farming – Page 30

Brexit and the OECD challenge to subsidies

Every year the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) releases an ‘Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation Report’ which looks at and assesses the various agricultural policies of the 35 OECD nations around the world, as well as 15 ‘selected partner economies’. The 2016 version was released back in June, but BBC Farming Today broughtContinueContinue reading “Brexit and the OECD challenge to subsidies”

Subsidies…dare we predict the future?

If you type in the phrase ‘farm subsidies’ into any search engine news feed you will find multiple references to the super rich receiving hundreds of thousands of pounds in subsidy for simply owning land. Under our current format of payments, driven by the Common Agricultural Policy, landowners receive payments for being just that, landowners. TheContinueContinue reading “Subsidies…dare we predict the future?”

Squash Harvest

Yesterday, I joined about twenty others to help with the squash harvest at the Community Farm, near Chew Magna, Somerset. It was a beautiful day and together we gathered more than 200kg per person. It was my first experience of picking squash. Some of us moved up the field cutting them off the stalk andContinueContinue reading “Squash Harvest”

Young Farmers, Brexit and Future Prospects

Earlier today an article I recently wrote on the prospects of young farmers in a post Brexit world was published by the Sustainable Food Trust. It was the result of a brief survey of young producers across the country and in many ways began to shift my opinion towards one of acceptance regarding Brexit. ItContinueContinue reading “Young Farmers, Brexit and Future Prospects”

Teenagers blamed for a future milk crisis

I have a confession to make. I am a milk drinker. I am a cheese eater. I will also have cream (if it is available) with my strawberries. I am not going to stop drinking milk or eating cheese or having cream on my strawberries anytime soon. However, I am also, according to recent statistics,ContinueContinue reading “Teenagers blamed for a future milk crisis”