Comment – Interesting times

I am sure that the ancient curse, ‘may you live in interesting times’ has been cited here
before, but scanning the news this week reminds us of that.

As the price of oil nudges over $90 a barrel, and we start to feel it at the pumps, we are
once again glancing sideways at other options. With 8KW of panels on one of the farm
buildings here, it’s unlikely we will be taking over the world with our output, but it does
cover about 50% of our farm, office and home electricity consumption.

Have a look at the latest news from a French start-up regarding their ‘production ready’
electric tractor. It’s coming. And it’s not from China.

Back at home, the oats and peas have been round baled and the land is worked and
waiting for some rain before the stubble turnips go in.. There is rain in the forecast for
the first time in three weeks so the drill will be going on shortly.

The recently published Farming Roadmap for England clearly sets out a line of travel for
farmers, and the CAAV have spent some time looking at the detail. Specifically spelling
out the focus on low input, high technology farming, and supporting productive farming.

Yours truly isn’t that sure that the government truly has an appetite to support
productive farming, and my experience of low input farming, is that it usually equals low
output farming.

Speaking of the Government, our new prime minister is set on his summer holidays in
Blackpool, one assumes (the Cornwall of the north?!). He isn’t taking the opportunity to
recall parliament anytime soon to tackle the big issues of the day.

Oh and isn’t the architect of Burnhams meteoric rise, Louise Haigh a big fan of a land
tax?

Interesting times indeed.

Andy