The end of British farming?

Did anyone watch the programme on farming in the USA on Channel 5 last night. Absolutely terrifying.

Yes, I watched it and I felt fearful about what our government has let us in for.

There will be rich people who can afford decent food, but the ordinary supermarkets will stock nothing but cheap hormone beef and chlorine chicken.

America is a disaster zone and we are about to attach ourselves to its immoral and ultimately self destructive form of capitalism.

I watched a very interesting programme on Sunday night about how British farming has evolved since the 1930’s.
It was a repeat, made about 2009 I think.
Featured the EC, Milk Marketing Board (Milk being the main focus of the programme), subsidies, how little farmers were having to diversify or go bust...
Part Two next Sunday, BBC4, 7pm.

The irony at the moment appears to be that, although the government are pinning their hopes on a trade agreement with the US (hence the willingness to lower food standards) if Biden wins the Presidency he's not showing much enthusiasm for pursuing a trade deal with the UK.

biba70

Did anyone watch the programme on farming in the USA on Channel 5 last night. Absolutely terrifying.

I watched it and as you say, terrifying. The conditions, injections and pesticides used in their food and crop production are all illegal here and in the EU. What disappoints me as much as this programme is the Government promising protection for our farmers and growers and saying they will not compromise on our high standards, then do yet another U-turn and vote against it. It doesn't bode well for our fisherman.

MaixieD let's hope that Biden gets in because if there are difficulties over trade deals then it might make some of the new intake of Tory MPs actually think about the consequences of Brexit. It's obvious that there are no sunny uplands in sight.

Nancy Pelosi has said that any covid vaccine produced in the UK will have to have stringent tests in America because she doesn't trust ours.

What is so upsetting too, is seeing people like Prue Leith, and many others, who advocated for Brexit- and who now say they are so concerned for the future of British farming and food standards which will affect our health and so much more.

It is so so hard not to say 'you were clearly warned, again and again- and you just called it 'scare mongering' and 'project fear.

Project fear is starting to become project reality!

America wont trade with us if we mess with the Good Friday Agreement ,they have already said thats the case.Thet were very proud of their part in bringing peace to NI and the massive Irish poulation in the states wont forgive them if they see it reversed by Brexit

That's right Paddyanne and that is another one of many reasons that we really need to hope that Trump gets defeated. I am so angry this morning about this Agriculture Bill defeat although why I should be surprised when they have blatantly gone back on every manifesto promise they made. Utter utter bastards.

and traitors in the true sense of the word

how anyone, absolutely anyone- left, right or centre, can still support them- is beyond belief and understanding.

It also means that the EU will not trade with us - as they will not accept exports from UK that do not conform to the same standards- be it on husbandry, feed, antiobics and other injected chemicals, etc, etc. And that whatever happens, there MUST be a proper border between EU and UK- including between Ireland and NI/UK- so that those products do not enter the EU food chains by the back door.

Yes Biba. I am so bloody angry......I have just sent an email to my MP who has of course voted for this despite being in an agricultural constituency. Any of the usual Johnson supporters like to tell us this is all for the best?

Minette Batters (NFU) was being pushed by an interviewer to say why she wants farming standards written into law, rather than rely on government assurances.

She couldn't quite bring herself to say the obvious!

I didn’t watch it because I know what happens and the UK can’t compete with the methods or the scale.

It doesn’t matter who is elected if we have a free trade deal the negotiators will screw every cent out of the UK. It’s just as much in the Democrats interest to get the best deal for the US.

The eu can't be that bothered about US meat because in November 2019 the parliament voted 457-140 ( 71 abstentions) to allow the US to import more beef into the eu market.

I think you'll find that any US meat that the EU allows in is subject to the EU food standards.

Indeed- whereas this Government intends to allow any meat, as it is the price they are requested to pay by Trump- who does now hold all the cards and can dictate wat he want to us.

Minnette Batters can only go so far in confronting the government because she still has to get the best deal in the new order, even if that does reduce many farmers to park keepers.

MaizieD

I think you'll find that any US meat that the EU allows in is subject to the EU food standards.

Yes, Maizie up to know it has had to meet EU regulations - there are a number of restaurants in London that proudly sell USDA meat.

However, this meat is not the US norm - it's been reared to meet certain export standards.

The US norm does not meet our requirements, currently.

I'm surprised that no-one looked at this side of our economy when putting their X to vote for Brexit.

Why did people vote Brexit ? Give us Remainers the honest truth !

I can't understand why farmers did Their livelihood is at stake.

Then you have the NI Peace Agreement at risk.

A lot of brexit voters were swayed by farmers putting huge placards in their fields saying ‘give us our country back‘. Yorkshire was plastered with them. So it’s no wonder non farmers didn’t equate brexit with damage to farming. Also, most of the talk was about fishing which contributes diddly squat to the economy.

This is why they wanted to get Brexit done at any cost. It's all about money, nothing to do with autonomy. Talk about being sold a pup