Farmers have vital ability to change

Ihave a manuscript dated 1841 which records the memories of an old farmer who farmed the place where I was born. The opening line is that his great-great-grandfather farmed Gibliston in 1655. This is still an arable farm in the East Neuk of Fife. From that point on, he gives the history of a large farming family and the many holdings they moved to and from.

I was always fascinated by the way their history included farms my family farmed, and many old Fife families get a mention.

Equally, many present names are absent, their ancestors still being somewhere south of Glasgow.

The part which is relevant to today is where he explains why they moved so often. The ground would be cropped until it could produce no more, then left “in a state of nature” , ie fallowed until it could produce again.

He ponders if they only knew then, in the 18th Century, what they knew in the next about green manure and rotation…

This is important, as a recent report claims there are only 100 harvests left in the world’s soils. What rubbish.

Every generation farms according to the needs and opportunities of the age.

We may be taking as much out as possible, and some regions of the world may be running out of water, but every farmer knows what the limits are and can change to suit the demands and signals given. Just look at the move into AD plants and biomass.

Every country will face differing challenges and support, but the ability of the soil to produce is a given.

But will those in charge give the right signals, or will mistakes be made such as biofuels?

Much of sub-Saharan Africa could produce much more given organisation, and areas being exhausted would be easily restored by different practices, but these all need directions from governments.

This is important when we are looking for involvement from our newly liberated agricultural masters, free from Brussels.

Many English farms could do with grass in the rotation to cope with blackgrass, but I can’t see it happening soon. But some change will come, such as spring crops, which could affect us.

Always change.

Every farmer knows what the limits are, and can change to suit the demands and signals given