The Plight of the British Farming Community

Once they were ruled over by the Lords and Ladies who owned the land. Then they became respectable high-standing members of society who owned their own land, employed people and fed everyone. Now, the tide seems to have turned again. In our high-tech, modern-day society, and with our new understanding about soil health and animal welfare, people seem to be turning against the farming community and there has been an uprising and preference once more for home grown and/or locally produced food. Many farmers are adhering to new scientific advice and are looking out for the welfare of their animals. But it has got me wondering, is this media influenced hysteria around vegetarianism and veganism, partly down to a shift in the societal hierarchy? If you do not come from a farming background or stand to inherit one, why bother attempting to protect or stand up for it? Is this something far more than just an ethical stance on whether or not we should be eating meat?

Whereas farming families were once held in high regard, many who chose agricultural courses at college are often looked down upon over other courses such as business and economics. Farming is no longer considered a favourable career option with potentially high earnings. You only have to listen to the news or watch the latest episode of BBC’s Countryfile to get a sense of the financial plight of many farmers who are facing tougher government regulations whilst also being paid less for the products they produce. The tide has changed. Farming is no longer considered a viable career option by many. Even if we take the ethical discussions around meat out of the argument and just focus on arable farming. Unless this is done on an industrial scale, many people would struggle to start a farm up from scratch or grow an existing small holding.

So, who is to blame and what can be done? Or is the question again more about who is currently at the top and what would the people at the top have to gain from helping out our farmers? Supermarkets clearly have a monopoly over food prices (particularly in the current financial market where people are forced to seek out the cheapest option available), and it is the government (The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food to be exact), who resides over farming regulations. If they do not have a cultural background in farming, then they are not going to be invested in helping farming families climb the social hierarchy. Maybe if farming contributed to a high percentage of the country’s economy, things might be different. A quick look at the statistics suggests that the UK imports nearly 50% of all its food as opposed to exporting less than 10% to other countries. Why is this? Do we not grow enough food in this country? Is there not enough space? Have too many farms been closing, or have we not invested enough in British farming? Are we now much pickier about what we eat? Have our diets become much more exotic? Are we not eating seasonally enough? Or, once again, do we just not care enough about our own farming heritage?

The country seems to be becoming more and more a land of people who sit behind desks and make their money online. Whilst I have nothing against hard working people who forge their own career path and embrace this new technological age, I do worry about what is to become of British farming. The once highly regarding farming families are now some of the poorest members of our societies. Is this right when for years they helped to sustain and maintain our country? Is it right that we are now importing so much of our food? Or creating new factory-made ingredients to support our new vegetarian and vegan diets? I’m not sure what the answer is. Whilst I don’t have anything against vegetarians or vegans (I am married to one myself), I do worry about where all of this is heading. What will happen to the rare breeds that many of our farmers protect? What will happen if there is a war, and we are unable to import as much food? More importantly, for the sake of the nation’s health and wellbeing, shouldn’t we be at least trying to eat more organic, homegrown or locally sourced produce? Is it really that great that we are forced to choose careers where we sit behind computer desks in order to earn enough money to climb the social ladder?

I guess if we are wanting to climb the social ladder, we have no choice but to move with the times. Thankfully though, I am not the only person who is asking these questions and challenging societal norms. Many are now starting to grow more of their own food at home or in community groups again. Many are realising that there is more to life than money and status and that living in harmony with the land provides a much richer life experience overall. Long may this new trend continue.