2nd July 2007

p>Having complained about the weather in the last diary entry, the havoc caused by the unseasonal rain continues to disrupt life in the UK. Cancelling the last day of the Royal Show or the loss of another day at Wimbledon are minor issues compared to those poor people who have been flooded out of their homes, but the gray overcast skies, water-logged show ground and visitors being towed out of the mud, rather typified the mood of UK agriculture of a few weeks ago.

But how quickly the mood can change – despite the weather, there is now a perceptible optimism in the air.

We have a new Minister in Hilary Benn who, at the Royal Show, shared some of his experiences and understanding of the issues facing farming – not gleaned just from the UK but from his time as International Development Secretary, visiting farms as far afield as Malawi, Vietnam and Nigeria. He spoke of the need for biodiversity; transparent, proportionate and cost-effective control of animal disease; and the need to be able to respond to flood, drought and pests. He also pledged to listen to the farming community, and promised an autumn conference bringing together all facets of the industry to identify priorities and to use his responsibilities as an elected politician to improve matters.

As James Paice, Opposition spokesman on rural affairs said at the Royal Show, recent price improvements in milk price, rising corn prices and demand driven by productive land being diverted to biofuel production, should not mask the underlying problems faced by primary production. There is a very long way to go until improved returns will enable all-important investment in the future.

But …. let’s just hope that a revival in agriculture will also see the Royal Show return as the show case for all that is good in British agriculture – its going to be a long, hard road!

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