Forum Topic

Farming today

Not a BBC programme I usually listen to but this morning had a couple of interesting points to make. Out of the 800 temporary butcher visas offered to encourage EU butchers to come to the UK , 50 turned up. So, 30,000 pigs have been destroyed while we continue to import pork from the EU.The programme confirmed that the Australia deal is pretty disastrous for British farming and that it will have virtually disappeared within ten years.

Stewart Jones ● 1741d34 Comments

SJ > "The programme confirmed that the Australia deal is pretty disastrous for British farming and that it will have virtually disappeared within ten years."On the plus side, it is estimated that the deal might increase GDP by as much as 0.08% by 2035 (the estimate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty).

John Whitworth ● 1741d

Good old Brexit - gotta love it!Do people still believe it was a good idea?

Vanessa Smith ● 1741d

Course they do because they're the British equivalent to Trumpers.

Basil Finnis ● 1741d

"pretty disastrous for British farming and that it will have virtually disappeared within ten years."More room to build houses for all the immigrants?  Oh no, wait a minute, good, hard working immigrants from the EU are no longer welcome and wouldn't want to come here anyway. Never mind, we can import everything we need from the EU at huge cost and pay all the duties and taxes. It's called "Getting back Control" of our demise!!!!

Steve Taylor ● 1741d

It's a very interesting programme.  There has been talk of the animals which should already have been added to the food chain for weeks as they grow larger costing farmers more in food for them.  That they should just be destroyed is heartbreaking.  There was also a problem with poultry.  I believe they are still having to be kept indoors because of bird flu.  I did read recently that eggs could now be sexed which should mean that a change could now come so that male chicks are no longer destroyed the way they have been.All good reasons to make a big effort to not waste the food that you buy and call for less waste in the whole of the production chain.

Philippa Bond ● 1740d

As you say Farming Today is a very good programme. Very factual for farmers and how they are affected. It is interesting to note that a Liberal was talking about the recent Liberal gain and she said farmers in the Cotswolds had realised what the Austrailian deal meant for them. However a huge percentage of farmers voted for Brexit! Now some are voting Liberal. However keep listening to Farming Today.

Nicholas Beard ● 1740d

Yes it is pretty conclusive that if there was another Brexit referendum we would be begging to rejoin the EU.  It is blatantly obvious that with our current political system we are incapable of ruling ourselves. We need direction from Brussels.

Steve Taylor ● 1740d

https://wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk/features/farming-environment-ethics-meat/soy-free-next-big-thing-sustainable-foodThis is interesting on changing away from soy as a staple.More veg!

Philippa Bond ● 1740d

I'm waiting for all those Brexiteers to chime in and tear us off a strip for daring to question the Brexit consequences for farmers! Funny how they've retired to the shadows ...

Beatrice Harper ● 1740d

Not just the local ones - useless lord frost has resigned to hide in the upper chamber. He claims over covid restrictions and taxation. The truth is more likely that after months of trying to square the circle of northern ireland, he has finally worked out that he can't. And never could. It is now Brexit that sees him disappear. I think we have finally found one upside to Brexit.

Alan Clark ● 1740d

Vegetarian Beatrice, enjoying the usual moaners though.

Janice Evans ● 1740d

Gender neutral, eggs blame Brexit.!

James Dow ● 1740d

Enjoying the country going to the dogs too?

Stewart Jones ● 1740d

Strangely, vegetables also are grown on farms!! Unfortunately, due to Brexit there is nobody available to harvest the crops!! Never mind we can import our veggies from the EU.

Steve Taylor ● 1740d

Oh and we have not had a Pandemic.

Janice Evans ● 1739d

Brexit is a great success and we have not had a Pandemic. Isn't that right Janice?

Andrew Jones ● 1739d

Lol not going there, said ask in 5 years time.

Janice Evans ● 1739d

See you in just over 4 years then!

Andrew Jones ● 1739d

Yes depending on th Pandemic if we have this every year which is verylikely.

Janice Evans ● 1739d

AJ > "See you in just over 4 years then!"According to some, the success of Brexit will not be apparent for decades:*  30 years - Ryan Bourne of the Cato Institute*  50 years - Jacob Rees-Mogg* 100 years - Lord Digby Jones

John Whitworth ● 1739d

The Pandemic has push things back, I'm being very generous with 5years.

Janice Evans ● 1739d

“ Oh and we have not had a Pandemic.”I think you have found that countries in the EU have also had, and continue to have, a pandemic. They do, however, manage to harvest their crops and slaughter their pigs as before the pandemic.

Steve Taylor ● 1739d

Ah but you all like to ignore the Pandemic it's good those that like to eat meat are suddenly so concerned isn't it.

Janice Evans ● 1739d

Fabulous R 4 programme especially the farming awards!!

Janice White ● 1739d

Of course you can't ignore the pandemic.But the pandemic isn't responsible for the customs barriers that have arisen as a result of the UK leaving the EU. The pandemic isn't responsible for the increased bureaucracy. The pandemic isn't responsible for companies here losing business from the EU, because it's easier to deal with other companies within the EU.

Andrew Jones ● 1739d

“it's good those that like to eat meat are suddenly so concerned isn't it.”Why is it that you think meat eaters are “suddenly” concerned?  Isn’t EVERYONE (excluding all the selfish Tory Toffs) concerned about rapidly soaring prices and shortages, caused by Brexit?

Steve Taylor ● 1739d

Don't worry.Liz Truss has been appointed as the UK's Brexit negotiator.What could possibly go wrong?Leaving that aside for the moment, why we are still negotiating Brexit two years after Johnson's "oven ready deal" to "get Brexit done".  This one is going to run and run.The rumours comming out of Bruxelles at the moment are that Frost resigned because Johnson finally recognised the impossibility of a beneficial (or even a non-destructive)  Brexit, and instructed him to explore the possibility of "associate" membership of the customs union.  But who knows.  Either way Johnson will be hoisted with his own petard.

T P Howell ● 1739d

That’s a bit late for the 30,000 pigs.

Stewart Jones ● 1739d

But people knew what they were voting for, apparently!

Stewart Jones ● 1739d

An oven-ready deal from someone who appears to have never cooked a meal/worked in a kitchen.

Philippa Bond ● 1738d

'But people knew what they were voting for, apparently!'Did they buggery! I suspect that many of those foiled into supporting that utter madness are now beginning to see what many of us already knew - Johnson is just a lying con artist, whose only priority is him.

Vanessa Smith ● 1738d

Utter nonsense.I will sum it up in one word: Independence.French and German intransigence merely serves to strengthen the beliefs of most people who voted leave.It is worthwhile pointing out that two big political figures, Liz Truss and David Frost, who has seen the workings of the EU at close quarters, have now completely changed their initial opinions to remain, and have become ardent leavers.

Denis I. Fox ● 1738d

That's an interesting perspective Denis.Independence from what?Can you explain the how the EU works, in particular the role and powers of its various institutions? The reason I ask is that most people I have come across who talk about "independence" or "Sovereignty" in the context of Brexit are usually misinformed how the EU works.  E.g. the This is not a criticism - it is merely the result of several decades of anti-EU misinformation - most particularly the nonsense spread by Johnson himself (who admitted that if he started any article with "Britain stood alone last night....." (with any nonsense to follow) whilst he as a correspondent for the Telegraph (i.e. after being sacked from the Times for lying) he did not have to do any real work - he could just make it up - the more outrageous the better.

T P Howell ● 1737d

French & German intransigence? In regard to what? It would be helpful if you could confirm in what way these two countries have been refusing to moderate their positions. We can then judge if they have been unreasonable or if you are simply repeated a Daily Mail type notion without any substance.

Alan Clark ● 1737d