Comments – Have we missed a trick?
Seeing that the French farming unions are promising immediate strikes now that Macron has called snap elections (see link below) got me thinking. UK Ag has missed a trick, upon Rishi’s rather damp announcement of the July 4th election, we should all have been out on the street demanding action. OK but what action?
So here’s my manifesto:
- Farm Safety. Irrespective of political hue, we expect to go home safe, albeit slightly tired after a decent days work. Not unreasonable, and yet in many cases businesses simply cannot afford what is necessary to be safe. I would like all prospective candidates to commit to helping ensure that the HSE engage with farmers and the industry, instead of that cheap shot of ‘fees for intervention’. There, I’ve said it.
- Mental health. We have an explosion across farming and society of mental health illness. So lets be kind and urge the politicians to get involved in helping develop a kinder society;
- Alternative fuels, be it hydrogen, methane, electric or micro nuclear (steady!) we need some leadership to help the industry adapt and thrive. It’s a given that the food we need, needs fuel.
- Food security/self sufficiency – I know it’s a hot potato, this one, but we are at a historically very low point in self sufficiency. Contrary to popular belief, not all food grows in Sainsbury’s.
This rant has legs, but let’s leave it here, whilst I go and ‘charge’ my slurry tanker and look for some suitably combustible round bales.
Have a great week.
Andy
PS I could have pondered on the narrowness of the aisles at Cereals, the tents and the rain, but I’m sure we all have our own opinions, call me though, if you would like some reasoned discussion/gossip.
