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Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 42 16 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, February 7th, 2002


FARMERS are still leaving the industry at an alarming rate, says NFU president Ben Gill. His words came as the


land despite incomes rise and mouth disease


Government estimated the total income from farming in the UK last year to be £1.7b. The figure is 11%


Farmers still leaving the Farming needs to survive without subsidies, says Policy Commission


• totalled £1.2b. and is not


included in farm income. The figures have been


released by DEFRA. The market value of


higher in real terms than for the year 2000. While the increase is


welcome, Mr Gill says that incomes are still 72% below those of 1995. Compensation paid


the losses from foot and mouth has not yet been published, but the figure is expected to be released on March 14th. The esti­ mates are complex, states DEFRA, as the livestock markets were closed. Average net farm incomes are expected to


for livestock culled as part of the measures taken to eradicate foot


increase to £26,500 per farm in 2001/2, nearly double the figure for 2000/1.


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SWEEPING changes are set to' rock the entire farming industry. The way forward is, says the PoU- ,


Government, DEFRA Secretary of State Margaret Beckett referred to working closely’with farmers to "turn our vision into reality." She said: "What we have now is a


cy Commission on the Future of ( Farming, for the industry to survive without subsidies. As the report was presented to the


The commission's report brought a swift reaction from NFU president


■ support payments from 2004 to fund ■ rural development and environmental measures, he said. . "With the industry in its current


’one of the report's core proposals, that of taking away 10% of fanners'


Mr Ben Gill. Farmers would be angered about


system that rewards farmers for pro­ ducing quantity, not necessarily qual­ ity, and is a disincentive to the restructuring and modernisation that our agriculture needs." Farmers are promised a profitable


' dire state, it is hardly surprising that we oppose suggestions of taking money from farmers in this way. It equates to taking away cash tha t farmers simply do not have. "I must'stress th a t we are not


ifRiVIIW


future, but only if they are prepared for the changes the report states are


necessary to rescue the industry, from economic and environmental bank­


ruptcy.


opposed to rural development and environmental spending. Quite the reverse, but we have always been against this way of paying for it and today's report has not changed our


minds." The.NFU's key objective, he


stressed, was for the whole industry to return to profitability and it remained committed to developing a positive strategy for food and farm­ ing based on high standards, an inte­ grated and transparent food chain, farmers collaborating to improve their position in the1 marketplace and development of new crop prod­


ucts. On the positive side, Mr Gill wel­


comed several points, including the enhancement of the Little Red Trac­ tor logo. He was also pleased with plans for


a review of the supermarket code of practice and the Agricultural Wages Board, audits on the impact of red tape, better checks on imported food and measures for tenant farmers. The report was being discussed in


detail at the NFU's annual meeting taking place yesterday and today.


t M f i o m m i s s i o n ^■ si


SOME of the main suggestions put for­ ward by. the Policy Commission on the Future of Food are detailed below. • Diversification.


Farmers should add value themselves, so th a t they can grasp a larger share of the final price paid by con­ sumers. For example,


Government needs to set up a "priorities" board, with academic, consumer, environmen­ tal and industry repre­ sentatives deciding the agenda for strategic public research. O Disease insurance.


As subsidies are lost and farmers take on more risk within their businesses, the Govem-


by processing food — ment needs to support such.as turning milk


---- f"‘'”


into yoghurt or cheese - or by selling it directly to consumers through farm shops and farmers' markets. © Promotion of local


foods. Local food mar­ kets provide one of the greatest opportunities for farmers to keep a bigger slice of the profit from what they pro­ duce. The commission wants a new national champion for local food and recommended that retailers receive busi­ ness rate relief for devoting an area of their store to local pro­


duce. O Formation of co-


basic safety net aids, such as the cost of insurance packages against future out­ breaks of foot and mouth or other animal


diseases. • Demonstration


farms. More farms to be paid to operate using the latest technology, conservation, and busi­ ness practices. Farmers encouraged to visit and see them in action. © Fairer farm gate


prices. Improvement of relations between supermarkets and pro­


ducers. © Turbo-charged


Red Tractor Scheme. The food mark scheme


operatives. The estab- . created by the NFU to lishment of an English reassure consumers of Collaborative Board to reduce inefficiencies, improve competitive­ ness and secure a fairer return for primary pro­ ducers. 9 Improvement of


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SCENES like this, of people striding in the open countryside, have not been witnessed for some time now in the Ribble Valley, but are set to return with the reopening of many footpaths


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RURAL communi­ ties across the Rib­ ble Valley are rejoic­ ing that more of the area's footpaths are now reopening.


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tomorrow ju s t 70 paths across the coun­ ty - many of them; located around the Clitheroe; Gisburn


and Barnoldswick area - will remain


closed. Many paths included


in the local rights of way network are being opened in time for the half-term holiday when families will be able to take the opportunity to put their best feet for­ ward in Lancashire. Although the county


Association and the NFU, has been working hard to reopen the majority of the rights of way network which fell within the blanket closure area. However, as a result


Press advertisements, such as the one on the next page, which will detail the affected areas. Welcoming the news


was declared free of foot and mouth disease before Christmas, the need for continued vigi­ lance and strict biose­ curity around premises in the Ribble Valley still under restrictions resulted in some rights of way remaining closed. Now, assessment of


of the guidance from DEFRA, some 70 paths in and around parts of the Ribble Val­ ley will not be reopened to the public in the immediate future. Officials a t County


Hall are hopeful th a t all the remaining paths will reopen'by the end of April or the begin­ ning of May, and that most will probably open before then. New signs will be


the risks linked to walkers using paths across restricted farms has led DEFRA to pro­ pose th a t only those paths which go directly through farm premises should remain closed. ■ Following the analy­


sis, Lancashire County Council, with the back­ ing of the Ramblers'


erected to indicate which paths are still


will also be able to access the. information via Lancashire County Council's website a t www.lancsenviron- ment.com and clicking on countryside and .foot - -and' mouth !’ update, as well as in


closed. However, walkers


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th a t more footpaths were to reopen, County Coun., Tim Ormrod said: "This is good news for our rural com­ munities and means that more of the Lan­ cashire countryside can be enjoyed, just as it was before the foot and mouth outbreak. "I would like to


confidence in animal health. Extend electron­ ic tagging to sheep and pigs if they are moved more than once before slaughter. Sheep farm­ ers should be encour­ aged to take part in the National Scrapie Plan which seeks to breed scrapie-resistant sheep. 9 Develop whole


aspects.of the farm,-,, gal meat imports, the production,.environ^" commission 7 1 said


farm plans. Farms encouraged to move towards an economic plan that, makes a risk assessment of all


ment, countryside stewardship and wildlife. 9 Modernisation. For


the food and farming industries to embrace new technology, the


the quality of English food should be extended to cover food produced to environmental stan­ dards as well as animal welfare. • Organic farming. A


s trategy for organic food production cover­


ing issues such as research, development, standards and market­ ing should be devel­ oped. © Healthy eating. A


strategy should be pro­ duced to encourage healthy eating. 9 Controls on illegal


meat. With the threat of another foot and mouth outbreak undi­


minished as little has been done to stem ille-


DEFRA must make a "sophisticated assess­ ment of the risk from illegal imports" and implement a response "on the shortest possi­ ble timescale."


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thank the local repre­ sentatives of the Ram­ blers' Association who have worked positively with us and our part­ ners to keep any risks to a minimum. "There are currently over 80 farms still


under restrictions, although this is likely


to be reduced. “Those farms th a t


remain under restric­ tions will be supplied with new dated signs to advise the public which footpaths .remain closed.”


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THE BOUNC ;v. SHOWN JE}


With effect] County Counc


the Ribble Vallij rer


" J "\_r


OVERTURES to the farmil the North-West were made t Margaret Beckett, who sp the region. In a keynote speech overse,


to farmers on Monday, ing, it 1 the Secretary of State to a t | for Environment, Food numbJ and Rural Affairs SheJ described the last 12 and t | months as "a deeply "raisel scarring experience". do evl But she sang the their I


praises of her Govern- althoul ment which, she told local; farmers at Kendal, had organ! put in a "very suhstan- imprel tial" programme of sup- the cril port which extended far Mrs beyond the farming "Whilj industry.


foot al


She said th a t more was a | than 22,000 affected termc


businesses had now had the dii! cash benefits through ing cl Government measures. econo| Mrs Beckett said nities.l


campaigns like "Your "Til Countryside, You're long-1 Welcome", launched on agricil January 28th, would tion t<T encourage people back coupll into the countryside in changl 2002.


"Inf


campaign, backed by depenl ministers and celebri- indusl ties, would encourage cultuJ visitors from abroad to declin| visit the countryside.


It was hoped that the the el She added tha t the depel ty


British Tourist Author- diver ity's £5m. campaign wider! would also attract back Shq


Bowland Ii award froi


THE Bowland Initiative, a pal ship project designed to help ul agriculture restructure and divcl has won the Royal Town Plaif Institute's award for Plannir Business. The initiative was describl


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judges' chairman Jill Pain as ail standing example of planning ir | tion and achievement which| deserved wide recognition. "The planning profess'S


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