Greening

[scolopax]

Another win for the farmers, another loss for wildlife...........

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-27764658

 

The GWCT were trying to put a positive spin on the inclusion of peas and greens as part of the new payment scheme, did not seem very convincing to me !

 

 

[Quickshot]

So because the BBC word it like thats the only thing the grants will be used for, its instantly bad?

 

In reality, its a very small part of it all, and really its not a good thing for farmers as the prices of pulses will fall as more people choose to grow them.

 

Actually, greening is good for wildlife, and shooting. Other options for EFA's include buffer strips, hedges and includes areas previously in ELS/HLS schemes.

 

Please read into it yourselves and not just believe what the numptys at the BBC write.

 

Rant over.

 

QS

[scolopax]

Okay, arable farmers by inclination grow crops, that is what they do, given the choice of a wild bird cover, some buffer strips down a beck side etc etc or a field of winter beans, all things being equal, the winter beans will win, less hassle, no fiddly little areas to negotiate, etc etc. So by including the option of peas and beans as an option overall wildlife will loose out.

[Quickshot]

Of course, but its not as simple as that. Prices will fall, cost are rising. a farmer wont grow a crop that costs him more that he can sell it for. The fact he is getting part of his subsidy which has been related to this is not relevant as the crop will not pay for itself if everyone grows it as the market will flood. it is more beneficial and efficient for a farmer to take field corners and turn them into EFA areas as they don't have to fiddle around in the small corners with their big machinery then.

 

These areas are likely to then be managed by wildlife minded people, like You and I. Some people call us shooting enthusiasts. But our focus, although it is primarily on our sport, is conservation which we take very seriously and throughout the UK and the wider countryside we have an enormous involvement in.

 

You must realise that 5% of a farm's area is a large proportion to be designated to be EFA's. This is a large productive area to be taken away. If you have a farm of 1000 acres, that 50 of them gone. 50 acres growing 3t/ac of wheat is 150t, at £160/t thats £24000 of income they are losing. Yes i realise there are costs to come out of that, but the fact is there is at least £10,000 of profit there, which the farmer would lose when he gives up the 50 acre field to greening.

 

There has to be compromise. Europe has imposed this upon us, and so DEFRA has done its best to be reasonable. In a country which is only 60% self sufficient in food production it is hugely important that we continue to optimise the production of such.

 

QS