Originally from: mona parr
                        
Over the Gate – Praise for minister's farm stint

By <A HREF="...">...">Jeff Swift</A>HAVING taken Margaret Beckett – Secretary of State at DEFRA – to task on several occasions, this week I am going to commend her. I might not be very good, but by gosh I'm fair.I commend her for spending five hours on the Easingwold farm of Ben Gill, president of the National Farmers' Union. The good lady thus had the opportunity to learn at first hand about what it takes to run a working farm. The day-to-day problems, the investment needed to stock and equip a mixed farm, the nightmare of the 20-day rule that closes a farm down for 20 days as soon as an animal comes onto the farm. No doubt they would discuss a wide range of issues and I do hope she took to heart the lesson learned.Since I wrote about the decimation of our British Fishing Industry, several things have come to light. Among them was the recent award of £400 million to the Spanish to enable them to increase and upgrade their fishing vessels. Isn't life wonderful? I further learn – and I must confess that until now I had never heard of this – that Danish factory trawlers have been allowed to fish for vast quantities of sand eels. So what, you may say, well sand eels are one of if not the main food of cod. Put all these things together with the swingeing regulations put on our fishermen and you soon realise what happens when politicians and bureaucrats take a hand.What worries me is that the Prime Minister says "British farming must be modernised". Did he not say that about the National Health Service, the railways etc. So my New Year's message would be farming has been modernising for years and we've got the receipts to prove it. So forget any modernistic ideas, we can stand most things, but not those. Look at globalisation, but don't become obsessed with it. Then, instead of promising the South Americans (where foot-and-mouth is endemic) that you will try to persuade the EU to take more of their beef, get behind British farming, it won't let you down, it never has.The backbone of our agriculture is still the family farm. In times of dire need it can feed the nation. We all hope the DIRE NEED does not present itself, but don't be too sure it won't. Also don't forget what I told you about France regarding its agriculture as "her green oil" – she never forgets it.Finally, I wish DEFRA a trouble-free year with its High Technology. Farmers have, unlike their EU counterparts been kept waiting months for payments due to them. When asked for the reason DEFRA say they have problems with the computer. So that's all right then. Whatever you may think about their computer it's a very convenient one – for DEFRA! What would I do? I would get a bigger handle so they could churn it faster. It's being so cheerful that keeps us going.Dialect word: Loup meaning to jump or vault over (Thanks Eric).13:56 Friday 10th January 2003
 
 

'GM-free Park' pm agenda

By <A HREF="...">...">Michaela Robinson-Tate</A>NATIONAL park bosses have agreed to debate whether the Lake District should become a GM free zone.Members of the national park authority were responding to an appeal from an environmental campaigner who said the move would be good for wildlife, farming, and the tourism industry.Marianne Bennett, of South Lakeland and Furness Friends of the Earth, told members of the park authority that the UK was entering a "decisive moment" as far as GM crops were concerned.Although the Government had committed itself to organic farming, it was also contemplating the commercialisation of GM crops, which Mrs Bennett claimed could wipe out organic farming and jeopardise ordinary farming."It's up to people like us to make sure this dangerous technology isn't introduced into the Lake District," she told the meeting.Mrs Bennett said the proposal had the backing of Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Cumbria Organics.The issue was relevant, she said because, although the Lake District was a livestock area, proposed GM crops that could be introduced included livestock feed like GM maize and beet. GM maize was resistant to herbicides that could be harmful, and would be licensed for use with the crop, she claimed.Mrs Bennett, who is also a member of Milnthorpe Mothers say no to GMOs', said lessons could be learned from North America where GM crops had caused controversy.A UN report also disputed the idea that GM crops were necessary to feed the world, she said.Mrs Bennett asked members to consider applying under a European directive to designate the Lake District National Park a GM free area."The Lake District does have this rich heritage of local food production, and organic and specialist products, and I feel a GM free Lake District would be a valuable asset for the wildlife, and valuable for local food production and the tourism economy."Members agreed to refer the issue to the policy and verview committee for discussion.l Mrs Bennett said for more information on the issues, or to find out how to make their views known, people could e-mail her at ... or by phone on 015395–63671.13:58 Friday 10th January 2003