The big issue in the news at the moment is genetically modified crops. I know little more about it than you will have read about in the newspapers etc.
I have no strong views either way. There are certain benefits, such as a reduction in the use of pesticides. Most farmers are generally unenthusiastic about the idea mainly because the public are very sceptical and also because there may be some risks involved in the longer term. For most farmers food safety is very important, we are after all in business to feed the nation, not poison it! Also, contrary to what some may think, farmers do care about the land they farm and the environment. Many farming families have been farming for generations and will hope that the next generation will continue to farm, so it will be their intention to pass the land on in as good or better condition than they inherited it.
Another concern I have is the only real people to benefit are Monsanto who are developing the idea. If GM crops are grown in this country and as a result costs are reduced and yields are increased, farmers won’t gain because we will get less for our produce, as has been the case for the past 40 years when we have produced more and more, for less and less.
At home a very welcome period of dryish weather has enabled us to spread most of the slurry. This is always a very popular activity at this time of the year, and I know how much you enjoy seeing us farmers on the roads with our slurry spreaders, littering mud for you to slide on. Also, many people have commented on how much they enjoy the pleasant smell.
We have also been able to spread some fertiliser on the grazing fields. With silage stocks getting very low we are hoping for an early turnout.
Like many other dairy farmers, the cows have not milked as well this winter as we had hoped, although the yield has improved slightly in the last few weeks. The reason for this is the poor summer followed by a very wet autumn and winter has taken its toll on the cows, and like the rest of us, they are fed up!
Hopefully by the time I write next month’s notes we will be getting lots of sunshine, the cows will be going out for a few hours each day, and we will all be happy.