sustainable,efficient & viable

Lano Lynn

sustainable,efficient & viable buzz words or impossible goals?.

the wonders of modern media make it easier than ever before for us to communicate with fellow farmers around the world and to see we are all nuts:D
The great and the good tell us how to do our job and expect us to do it for SFA or less. As the EU 'reforms' CAP, Climate change warnings grip the youth and populist politics promise unicorns for all we face a very difficult time ahead.

our advisory services will struggle to keep up with this rapidly changing vista, I was a bit perplexed recently listening to an interview relating to agriculture where the terms efficiency and sustainability and viability featured widely at the end of the section I was not very much wiser. (One term that did not feature in the discussion was responsibility)

so what do you think is sustainable or efficient or viable in the agricultural world of today and tomorrow?

_Brian

Lano Lynn wrote: »

sustainable,efficient & viable buzz words or impossible goals?.

the wonders of modern media make it easier than ever before for us to communicate with fellow farmers around the world and to see we are all nuts:D
The great and the good tell us how to do our job and expect us to do it for SFA or less. As the EU 'reforms' CAP, Climate change warnings grip the youth and populist politics promise unicorns for all we face a very difficult time ahead.

our advisory services will struggle to keep up with this rapidly changing vista, I was a bit perplexed recently listening to an interview relating to agriculture where the terms efficiency and sustainability and viability featured widely at the end of the section I was not very much wiser. (One term that did not feature in the discussion was responsibility)

so what do you think is sustainable or efficient or viable in the agricultural world of today and tomorrow?

They are all possibly as long as consumers are taught that sustainable viable quality food costs more than they currently expect it to cost.

Consumers are at a decision point. If they want truly good food farmed both to benifet nature and the best welfare of animals then it needs to cost more. When food is cheapened below cost of its production then something has to give, be that animal welfare, environment or the origin of the food.

If they just want cheap muck it can be sourced from any number of South American countries where they will continue to mow down pristine rainforests while we plant Sitka Spruce here.

Mooooo

Financial viability has to be on an equal footing to every other form of sustainability. Farms have to be able to provide an income and have the ability to reinvest the same as any other business. If the farm here wasn't providing a return I wouldn't be at it. It's a case we as farmers must not provide the material at a loss for others to make their fortunes. Be that beef , milk or indeed so called green energy initiatives

theaceofspies

_Brian wrote: »

They are all possibly as long as consumers are taught that sustainable viable quality food costs more than they currently expect it to cost.

Consumers are at a decision point. If they want truly good food farmed both to benifet nature and the best welfare of animals then it needs to cost more. When food is cheapened below cost of its production then something has to give, be that animal welfare, environment or the origin of the food.

If they just want cheap muck it can be sourced from any number of South American countries where they will continue to mow down pristine rainforests while we plant Sitka Spruce here.

Going forward there will be 2 classes of consumer for food - Class A (processed muck food) and Class B. The likes of Glanbia, Kerry Group et al are only interested in one of that class. The other class will source its food locally.

Birdnuts

Lano Lynn wrote: »

sustainable,efficient & viable buzz words or impossible goals?.

the wonders of modern media make it easier than ever before for us to communicate with fellow farmers around the world and to see we are all nuts:D
The great and the good tell us how to do our job and expect us to do it for SFA or less. As the EU 'reforms' CAP, Climate change warnings grip the youth and populist politics promise unicorns for all we face a very difficult time ahead.

our advisory services will struggle to keep up with this rapidly changing vista, I was a bit perplexed recently listening to an interview relating to agriculture where the terms efficiency and sustainability and viability featured widely at the end of the section I was not very much wiser. (One term that did not feature in the discussion was responsibility)

so what do you think is sustainable or efficient or viable in the agricultural world of today and tomorrow?

The phrase "Green" is probably the most abused word in the country over the last few years, and it only seems to be getting worse:(

Water John

This label in the French market might give people a positive message.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/04/french-shoppers-rejecting-cut-price-capitalism-nicolas-chabanne

A fair price to the producer.

toleratethis

Lano Lynn wrote: »

so what do you think is sustainable or efficient or viable in the agricultural world of today and tomorrow?

Maybe it's a Clay Conry line, I forget, but "Fertility drives the bus."

Thing is, through regenerative agricultural practices, holistic management, and using what nature put there we can have that fertility, with a little thought, for free pretty much through diversity and management.

Problem is, farmers are indoctrinated to believe chemical fertiliser is necessary, insecticides are necessary and so forth. While what those chemicals are doing is killing what wants to work for us, for free. Worse is how hair trigger defensive farmers are about it. Change is hard, I get it.

I can't see any angle where that's smart, unless you sell fertilisers or chemicals.

In Ireland, I strongly believe there are few if indeed any of the mainstream usual suspects, anagrams or oxymorons interested in telling farmers that. Why would they, there is no money for the parasites and leeches who're sucking the blood from the primary industry.

Wait what was the question again, oh yeah.

Regenerative agriculture, holistic management, diversity. Put Mother Nature on the payroll.

bogman_bass

The thing about sustainable agriculture is that it can’t be just ecologically sustainable but has to be economically and socially sustainable too. They are 3 legs of the same stool.

_Brian

bogman_bass wrote: »

The thing about sustainable agriculture is that it can’t be just ecologically sustainable but has to be economically and socially sustainable too. They are 3 legs of the same stool.

Problem is e only drum beat being driven is “increase numbers and improve efficiency and you will be profitable”. This is proving to be a failed model for beef farming.

20silkcut

_Brian wrote: »

Problem is e only drum beat being driven is “increase numbers and improve efficiency and you will be profitable”. This is proving to be a failed model for beef farming.

It works for the 1% at the very top. Like everything in this world.

Lano Lynn

bogman_bass wrote: »

The thing about sustainable agriculture is that it can’t be just ecologically sustainable but has to be economically and socially sustainable too. They are 3 legs of the same stool.

perfect metaphor, funny government speak of pillars and boxes
we the peasants think in terms of three legged stools.

Neddyusa

20silkcut wrote: »

It works for the 1% at the very top. Like everything in this world.

Not sure it reaches even 1% for beef farming in Ireland anyway.
Less than 4% of beef farms in the country have farming as the sole household income.
And of those 4%, most rely on a high BPS or contracting or other related enterprise for their income.