The future of the small family farm
Defra's interest in exploring how agricultural tenancies can be made more competitive and supportive of people entering farming might be seen as more political than practical. A reduction in the number of farming holdings has significant benefits for government. Small farms make up a significant and deserving section of the rural poor, they use technology and methods which are out-dated and thus often less environmentally friendly, they have poor records and management systems. They are often involved in the supply of goods, such as eggs and vegetables, direct to the consumer, which requires difficult and expensive regulation.
Incomes of large farms are generally satisfactory and have fewer social issues. Large farms are easier to administer, and, being mainly concerned with the supply of commodities to the processing and supply trade, have appropriate inspections and regulation. Large farms have recording systems and are fully conversant with the various departments.
The disadvantage or risk of an industry made up of large farms is less obvious. However, they are less likely to pass on husbandry skills, as they increasingly rely on a workforce from outside the UK. They are more concerned with mono-culture and are less diversified in terms of enterprise and genetics. Large farms suit the supply of large retailers, but have difficulty in developing niche and high value products. Large farms are inflexible in operation, as investment and skills are contained in a limited and specialised area of farming.
Yet the evidence suggests that soil - the basis of all agriculture - is improved by mixed farming operations and is damaged by mono-culture.
Small farms have a long and healthy future in Britain. Their problems arise when they are managed as if they were large units - ie supplying commodities to processors like their larger counterparts, but in smaller quantities.
Excerpted from 'The Future for Small Family Farms' : a talk by Mike Donovan, editor, Practical Farm Ideas.
The small farm and small farmer is a sad loss to all, in particular to the Agricultural Contractor. These were farms where they had no intention of buying the equipment and were therefore a loyal customer to get. They were also able to work for the contractor on a part time basis to supplement their farm, bringing with them skills which can only come from living and working on a small farm. It was a win win situation. The large farms bring their own men, who demand their own equipment to work and any contractor who comes in will only be for specialised and with large equipment - umbilical slurry, forage, combine, but this is not even guaranteed. It has put the small farmer/agri contractor role into the last century. The new Agri Contractor is a large farmer with large single farm payment, plenty of acres, plenty of men and who can take or leave the job as it is all extras and not essential to his business. He is able to take the risk and buy the large pieces of equipment, the SFP is guaranteed, he is not reliant on the customer only. This means that this is not an even playing field and price cutting can be brutal. Its a sad state of affairs and very unfair. What has the Single Farm Payment done to our farming community - made them into form filling scroungers.
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