British Farming must not be allowed or forced to die!

02-06-2005, 06:33 PM

Gareth did point out where you had misquoted me and argued a straw man, Anthony.

Christina

Anthony Butcher · 02-06-2005, 06:47 PM

OK, we will have to agree to disagree. The loss of the word "British" makes absolutely no difference, and if you want to continue that discussion, it will have to go in the new zone.

I checked my emails, but can't see it. Can you resend it please?

gareth2 · 02-06-2005, 07:05 PM

I just PM'd it through this board. And it does make a difference.

Regards,
Gareth.

02-06-2005, 07:11 PM

I agree with Gareth, but will choose to agree to disagree with Anthony and let such discussions be kept in the designated area.

Christina

kernow · 02-06-2005, 07:20 PM

When I started this post I was hoping to get some serious replies about British farming, unfortunately like so many of the postings it ends up as a little spat between the BNP and others. I'm sorry I bothered.

mkpdavies · 02-06-2005, 07:24 PM

Back on subject.

Fully agree that Britain should be self sufficient in food.

Don't agree with taxing food from abroad though. If we can't grow and distribute food here at a competetive prive to those that have to add international shipping to the equation, then there is something wrong.

Anthony Butcher · 02-06-2005, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernow

When I started this post I was hoping to get some serious replies about British farming, unfortunately like so many of the postings it ends up as a little spat between the BNP and others. I'm sorry I bothered.

Which is why we have the new zone.

So, back on to farming.

I think that one solution to the farming issue is to promote foodmiles. Make people far more aware of how far their food has travelled to reach them. This has implications for freshness, standards, environment and patriotism, and so can appeal on many levels.

Promoting locally grown food where possible is the key to keeping farming alive, helping to protect the environment and ensuring that we control the standards of animal welfare.

Alex McKee · 02-06-2005, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony Butcher

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernow

When I started this post I was hoping to get some serious replies about British farming, unfortunately like so many of the postings it ends up as a little spat between the BNP and others. I'm sorry I bothered.

Which is why we have the new zone.

So, back on to farming.

I think that one solution to the farming issue is to promote foodmiles. Make people far more aware of how far their food has travelled to reach them. This has implications for freshness, standards, environment and patriotism, and so can appeal on many levels.

Promoting locally grown food where possible is the key to keeping farming alive, helping to protect the environment and ensuring that we control the standards of animal welfare.

You are absolutely right there Anthony.

Paul Birch · 02-06-2005, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernow

When I started this post I was hoping to get some serious replies about British farming, unfortunately like so many of the postings it ends up as a little spat between the BNP and others. I'm sorry I bothered.

I read your original post. I agree in general. However, the solution is not an import tax, which would merely encourage inefficiency, allowing farmers to get away with failing to innovate or to improve their techniques; the solution is a completely free market in foodstuffs, when the natural comparative advantage of local produce would almost certainly win out. There might be a case for buying up and maintaining a strategic reserve of (British grown) produce in case of war, but in practice I suspect that this would end up becoming yet another government subsidy and doing more harm than good. The spur of open competition is essential.

You mentioned WWII. One of the major causes of the shortage of food in the UK was the government's interference in the market through rationing, which by holding prices artificially low seriously reduced the incentives for Britons to grow more food or foreign vessels to run the Nazi blockade. The policy also cost an enormous amount to administer - I seem to recall calculating once that it cost us the equivalent of another 100 Spitfires in the Battle of Britain or 100 Lancasters in the bombing campaign against Germany.

John Carter · 02-06-2005, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernow

An Island Country must be able to supply most of the food that it needs, if not it is in a very dangerous position of being starved INTO phpbb_submission by it's food suppliers.

Agreed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernow

Britain for a start should and is capable of being self sufficient in producing home grown meat, milk and cereals and a huge amount of veg'

No. We can supply only around 66% of our needs due to overpopulation. If everyone went veggie, we could do 100% easily.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernow

( don't believe me? then ask any farmer not tied to the NFU) Britain’s NFU have always danced to the Brussels tune and are one of the reasons British Farmers became subsidy junkies in the first place.

Disagree. I see none of the above happening.
I'm in the NFU so get all of their literature - they simply inform members of new laws which Tony's imposed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernow

If Britain pulled out of the EU COMPLETELY, British farmers could then farm for a home market with any surplus above needs going for export. Then the stranglehold that Super Markets have on the British farming industry would be broken simply because an import tax could be slapped on all foodstuffs which can be grown or produced in Britain. Food which cannot be grown in this Country would be allowed in tax free.

Agree completely.
I'd go one further and ban imports entirely unless we need them or that particular produce can't be grown here.

02-06-2005, 07:24 PM	#16 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,102 Party: Libertarian Party	Back on subject. Fully agree that Britain should be self sufficient in food. Don't agree with taxing food from abroad though. If we can't grow and distribute food here at a competetive prive to those that have to add international shipping to the equation, then there is something wrong. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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02-06-2005, 06:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Gareth did point out where you had misquoted me and argued a straw man, Anthony. Christina

02-06-2005, 06:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
Anthony Butcher Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Long Ashton, Bristol Posts: 10,192 Party: None	OK, we will have to agree to disagree. The loss of the word "British" makes absolutely no difference, and if you want to continue that discussion, it will have to go in the new zone. I checked my emails, but can't see it. Can you resend it please?

02-06-2005, 07:05 PM	#13 (permalink)
gareth2 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 731	I just PM'd it through this board. And it does make a difference. Regards, Gareth.

02-06-2005, 07:11 PM	#14 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	I agree with Gareth, but will choose to agree to disagree with Anthony and let such discussions be kept in the designated area. Christina

02-06-2005, 07:20 PM	#15 (permalink)
kernow Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5,182	When I started this post I was hoping to get some serious replies about British farming, unfortunately like so many of the postings it ends up as a little spat between the BNP and others. I'm sorry I bothered.