Farm Diary December 10 2008

I was in Scotland last week for 24 hours, and the flight up was a real pleasure, with snowy fields below glittering in the sun. Taking off from Gatwick was interesting; the aircraft flying sideways on take-off as a strong gust of wind caught it. There were only a few of us on board, and I had casually 'volunteered' to man one of the emergency exits (which must be done apparently), only to suddenly realise I might need to get to grips with the emergency procedure as we embarked on a fairground type experience.

As usual I had not paid attention to the instructions (my old school-teachers would be nodding knowingly at this unsurprising revelation), but lets be honest, getting to grips with how the door opens and securing the 'chute' is not likely to be one's greatest concern!

It's been a busy week, starting with a visit to Brussels to Chair the COPA (European farming Unions) meeting, attempting to get agreement between 28 countries on CAP reform (latest known as the 'Health-check'), whilst simultaneously listening to translations on my head-phones, the urgent whisperings of the nervous COPA Secretary, and ignoring the (well known) representative of a Southern country who had gone on at great length once already.

Meetings must run to time, as the translators will leave at the appointed time, whether we have finished or not; nothing sharpens the Chairman's mind more than that I can tell you!

In the afternoon at the Commission, I tackled the commissioner on various agenda items we had discussed in the morning. I challenged him that the CAP is now not only more complex, but in fact less common, as greater latitude is given to national governments to take money from the 'single farm payment' and use it to assist various groups in upland areas, or less favoured areas.

Our government will of course take as much as it can, and together with Natural England and the RSPB, use it on environmental schemes, which means that England (Scotland and Wales have government on side) becomes less competitive. It is quite clear now that Hillary Benn, Defra and Natural England have no interest whatsoever in productive agriculture, and are presiding over the demise of large areas and huge number of farmers, who are set to leave the industry.

There is a real danger that large chunks of production in livestock enterprises (pig, poultry, dairy, and beef) are set to be exported for ever unless something is done. As the retailers fight the bloodiest war ever seen (they are only just getting into their stride), they are squeezing processors and suppliers, who in turn will turn on the farmers.

It is imperative that a fair distribution of margins along the supply chain is policed, as without such policing; the short termism of the retailer will ruin the long term viability for many.

The NFU is 100 years old today (Wednesday), and many of the issues faced over that time are still with us today, namely low prices, the battle against animal disease, and cheap imports.

The NFU was started in Lincolnshire, when a group of farmers led by a bull of a man called Colin Campbell, met in the ante-room at the Smithfield show on Dec:10th 1908 and formed the National Farmers Union. Colin Campbell was derided by many for attempting to unite 'the one class of men who would never combine' (Amen to that!).