READERS LETTERS
READERS LETTERS
Manure – when can I spread it?
Recently, I received through the post a supposed consultation document on the 1991 Nitrates Directive. How much consultation is involved remains to be seen but the implications are both laughable and serious.
Under "application restrictions, closed periods", arable farmers should not spread organic manures between Aug 1 and Nov 1. Under "spreading controls", you should not spread organic or nitrogen fertilisers "when the soil is waterlogged, flooded, frozen hard or snow covered". Fair enough.
The prepaid reply envelope is an address in Victoria St, London. Just what the weather is like in Victoria St and what sort of farming they do, I do not know.
Here in Yorkshire we harvest the crops in August and September and clear the ground for spreading the manure, ploughing and preparing the seed-bed during its driest period.
If we are not sown up before Nov 1, the land becomes waterlogged, flooded and frozen hard etc. Now that leaves me with a problem. When do I spread my manure?
Section 2 of the form does not offer guidance, so I am asking for guidance from DEFRA. I hope the consultancy service it uses on its farm in Victoria St. will visit my farm to advise me.
Jack Caley
Glebe House, East Newton, Aldbrough, Hull.
Knives quick to come out
I am fuming about your article on Milk Link (News, Dec 21). A handful of members are trying to ruin all the hard work put in by staff and members of council over the past 18 months.
First, they claim to have imposed unfair rules. In a democratic society we accept the rule of majority. Our new style co-operative was approved by an overwhelming majority.
Second, they claim they were forced to sign the financial support agreement or they would have nowhere else to sell their milk. Rubbish. There are plenty of buyers of milk in the market place if they wish to give it away.
Finally, we have been told farmers should get nearer the market. How do we do that without raising capital? I am fed up of being at the bottom of the European milk price table. As soon as we try to help ourselves, someone wants to stick the knives in.
Roy Johns
Backway Farm, Shebbear, Beaworthy, Devon.
Milk Link is secure future
As a Milk Link council member I was shocked to read your report about the co-op (News, Dec 21). What sort of farmer tries to destroy a co-op established to gain fairer prices and guaranteed markets for members?
I wonder if this action is being funded through the back door by processors to drive down prices by re-fragmenting the supply chain. A chain which is gaining strength. The report suggests that members pay 0.5p/litre towards processing. Although that is true, if the member guarantees more than 5p/litre, then 5p/litre goes into a capital account which will be paid back in full within a five-year period of the member retiring or leaving the industry.
The 5p/litre guarantee is a guarantee of security for Milk Link to use to gain funding for investing in processing capacity. Anything which Milk Link invests will be sanctioned by the 40-strong member council who have signed guarantee agreements. I will not vote for anything that I consider will not provide a good return on investment.
Furthermore, the reorganisation of Milk Link into a European style co-op was carried through by an overwhelming majority at a special meeting held in Exeter. All members were invited to attend this democratic meeting.
If some farmer members are incensed by the reorganisation of Milk Link, I suggest they find a dairy to supply directly. History has proved the dairies look after their shareholders and pay lip service to their farmer suppliers.
Milk Link and co-ops like it are the way forward. We should unite and go forward to a more secure future in contrast to the miserable past we have endured for five years.
R N Jenkin and D Jenkin
Treworgie Farm, Manaccan, Helston, Cornwall.
Strong support for milk co-op
I write regarding your article about Milk Link (News, Dec 21). I have just been elected on to the new member council and to do that I had to gain 10 nominations from other members, of these some were large and some were small producers.
Support for the new structure is strong around my member area of West Devon and not once have I received feedback that supported opposition to the co-op. In fact, the most frequently asked question has been: "When are we going into processing and with whom?"
Members want to see Milk Link go forward as soon as possible. It is a difficult time regarding price negotiations and such news articles do neither us nor the rest of the milk industry any good.
Who is the dissatisfied group? How many producers does it contain? Who forced them to sign?
Nick Granger
Darracott Farm, Kilkhampton, Bude, Cornwall.
Is this action pure jealousy?
I read with incredulity that a group of small-scale milk producers is petitioning for the winding up of Milk Link, the farmers co-op in the south of England (News, Dec 21).
I am not a large-scale milk producer but I have been privileged to represent the Milk Link members of mid-Cornwall on its original council and have just started a two-year period on the new council.
Every decision taken since the formation of Milk Link has been democratically reached; in some cases only after considered debate. I take pride in the facts that I have been involved in these decisions and the overwhelming majority of members voted in favour of the restructuring proposals at the special general meeting last August. Also 95% of members signed the financial support agreement which speaks for itself.
The unknown and unnamed producers are totally irresponsible in seeking to take this action. Milk Link is involved in difficult price negotiations and is trying to improve the price to producers. The action of the few is causing the remainder of Milk Link members legal costs we can ill afford.
Agriculture is still in dire straits and I cannot understand the motives of anyone who deliberately sets out to destroy something that has been so successful. Is it jealousy? It also makes me wonder who is behind the misguided few?
John Brock
Trevilla Farm, Feock, Truro, Cornwall.
Alliance view on modulation
I am writing further to the Countryside Alliances submission to the Curry inquiry and my open letter to Sir Don Curry, in order to clarify the Alliances position on modulation, which judging from my mailbag has caused some misunderstanding.
Our proposition is a simple one; ensuring farmers benefit from and are not penalised by modulation. The proposal is that modulation be gradually expanded, but with the modulated element of payment remaining on the farm, with matched funding from government offering a real increase in farm incomes.
Farmers would in return promise to undertake a range of services, the value of their guardianship of the countryside would be properly recognised and new
markets and products would be developed. The Countryside Alliance has proposed the introduction of a land management contract scheme, designed to secure a commercial viability for farm businesses and ensure that modulation money stays where it is needed most – on farms. It has also proposed that the money does more than cover the costs of the stewardship of the land, but contributes towards farm profitability.
The objective is for these land management contracts to streamline existing stewardship schemes into a simple and less bureaucratic process which gives responsibility for the development and management of each individual scheme directly to the farmer. It is essential that Treasury matched funding is provided on top of the retained modulation funds to give the scheme depth and to reassure farmers that government recognises the need for these activities to contribute towards their commercial viability.
Our policy proposal, if implemented, would be good news and not bad news for farmers as it proposes a net increase in the funds that farmers receive.
The financial position for farmers is so grave that to withdraw, directly or indirectly, any income would have a critical effect on their businesses. That is why farmers and the Alliance oppose the current modulation system and why the present arrangement must be changed.
Richard Burge
Chief executive, Countryside Allianceadrian-yalland@countryside-alliance.org
Hurdle in front of government
Heres hoping for a better year in 2002 after the horrendous and heartbreaking year all those in British agriculture have suffered during the foot-and-mouth crisis. But now we can at last see the light at the end of the tunnel. People who lost their animals can once again restock their farms and smallholdings. It looks as though things are starting to return to normal.
One of the biggest hurdles yet to come faces our government. It will have an uphill struggle to regain the confidence of rural communities. It did more damage than it will ever realise and, in some cases, will never regain the trust of some people. I will never trust this government again. Any future government will have to work hard to prove itself to me and Im sure Im not alone.
Mrs Pat Walker
Secretary, North Yorkshire Smallholders Society, Littleacres, Pickhill, Thirsk, North Yorks.
Hit and myth at ministry
I fear Geoffrey Hollis missed the greatest myth of all in his excellent Talking Point (Dec 21). He should have included Myth 9: We can all trust MAFF and DEFRA officials – and those who leave and become consultants.
They alone know what they are talking about, no matter what the subject, and will guide farmers through the hardest traumas. They will also show consideration, honesty and an appreciation of sound science at all times. Our brains are safe in their hands.
Richard Bruce
Hill Place Cottage, Thorley, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.
No advantage to joining k
Having been a reader of your usually well-informed editorial column for most of my adult life, I was saddened to read your issue of Dec 28 (Opinion) regarding your support for that Mickey Mouse currency, the k.
If and when the British people vote in a fair and free referendum to join this lunatic system then that is fine. But I would like to point out to those farmers who may be undecided as to the merits or otherwise of the k, the enormous dangers of making the irrevocable decision to abandon our currency.
We will lose forever the right of our own democratically elected parliament to rule this nation and we would be transferring that right to the unelected and unelectable commissioners in Brussels. That would effectively and cynically negate the sacrifices of countless British soldiers who paid the ultimate price in their valiant efforts to defend our democracy against the madness of the bureaucracy and tyranny emanating from continental Europe.
The cost of changing from the £ to the k would be more than £30,000m which is about £1000/household. Its the equivalent of building 300 new hospitals.
The bill for bailing out Europes bankrupt pension system would be so large that it is difficult to quantify without entering the realm of the ridiculous. But it would certainly result in massive tax rises. It is like opening a joint bank account with your neighbour who is about to go bust.
Our gold and currency reserves, so preciously garnered by previous British governments would be handed, lock stock and barrel, to the European central bank. The advantages to Britain, and consequently to British farmers, from joining a cascading currency like the k are zero.
Dick Lindley
Birkwood Farm, Altofts, Normanton, West Yorks.
Festive French veto was sweet
What a tonic it was to read your editorial (Opinion, Dec 21) "Make sure theres no French pussyfooting on end to beef ban".
Fine words and said with a depth of feeling that we all should emulate. For far too long we have done the British thing and suffered quietly while our neighbours across the sea and Eurocrats walk over us.
We must all get tougher with them not just Commissioner Byrne. I know its a small gesture but the full and satisfied feeling I got when looking at the Christmas table we had prepared for our family and friends containing not even a whiff of French essence was wonderful.
Magnificent British fare coupled with fine wines from the New World made it delightfully easy to consume with little after effects other than a warm glow…
Mark Bellamy
Chilby, Sea Road, Felpham, West Sussex.
Idiotic drivers cause accidents
Your article "Right turn to disaster" (Insurance Special, Dec 7), seems to suggest that the blame for accidents rests with the tractor driver or farmer.
Where I live, the blame would seem to lie with idiot motorists who drive too fast for the road conditions. Our road is just wide enough for a tractor with many blind bends and high banks. But the racers still try to get to work in the same time, by driving at 50 mph. All the police say they can do is put up "Slow" signs.
J Pratt
Culver House, Halspill, Weare Giffard, Bideford, Devon.
NZ shows how to check visitors
When arriving in New Zealand recently for a fact-finding visit, before entering the country we had to go through numerous checks. We had to fill out a detailed form declaring our occupation and answering numerous questions. Those included whether we carried food, if we had been near livestock recently, whether we were wearing clothing normally worn near farm animals. We also had to declare what footwear we had, both on your feet and in our suitcases. Sniffer dogs were used to patrol luggage, and a thorough inspection of many peoples bags was made.
On our return to Heathrow, no form was required. No checks were made and there was one person at the entrance to customs. I was expecting a similar inspection to that experienced in New Zealand, especially after foot-and-mouth, but there was nothing. Do we want foot-and-mouth again?
Bill Barr
Dane End Farm, Beaumont Hall Lane, Redbourn Road, St Albans, Herts.
Polls ahead of the rest
I was interested to read your report (Livestock, Dec 14) of the comments made by Henry Lewis of the MLC on the necessity to develop the breeding of more polled cattle in the UK. Such action would increase export opportunities and improve welfare, he argued.
By crossing a Red Poll with a horned breed the resulting offspring will almost certainly be polled, given that the polled gene is dominant. That combined with recent studies that show the Red Poll to be one of the most efficient converters of forage in low input systems. Also its milkiness and mothering abilities, confirms the societys view that the Red Poll makes an attractive suckler cross.
Richard Dawes
Chairman – Red Poll Cattle Society, 52 Border Cot Lane, Wickham Market, Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Seeking out the hide industry
I was delighted to receive a Christmas present from my husband in the form of a beautiful cow skin hide. It really is striking with all the reds, chestnuts and dappled colours typical of a Normand cow and would look magnificent in a Baronial Hall, let alone our small cottage.
What a shame he wasnt able to get a native British breed. Apparently there are no companies left in the UK who cure hair on hides so it had to be imported from France. Whatever happened to the British leather industry and associated crafts?
Caroline Cooper
cowstead@supanet.com