Archive Article: 2001/02/09
Stephen Bumstead
Stephen Bumstead farms
148ha (365 acre) from Ouse
Bank Farm, Great Barford,
Beds. He is a first
generation farmer and
council tenant, growing
combinable crops on three
blocks of land. He supports
LEAF and is the FWAG
county treasurer
FIELDWORK is getting done on a stop-go basis, with more stop than go at present. It is a case of judging frosts. Too hard and metal will not penetrate and/or break, which is expensive. If soil is not frozen enough we get wheel spin and blockages, which are very frustrating.
We have had our first fact-finding visit from our chosen Farm Business Adviser, as mentioned last month. He is William Tongue of Samuel Rose, himself a farmer in Beds, who seems well aware of the opportunities and threats to the industry within this county.
His initial report suggests I need to improve timeliness of operations and crop rotation. In short, I need a damn good tractor driver or, more practically, I should make use of contractors for at least some of the field operations including harvesting. But I am not sure whether my stomach and patience is strong enough to contract out my harvesting.
We try to leave the land destined for spring break cropping in stubble until the end of January at least. The bird population enjoys it and our friends the RSPB pat us on the back.
We have a good mix of farmland birds at sustainable populations verified under the RSPBs Volunteer and Farm Alliance Scheme. This includes ground nesters such as skylark, lapwing and grey partridge all found on winter cereal-cropped land. I am happy, they are happy, but the organic lobby remains unimpressed.
I really do admire the organic lobbys marketing initiative. However, I do object to them slating my conventionally grown product in order to score a few cheap political points.
Lets face it, organic is just another method of farming which happens to be monitored by one or two pompous and self-righteous organisations. The food is proven to be no better and no worse than conventional produce.
However, organic growers do have the benefit of an image that appeals to both the trendy Islington set and those who believe they have fairies residing at the bottom of their garden. *
Why does the organic lobby feel it has to slate conventional produce? asks Beds-grower Stephen Bumstead.