No longer an embarrassment?

Over the past year, the NFU has been working with the Science Museum in London to replace a ‘quaint’ agricultural gallery with a vision of future food production, which will be seen by millions every year.

Andrea Graham reminds me: “For those of you who have visited London’s Science Museum in recent years and seen the agricultural gallery, I’m quite sure you won’t be shedding a tear when you hear that it finally closed its doors to the public at the end of 2016.

“I was reminded when visiting museum staff last month that it was opened in 1951 - the year the BBC started broadcasting The Archers! -that speaks volumes in itself.

“For many, it has been seen as a quaint, but outdated, and some would even go as far as to say embarrassing, vision of an industry many no longer recognise.

“It certainly didn’t serve to inspire a new generation of would-be farmers and growers or do much to bust public misconceptions of what modern farming is about -the good news is that we can expect a brand new agriculture exhibit at the museum, provisionally called ‘Feeding Tomorrow’ which is due to open at the end of 2018.

“Farmers and growers are natural innovators and have been for centuries. This new installation is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the very best of the technology and innovation that shapes modern agriculture today as opposed to a snapshot from over 60 years ago.

“It’s also a chance to gaze into the crystal ball and anticipate the likely game changing technologies we’ll need in the future to support a productive, progressive and sustainable sector.”

Andrea warms to the new project: “That’s why I’m thrilled that the NFU is part of the small external stakeholder group and for nearly two years has been actively working with the Science Museum team to help provide a sounding board and sources of information for the new exhibit.

“Their enthusiasm for the project is enormously encouraging and I think the sheer complexity and multifaceted nature of our industry and how science and innovation touches every aspect and every sector has really challenged and excited them - perhaps more so than many other projects.

“How do you capture innovative farming in way that is meaningful to visitors who may only spend a matter of a few minutes in the gallery but also avoids the trap of dumbing down?

“The gallery itself is set to be in a prominent position near the entrance to the museum and will focus on the four broad themes of: working the land and preserving vulnerable soils; controlling pests, weeds and diseases and leaving space for wildlife; raising animals for meat, milk and eggs and ensuring healthy lives, and giving plants and animals the best conditions to grow and adapting to climate change.

When complete, the £3 million project will have a minimum lifetime of five years in order to stay fresh and relevant and I’m reliably informed that the exciting bit is about to start.

“This couldn’t come at a better time for the NFU as we continue to develop and promote a new domestic agricultural policy built on the three crucial cornerstones of addressing productivity, volatility and the environment.

“Science underpins all these areas in some shape or form and we have a great story to tell the staggering 3.5 million visitors who pass through the museum’s door each year.”

Welcome spring

It is a well-recognised fact that when farmers are making money the whole rural economy may benefit, but….

When the reverse is so we see local businesses suffering badly, staff have to be laid off and even some branches will be forced to close.

The past few years has certainly seen a downturn in farming ‘fortunes’ - that certainly is not really the operative word!

The public at large might realise just how serious the situation has become by the results of a recent survey which indicates that the farming sector is turning off the central heating to cut costs, and switching to using wood to heat their homes.

Increasing numbers of farmers are turning away from central heating in favour of both old fashioned methods and new technologies to heat their homes.

One national heating and boiler company has found that the uncertain and increasing price of gas and oil fuel means that people in the farming sector are looking to the past to provide heat in the future.

According to Warm.co.uk, the good old open fire is making a comeback, as well as the kitchen stove.

“With gas and fuel oil prices unpredictable at the best of times, it’s no surprise that farmers are turning to what they do best - find solutions from the land,” says spokesperson Jonathan Ratcliffe.

Speaking to dozens of farmers over the winter, Warm.co.uk found that over 70 per cent used ‘alternative’ fuels to heat their homes, with a quarter of those said they had started to do so in the last two years.

Many of these agricultural workers said that they used wood - usually logs from their own land or sourced locally -to burn on an open fire or in a stove.

Generally the central heating is only used for three months of the year, with 15 per cent only using it for just two months.

“It’s obvious that people are using what’s around them to bring certainty back into their lives and to bring down their heating bills,” says Ratcliffe, “It’s what any good businessman would do to mitigate risk.”

And that’s a view echoed by members of the farming community who took time to speak to me: Steve says: “Fuel costs going through the roof, it’s one of the main topics of conversation when we get together. One of my neighbours has a log-splitter, and it gets a hell of a lot of use round here in the cold months.”

Jim claimed: “We’ve got wood coming out of our ears here, and we make use of what’s available, sell some to neighbours. Since we’ve being doing this, our domestic heating bills are reduced. Really pleased with that.”

Derek revealed: “I’ve been a victim of fuel oil theft twice now, and it’s pushing my insurance premiums through the roof. That’s one of the reasons we’ve gone back to a wood burner. Who’s going to run off with a wood pile?”

Farm manager John told me: “I’ve got teenage daughters, and I’d never hear the last if it if I told them we’re only going to run the kitchen stove in winter. I think they’d actually move out.

“That’s why I try to keep my fuel costs down by using alternative methods such as burning locally-harvested wood, and heating water through the solar sources.

“But we still need the central heating sometimes, though I find I’m ordering in fuel oil for the boiler far less than we used to. I think it keeps the girl’s happy too.”

Quote

“Love the people God gave you, because he will need them back one day.”

Time to remember

Our angel up in heaven,

we wanted you to know,

We feel you watching over us

everywhere we go,

We wish that you were here with us,

but that can never be,

Memories of you in our hearts,

that only we can see.

Our angel up in heaven

we hope you understand,

That we would give just anything,

if we could hold your hand.

We’d hold you oh so tightly,

and never let you go,

And all the love inside of us

to you we’d dearly show,

Our angel up in heaven,

for now we are apart

You’ll always live inside of us

deep within our hearts.