Western Daily Press (Saturday)
AHDB levy should be entirely voluntary
ANYONE who reads my column regularly will know I haven’t got a huge amount of respect or time for the little daffodil grower who now runs Defra.
But this week it’s all change: I want to congratulate George Eustice on having the courage and tenacity to stand up to the farming establishment and to announce that he will respect the outcome of the farmers’ ballot on the future of the AHDB levy.
The no-option levy has been a thorn in farmers’ sides for years which is why Farmers for Action originally launched its campaign for it to be abolished. We did so at one of the major dairy shows and immediately came under some pretty withering fire from the predictable quarters. We were accused of trying to destroy one of the cornerstones of British agriculture, of attempting to bring down an institution which has served farmers well for years and continued to do so.
Our defence to that was that we had canvassed our members and their opinions were pretty well identical: whether they were pig farmers or tomato growers they had had enough of a compulsory levy which was taken out of their market returns and whose benefits were impossible to detect even with a very large magnifying glass.
Most of all it was the principle of having to contribute to a statutory body over which they had not the least shred of democratic control but which simply spent their money how it saw fit that was angering them most. George has obviously caught the mood of the farming community in adopting the stance he has and three cheers for that. But it is inevitable he is going to have to take a lot of flak from the higher echelons of the industry, the NFU’s top brass, who are going to see the writing on the wall and the door leading to cosy sinecures to see them through to their retirement years slowly closing.
Because that is what the AHDB has become: an organisation run on cronyism where people get seats around the table not because of how expert they are; not because of their inspirational leadership skills or their in-depth knowledge. Not because they have earned the respect of large sections of the farming community or become giants in their particular sector. None of that: the key to a post with the AHDB is knowing the right people.
Essentially the AHDB is a consultancy. But like all farmers if I feel I need the services of a consultant I have literally hundreds to choose from. I will willingly pay them for their services and expect to benefit from the advice I receive in return.
As things stand I have to pay the AHDB willy-nilly with no guarantee that it will be able to deliver any information or knowledge that will improve my business.
I am entirely content for the AHDB to remain in existence, if that is the industry’s wish. But levies should be entirely voluntary – though I seriously wonder how long it will survive once that change is implemented.
And one final question: if the AHDB continues to insist that it is not a retirement home for underachievers from the NFU but is instead a cutting-edge organisation delivering (in its words) “the transformational projects to inspire our farmers, growers and industry to drive productivity and support farming and supply chain businesses” why, as I write this, is the milk price less than it was in 1995?
We were accused of trying to destroy one of the cornerstones of British agriculture
LAST week was a big one for Pixie, our petite but punchy kitten, as she reached an important milestone in the journey to adulthood.
At nearly six months of age, she made her first kill last week. Well, sort of. Okay, not at all, because the prey was in fact long since dead.
But who am I, as a nurturing owner, to tell her otherwise? I just can’t bear to burst Pixie’s bubble of pride and satisfaction.
Despite Coco unearthing it first, Pixie has – as per usual – bulldozed in and taken ownership of what we’re calling the ‘mummified mouse’, which has been perfectly preserved in the dry heat of our polytunnel over a period of probably many months. It’s still very recognisable as a long-tailed rodent, so I don’t think we’re talking years.
It may be rather unresponsive and as stiff as a board, but that doesn’t seem to bother this trainee hunter. There’s no more little Miss Cute Kitty as she clasps her claws around the lifeless body, flinging it into the air before dashing to retrieve it, barely giving the prey chance to consider making a break for freedom. It’s like watching a somewhat primal version of tiddlywinks. There’s no denying that in death, this mouse is teaching Pixie an awful lot about life. Judging on what she’s shown me so far, I don’t give the first live mouse she catches much of a chance. If it doesn’t die of shock, the dizziness of being tossed up in the air multiple times may well be its downfall!
After all that ferociousness, I’m still yet to mention the evil stare and ominous growls that Pixie becomes possessed with when she’s got a hold of her victim. A sweet and loving bundle of fur? You’d be lucky!
While all of this plays out, you’ll always find Coco looking on from a safe distance, never quite brave enough to claim back her long-lost prey from the annoying little sister.
Despite the enjoyment he (or she) brings, we do draw the line at letting mummified mouse in the house. A last little bit of peace before the unwanted ‘guests’ start to arrive!