Farm Diary

Cold, blustery, hail, and snow; all par for the course on this island practically any month of the year. Apparently it's what keeps life interesting and encourages us to come to terms with our environment.

I was the only one to remember about the hour this morning, and the lads are regretting the fact that I have been on holiday, and am full of energy once more.

The cows hadn't changed their clocks either, and they were wondering what this idiot was doing hanging around the yard on his own an hour earlier than anyone else!

Typically, there were no problems to sort out (not that I am complaining about that), where as yesterday morning, a cow on heat had been messing about with the other cows, and had been pushed over into the feed trough. So first job of the day was to get her out, and thankfully she was fine.

All grassland has been fertilized, all the young-stock are able to run in and out at Tillington, as we continue to cart muck to the maize fields.

No chance of turning cows out on the water-logged clay at Plaistow, but they seem to be very happy indoors with no desire to even think about going out in this weather.

The cows are looking too well actually, which is pleasant on the eye (and very nice for them I am sure) but not so hot on the bank balance. They will put some of that back in the tank during the summer I hope.

Tesco announced another milk price increase last week of half a pence per litre taking them to 28ppl. This was properly negotiated with the farmer representatives and is a welcome increase to assist with spiralling feed and fertilizer costs.

Of course it would be nice if the increase had been more, but given that this is a unique milk contract that can not now fall below 27ppl whatever happens, other milk buyers are trailing way behind.

We are now entering unknown territory in the dairy industry as the price of milk in this country is no longer following commodity prices due to shortages.

The dairy companies are desperate for milk, and although commodity prices have fallen, they dare not cut the price as their suppliers will leave, and British dairy farmers will continue to give up milk production, making things worse. They have preached supply and demand to us for years, and now the boot is firmly on the other foot, and for the first time ever, they have to go out and really sell the milk, cheese, butter, yoghurt etc:

Changing the subject; I have a buckled wheel on my car! Having returned from holiday, I drove through two pot-holes between Plaistow and Shillinglee (unavoidable when cars are coming in the other direction), both of which are very deep and very nasty.

I am claiming against WSCC for the damage, and I have been asked to fill in forms, send copies of all my driving documents, and photograph the pot holes!

Why are the roads so bad? Country roads in the Plaistow area have always been poor, but never as bad as this. We pay road tax, we pay taxes, and we pay stratospheric Council Tax.

Could the person responsible for the highways please write in to this paper and explain themselves please. I await the letter with some anticipation.

Meanwhile Camden Council in London has plans to reduce their 'carbon footprint' by banning workers from eating meat and dairy products. Can you believe it? I thought this sort of communism was long dead, but no it is still well and truly alive in Camden. By holding up veganism as the simple solution to a complex problem, all they do is show their extreme ignorance and prejudices.

Environmental issues are very large on the livestock radar these days due to the poor old cow being held largely responsible for climate change due to her gentle 'burp'.

Carbon is one thing, but Nitrous Oxide and Methane quite another, and if cows are responsible for large quantities of methane together with the breakdown of ice in Antarctica, and the vast majority of Nitrous Oxide comes from the natural breakdown occurring in soils and the earth's crust, there is not much we can do about it '“ unless you want us all to start shooting our cows '“ and then we can eventually prove that it made no difference!

As you can see, I get pretty hot under the collar with all this nonsense. Emissions, carbon footprint, climate change, global warming, greenhouse gases '“ call it what you will; it is a convenient excuse to regulate, pontificate, lecture and raise taxes.

I am against waste and I think we should all live responsibly, but everyone with an axe on his shoulder (and there are plenty) are busy sharpening them in the name of this phenomenon.

On an upbeat note, I see that our local Brinsbury College (now merged with Chichester College) has successfully reversed the decline in agricultural student numbers; training potential employees for the industry, with some going on to Harper Adams University to further their studies to degree level.

Many courses are run at the college, and all young people interested in

agriculture should contact Richard Butterfield (Lecturer for Agriculture) at [email protected]

This feature was first published in the West Sussex Gazette April 2. To see it first, buy the West Sussex Gazette every Wednesday.