Time is running out

For many years now, supermarkets have been eating into the market share of milk-delivery companies like Dairy Crest, and, in doing so, threatening the great tradition of the milkman himself. Many readers of this column may instinctively be slow to shed a tear at the idea of another big business struggling but, as the dairy farmer continues to rapidly decline in number, the demise of the milkman would be a real loss to society. With so many traditional services now already lost, the gentle chinking of milk bottles, the quiet whir of milk floats along the streets and villages and handwritten notes from old ladies to milkmen may seem like little more than a quaint reminder of times gone by. Think again. Milk delivered in re-useable glass bottles? Electric delivery vans? A daily home- delivery in time for breakfast? Regular, personal contact between customer and supplier? Sounds like the stuff of dreams for many a slick, eco-aware modern organisation! In fact, those chinking milk bottles are being re- used an average of 20 times and the regular, personal contact with their milkman is something on which many people depend. This column remains first and foremost, a champion of the small producer, but we can't turn a blind eye to the power that some larger companies have and their consideration for the environmental and community aspects of their businesses which they now appear to be taking much more seriously. We can all help them to improve their business practices and use that power wisely -there's a long way to go and not much time left. Sooner rather than later there may just not be a cow left to be milked.

Misplaced

Many of those people, men and women, who become elected to Parliament, the Welsh Assembly or even the EU have little or no academic qualifications. Many have no knowledge of business acumen: of how the world revolves by not spending more than you earn. Yet these same people brazenly stand up in the halls of power and insist that they know better than the doctors how the health service should be run, how much better our teachers should be teaching and how many policemen we should need to maintain law and order. Methinks quite a few have, just by having the gift of the gab, found themselves in the wrong place! As a rejoinder they strongly object when a church man last weekend stands up and, in a few well chosen words, advises them where they should get off.

No conscience

The defiant decision of leading supermarkets to sell more imported lamb than previous years, creating a huge slump in the home market was one of the many serious topics raised at the FUW's annual meeting earlier this week. The Union's president Gareth Vaughan - re-elected for a fifth term - said it was perfectly obvious the big supermarkets did not have a social conscience about the drastic effects on agriculture worldwide of their persistent cheap food policy. The volume of imported sheep meat into the UK in 2006 was up 3.6 per cent on 2005, but during January and February of this year imports have already increased by 11.9 per cent on the same period as last year. This has meant that up to the end of April UK deadweight lamb prices were on average 11.3p/kg lower than the same period in 2006. Gareth concluded by saying: "There are no blue skies on the horizon for the thousands of Welsh farming families who find themselves below the official poverty line and as pressures are placed on the industry to reduce dependence on subsidies we will become increasingly dependent on market prices."

Design

YFC members with a creative imagination are again invited to submit a design for this year's County Federation Year Book which may be hand drawn or computer generated. Hand drawn entries should be submitted A4 size incorporating both front and back cover. If using computer graphics it would be preferable if they were done on a programme such as Photoshop or Photopaint and submitted as a jpeg file. There is no limit to the number of entries per club which should be received at the County YFC office by July 9.

Sour grapes

I often consider that too much power today is given to young and inexperienced officials who lack skilled knowledge, practical experience and the invaluable intelligence gained from the university of life. By the same token, there are many older men and women now in positions of authority whose 'sell by' date has long since expired. They should realise that they have had their day - their chances in life have come and gone and so has the energy needed with which to undertake these demanding tasks. Step down whilst you are still in front and don't let sour grapes get in your way.

Feeling old!

Attempting last week to find a number in BT's now almost incomprehensible telephone directory, I was struck by some of the addresses: Old Bakehouse, Old Vicarage, Old Rectory, Old Surgery, Old School, Old Post Office, Old Farm, Old Mill, Old Smithy, Old Police House and Old Inn. I'm sure there's some sort of a message here.

Priorities

Many people welcomed the introduction by the Welsh Assembly Government of free prescriptions for all, but question the necessity of a provision that is hardly cost-effective. By the same token, we consider that the young and the elderly were once entitled to this benefit together with free dental care, eye and hearing checks. Now we find ourselves in the situation where were you find that dental treatment for a primary school child with ramping toothache can cost well over £60 for treatment. Surely someone, somewhere, have their priorities wrong?

Too late?

Alarm signals have come forth from the National Park Authority. Someone has just discovered that greater consultation should have taken place with knowledgeable locals on preserving some rare specimens of wildlife, living and growing on sites of strategic scientific importance. Their introduced policy of limiting the traditional and accepted level of grazing intensity with a mixture of animals is not working and it may already be to late to preserve some of the elements which they had previously considered to be of prime importance.

Statutes?

I may be somewhat naïve at times, but I was always brought up to understand that new laws were introduced by Act of Parliament. Yet now, all too often, we may hear on the news on a Saturday or Sunday morning that new legislation is to be introduced. Only on Whit Monday, it was announced that a new law was to be initiated to ban children taking knives to school. I have no argument whatsoever with a ban of this nature, but when was this issue discussed in Parliament and surely policing this enactment cannot be the responsibility of the teacher? Strikes me that today too many new 'laws' are just being made on the hoof!

Harnessing Rural Capital

As part of a new EU Article 6 funded project, Steve Bradley tells me that PLANED, supported by key partner organisations has established a forum to identify, discuss and take forward new farming ideas and opportunities, e.g. renewable energy, recycling, novel crops and the environment, linked to a sustainable agricultural industry. Roland Long, of the Environment Agency, will lead a discussion on nitrate vulnerable zones and Assembly Government official Dorian Davies will speak on the background to the pilot project at Deepford Brook, Clarbeston Road, the lessons learnt and how findings may impact on future policy.

Documentary

I wonder how many of you may have watched a superb 90 minute long documentary entitled 'The Lie of the Land' shown on national television last Saturday evening? This highlighted, in graphic form, how traditional agricultural practices have had to suffer because the countryside is governed by urban based politicians 'who quite simply have not got an inkling of rural understanding'. Measures of legislation forced upon these West Country folk featured - no different to the rest of the UK - showed farms that could no longer generate sufficient income to maintain the farm building, hedges and gateways in good order; staff and contractors could no longer be afforded and often, when a vet was badly needed, it was considered to be an unwarranted expense. It was little wonder that many of those interviewed were in tears considering just how sadly a once proud and prosperous industry has become devastated in such a short time.

Beware

The common foxglove in the hedgerows and on wasteland, so evident in West Wales in summertime, seems to have put in an appearance earlier this year than normal. There are several varieties around including ornamental foxglove, differing in size and flower colour, but all should be treated with care as many have found them to be toxic to a certain extent and suffered the consequences.

At the bar

"Shuppose you were an idiot, and shuppose you were a Member of Parliament ...but then I repeat myshelf"