FROM THE EDITOR
FARMING & TECHNOLOGY Any move that aims to boost the UK’s agricultural industry is broadly to be welcomed, so the announcement of the government’s new Agricultural Technologies Strategy, developed in partnership with industry sounds very impressive. This £160m investment focuses on developing technologies that – it claims – “will transform farming in the UK as productively as possible while reducing environmental impact and resource use.” The strategy also aims to make the UK a world leader in addressing global food security issues. Certainly it makes sense to bring together individuals and organisations that can take us forward across the industry. But some caution is needed: there is much more to successful agriculture than harnessing technology. It is still a peopledominated industry and although we must do everything possible to encourage young people to take farming forward into the future, let’s not overlook the inestimable value of the kind of knowledge that only comes with experience. The Campaign for Rural England has pointed out that “bigger is not always better” and we should be careful that new technology does not drive us into a “mega-farm cul-de-sac”.
BROADBAND MISERY The recent National Audit Office report into broadband delivery is further evidence that a broader approach is required to end the misery for the hundreds of thousands who still face an indefinite wait for fast broadband from the traditional suppliers, says the head of a satellite broadband company. The NAO report found that the government’s rollout of ‘superfast’ broadband to rural areas is about two years behind its original schedule, with only nine of 44 rural areas set to reach targets for high-speed internet by 2015, and four areas also possibly missing a revised 2017 target. “Relying on the major infrastructure providers alone is proving to be a disaster for the many rural areas still facing years of limited or poor internet,” said Mark Wynn, managing director of Avonline Broadband. WASTE NOT, WANT NOT It is ironic that while Britain’s farmers – and other farms across the world - are being urged to produce more food, government statistics say that a shocking 7.2m tons of food and drink are wasted every year by supermarkets and households in this country alone. In earlier times, food was much too precious to be wasted. There is no doubt about it: ours is a greedy, wasteful, throwaway society. We are constantly being urged to recycle – and most of us try to do our bit; but it seems others never learn.
STAYING SAFE Many farm workers will have experienced a near-miss injury while carrying out the wide range of tasks that need to be performed. A recent survey by NFU Mutual revealed that in fact more than 10,000 people a year come close to an accident that might have caused injury while working in agriculture. The figures were released as part of the insurer’s Farm Safety First campaign, which aims to use partners, family and friends of farm workers to get the safety first message across. The campaign is backed by the National Farmers Union, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland, Ulster Farmers Union, and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Any near-miss is frightening, but tragically, when accidents do happen in agricultural situations, they are all too often fatal, or very serious, so raising awareness of risk can only be a good thing. Check out the social media campaign called “Thunderclap” where you can ‘donate’ a tweet or Facebook updates showing you back the initiative. SUCCESSFUL SUMMER FOR SHOWS As we enjoy the last Shows of the season, we can look back on some very successful and enjoyable events up and down the country. For once, the weather was kind – even a bit too warm for some! Ice cream and cold drink sales went through the roof as we basked in the sunshine! There are still some interesting events lined up for autumn, including the historic Masham Sheep Fair on 28 and 29 September, the National Ploughing Championships near Hereford on 12 and 13 October – and on a more serious note, and with the theme “Risk & Resilience”, the Northern Farming Conference will take place in Hexham in November. More details of all in this issue.
‘7.2m tons of food and drink are wasted every year by supermarkets and households in this country alone’
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Aug/Sep 2013 FarmersMart
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