Welshpool Farming Forum Press Release/Nov.25, 2005/State of British Farming
- From: "Burkie" <Burkie50@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 4 Dec 2005 09:46:27 -0800
Dear UKBA: A meeting of local area farmers from Welshpool, UK, was
held Nov. 25, 2005.
This group addressed the current UK agricultural situation and created
a summary of their findings, which is available at the following
website addresses:
http://www.britishwildlifemanagement.org and
http://www.foxhunters.net/bwm/ff/issues.htm
Special permission to reprint these farmer's concerns has been
requested, obtained and granted. Reproduction of this text is
permissable.
Burkie in Kansas
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRITISH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT - FARMING FORUM
A View of the Issues
Farming Forum - A View of the Issues
Government does not take good advice on the range of problems and
economic factors, which are complicated by strong currency, devolution,
EU politics, and unjustified hostility towards the countryside.
Problems are compounded by both a lack of practical knowledge and
genuine communication skills. Confusion is fed by increasing amounts of
poor quality research, and a raft of unsound lobbying organisations,
many who obtain money by misleading, or deceiving, public and
Parliament. Doubling of overall Government expenditure in 8 years,
without real benefits, is hugely deflationary. The current size and
ambitions of Government, as in the EU, are not sustainable. In removing
support for the production of food, Government is set to waste larger
sums on un-costed environmental management schemes, which ignore best
practice, and have an uncertain future.
Our taxpayers have contributed each year as much as £15bn per annum to
EU farmers, whilst production subsidies in Britain of some £2.2bn have
been removed. Subsidised agricultural production exists all around the
World, amounting to some £200bn. However trade agreements sanctioned
by Government encourage cheap subsidised products to be dumped in
Britain.
There is no realistic long term Strategic Planning and Incentives (not
compulsion) for the efficient home production of food, adding value in
processing that food, facilitating competitive exports, and raising
standards of food, disease, and energy security. There is an
influential, misguided belief, that agriculture is a side show, and
should go the same way as the fishing industry. Those dealing with
Government feel betrayed by lack of progress, and conflicting messages.
In consequence, the good management and sound stewardship of
countryside, especially in the uplands, is not achievable under current
plans. Master craftsmen are ignored.
Government and the Office of Fair Trading are having difficulty in
defining and implementing fair trade. They are allowing efficient
businesses to put out of business by unfair competition, the buying
power of cartels and monopolies, and mafia styled activities. Food
miles and fuel costs are ignored. Good farmers, with the crucial skills
to pass on to future generations, require a safety net and support, not
closure. Action now is a national priority. The absence of a level
playing field ensures that nobody wins, be it Home Food Production,
Third World Fair Deals, or the Tax Payer.
Lack of Competitiveness through the expense of unnecessary Government
Red Tape.
British Agriculture has been hugely disadvantaged by some £30bn over
20 years by the political failure to pass on the EU Payments Rebate,
which was negotiated on their behalf to compensate for currency losses,
one reason why British farmers are at the bottom of the earnings league
table.
The artificially High Pound and relative High Cost of Money has set a
dangerous precedent for future economic stability. Most supply side
industries and tourism have suffered permanent damage as a consequence,
and we are also left with an Unsustainable Trade Deficit.
50% of our Food Processing Capacity and Technology has been lost. This
situation has to be reversed, encouraged by Government, in order that
real value is added to efficient food production, as has been
implemented in New Zealand. Adding value need not increase cost.
Agriculture in other countries also benefit from a range of
Discretionary Payments, incentives, and benefits, beyond production
subsidies. Relatively low levels of Discretionary Payments are
available in Britain, but they tend to be diverted unfairly to areas
not needing priority support.
The illusion that we can somehow blame the EU and CAP for the collapse
of our farming industry was dispelled by EU Minister Hans Fischler, who
stated that, as in the case of other European Governments under CAP, we
can treat our farmers as fairly as they do. Any blame therefore rests
fair and square on our own successive Governments. Britain can have its
own superb Agricultural Industry - without severance of the ability to
give good advice to the EU.
Edmund Marriage - British Wildlife Management - 24th November 2005
Contributions - patrickfound@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - Tel. 01963 251772
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRITISH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT - FARMING FORUM
A View of the Issues
Farming Forum - A View of the Issues
Government does not take good advice on the range of problems and
economic factors, which are complicated by strong currency, devolution,
EU politics, and unjustified hostility towards the countryside.
Problems are compounded by both a lack of practical knowledge and
genuine communication skills. Confusion is fed by increasing amounts of
poor quality research, and a raft of unsound lobbying organisations,
many who obtain money by misleading, or deceiving, public and
Parliament. Doubling of overall Government expenditure in 8 years,
without real benefits, is hugely deflationary. The current size and
ambitions of Government, as in the EU, are not sustainable. In removing
support for the production of food, Government is set to waste larger
sums on un-costed environmental management schemes, which ignore best
practice, and have an uncertain future.
Our taxpayers have contributed each year as much as £15bn per annum to
EU farmers, whilst production subsidies in Britain of some £2.2bn have
been removed. Subsidised agricultural production exists all around the
World, amounting to some £200bn. However trade agreements sanctioned
by Government encourage cheap subsidised products to be dumped in
Britain.
There is no realistic long term Strategic Planning and Incentives (not
compulsion) for the efficient home production of food, adding value in
processing that food, facilitating competitive exports, and raising
standards of food, disease, and energy security. There is an
influential, misguided belief, that agriculture is a side show, and
should go the same way as the fishing industry. Those dealing with
Government feel betrayed by lack of progress, and conflicting messages.
In consequence, the good management and sound stewardship of
countryside, especially in the uplands, is not achievable under current
plans. Master craftsmen are ignored.
Government and the Office of Fair Trading are having difficulty in
defining and implementing fair trade. They are allowing efficient
businesses to put out of business by unfair competition, the buying
power of cartels and monopolies, and mafia styled activities. Food
miles and fuel costs are ignored. Good farmers, with the crucial skills
to pass on to future generations, require a safety net and support, not
closure. Action now is a national priority. The absence of a level
playing field ensures that nobody wins, be it Home Food Production,
Third World Fair Deals, or the Tax Payer.
Lack of Competitiveness through the expense of unnecessary Government
Red Tape.
British Agriculture has been hugely disadvantaged by some £30bn over
20 years by the political failure to pass on the EU Payments Rebate,
which was negotiated on their behalf to compensate for currency losses,
one reason why British farmers are at the bottom of the earnings league
table.
The artificially High Pound and relative High Cost of Money has set a
dangerous precedent for future economic stability. Most supply side
industries and tourism have suffered permanent damage as a consequence,
and we are also left with an Unsustainable Trade Deficit.
50% of our Food Processing Capacity and Technology has been lost. This
situation has to be reversed, encouraged by Government, in order that
real value is added to efficient food production, as has been
implemented in New Zealand. Adding value need not increase cost.
Agriculture in other countries also benefit from a range of
Discretionary Payments, incentives, and benefits, beyond production
subsidies. Relatively low levels of Discretionary Payments are
available in Britain, but they tend to be diverted unfairly to areas
not needing priority support.
The illusion that we can somehow blame the EU and CAP for the collapse
of our farming industry was dispelled by EU Minister Hans Fischler, who
stated that, as in the case of other European Governments under CAP, we
can treat our farmers as fairly as they do. Any blame therefore rests
fair and square on our own successive Governments. Britain can have its
own superb Agricultural Industry - without severance of the ability to
give good advice to the EU.
Edmund Marriage - British Wildlife Management - 24th November 2005
Contributions - patrickfound@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - Tel. 01963 251772
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