Farming Matters!
Farming Our Future
General Questions and Comments
Why don't we buy 'non-perfect' food?
The public needs educating that 'looks are not everything', content is. Other countries have a food culture. The leaflet 'Food Awakening' and the magazine 'Country Way' were recommended. (Available from The Arthur Rank Centre, Stoneleigh.)
World Trade: how far should there be Free Trade?
As far as food is concerned we need food security.
We cannot reconcile non-discrimination in imports and implement Rio+10.
Free trade should include environmental payments.
The people will decide. Communism and apartheid collapsed. Only people power can bring a return to common sense.
Post FMD there is a ground swell of public sympathy for farmers.
Conference
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The Future
of Farming
- where are
we going?
Can farmers wives be helped to share/market their skills? via the internet?
At present there is a loss of farming skills - if we have to become self-sufficient then we will need those skills. 'Tomorrows People' matches skills to jobs.
There is a need for local abattoirs (roving abattoirs??)There is hope that at least one will be built, professional producer owned and equipped to cope with individual kills.
Farming produces food - what about bio-fuels?
Alternative uses are being investigated. Integrated use - fuel a by product not the major product. There is a need for'seed corn' money to add value locally.
Agricultural Policy
- a personal
view
Land and
community -
developing
links
Planning issues
Agricultural ties/lack of permission to build farm buildings.What can be done?
Straw buildings do not need planning permission. In some countries the farmers do not liveon their land but in the nearby village or an apartment.
Farmers' Marketing
- opportunities
Animal welfare
The need for more abattoirs - requires political and practical will to build them.
Supermarkets there is a need for welfare labelling/information. Helped by LEAF.
Post FMD - there is a huge welfare problem now through lack of fodder - high numbers of stock not slaughtered and in the food chain as they should have been (and they all have to be fed!)
Personal stories
These told of feelings of bereavement:- because of the loss of profits;loss of self-respect;
loss of sense of worth/position in society.
This led to anger:- with Government Ministers who have tried to put the blame on farmers (Specifically over FMD, BSE etc);
with MPs who have concentrated on the anti-hunting bill;
with 'institutional' landlords ( particularly the Crown Arbitration system and the Church Commissioners);
that family members have suffered/aged 10 years/are worrying about future;
with those who are telling farmers continually what they should be doing, when the suggestions are not practical (e.g. that diversification is 'the answer');
with God.
We have to turn anger into something positive and use it constructively to get going again!
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