Poor trade deals will leave us with the worst of all worlds
WITH us still under lockdown, with only slight easing of restrictions, the crops are still struggling because of dry weather but silaging begins for this year.
The Agriculture Bill is on its way to the Lords for scrutiny – and let’s hope that they realise the worth of a homeproduced, secure and safe food supply.
The worry is that food produced to poor standards will be allowed to be imported under trade deals to get good deals on other things.
The argument is not about quality or taste of the food but the fact there is no restriction on the use of growth hormones in feed; antibiotics are used without restriction and chemicals are used that are banned here.
An example is our oilseed rape crop production has decreased dramatically because of the ban of neonicatinoids and yet Ukraine rape seed is imported in vast quantities to make up shortfall, that is grown using neonics.
In the UK, antibiotic use has fallen by 53% and yet US use has increased by 9% (to 6,000 tonnes) potentially enhancing antimicrobial resistance.
These all threaten to undercut UK food production.
As the weather is so warm and dry, it’s worth just mentioning the country code, because more and more people are using our networks of footpaths – remember some farmers are still shielding or may have relatives who are.
Please avoid as much contact as you can with fasteners on gates and keep your distance from other users.
Do leave gates as you find them – if they’re shut when you get to them, please make sure you shut them after you pass through.
While it’s so dry, there is a risk of fire if you discard matches, cigarettes or don’t quench barbecues appropriately.
Please take all rubbish home with you – livestock and wildlife can be seriously harmed by it.
Special mention of dog poo bags - no-one likes to see poo bags hanging on tree branches, chucked in hedge bottoms or left on gate posts. Take them home or place in bins.
They also kill horses, cattle and sheep which are attracted to the cereal content from the food the dog has eaten but collect and block the animals digestive system. If you have a dog, be responsible.
Which brings me on to worrying of livestock – be aware your dog can cause harm by chasing, even if just for fun, but there are horrendous examples of ewes with shredded faces or throats when it’s got out of hand.
Please keep your dogs on leads when near livestock but let off if you feel threatened by a cow with a calf, as they, too, are breeding.
Wildlife is at peak breeding time and it’s easy to disturb nests or interrupt rearing by indiscriminate roaming, so please stay on footpaths.
Right to roam does not apply everywhere, only on open moorland, mountains or heathland.
Farmland does not come into this category.
But otherwise you will hear and see birds that are busy nesting, butterflies and moths that help pollinate and, if you’re quiet, small mammals that are busy finding food for their young.