African Continent Faces the ArmyWorm

Whenever there is news reported about Africa in the west it tends to be bad news. I therefore don’t really relish writing this article. I’m following the trend. However, what amazes me is that apart from an article in the FT and in The Independent the mainstream media [I accept that the Ugandan Independent isn’t ‘mainstream’ inContinueContinue reading “African Continent Faces the ArmyWorm”

‘Meet the Farmers’ Episode 6. – Tim May at Pitt Hall Farm

Tim May farms around 1000ha in north Hampshire. He is a Nuffield Scholar and we spoke at length about sustainability, the subject he focused on during his travels. He is an advocate of ‘enterprise stacking’, using the same piece of land for many different enterprises.

In defence of farmers

Some of you might have read the ‘Dairy is Scary’ piece published in the Guardian’s opinion section last week. It was incredibly polarising and quite understandably angered many, including myself. There are always two sides to every coin and good journalism should I feel take both into account. I understand that this was an opinionContinueContinue reading “In defence of farmers”

Universal Basic Income a Farm Subsidy Solution?

N.b This post was originally published in Countrysquire Magazine. With the signing of Article 50 imminent, land management subsidies will surely form at least part of the pre-Brexit debates. I have seen several articles published in the past few weeks in various papers, magazine and blogs discussing the concepts of both automation and universal basicContinueContinue reading “Universal Basic Income a Farm Subsidy Solution?”

Who will win the Hedge Cutting debate? Birds v Contractors

In this week’s Farmers Weekly it is difficult to ignore their campaign to repeal the August hedge cutting ban. It seems that the furrows in the brows of contractors are getting deeper and two years after the ban was put in place they continue to call for its reversal. It is an issue that seems toContinueContinue reading “Who will win the Hedge Cutting debate? Birds v Contractors”