A new future for farming?

[Osem]

Given the ever increasing demand for and price of staples like wheat, dairy, meat and fish isn't it time our glorious leaders did more to support and encourage farming in the UK? Yes, severe droughts in Australia have contributed to the problem but demand is only going in one direction and do we really want to be as reliant on foreign countries for food as we are for fuels and manufactured goods?

Given that so many governments in the west get involved in these matters i am surprised that ours who love to control things havn't got involved yet. Food prices in the UK are sky rocketing and the government is strangely quiet. Yes we should increase the amount of farming of staple goods but i doubt we will as right now many farmers are starting to go over to the bio fuel area where they know they can make money.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

Given that so many governments in the west get involved in these matters i am surprised that ours who love to control things havn't got involved yet. Food prices in the UK are sky rocketing and the government is strangely quiet. Yes we should increase the amount of farming of staple goods but i doubt we will as right now many farmers are starting to go over to the bio fuel area where they know they can make money.

The Supermarkets are largely to blame rather than the government. They go for the cheapest foods possible, which, sadly, UK farmers are rarely in a position to supply.

Part of the problem is that our government is terrified of big business. They are quite happy to impose rules on people, small and medium sized business. As soon as those businesses get big, the government appear to get scared of antagonising them (see the changes to UK employment law to make outsourcing easier for proof of this).

I think, in this case, the people who can do the most are the public. If you wish to by UK sourced food, make a point of writing to the Supermarkets, pointing out that if they don't stock UK sourced food, you'll buy your food at a place that does.

Trouble is, many people agree that we need to buy more UK based products and services, but when it comes to actually spending the money required, people suddenly get more interested in the money off offers at the local branch of Tescos, Sainsburys, Asda or Morrisons.

In fairness Stuart a lot of people can't afford to be choosy and have to go with the money off and the cheapest food. I speak as a benefit claimant (not the most popular group in the country) and i can't afford to be choosy i have to get whatever food i can on the money i have for the whole family to eat. Add to benefit claimant's the amount of people on the lower wages and we are stuck to be honest. Fact is this government cannot be bothered doing anything when it will genuinely cut costs to the citizens of this country but by god when it comes to grabbing money off them they can move mountains. Just one more reason as far as i am concerned to get this shambolic bunch of cretins out of government as soon as possible.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

The Supermarkets are largely to blame rather than the government.

True but shouldn't any government worthy of the name have long ago intervened in the national interest ?

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Osem

True but shouldn't any government worthy of the name have long ago intervened in the national interest ?

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying our government is blameless. Far from it. It's just I think the best way to persuade any large corporation to change is to hit it where it hurts: The profits.

[Osem]

Agree 100% - well where that's necessary and where the cost isn't just passed on to us