Political control freaks steering towards cliff edge

Comment Brian Henderson

As someone who is occasionally – and entirely without justification in my opinion – accused of being a bit of a control freak, I’d have to admit that I initially found myself struggling with the new auto- steer system on the driller tractor.

But by the time all the crops were sown my arguments with this high- tech helping hand, which can guide the machine up and down the field with a precision I could only dream of emulating, were limited to the odd turn- in as a new round commenced.

To start with it is a weird feeling when you engage the automatic guidance and the steering wheel starts to turn of its own accord – with some determination. Although you can over- ride it, like a wilful child the guidance system gives a couple of tugs on the steering wheel before relinquishing control back to the driver.

However, by the end of the spring sowing I could see the benefits – for one of the biggest strains of the job, keeping a straight line, especially on the slopes on our fields, can be a full- time job.

But with this aspect handled by a computer, the operator has more time to concentrate on the finer details of the drilling procedure itself such as monitoring seed depth and rates and soil conditions – as well as deciding if the machine has to be stopped for the next “driller- killer” stone which the power harrow digs up.

Being able to take my hands off the steering wheel also made communicating with the rest of the team and keeping an eye on weather reports

0 The new auto- steer system on tractors is full of benefits and the rain radar a deal easier. It also made meal times at the wheel a site more relaxing!

The biggest boon, though, especially in a year like this with a real rush to get the crops in, was the fact that, along with the new super- bright LED lights, it gave you confidence to continue sowing well after darkness had fallen, without too much fear of the line wandering and leaving bits of the field unsown.

And it also saved some of the incessant window cleaning which is always required when the combination of showers from above and dust from below obscures the glass on even the best of cabs.

While we won’t know for sure just how good a job the machine ( and the operator) has done until the crops actually briared, things looked fairly neat and tidy after drilling had been carried out and the fields rolled ( and I’m pretty sure I managed to rectify the occasional hiccup when I headed off hands- free up the field but forgot to actuate the steering control button…)

So, I gradually began to accept that sometimes it might pay to curb any tendency towards being a control freak.

And while this piece might have a practical “bum on the tractor seat” ring to it, I did find myself wondering if a greater degree of flexibility – and a lot less control freakery – at a political level might not be a good thing for the industry as well.

It has been pretty clear for quite some time that the manner in which EU farming powers are repatriated from Brussels has been a sticking point in Brexit discussions between the Scottish and UK governments, but the fact that major principles were at stake was explicitly voiced last week.

And, with the two sides apparently focused on holding on to as much power and control as possible, the serious and urgent job of developing policy and plans for the industry is being impeded by a desire for control – on both sides – which represents a considerable threat to the long- term future of the industry.

Many organisations have been urging farmers to forget the political wranglings over which they have little influence – and concentrate on the technical issues which they can control.

But this is a bit like watching out the back window of the tractor and keeping a close eye on the workings of the driller I found myself thinking that the lack of political action means the auto- steer has not been engaged and the tractor is meandering blindly towards the edge of a cliff.