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The RSPB bought Hope Farm ten years ago. Our aim was to manage a bog-standard arable farm (in Cambridgeshire) as a commercial farm but at the same time to increase its bird numbers. And it has worked! I'm glad it has worked because it felt as though we were sticking our necks out quite a long way...
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I spent Monday evening with a group of c25 local farmers. It was fun. I can't remember turning down an invitation to talk to a group of farmers (unless I am already engaged in some way) as I always find these meetings good-humoured and stimulating - I always come away with some new ideas. And I always...
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Back in the spring and summer we were lobbying for set-aside to be replaced with a mandatory set of actions for farmers to implement to benefit wildlife. That didn't happen, instead Defra went for a voluntary option for farmers. The NFU's and CLA's Campaign for the Farmed Environment , their...
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Over dinner last week in Manchester a group of us were discussing how well, or badly, agri-environment schemes work. There was an academic, someone from the political world, and people from industry (I won't be more specific because it was a private conversation). Agri-environment schemes are voluntary...
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I haven't done much blogging from Manchester - I've hardly had a minute to spare! I've spoken at two Fringe meetings so far, with Richard Benyon and Julian Brazier on the platforms with me - two more Fringe speeches to go! We've met and talked to a wide variety of MPs and Peers, including...
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Which farmer should win? You choose !
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Defra produces a very interesting little booklet entitled 'UK Biodiversity Indicators in Your Pocket' and the 2009 version is out. It's certainly not all bad news - do have a look yourself to see - but it doesn't paint a great picture either. One of the indicators refers to farmland birds...
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The harvest was completed at Hope Farm a week ago. It's a tricky business getting the timing right. We waited for a dry spell so that we could harvest dry grain and not have to spend money on drying it post-harvest. As you can imagine this is a gamble in a British summer but we got it right and saved...
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Mark Avery won't be blogging for a few days but has left you some of his favourite poems, with a bird theme, while he is away. To a Sky-Lark Hail to thee, blithe Spirit! Bird thou never wert— That from Heaven, or near it, Pourest thy full heart In profuse strains of unpremeditated art. Higher...
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At Hope Farm the oil seed rape was duly harvested and the yields, although not finalised, look good. But as I drove home yesterday evening the heavens opened and I knew that our wheat harvest would be delayed as a result. At this time of year farmers don't want to see a cloud in the sky. The bird...
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As a participant in the Breeding Bird Survey I received a copy of the analysed data for 2008 in the post this week. It makes fascinating reading - as always. I'll pick out a few of the highlights, but first some history. The UK, but particularly England, has been well off for information on trends...
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Hilary Benn has made his decision on set-aside and it's not exactly what we wanted - let's not beat about the bush. But nor is it exactly what the NFU and CLA wanted either so the Secretary of State has done a good political job in steering a course between Scylla and Charybdis. Mr Benn has pinned...
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Some farmers may be choking on their cornflakes when they read in the Daily Telegraph that Lord Mandelson is their most powerful ally in their campaign to avoid being required to replace the environmental benefits of set-aside. Lord Mandelson's Business Department is against almost any form of new...
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We are approaching the decision on set-aside replacement that has cropped up a few times in this blog. We aren't hopeful of a good environmental choice from Defra - rumour has it that the NFU 'voluntary' approach may be the chosen option. However, the media seem to be waking up to the peculiarity...
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The presidents of the National Farmers' Union and the Country Landowners Association have replied to the letter in the Guardian referred to earlier in this blog. What do we think of it? Their reply is good in parts. We welcome the words about providing the leadership to correct the declines in farmland...