JIm Bullock

23 January 1998

JIm Bullock

Jim Bullock farms 283ha

(700 acres) in partnership

with his parents and brother

at Mill Farm, Guarlford,

Malvern, Worcs. Two-thirds

is rented or contract farmed,

the rest owned. Cropping is

winter wheat, winter oilseed

rape and winter beans

I HAVE no idea how much rain we have had recently as my rain gauge blew away on Christmas Eve! The only implement to be used on the land of late has been a spade, to try to let off some of the surface water.

With the markets for most agricultural produce on the floor and likely to remain there for some time, it is interesting to hear an outsiders view of our industry.

While shooting recently I met an engineer who could not believe farmers knew so little about the final destination of their produce, how many hands it passed through and who the competitors are. In his business being so poorly informed would be a recipe for disaster, he said.

That made me think of the unsubsidised horticultural industry. It has seen some major changes in the last 10 years. Growers now produce for a specific market and I know of one who thinks nothing of going to Spain or Mexico to see what his competitors are up to.

Perhaps arable farmers should adopt a similar approach. A market research trip to the American Mid-West this spring sounds very appealing.

Meanwhile, I must congratulate the NFU and its members on the "Keep Britain Farming" campaign. It was pleasing to hear the general publics support when interviewed outside provincial supermarkets before Christmas. But do shoppers in Wandsworth and Walthamstow share the same view?

I am afraid much of the public only buys our products if they are the cheapest. It is easy to see why. As agrochemical purchasers we have not asked whether the IPU we bought this autumn for £14 a can was produced in a less environmentally friendly manner than the IPU we bought last year at £24 a can. It still works, it costs less, so we bought it. I believe a lot of consumers feel the same way about their food. &#42

Taking a closer look at what our arable farming competitors are up to overseas could pay dividends, suggests Worcs farmer Jim Bullock.