Trying to write Farming Matters to appeal to the wide range of people who read the Bradworthy News is not always easy. I write as a farmer giving a farmer's point of view and judging by the favourable comments I receive from farmers and non-farmers alike and indeed some criticisms from a few, then I have probably got it about right.
I aim sometimes told I should put forward a more positive image of farming. I agree, but I think it is important that I tell it as it is. Most farmers have been positive and have adapted very well to change either by making their business more efficient, cutting costs and/or increasing output or perhaps scaling down the farming operation and taking up part time work, while others have gone out of farming completely. Many who have gone out of full time farming are now earning more money than they were. For some, particularly tenant farmers who have not got any money put by, they will not have enough to retire on. The pressure both physically and mentally that some farmers and their families are under and which sometimes lead to disastrous consequences should not be underestimated.
At the time of writing the French BSE problem is much in the news. I find it very frustrating that the French are still banning our beef which complies to very high standards, but our government are still allowing imports of French beef which in many ways does not comply to the same standards. Probably by the time you read this the situation will have moved on.
The very wet weather has lead to problems for many farmers with un-harvested crops of cereals, maize and grass silage still out in the fields. Planting of winter crops has also been a problem. The quality of silage made this year has been generally not very good which has meant that cows are not milking very well. This coupled with the fact that a large number of farms have gone out of milk production means that nationally we are unlikely to reach quota this year. The advantage of this is that farmers who lease quota in will not need to pay much, if anything for it, and in theory a shortage will lead to a further increase in the milk price. The downside is that the milk buyers (not the government as one of my critics pointed out to me) may need to import milk.
This does open up opportunities to produce extra milk profitably this winter, and to benefit from this we are increasing production by milking three times a day. I will let you know in the next issue how we get on.
I think I am correct in thinking that I get a month off from writing Farming Matters so the next issue will be in February when I hope it will have stopped raining! Happy Christmas