyone has any further inquiries about cow whispering please do not hesitate to contact me.
Byron Dixon,
Biddlestone Home Farm, Netherton, Rothbury, Northumberland.
Limit drug use during lambing
As a breeder of pedigree Shropshire sheep, I was alarmed by some of the lambing tips given by Robin Hulme in the article "Too valuable to lose any of them at all" (Livestock, Jan 19). I strongly disagree with the routine use of antibiotics and routine stomach tubing, as advised and practised by Mr Hulme in his Suffolk flock.
Of course all pedigree breeders want to ensure high lamb survival rates. But it should be unnecessary to dose every lamb artificially with colostrum, while routine injections of long-acting antibiotics will steadily undermine natural immunity. It is important for commercial flock-owners that pedigree breeders do not, inadvertently, breed out characteristics such as natural hardiness.
I have kept Shropshire sheep, a naturally prolific and hardy breed, since 1982. My flock of 70 ewes lamb in January and February and achieve an average lambing percentage of 170% with an average lamb mortality rate of about 3%. I hardly ever have to use a stomach tube to deliver colostrum and I use antibiotics only if I need to treat an infection.
I sell Shropshire stock to pedigree breeders from the UK and abroad, as well as Shropshire tups to commercial sheep producers. I know from first-hand experience that the natural immunity of the dam and the ability of newly-born lambs to survive with the minimum of assistance from the shepherd is vitally important to these farmers.
Most sheep producers cannot afford the resources and artificial aids that Mr Hulme has available at lambing. They rely on the principle of survival of the fittest.
Farmers are also constantly being warned about the build-up of antibiotic resistance in dairy cows, where these drugs are used routinely as a prophylactic. Surely, we do not want to encourage the same problem in our national flock? And what about the damaging effect that routine use of antibiotics would have on consumer perceptions of lamb as a natural and healthy product?
Mrs Sue Farquhar
Hansett Farm, Canou Frome, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
Record straight on new fibre
Your article, "A bright future for crops converted into plastics" (Arable, Jan 12) contained several errors as well as confusing statements about DuPont Sorona(tm) fiber and polymer.
First, it was stated that DuPont uses genetically modified plants in its process. Not true. DuPont does not specify GM corn. To us, and to our process, corn is corn. The statement that "one experimental process actually produces plastic granules in leaves and stalks within the plant itself" implies that DuPont is actively working on this approach. Again, that is not true.
The article refers to Sorona as "plant-derived". Hopefully, in the near future, the key ingredient in Sorona will be made from corn via fermentation. For now, though, it is made from petrochemicals. Also, DuPont Sorona is fully recyclable. Recycling helps to preserve valuable raw materials.
We appreciate the opportunity to set the record straight. We believe that bio-based materials such as DuPont Sorona represent the leading edge in a wave of new materials that will make our lives better and easier.
Ian Hudson
Business director, DuPont Sorona, Wilmington, DE 19805 USA.
Burial of fallen stock in peril
Now that people who know little and care even less about the countryside have got their way and seemingly hunting will be stopped, how long will it be before burial of fallen stock on farms is banned? Then some costly method of disposal will have to be used.
I now have to dig a deep hole ready for lambing time. Am I being cynical or has the price of second-hand excavators gone up recently because of huge demand from farmers?
Steven Smith
Winwick Warren, West Haddon, Northampton.
Waitrose holds milk price talks
I was interested to read Mr Burdens comments regarding the price of milk (Letters, Jan 5). At Waitrose we are committed to long-term relationships with the British farmers supplying our company. They are involved in realistic discussions on price and, as we have no wish to see them go out of business, we support them as much as possible within commercial constraints.
Under the select Farm Milk Scheme, farmers supplying Waitrose have always been paid the published Sovereign Price for their milk, the top price paid by Dairy Crest. On top of this, Waitrose pays an additional bonus of 0.5p/litre to these suppliers.
The dedicated pool of farmers who supply Waitrose with our everyday milk has always been guaranteed a fair price that reflects the costs of production. Because these farmers have to achieve outstanding levels of animal welfare, feed and hygiene, as well the best standards of protein, butterfat and bacteriological counts, were happy to pay a premium for a high quality product, and always have.
Should you require any further information please contact me regarding the points outlined above.
David Jones
Central Buyer Dairy, Waitrose, Southern Industrial Area, Bracknell, Berks.
Farmers must fight ignorance
After hearing that I am a farmers wife, an acquaintance said to me in all seriousness: "I dont like farmers, Im a vegetarian." Further questioning revealed that she had eaten muesli and toast for breakfast. When I asked where she thought this food had come from, she looked blank and then said: "Well, I shop at Sainsburys."
I have been called paranoid, but I have long been convinced that there is a secret vegetarian/animal rights agenda to put us out of business. Events of the past few years have only served to prove me right.
Each time a food or environmental scare dies down another is leaked to the media.
The UK farming industry is being deliberately and systematically phased out. Sadly, we are set to follow the coal miners and ship builders into history and obscurity.
Penny Hamblen
84 Romsey Avenue, Fareham, Hants.
How EU avoids accountability
The gift of faith should be a wonderful thing, but I feel nervous when it is faith in a supranational body such as the EU.
Marie Skinners discussion (Talking Point, Jan 19) of the changes to the sugar regime is a reasonably accurate description of how the EU operates on any and every issue.
Where she goes wrong is to confuse it with democratic government. For example, her comments that Pascal Lamy has "undermined the democratic foundation of the EU: there was no consultation process…" Democracy is the government of the people. Mr Lamy is, like the UKs two commissioners, Neil Kinnock and Chris Patten, a failed and rejected politician, not an elected minister, but an appointee.
As Robert Patchett indicated in his letter (Jan 19) "consultation" is not democratic accountability.
Rather it is a technique increasingly used as a way to avoid democratic accountability. The most accurate way of describing the EU is to term it an oligarchy, in which an inner circle of self-promoting politicians reward each other with powers and privileges provided that they do not stray into the paths of heresy.
All the time that enough people, such as Marie Skinner, share their faith, they will get away with it.
Neil Datson
ncdatson@glebefarm.u-net.com
FBT prediction comes true
I was interested to read your article (Business, Jan 19) about farm business tenancies which reports that most of the land offered under FBTs has gone "to existing owner occupiers able to pay over the odds to spread fixed costs", and only 9% has gone to new entrants.
That is precisely what I predicted in my column in Big Farm Weekly a decade ago. I also repeated this in face to face arguments with successive TFA chairmen, Michael Halford and Marshall Taylor.
Both dismissed me as a cynic. In my column I also predicted that globalisation would be a disaster for UK agriculture because it would expose us as the weakest link.
Sadly, the farming industry has preferred to disregard those prophets who have spoken out against the trend of going with the political flow.
And now we are suffering the consequences.
Malcolm Read
Broadmead Farm, West Grimstead, Salisbury, Wilts.