After all the rain in May, the sun has come out and the crops are loving it. I also look at the Government's retirement plan for farmers and the effect on UK farmers of a potential zero-tariff deal with Australia.
Harry should have nothing to do with Clarkson who is a media personality. Clarkson is no more a farmer than I am a brain surgeon. Harry and people like Iain Tyrrell are in a different class. They can communicate and entertain without any silly gimmicks falling back on their deep knowledge and passion for their chosen subjects.
I agree , Harry is a true gent. Clarkson’s Farm released yesterday on Prime - its packed with facts. Wonderful to watch and hilarious . Gerald on the Combine is particularly memorable. Its so good i watched the whole series twice. Both Harry and Clarkson’s Farm have their place and are both highly watchable.
Hello from Canada! I have been subscribed to this channel and to the “Garage” for some time now. I had to post this to say how much I look forward to watching each and every one. There is so much dreck out there that it is an absolute joy to have something as good as this to follow. The content is always great and the way it is presented provides “comfort food” for the eyes in a World that seems to have gone crazy most of the time these days. Thank you very much for what you do. When I get to the UK next you would be on the top of my lust for people I would love to have a pint with! I am a car guy (I have a modified GT3 track monster that I daily drive….) so the Garage is great but, even though I grew up in England I hate gardening and know nothing about farming- in spite of listening to the Archers every day! That notwithstanding, because of how you do it, I find the farm activity and details weirdly compelling! Thanks again!
Many years ago I was discussing beef farming in Australia with an executive of McDonald’s . They were extremely worried that a lot of Oz farmers were selling out to Chinese firms .For that read Chinese government. They were offering up to three times the value of these enormous beef farms to the owners . Many accepted and were taking the cash. McD had contracts that needed renewing (presumably still will as years pass) and were worried about their supply chain. China has secured their supply chain ! So it’s a lot more complicated than Harry thinks. We must produce our own food and not rely on food from elsewhere. It’s the food processing industry that will want cheap product so they can supply hospitals, prisons etc at the lowest prices. But if that supply chain falters …..
Exactly right, this pandemic should have shown that we need a secure local source for food and commodities where possible. Sure, cheap is good, but all it takes is a virus or stuck ship in a canal to disrupt world supply chains.
Speaking as an Australian, we're at quite a low point in with Chinese relations at the moment. Any deal with China is under a lot of scrutiny and distrust. They also blocked our exports for several primary industries which left billiions rotting in ships unable to be unloaded. I think most Australians are keen to sell to any other country and of course there is a shared history with the UK. Some old folks still get angry about how the UK cut Australia off when you entered the EU.
So a McDonalds rep was complaining that they couldn’t source cheap beef because the chinese were outbidding them? Seems like McDo needs to revise its offer limits, rather than pointing the finger at supply chain security.
Same in eastern Poland......it's gone from an extended winter.....to suddenly..... everything (especially the rape) has gone mad (even though it looked like a total loss at first same as yours)...Winter wheat is thriving.....In my orchard I thought I was going to get no fruit at all this year and now it looks like I will get loads of peaches and cherries.......all are a month late but now doing well...my Walnut trees (I get about a ton ever year) look like they will be a month late.......I like to make a couple of buckets full of pickled walnuts...I should have put the fruits in jars by now...but nothing yet......even the bird boxes were a month late with occupants....just a week ago had a family of 'Nuthatches' start a family...always a good sign...But the Blackbird and thrush families started at almost a normal time. Just to show why I thought nothing would happen.....we had a tree full of early cherries....but the tree should have been humming with insects...but nothing......maybe the moths did the job...but all the solitary bees died with the late cold which is why I thought nothing would fruit......but I went for a late walk and saw moths everywhere. I'm originally a Banbury Boy (1960's) and I know the land you are working. Just as a point of interest...in Poland...as a farmer you can't retire and get a pension...unless you grant your land to someone....a son or a daughter...or anyone who is qualified...and these rules have been around for decades. (you can stay in your house on the land if you want and the new occupier has to build their own house).
@@dennisdennis5921 Yes, it is true or you can become a dual citizen of Poland and UK...a long and convoluted process....Also be aware that Polish law is VERY different to UK Law, they have Mad things like if your partner has a child then that child immediately it is born owns a % of your business and house (25%)...if she/he/it had children before you married, they own % of your house through her %.....If your brother-in-law helps you to build the house out of the goodness of his heart and a few beers he owns a % of your house. Also you would be investigated by their equivalent of the FBI if you ask to own land...they will check on your UK/EU criminal record and even go to Interpol to check who you are....any blemish and it's a NO No! Nothing in Poland is FREE...not even to citizens.....if you have not paid in for 35 years.....say you are 2 years short.....you will not get a pension...not a penny. That's why there are no 'immigrants' of the bad kind.....you have to have a job or an independent income to live here. No speak Polish...No JOB. or maybe that's not true....there are probably 0.0001% of jobs that require an English speaker only.
I suspect Harry's Farm and Clarkson's Farm programmes will complement each other, and Harry's viewing stats will benefit. Just like Harry's Garage and GT / TG are totally different animals. Anything that gets the public engaged with what farming is really like has to be a good thing, and there is plenty of space for both shows. Great to see the rapeseed growing well - I wonder if that extended period of frosts overnight caused the grubs to either die, or greatly reduce their activity. The crop clearly looks a bit "thin", but the actual seed yield looks like it could be quite promising. Fingers crossed!
Interesting stuff, Harry. Would love to hear your wider take on UK insect decline vs pesticide use - the stories that come out of it; farmers' perspective; etc. Thanks.
Clarkson’s Farm is well worth a watch - Gerald on the Combine is just Prime memorobilia. Harry is a true gent giving him a thumbs up. Both Farm programmes are great viewing.
I'm a Brit living in Austria in a small town in the foothills of the Alps. Surrounded by farmers. An amazing hard working people who I have the GREATEST RESPECT for having seen them at work. And Harry represents these amazing people so well to us non farming types. Excellent, Interesting programme. That is explained to us non farming people so well.
Don't under estimate the attraction of cheap meats. People buy on price, and if they can buy good quality Australian meats cheaper than the UK they will. We're talking about a nation that fed Turkey Twizzlers to their school kids!
Yes. But the carbon tax might edge out the cheaper price at source. Beats me how you can raise cattle cheaper in Australia when they have a permanent drought. Perhaps unlimited acreage is the key ...
@@johnsim3722 : But don’t forget their climate is changing too. And Czechbound is right about the droughts too - it would be Sod’s law that just as Aussie beef has scored itself a position of dependence in the market they get his by a long drought again and can’t grow thriving beef. Throw carbon into the debate and it’s unclear what the consequence will be.
@@chriswalford4161 Very true, but my point is mainly about cheaper produce entering the UK market now we have a government who thinks importing more is better than having British farmers. If not Australia, it will be US beef with bovine growth hormones.
@@Czechbound that carbon tax is a dead dodo. What if you and I made a trade deal for zero tariffs and then a month later I slap you with a « carbon tax »? So what will happen is that Australia will basicaly judge this as a hidden tariff and either close the trade deal, or go to court.
Thank you Harry for a clear balanced explanation of farming matters. I just don't think those in power understand that most of the British countryside looks like it does (i.e. a beautiful place) is due to farming. Grew up in Scotland on a sheep farm, married a dairy farmers daughter from the Cotswolds. Have worked in the food production industry and agriculture all my life & it saddens me some of the ignorance displayed by those in power, no wonder a lot of the general public are ill informed.
Im from Denmark and I like that, you talk about all this bexit and stuff and shows/talks about what that means for the farmers. Becourse i dont se a lot of that in the danish Ag/normal media. keep it up it is interesting to follow a long :D
@@chriswalford4161 It was not only about trade, it had nothing to do with jingoism. The Labour Party said it was jingoism, again and again (as well as racism, gullibilty, uneducated, xenophobia) and got its comeuppance in December 2019. You might not like the fact that there was a majority vote to leave the EU, but there was. Some of those who voted leave, will have voted to remain in the EC in 1975. Tony Benn, Barbara Castle, Peter Shore, Jeremy Corbyn, Dennis Skinner were all against joining the EC and later completely against the EU. Are they also jingoists?
The Clarkson show was very good, hilarious in places but no substitute for Harry's in depth knowledge and insight which hopefully thanks to Jeremy will now get even more viewers to this channel, as interest in farming is sure to increase. It can only be a good thing now. Looking forward to your next episode eagerly, Harry. Please keep it up! 😃👍🏻
Thanks for sharing! I'm going to look into the grain/seeds idea for bird winter food. Here in Germany we usually focus on flowering plants for bees and other insects. But this seems to be a great idea. For grains, I like to grow varieties that are resistant to disease, especially the yellow and brown rust. Many times this means I can get away with a single fungicide treatment for the flag leaf. Your rape seed crop looks really not very good. But well, what can you do. It is getting harder and harder to control the pests in rape seeds. I have been there when I sprayed with no effect so I had to go again a few days later with a different type of pesticide. Last but not least, we had the same weather here over the last weeks. Rain and wind, didn't get anything done. So this week started very busy on the fields. Hope you are having a good harvest!
Love how you share information about government policy and how it really effects farmers. So frequently shows how little government understands how policy translates to the real world.
If you remember, the rape seed was no longer treated with the cabbage stem flea beetle pesticide - which is a neonicotinoid; yes, that which has been implicated in huge bee death - and now it's full of bees. You don't have to be a 'bee enthusiast' to see the positivity in this. Given that the rape has 'fought off' the insect attack, fewer pesticides may actually be better for long term crop health after all! Pun pardoned.
Great video as always Harry. After all the penalties governments have slapped on ordinary people for environmental reasons, it is nuts to then actively encourage food being shipped from the other side of the world. Just crazy. Just goes to show that politicians have zero morals or principles...except the principle to rake in the cash and influence for themselves. They need to stop with the crazy taxes or rhetoric, and start investing in regenerative food production in the UK. We need to look after our own farmers and help them do a great job. Not close them all down and force us to buy intensively farmed products from all around the world!
It’s what 43% of the voters voted for and in the FPTP system that can lead to a large majority in parliament. It’s called democracy in the UK. In other countries it would be called dictatorship of a minority.
@@johnstilljohn3181 Yes you are right, in fact the Conservatives promised to replace the EU support for farmers iirc. I think that governments in general should be careful with subsidies but I’d make an exception for essential sectors like farming. The importance of being able to produce enough food for your own citizens cannot be underestimated imo. The UK is already very dependent on foreign countries for its food supply and it seems like that dependency is going to increase.
Whilst your absolutely spot on about the environmental impact of importing meat from 12000 miles away I don't think that's even the worst part of it. Australia doesn't need a trade deal with the UK, the UK government needs trade deals for PR reasons. The Australians know that as well as we do and the only reason they'll have come to the table is they know how easy it will be to get a sweet deal from these muppets.
The issue isn't actually the Australian trade deal, it is the precedence it sets for trade deals with far more aggressive large scale, low cost agricultural exporters such as Brazil, Argentina, USA and others. UK agriculture has been thrown under a bus for political expediency three times at least in the last century and a half, resulting in mass farm business failures and at least twice in the UK's population nearly starving when imports were interrupted. The last time it happened was between the two World Wars and the WW2 resulted in rationing that only ended in 1956 after a massive realignment and mobilisation to become more self sufficient in food. History repeats itself and here we go again with bunnies and badgers and the cheapest imported food possible being prioritised over domestic food production and food security. As always it will end badly, not just for farmers but for the UK population.
@@hedydd2 : Mostly agree, but we need the wildlife diversity too. Diversity gives the natural world its strength and resilience, we should take that lesson seriously and promote diversity in everything we do.
@@chriswalford4161 Come to Wales and see the glorious diversity, valleys, woods and conservation areas on almost every farm with proper hedges in various stages of management. The biggest threat and indeed actual issue with small animal and bird diversity is not the local environment but the unchecked proliferation of apex predators such as birds of prey that have superb eyesight and eat small birds and their eggs. Also any small animal that hasn't got complete cover from aerial surveillance. On the ground we have foxes that kill for fun and badgers that will eat anything with a favourite desert being hedgehog. There is a massive overpopulation of these predators currently, protected from being kept to reasonable numbers by ridiculous laws. Just today I have been followed around fields by up to six buzzards and kites swooping down and grabbing every small creature dead or alive. Indeed they attack crows mid air to steal any food they have found and are carrying. I'm nowhere near a kite feeding area yet I have had up to 15 birds of prey following me while ploughing a small field, along with hundreds of seagulls of course.
How can you be on the fence on the Aussie deal - it is absolute madness! We conveniently exclude shipping and aviation from our reported CO2 figures, and the govt seems to be hoping to 'export' the carbon calculation so it looks good for Britain. Selling UK farmers down the Swannee for that? It must not happen. Eat only local food where possible.
@@midlandgeordie Well yes. Aussie beef is not a threat except at the absolute bottom end of the market. I have doubts as to how much they could export. When I buy meat I am happy to pay more for fresh local produce. Not something that was frozen and has spent months in transit. The rest of the deal will be good. OK I got a personal Brexit dividend that allowed me to retire 6 years early and buy my retirement home for cash. So I am a bit biased. Here is the hint. 2016 a load of loonies ran around saying the sky is falling. The pound plummets. A sensible person (me) does some forex movements. The pound jumps back up and BINGO. I am not a commodities person but I see another load of loonies ranting on about beef. Money to be made.
Harry - thanks to your channel I can now drive around the countryside pointing at crops and sound knowledgeable! My family claim to be interested but I suspect they're just humouring me. So thank you! And please tell us you'll be making an appearance on said Clarkson's Farm???
Well done for making farming fascinating even to those who own a balcony! I am so pleased that harvest is looking fortunate after that troubled Spring.....well deserved! I will watch JC and it may entertain...but not like your films do!! 😃😃😃
Thank you Harry for your insights on how, as I see it, the UK Government is causing havoc on everything it touches. Why would I swop UK farmed quality for extended supply chain produce. Keep up the great work.
One thing. You were talking about working on a hill. I got the shock of my life watching the farm boys here in Austria. Working on a hills you would have a problem walking up never mind driving a tractor across cutting the grass...😮
Harry another superb video, always slipping in pertinent questions to challenge the wisdom/stupidity of government policy. Always a joy to watch, and a treat as opposed to most of the mundane fare on RU-vid.
Excellent and as awesome ever Harry. Your talents and knowledge are endless! Next up ‘Harry’s Hadron Collider and Quantum Physics theory lessons’ I came here via the ‘Garage’ I didn’t know farming could be so interesting. I’d watch grass grow with Harry, come to think of it ....😂🌱🪴🍃
Interesting video as ever, Harry, thanks. However, as a beekeeper, I find it faintly depressing that the only plant on the farm that appears to cater for these declining pollinators is OSR. And that's because bees collect it for its high sugar content, take it back to the hive where, within days, it sets like concrete, rendering it useless to man or bee. Thought you ought to know...
Mr Luis is a sincere man who understands the challenges faced by beginners.I started trading bitcoin under his guidance after seeing his interview with CNBC.He does not request for any charges to teach investors on how to trade and generate profits for themselves.
Great video as usual Harry. Rape by me looks simply wonderful and pictures of it made it into the local rag. Bit of moisture today and so warm, my grass and trees have gone crazy. Talking to an American family from California they can't believe how "green and pleasant lands" it all is. I love it. The area payment get-out is the door opening to lower subsidies and won't be popular, lots to say about that, but over a beer! Wild seeds will sort themselves out and in reality need very little input... great for the birds but the racket here from 04:30am is amazing (I could say something else) together with the young blackbirds and crows pecking at the windows. What fun!
Really interested in your take on the upcoming changes for UK farmers so do keep commenting and giving your thoughts 👍 ……. (I don’t suppose the Government would take you on as an advisor?…. you seem to have a much more practical approach to these changes than many and I think politicians would benefit from your input)
So the neighbouring farmer got a bit envious of the ever excellent Harry's Farm and started his own show with a budget of tens of thousands eh..?? He's got tough competition from Harry, and his budget of tenners...!
What is the point shipping meat etc half way round the world the government should be backing our farmers and promote buying local, but I suppose that’s to easy Another great video cheers Harry 👍🚜🐄🐄
Hi Harry, not sure if you read all the comments. You're brilliant at explaining what's going on, on your farm, and challenges the industry is facing (currently Australia free trade tariff, and paying out farmers to retire). It would be good to hear your thoughts on health and safety in farming.There are simply too many fatalities in the industry. I've no axe to grind, but you could help. Dan
Great video Harry, as usual. Quick question- you mentioned canola seed in the wild bird seed mixture. Being from Yorkshire, I was familiar with oil seed rape back in the 80's. Been in Canada for 36 years now, where we grow canola, not oil seed rape. Is it the same thing, or a different crop? It was always my understanding that canola was bred and developed on the Canadian prairies, then exported the crop to Europe where it was called oil seed rape??
I do like your channel, I have a small farm in the far south west of Cornwall. It would be nice to get some government help but there nothing really on the table to claim for.
I note your comments about Assie farm products and the possibilities of carbon tax etc. If the continuing trend of increasing droughts and wildfires continues there won't be much for them to export in 15 years time.
Shipping could be using Hydrogen soon, removing the carbon taxes. www.reuters.com/article/shipping-energy-hydrogen-focus-int-idUSKBN27F18U www.csis.org/analysis/hydrogen-key-decarbonizing-global-shipping-industry
I'm clicking the like button, clicking back to the main page then clicking back to your video and the like button is no longer 'lit up', ether RU-vid is ghosting my likes or they are minimizing the likes you get! It's worth a look from your end.
The reason for the protectionism and subsidies of the EU is to ensure that local farmers can survive against gigantic farms in other countries. Of course that means food is more expensive, but I think it is vital to have your own farming industry in your country.
The subsidies in the eu only help the land owner. So not even the people that farm the land, completely flawed. Gives money to the richer and forgets about the little man. It is seeming like the government are going to rework this scheme into something that is more effective.
Hopefully the tall barley will give good straw yields for baling, if you break even on the OSR after the way it was looking that'll be a result, nice to see the barn taking shape and as ever, the common sense voice of RU-vid farming, thank you Harry.
Who says the UK is going to import all(?) Australian beef? Or even lots of it? Who has said the UK will "give up" on British beef or UK farming? The issue is a tariff-free trade deal with a nation that produces hormone-injected beef. We had decent trade deals and we're replacing them with poorer deals.
But will price-sensitive customers care? There’s always a segment of the market where price wins out over quality, and unfortunately it will be blind to hormone treatment and animal welfare conditions.
Great work Harry! I live in Northern Ireland, lots of Lamb, lots of Beef but we can’t afford to buy it at the butchers, Australian beef will be no different! You cattle are beautiful! I prefer you to CLARKSON any day!
It's certainly been an odd year so far here in Sutherland. I have a load of daffs surrounding our old tennis courts at the bottom of the drive, the last two years they've been and gone by easter. This year they're currently still in flower
I think I'm becoming psychotically jealous of Harry. He lives in beautiful Oxfordshire and divides his time between driving supercars around Euorpe or the English countryside. I live in Australia and have been to the UK twice in my life and can say that I fall in love with the place everytime I go there.
Isn't the farmer retirement fund just a way to transfer more and more land to the mega industrial farms, who will of course go faster down that road and further alienate the small farmers like Harry.
There has to be sometime a co-hosted episode with you and Mr Clarkson together. Must be . Thanks Harry. My kids love Barley crops to run across every year .
Hi Harry, looks like it will be a good harvest for you. I see that Jeremy Clarkson's farm is starting in a few weeks, I know that you said before that he has been getting plenty of help and didn't need yours, but I did see Jeremy not happy about a flea beetle had ruined one of his crops, I was wondering if it would be possible for you to maybe go a bit more in-depth of the issues Jeremy has in the episodes, I know that it is all in with Amazon but I think it would be good once the series is over if you could do something with Jeremy an a Foodtribe or Drivetribe video or maybe on this channel like a first year review or something, the show will be entertaining but I not sure if it will be able to get across the messages like you do, a lot of people have learnt a lot of things they would never have done if it wasn't for you Harry and this channel, I do remember a video you posted where you were at a auction for farming equipment and Jeremy Clarkson was there as well buying things.
Jeremy and Harry definately should make some content together. Both deep in the car world , similar age they must surely have mutual friends. Both farmers , neighbours , and I feel like Jeremy would respect and like Harry.
The debate about whether to continue to use the basic payments scheme or switch to a lump sum payment appears to ignore a key requirement of UK food policy: food supply security. As the UK imports most of its food, there is only limited control. However any change to trade agreement that affects UK farming will have an impact on food supply through the level of domestic control, which will be reflected in the quality of food together with its availability and price.
Thank you Harry. In 2 sentences you make sense of two controversial issues. The UK needs a new political party. Fancy the post of minister of transport and agriculture?
Harry I agree we’re jumping the gun with the trade agreement with Australia it needs to be signed with appropriate break/renegotiation clauses in place and see what happens. It’s too early to try and foretell what impact climate change will have on us all including transport of goods across the world! I suspect though that we will see support for home grown goods increase dramatically. So keep your fingers crossed for a bumper year at least the oil seed rape changed it seems almost overnight!
Hi from NZ. It would be bloody good to get some of the trade deals back we had with you before you joined the EU. The removal of those deals really tanked the economy back in the day, while we’ve recovered since it’d be quite nice to have them back haha
Fantastic video as usual! As an Australian I agree with you completely, doesn't make a whole lot of sense to ship the beef all the way to GB when you have the perfect climate for beef farming in The UK
Thankyou for reminding me, I need to invest in OTLY now it's gone public. Veganism has slowed but will boom again, don't underestimate! Are nut trees a possibility in the UK?
I agree with your view on the Australian imports problem however, it’s questionable whether or not the ‘sensible option’ will be followed with regards to imports as the cheaper price may be too alluring after the effects of Covid and brexit. Hopefully though, the environmental cost and potentially detrimental effect to uk farming will guide the right decision. Great video Harry.
Harry, I'm a dog walker who lives out in the country near arable farmland. If I walk my dog round the edge of a field, not walking on crops, typically when there is a public path going across their land, is this a problem. I always pick up any poop etc, as I don't want to negatively impact their crops.
Truly fear for farming, we’ve never had such a need to be self sufficient (and control co2 emissions) since ww2 yet governments seem intent on destroying the industry - my son is off to study farm management (inspired in part by Harry) in cirencester which I’m proud of but I wonder what kind of industry he will end up part of at the end.
Whilst I agree with you that importing beef from Australia seems bonkers in regard to miles being covered, we are however importing willow from Canada and America for our biomass boilers for electricity power stations in the name of being green, seems a bit strange that one.