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The future of farming
The government's latest report on the future of farming perpetuates the myth that organic farming is good for the environment and good for wildlife (Weeding out subsidies to let food production turn green, January 30). This is often most definitely not the case. Organic farming can be very intensive with high stocking levels and species-rich grasslands often "improved" to a ryegrass monoculture.A study in Denmark found fewer skylarks on organic farms than on conventional ones. Organic farming per se is certainly not the answer to Britain's dwindling farmland birds. There is a need for a whole farm scheme which takes individual farms' agricultural and natural assets into account and produces an individually tailored farm plan. A start has been made in Wales with Tir Gofal, but there are fundamental problems. A UK-wide scheme, or even an EU-wide one to replace the common agricultural policy, is the answer.
Peter Jennings
Chairman, Radnorshire Agriculture and Nature Conservation Group
· The redirection of money from area and headage-based agricultural subsidies to environmental schemes is the equivalent of throwing money out of a car window. The approach is to identify the recipients, be they organic farmers, cereal farmers or upland farmers and then devise a scheme that will send money in their direction. One of many faults in the present system is that money is spent with no clear objective as to what it is meant to achieve. If public money is to be directed to protecting species and habitats, let private sector organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds or local wildlife trusts choose and manage environmental projects, raising a substantial proportion of the money themselves and working in cooperation with landowners.
Simon Harrison
Caithness
simonharrison@btinternet.com
· Some farming practices add landscape and wildlife value and might qualify for some modest financial recog nition. A compulsory clear-up of the rural squalor which surrounds virtually every farm would not. The obsolete never-used junk of generations and the wind-blown plastic are major blots on the countryside. Make them clear it up within say, two years; bring the planning regulations to bear.
Dr AJ Wright
Ardgay, Sutherland
rlwright@btinternet.com
· The government is considering licensing further GM crop trials. These are known to present a risk of contamination to organic crops. I'm sure there is a perfectly good explanation for this paradox, but I just can't think of it.
Stephen Jones
Huddersfield
stephen.jones52@ntlworld. com
· Can we hope that farmers, once they become "stewards of the public good" (Farming reform proposals attacked by NFU, January 30), will stop fly-posting our motorways with advertisements?
Bernard Pratt
Cheadle, Cheshire
· If Ben Gill and the NFU don't like the recommendations - why not go on strike and save us all £2bn a year?
Mike Skinner
Leominster, Herefordshire
· Scientists are looking for new cattle fodder that will limit the global warming induced by the methane produced by animals (New fodder could calm cows and cool the world, January 30). Apparently, they haven't thought that we don't need meat at all and that the most environmentally friendly food is vegetarian. The cattle who are belching and farting out methane and destroying our planet only exist because we breed them for food.
Kristofer Aberg
Campaigns, Viva!