to popular support
Family future linked
to popular support
ONE farmer who has done more communicating with consumers than most is Mike Hart, tenant of what was a Cornwall County Council dairy farm but is now run as a part-time livestock unit.
Much of his time is now spent working with non-farming bodies such as the Womens Institute, RSPB, Friends of the Earth, Sustain, International Society for Ecology and Culture, and family farmers around the world.
He realised early on that family farmings future depends on popular support which in turn will only be won by forming alliances with members of the public.
Mr Hart has concluded that the problems and prospects of farmers in the south west are no different from those of farmers anywhere in the world. "Unless we get higher farmgate pries worldwide I dont see any light at the end of the tunnel. So farmers around the world must link up so that they all understand each others problems."
"Globalisation and dictation by major processors and retailers will create bigger and bigger farms. With thousands of small producers you cannot control the food market today – unless they act together across the world."
One hope for the south-west, he suggests, is that the foot-and-mouth restrictions have shown that farming is crucial to other industries, especially tourism.
Through his work with environmentalists he knows they are talking of more regulation of farming. And they have the ear of the government. "We need to be paid if we are to be in effect ordered by the state to provide environmental goods."
Communication is the key says Mike Hart (left), pictured with farm minister Nick Brown.