Tuesday, 23
The value of nothing
A decade back it became fashionable to cost the externalities of agriculture. Typically the analysis would “account” for society’s costs incurred as a consequence of agriculture (eg nitrates in water) but never bothered to look at the positives. It was supposed to be an academic exercise but in only looking at one side of the picture it was a ludicrous as saying to the tax man that you weren’t counting your income this year, only your expenses.
To their credit a number of organisations have attempted to address this by valuing all the unpaid benefits that are provided by the industry. Now there are plenty of figures flying around in all directions, which is good for the debate, except that they still miss the point.
What’s really valuable, is often what’s not done; it’s the value of doing nothing.
Despite political pressure to diversify, I have refrained from converting a very suitable barn into small letting units simply because that would deny the barn owls their home. The opportunity cost to me is high. The value (in terms of public goods)substantial, yet nowhere does this feature in the debate.
Replies 25 Jan 2007
Jackie: Having come across the website by chance whilst researching something for work - just want to say what a fab resource it is. As an ex farmers daughter who hated pigs as a passion whilst growing up - well not them so much as their lingering smell on me hindered whatever social life I might have had, but now they are long gone and I miss them dreadfully..what a tonic to read your blog. Thank you for bringing a smile to my face whilst sat behind this dull desk. Can't wait for the next installment.
I don't know weather its wet yet!
2006 was our second driest year on record. Fortunately the recent wet spell has replenished groundwaters which are up 20 metres. The last ten years of rainfall:
1997 898.2mm
1998 934.7mm
1999 898.1mm
2000 1202.7mm
2001 1060.1mm
2002 1171.7mm
2003 779.5mm
2004 694.5mm
2005 638.5mm
2006 676.5mm
Monday, 8
Oxford Farming Conference Review
Here is my "speech in a sentence" review of the Oxford Farming Conference.
David Cameron, Leader of the Conservative Party: We believe in free markets and a subsidy free agriculture where you will find opportunities from food and energy production, but you will have to get closer to your customers to survive.
Mary Coughlan, Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture and Food: We believe in free markets, but agriculture is a special case and right now we need some policy stability towards agriculture so that we can plan its transition towards a food and energy industry.
David Milliband, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: We believe in free markets and a subsidy free agriculture where you will find opportunities from food and energy production, but you will have to get closer to your customers to survive.
Peter Kendall, President NFU: Farming matters.
Justin King, Chief Executive of Sainsbury's: Everyone will win if we can develop a much more active support for British food.
Sir John Houghton, holder of many scientific posts including Director General of the UK Met Office: Climate change is going to cause major problems to the world and there is a big role for agriculture, if we all work together we can be optimistic.
Professor Diana Bowles, Weston Chair of Biochemistry and Director of CNAP, University of York: Plant breeding will transform our society as we move away from fossil fuels towards a bio-based economy.
Mariann Fischer Boel, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development: Recent CAP changes are encouraging a more competitive farming sector; for the future the EC will attempt to nurture the bio-energy sector and use agriculture to help shape the physical world in the way we would like.
Replies 8 Jan 2007
Pete: Brewer Speech in a sentence is a good concept, our politicians should try it!
Oxford Confusion
I spent two very enjoyable days at the Oxford Farming Conference (more shortly). With the exception of Oxford's dismal parking arrangements, Oxford appears a very pleasant place. Please don't get me wrong; I am all in favour of park and ride, but nowhere could I find one that accepted long stay parking. As a result I spent every morning and evening trundling round, adding to the congestion whilst I sought suitable parking. Please, please, please, Oxford, make it clear on the relevant websites where visitors should go for long stay parking.
What a way to go on
New Year's Day was interrupted by a large group of walkers (aged in their 50's) who had got lost. They had strayed a mile from the footpath before scaling the deer fence to wander through our farm yard in search of a road. When I caught up with the stragglers I discovered that even though they had walked through the crops, they considered this perfectly acceptable as they had seen no signs to say that they couldn't! (I am not sure exactly where signs should be put in crops to explain this). They further explained that the guide book they were following said, "go between two buildings" and since there were buildings in the yard "it seemed like the obvious thing to do". On analysis we determined that the buildings in question were located some two miles distant although they had been demolished in about 1960. The guide book itself was published in 1947.
