@@xperyskop2475 Does that mean UK farmers don't produce as much food as they possibly can to feed 60 million people, or we simply pay them to have nice wild flower fields and feel great about the pretty landscape ... just think about how we feed 60 million people three square meals a day , it's not going to happen so thats 120 million meals (two meals a day) every single day ... how many free range chickens and pigs do you think there are?
@@xperyskop2475UK population is too lazy (currently) to be self-sufficient in food. We have enough land, just depends how hungry people have to get before they accept they will need to take matters into their own hands. And also accept they will have a vastly more seasonal and restricted diet.
So gradually over the next few years, less and less farmers grow food/crops and more rewild, grow nettles and trees. I can understand why Harry and other farmers are doing this, they have to keep themselves solvent, but the whole thing seems totally barmy to me, I thought all governments would realise that you have nothing if you don't have energy or food security, then the powers that be make decisions like this, foolish in the extreme!
Insanity when food prices rise weekly, I feel so sorry for farmers, this channel and Clarkson have really opened my eyes to the ongoing lunacy in our country.
You feel sorry for farmers? Is this all farmers or just those that struggle to make a living? It would be difficult to feel sorry for a farmer who has a big garage full of expensive motors!
@@ChrisJohnson-pd4hh If you think those cars were bought with the proceeds of a business that makes £37k in its best ever year then you're delusional. It is possible for these things to be true at the same time: Harry has lots of money from non-farming ventures, and the environment for farming ventures in this country is complete lunacy and it is possible to be sorrowful for anyone trying to operate in it. People are more complex than rich and poor.
*world. It's a lot more worrying than people think Whole europe, India, South America, North America, in summary lunacy exactly like this is being a world wide effort from all governments left right and center.
As ever, the best explanation of the madness of UK farming. Thanks Harry. From a business approach you are absolutely right to de-risk following a £50K hole (and a rather expensive year in the Garage...!), but it does beg the question of when do you no longer consider yourself a 'Farmer'? With 60% less of the land under cultivation, at this rate you'll need to change the channel name to 'Harry's Garden'....!!
Another great insight into the UK agriculture industry. It just seems crazy to me that a country pretty much built on farming over the centuries, with such fertile land and some of the most experienced farmers in the world, will only be producing a small percentage of what we actually consume. Relying so heavily on imports for our needs seems like an unnecessary risk. Have we learned nothing from the energy supply fiasco?
Blame that on the fickle consumer, wanting green beans, strawberries etc in winter. I was born around 1950 and I remember the meals we had back then as a kid. Turnips, swedes, spuds, parsnips, carrots etc in some meat stew. Never saw green beans, except for runner beans, never saw avocados or exotic fruit. The ONLY time I saw anything unusual was on holidays with my grandparents who were prolific veg & fruit gardeners. The UK cannot produce enough food for 70+ million population, unless you force everyone onto a diet of swede and spuds...
I wish the country and wider public would start opening their eyes to the potential huge impacts of having substantially less food production. We have not been hungry for almost 80 years - but the way government policies are shaping up ( along with an increasing turbulent global climate ) indicate a potential disaster for UK food security. It's madness at all levels.
@@tintinjacks4371 Same thing is happening on Continent. Look what happened to the dutch farmers! All in the name of the NET ZERO nonsense. It's insane.
@@tintinjacks4371we are self sufficient capable country but people need to wake up to what is unlawful, Law, Legislation and Regulation. Local Councils are pushing WEF sponsored Climate Hoax using fake news and false data. Brit Farmers need to grow a backbone and think out the box they have been put in!
Political stupidity. As we know that the police are there to support criminals and mad protesters, the farming policy is also like the police is not to produce any food. Everything that comes from the politicians is the reverse of what should be done.
Last year 15.4 Mt of wheat was produced in the UK, half of it (7.14Mt) was used not as food but as animal feed. The future of farming is not by forcing poor fields to grow marginal qualities of produce and subsidising those intensive practices (which make us dependent on Middle East fuel and Russian fertilisers), but to rethink our food strategy (what we eat and how we grow it). or we can continue our old ways and watch Harry lose another 50K each year?
Harry , I’ve been having exactly the same conversations with some of my contract farming clients today ,we could have written the same script . Whilst the risk reduction options are welcome with regards break crops the public must realise that the only way we farmers can access any public funding is to reduce the amount of food we produce , whether that be by reducing yields or replacing an arable crop altogether which examples you show . This government has zero food strategy that seems to be slipping under the public’s radar . As ever Harry you highlight this in the most eloquent manner . Keep up the excellent work .
Peter , that's the whole point . As farmers we love growing food and looking after the countryside. I've spent the last 30 years building up a farming business to do just this but since Brexit we have been removed from the previous regime and now are beholden to the new ELMS scheme of the British Government. There is no mention of food security or food production in this regime. In fact the opposite. All the government wants is for us to grow our existing crops less efficiently by offering payments to in effect reduce the yield of the crop or for us to replace whole fields with various environmental mixes. In all things there is a balance to be had and I personally feel that the pendulum has swung from what the public would deem sensible to an all out emphasis on reducing crop production wholesale in the UK. More food will then have to be imported which will further increase the risk of the supply being at the whims of world events. Indeed only a year ago wheat went from £180-00 per tonne to over £300-00 per tonne pretty much over night as a result of the Ukraine situation. Is the British government happy for this to happen with the associated inflationary issues? Do they care? Who knows? As Harry says we have to do what's available to protect our businesses. If that involves growing flowers then I guess that's what we have to do. And we wonder why it's difficult to get young , motivated fresh blood into our industry. Yours disgruntled. @@petermgruhn
It’s all down to the WEF “world economic forum”. They’re coming for all farmers, look at what has been going on around the world (now in Germany) with farmers being dictated to on what crops they can grow and how many cattle they can have because of the carbon narrative (which is all bollox). They’re putting farmers out of business on purpose so the government plus big organisations can buy your land cheap.
This govt. has zero strategy for any sector by any reasonable analysis. Follow the money, tangibly in these stewardship schemes to keep your businesses afloat, but also forensically to see which types of businesses donate to and influence tory policies. Nothing to be gained by energy companies if we all get govt. incentives or subsidies for dwelling-level micro-generation. Ditto, better insulated homes require fewer kwh to heat them. Nothing in it for supermarkets if they can buy cheaper abroad and undercut UK agriculture.
Completely nuts, I emigrated from the UK over ten years ago - and watching from afar I just do not understand decisions that are being made. I was in the UK last year, and you can see the changes, everything is more run down, untidy, you can see there is no money. You can see poor decisions and the outcomes. It is awful and so sad. There needs to be a sea-change in all levels of government and get some pride back. Support farmers, support business, increase productivity, fund social services and heath. Become world leaders as a modern, caring, supporting society and as a proud nation.
The best farming channel on RUclips by far ( I speak as a 61 year old farmer ) Well presented Harry you're a great spokesperson for the small family farm. Ag-industry is clearly marching toward us, I doubt a lot of us will see it through to 2030.
@@oldmcdonald6319 no, my son (33) is an area manager for highways , my daughter (30) is a head veterinary nurse. My son had the option but decided he didn't want a life of working for nothing and very little time to live and enjoy other things. We are a tenanted business not a family farm that owns land, it's a very different economy for us with no future infront of us. Still three generations , 110 years, we had a fairly good run.
I've got a second job in a completely different industry to try and get us through, the farm is pretty small so as long as it doesn't loose money... We can (fingers crossed) can make it past 2030 - Big business/ gov certainly want it owned by the corps
Many years ago there used to be a Milk Marketing Board. It had its own problems, but I would love to see a farmers board for produce, to collectively sell to the supermarkets, so that farmers are not at their mercy. Also, some of us, who long to grow some of our own produce but have no land ( and look enviously to the dakkas of eastern Europe)We would love to be more involved on farms but opportunities are as rare as hens teeth. Farmers ( understandably) get defensive because they feel under attack re farming methods, etc.,, but because of this it can be hard to find out what is going on in the farming world. Ordinary people are largely unaware of the issues so people need to hear from their local farmers first( otherwise public action will result in anger) Talk to us, like Harry does. Get your young folks talking to their friends too. Share your concern about food supplies and how farming works. Finally, i am a keen veg grower but cannot get land at affordable price, so have to work with a tiny patch of garden. Even if farms were at full production again, we need more people growing for food security and keen individually can grow at bigger density than farms. Those of us at the lower end re income would then have spare pennies to be able to buy, from the farm or others locally, what we cannot produce ourselves. Perhaps there are ways to involve keen locals helping on farms, if you share with them a bit of produce, or a corner of presently unproductive land ( and a bit of manure)at token cost, or a bit of help on the farm work. Teach us what you do, as Harry does, and what TO do. Even rural schoolkids and adults are largely ignorant of how food is really produced nowadays. And we could all put our minds to how could local farms help avoid the need for local foodbanks. People used to be involved in gathering crops but now its all big tractor-y devices round my way. I know its cheaper but sharing where possible benefits you too, look at the problem some farmers had when cheap labour from Europe was cut off.
Mr Metcalfe, Thank you again for being an ambassador for farming. If the supermarket shelves go empty then nobody could reasonably say that you didn’t try to prevent that! Your message is important across the Western world. I now believe that hunger might change people’s attitude to the countryside, but at 72, I was hoping to avoid the hunger that I believe that my mother and her parents experienced in their lifetimes. Your liaison with a certain neighbour ensures that a fairly broad spectrum of the population are reached. God Bless You, both!
I do find it absolutely absurd that UK Gov are happy for us to import more rather promoting growing our own. As an island you'd think lessons from the past would have been learnt about food security. Keep up the good work Harry. I really enjoy these short educational pieces saying it as it is.
@@MrJudgementday99no they are both unelectable,you need to ask yourself a good question,why are we letting in terrorist into the country on a daily basis?,why are they cutting our home food production?why are us brits quality of life going down on a daily basis ?this is all ploy tactics to get us closer back to the EU,the government told us what they would do after brexit now they seem to be doing the total opposite,the sooner we get a government who actually cares about the country and its people the sooner we can stand on our too feet,I’ve voted Tory my whole life”NEVER AGAIN”,if me voting for Reform UK gives us a Labour government then that’s a risk I’m willing to take.
Thanks Harry you explain the issues between the political and the practicalities of farming in the UK with excellence - I wish more people watched your channel - Keep it up
The UK doesn't have farmers just small factory managers pretending to be farmers, where most things are contracted out and cost a fortune. While they drive around in expensive 4x4 vehicles telling everyone how hard it is to make ends meet. Land costs tens of thousands per hectare if they were making losses on it constantly it wouldn't cost that much!
Thanks Harry for a very interesting video. As an ex farmer your analysis is also very good re the finances. A £50,000 loss in any business is unsustainable. You make a very interesting point about food security and domestic supply. I was farming in the 1970’s and we had quotas and food mountains which today seem years away. I am older enough to have spoken to and known people who lived through the war and the food shortages and supply issues which occurred and carried on into about 1953 I think. Planting eco friendly schemes is fine but we can’t eat grass, flowers or trees and food security is the key to all densely populated areas which includes the UK.
Harry, This is a disaster for all our hard-working farmers; it's been the wettest winter season I have seen in years. Farms are a financial black hole, and we have to subsidize them to get our farmers to grow food. As the world climate changes, we need to change with it. Farms must rest their land to recover and be market gardens for us. Harry keep up the great work on spreading the word about how tough it is for this sector.
It is essential that the UK is largely self-sufficient in food production in order to secure the food supply for the nation - that means farmers have to be able to make a reasonable profit in all circumstances.
If your premise is correct - that it is essential that the UK is largely self-sufficient in food; how is it this hasn't been achieved for around 300 years?
I'm looking forward to the £10 loaf of bread! It amazes me how little insight the so-called leaders have in this world. Maybe they also have shares in the Yingtong wheat futures market? 🤔
Happy new year Harry to you and your family ! I really appreciate your hard work in both of your RUclips channels. When I first saw you were going to open another channel I wondered what you would have to say about farming. Your garage channel is as unique as they come and I have noticed of late how many channels from younger generations are following your lead. But you took it to a whole new perspective by sharing your personal farming victories and your woes. You impart a lot more than just watching someone plowing their land. Again I appreciate your unique perspective. Thank you Harry! Well done!
Growing population decrease in crops what could possibly go wrong. Wait for the food prices to go through the roof, and the government will make out they didn't know it was coming. Great video Harry thanks
I know precisely zilch about farming, Harry, but always find your videos fascinating and instructive. It shines a light on a facet of governmental incompetence that I was hitherto oblivious of! Thanks for sharing your expertise with us town folk x
As someone keen on the natural world I expect to see regular updates from your new bird channel😂 pleased you don't seem to have been affected badly by the recent flooding, all the best for the farm in 2024
A chap i work for had numerous break crops within the scheme, he put 95ac into bird food and wild flowers. Last year I ploughed one of the little 10ac fields up and drilled in spring barley, despite the piss poor weather we had a real bumper crop and no nitrogen was needed. The only thing I would say about the wild flower mix is their a lot of Scottish thistle's within and it would seem they're immune to roundup..
I remember walking through fields as a child near Weymouth where thistle was a common and tenacious plant. Especially as my sister kept breaking off some to hit me with. Never been keen on them ever since.
Thank you Harry for the openness in revealing your financial outcome. . I’m a bit of a conservationist but it’s clearly madness to prejudice food security.
These are so interesting but a bit scary. The next couple of years look to be testing to say the least, I do hope 2024 is a great year for you Harry! Also, great to see ELV1Y out and about and looking gorgeous ❤
Thanks Harry for another insightful video. It’s amazing that something as vitally important as food security is only reviewed every three years. Well done on keeping a spot light on how things are affecting farmers in the UK. Do you have many problems with crop loss due to deer?
People that think, 20% less wheat production is not a lot, it will have a significant ripple effect down the production chain. UK better be ready for the consequences of going all out on environmental schemes.
The ultimate plan is to help the environment by having less people. Starvation is part of that. Other recent gov actions have also already made a big contribution. You know what I mean.
Excellent update, thank you Harry. So, the madness continues, but not to worry - our leaders check status of food production every 3 years . . . . . . . . .!
Yes, there seems to be a general offensive towards farmers , not just in the UK but other countries as well. The people who create these policies obviously don't eat food.
Harry, hope as a country we are getting this land use right, thanks for the interesting insight into your farm and business, always find your videos fascinating, take care.
Wow Harry - really refreshing and actually quite sad to hear you talk so openly about the reality of food production and farming in the UK. I totally agree with you that the public at large is generally so far removed from where food comes from and the government appears to want us to be reliant on imports rather than home grown! Its such short term thinking its scary. To hear you say its basically financially better for the farm not grow food is absolutely upside down to me! If every farmer did this in the country send why wouldn't you ! Then what the hell would we do?? I absolutely despair and you guys on the front line are really up against it... fair play
As ever, Harry, a fascinating insight into what actually goes on on your specific farm, and in British agriculture in general. Two related questions: A) Over the past four years, your farm has generated total net profit of just shy of £50,000. That’s less than you spend on your car fleet some years. So does the £50K income from the farm include all subsidies, etc, or is that really it? B) Following on from that, in your case what’s the point? You’re a successful businessman and could easily make at least £50K a month doing other stuff. I get the lifestyle aspect of farming, but it seems like an expensive indulgence. Clearly you have other sources of income, but it must be desperately difficult for most farmers without your external resources.
Another really insightful update Harry - I had to watch it twice. Seems mad that we’re prioritising nesting ground for lapwings over food for the UK population
And therefore there will be no need for the government 'pay the farmer not to grow' rewilding (grab control of food produce) programme whilst importing over a million legal and illegal immigrants. What do you think is happening in Germany, Holland and France and has already devastated the Sri Lankan rice industry?????? www.gov.uk/government/news/government-unveils-plans-to-restore-300000-hectares-of-habitat-across-england
Sounds like my job taxi driver work very hard for no cash always thought farmers were kinda well off thanks to harry for the explanation complete madness paid not to grow stuff
Interesting and timely video. There is one thing I'm left wondering bout tho, do the figures you quote include government subsidies etc ? I remember Clarkson totting up after his first year and coming arriving at something like 13p but then adding £90,000 from government grants/subsidies.
An absolutely fascinating video which makes me question the future of British farming and the general public being able to buy healthy food instead of processed at sensible prices. A brilliant video Harry and explained in a way everybody can understand. ❤
Many comments on the madness of scaling back food production and I agree but when you're facing losses in the tens of £thousands your hand is forced to look at alternatives. Many farmers across the country are in dire straights with the record breaking floods we've had with entire crops effectively written off in the worst hit areas. I think consumers are in for a shock in the next few years with not only the price but availability of many basic food products.
Many thanks to Harry for continuing to give us all a proper insight into the realities of farming. 2023 - all that work and a £3.5k loss. I'm in sheep country and last week some prices dropped 50% overnight. It ain't easy.
I find it bizarre and scary with what is happening and truly can’t understand it. I know Sunak has slightly decreased the rush to net zero, because he says it needs to be more pragmatic, but in farming we are carrying on destroying the industry. My fear is that with Labour it will only get ten times worse. Is it the case that the Tories are monumentally stupid or is it that the civil service disregards what politicians want and ploughs on with their plan to destroy the UK to try to get us to move back into the EU? I suspect it is both, but will be worse under Labour. I then look at Europe and the EU is trying its hardest to destroy farming and that scares me even more. You wonder what truly is behind all this.
It would appear many of us are asking the same question? But where do we go to get an answer? I was in the Netherlands just before Christmas and there were still a few bridges over the motorway being blocked by the farmers tractors. So it would seem the madness is still ongoing there ?
@@rogerblackwood8815 it is all across Europe farmers in Germany are calling for a general strike on Monday and it is just not being reported in the mainstream media.
Politicians will do as they're told by their Globalist masters, their party is irrelevant. They are two cheeks of the same bottom, and both smell equally bad. WEF will have their meeting soon at Davos and make decisions for the world, backing their decisions with their incredible wealth, and the use of bribes and blackmail on their puppet politicians. Fortunately a change is in the wind and I think a wind of change may have started to blow by the end of this month with a lot of international swamps being dredged, and shock revelations about who these creatures really are and what they indulge in. It's all about control.
As a farmer I expect it really frustrates you to be subsidised to brow stubble rather than being subsidised to grow crops. I would have thought it made far more sense for both the government and the economy to have UK farmers growing crops, and give you a subsidy so you can earn a living whilst doing that. It isn’t your fault, you need to make a living, it is a mad government policy
How can we end up with a situation where our farmers are paid NOT to grow food but feed the birds, this policy will also have a severe knock on effect to all the companies and workers who support the farm industry, not to mention the inevitable price rises in the shops as we import more and more.
We've lost our industry, our ship building, our energy production and now they are taking the food production away. I suppose we'll depend on other countries who can do what they like. At least the wild birds will be happy.
The only industry the UK has now is financial products - in a global system facing financial collapse. It is very vulnerable - if I were there I would plan to get to a country with more basic resources.
We seem to lurch from crisis to crisis in the UK. I keep thinking that surely things can’t get any worse - and sure enough something worse comes along!
Seems to contradict the need for food security, which was highlighted not that long ago. What will you use for a break crop for the reduced wheat acreage?
The one year fallow, or enhanced winter stubble, will act as a break crop. Not as good as good a break as growing peas or beans but is much less risk and has a guaranteed income, which is just what is needed right now..
WOW......... very interesting Harry thank you so much for this insight, for sure you are running a buisness. You HAVE to do what needs to be done for your buisness and that is that and you're not the only one in that "boat". Again many thanks, OH also A Happy New Year to you and yours.
Another wonderful video and no one can blame you for doing the government scheme. But what the hell is the government doing cutting food production at this time, they don't seem to have a clue.why not just give farmers help to produce the extra food the UK needs.
Thanks Harry. Classic bureaucratic answer. “We only look at food security every 3 years.” Completely out of touch with reality, lost in their cubicle mazes. How will you eat?
Do those profit / loss numbers include an income for you and family who work on the farm? Could someone without other sources of income make a living from a farm the size of yours, taking into account the costs (e.g. combine) you have left out of your figures?
We all realise that farming is a business, it's their to make money and I respect that but I'm truly worried that we will not be producing enough food. It's like always, someone gets a bee in their bonnet about something (in this case ecology) and we see an enormous overreaction. We have a growing population with a shrinking food production, that's not right. Looking forward to seeing the farm in '25 in its new party frock.
I would like to see, your water courses acoss your farm, water management and those areas that you have shown as flooded. I would also like to see historically how the farm looked 20, 60 and 100 years ago
Have you ever considered growing hemp? It seems to be a fast-growing industry here in Australia. No chemicals are needed and hemp conditions your soil.
@@jonnoMoto yep, it's not straightforward to get going, but I'm not sure that the regulations are that much more onerous than many other crops. The best thing about it is you can use it as a rotation crop between crops, and the return on investment seems pretty good compared to other crops. I think that all farmers should take caution from the sudden uprising in hemp farming in Australia and the US when the processing industry wasn't ready. But I don't see many downsides if farmers dip their toes in the water to start with. Hemp soaks up more CO2 than any other plant or tree, and sucks up contaminants from the soils. It's kind of a no-brainer to grow it. I also think that once proper ways of processing the fibre of the plants are developed, hemp will be very popular.
@@LordandGodofRUclipsyeah, im all for the stuff to be grown. Its supposedly very hardy and easy to grow practically anywhere and has many uses. Some countries seem to have come around to that fact like Australia and some states in the US.
Would it not be good idea to bring back the various marketing boards to regulate production according to need??. They used to work pretty well before we went into the EEC.
John: Previous comment. I suggest you learn about soils, pollination, and what holistically it takes to raise crops. This gentleman is doing the right thing.
Really? More efficient in what way ? The whole point of ANY kind of industrialisation ,farming or whatever , is that it reduces labour input per unit of output thus reducing the cost , I can’t see either how yields would be any higher either . No idea what the figure per square meter is but you can get around four tons of wheat per acre on a modern farm , how is this surpassed by growing it on a no dig plot ?
Thank you Mr Harry for another valuable update. I have very, very little trust in gov’s of any hue, and this ‘strange’ emphasis of not growing food is worrying. Might it be said, some years from now, “this land has not been used for food production for years” …so it can be built-on to meet demands for social housing.? Just as farmers plan years ahead, gov’t agendas do too.
Leasing land out contravenes showing Harry as ‘taking risk’ with regards how HMCE would view IHT relief rules. Just like Clarkson, he wont do that or sell his farm for that very reason. Rightly so.
@@Rover200Power If a landowner lets his land, HMRC regards him as not taking ‘risk’ therefore loses his ability to use that land to offset against IHT. There are various ways around it such a Contract Farming Agreements, whereby somebody else does the actual farming, using the owners special ‘number 2‘ back account to pay for the crop inputs. It isn’t a simple system, especially when paying the person doing the farming his fees and dividing/sharing the annual profits. I don’t think Harry does any of that for others or has his land Contact Farmed. However, he does use a Contractor to do his drilling, spraying and fertiliser spreading operations. This is a simple situation that works just the same as getting a plumber if to fix your pipe work. Basically, Harry is very much in control of his farm and how it is farmed.
The UK and much of the world depends on Oz - and countries like it - Oz has been feeding the UK since 1800, it is basically a farm and mine for the world.
What about food security?? With the World having more and more conflicts impacting farming and border issues (Brexit) forcing up prices can the UK afford to have our famers forced to rest their land? Surely the government should prop these businesses up to ensure that we produce as much of our consumption as possible "just in case"?
As a youngster I remember my father saying that the best thing to do (as a farmer) was the exact opposite of what the government was recommending farmers to do. I predict that 2 years from now there will be grain shortages worldwide. But of course that's what the World Economic Forum want!
Yes I agree, with doing the exact opposite of what government suggest, same applies to main stream media. Still there’s no point in producing grain, only to sell it at cost of production or slightly lower.
What happened to one of the farm vehicles, Harry? What happened to the 1954 Land Rover 86-Inch? Great video - Many Thanks. Keep up the good work. Kind regards.
With all your land given over to grass, wildflowers etc how does this affect the food market? If all farmers do this will we start to see food shortages in the market
@@stevee7467 yes but with war after war and farmers around the world being affected by the ridiculous climate hoax shouldn’t we be doing more farming in the UK to be more self sufficient?
@karenbarker9474 I'm not sure what any government can do to increase productivity in farming. All the farmers I know have incomes from other interests outside farming. This money for environmental goods as it is called is too good to turn down.
@@stevee7467 That’s the problem. The globalists are doing everything they can to shut farming down . They want us to eat lab grown meat and bugs! No thanks. I am trying to support my local farmers.
Fascinating video, thank you....much of my life has been linked to agriculture. Whilst you obviously have little choice,I am deeply suspicious of these government schemes. I suspect they are "world" plans rather than just the UK. This points the finger at Davos in my opinion. Having watched many of the videos on the WEF website, I find their plans for us, including food production quite scary.
![Digital Circus Episode 4 [TRAILER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/abZtsmMUbJo/mqdefault.jpg)
If recent years have taught us anything it is that, as a country, we need to increase our self-sufficiency, in energy, food et al.
Governments don't really understand this except when directly at war.
Big Factory Farms are not a way to self-sufficiency. And the UK population is too big to be self-sufficient in the first place.
Please explain your reasoning and how this would be achieved.
@@xperyskop2475 Does that mean UK farmers don't produce as much food as they possibly can to feed 60 million people, or we simply pay them to have nice wild flower fields and feel great about the pretty landscape ... just think about how we feed 60 million people three square meals a day , it's not going to happen so thats 120 million meals (two meals a day) every single day ... how many free range chickens and pigs do you think there are?
@@xperyskop2475UK population is too lazy (currently) to be self-sufficient in food. We have enough land, just depends how hungry people have to get before they accept they will need to take matters into their own hands. And also accept they will have a vastly more seasonal and restricted diet.
Food and energy security are the two most important things for the country. It’s insane that farmers are planting grass and flowers not food.
So gradually over the next few years, less and less farmers grow food/crops and more rewild, grow nettles and trees. I can understand why Harry and other farmers are doing this, they have to keep themselves solvent, but the whole thing seems totally barmy to me, I thought all governments would realise that you have nothing if you don't have energy or food security, then the powers that be make decisions like this, foolish in the extreme!
All part of the plan. It's more sneaky than the last holodomor but only slightly.
And we now have neither
That's what 🇨🇳 is paying the treasonous politicians for.
Tax payers are paying for this too. Start up your "Victory Gardens" folks and a "Local Exchange Trading System".
Insanity when food prices rise weekly, I feel so sorry for farmers, this channel and Clarkson have really opened my eyes to the ongoing lunacy in our country.
You feel sorry for farmers? Is this all farmers or just those that struggle to make a living? It would be difficult to feel sorry for a farmer who has a big garage full of expensive motors!
@@ChrisJohnson-pd4hh If you think those cars were bought with the proceeds of a business that makes £37k in its best ever year then you're delusional. It is possible for these things to be true at the same time: Harry has lots of money from non-farming ventures, and the environment for farming ventures in this country is complete lunacy and it is possible to be sorrowful for anyone trying to operate in it. People are more complex than rich and poor.
*world. It's a lot more worrying than people think
Whole europe, India, South America, North America, in summary lunacy exactly like this is being a world wide effort from all governments left right and center.
@@ChrisJohnson-pd4hh Like anyone he is entitled to his hobbies mate, jealous??
@@ep1981not if you’re Marxist with a victimised ideology.
It’s madness that you can earn a more regular income by not growing food.
Rape seed oil isn't a food crop. Most of it is used as bio-diesel.
It's not madness it's a disgrace I can't believe anyone can be conned that this is a good idea and that's coming from someone in farming
Blame the government!
But Governments change at a different time scale to the weather and yearly crop cycle times so it's always going to be out of sync.
@@FK2VtecTurbo
I wouldn’t call any toxic cereals food.
As ever, the best explanation of the madness of UK farming. Thanks Harry. From a business approach you are absolutely right to de-risk following a £50K hole (and a rather expensive year in the Garage...!), but it does beg the question of when do you no longer consider yourself a 'Farmer'?
With 60% less of the land under cultivation, at this rate you'll need to change the channel name to 'Harry's Garden'....!!
exactly or perhaps Harry's bird feeding station? It's utter madness but Harry is only doing what the idiots in charge are pushing. We're doomed!!!!
Good question.
Harry’s enhanced stubble! 🥲
Another great insight into the UK agriculture industry.
It just seems crazy to me that a country pretty much built on farming over the centuries, with such fertile land and some of the most experienced farmers in the world, will only be producing a small percentage of what we actually consume.
Relying so heavily on imports for our needs seems like an unnecessary risk.
Have we learned nothing from the energy supply fiasco?
In addition to it going counter to preventing climate change by importing from half way across the world
Very interesting point. And if we tear up loads of countryside for new housing it will get even worse.
Nothing to stop people buying British
Blame that on the fickle consumer, wanting green beans, strawberries etc in winter.
I was born around 1950 and I remember the meals we had back then as a kid. Turnips, swedes, spuds, parsnips, carrots etc in some meat stew. Never saw green beans, except for runner beans, never saw avocados or exotic fruit.
The ONLY time I saw anything unusual was on holidays with my grandparents who were prolific veg & fruit gardeners.
The UK cannot produce enough food for 70+ million population, unless you force everyone onto a diet of swede and spuds...
@@ln5747 Buying what? You can't buy it if it's not being grown?
I wish the country and wider public would start opening their eyes to the potential huge impacts of having substantially less food production. We have not been hungry for almost 80 years - but the way government policies are shaping up ( along with an increasing turbulent global climate ) indicate a potential disaster for UK food security. It's madness at all levels.
Very worrying.
we are not a self-sufficient country, farmers are not allowed to farm to feed bellies
@@tintinjacks4371 Same thing is happening on Continent. Look what happened to the dutch farmers! All in the name of the NET ZERO nonsense. It's insane.
Sadly, little chance of the public waking up to anything these days, as it’s a minority of people who bother to inform themselves on any topic.
@@tintinjacks4371we are self sufficient capable country but people need to wake up to what is unlawful, Law, Legislation and Regulation. Local Councils are pushing WEF sponsored Climate Hoax using fake news and false data.
Brit Farmers need to grow a backbone and think out the box they have been put in!
So the future of farming is not to produce food. Crazy.
Own nothing and be happy.
Political stupidity. As we know that the police are there to support criminals and mad protesters, the farming policy is also like the police is not to produce any food. Everything that comes from the politicians is the reverse of what should be done.
Little man need not worry about producing food. The corporation will provide for you
Last year 15.4 Mt of wheat was produced in the UK, half of it (7.14Mt) was used not as food but as animal feed. The future of farming is not by forcing poor fields to grow marginal qualities of produce and subsidising those intensive practices (which make us dependent on Middle East fuel and Russian fertilisers), but to rethink our food strategy (what we eat and how we grow it). or we can continue our old ways and watch Harry lose another 50K each year?
@@OnzeManInKazakhstanyes and the animal feed produced calories 🙄
Harry , I’ve been having exactly the same conversations with some of my contract farming clients today ,we could have written the same script . Whilst the risk reduction options are welcome with regards break crops the public must realise that the only way we farmers can access any public funding is to reduce the amount of food we produce , whether that be by reducing yields or replacing an arable crop altogether which examples you show . This government has zero food strategy that seems to be slipping under the public’s radar . As ever Harry you highlight this in the most eloquent manner . Keep up the excellent work .
There's another way to access public funding.
Grow food. Sell it to the public.
Peter , that's the whole point . As farmers we love growing food and looking after the countryside. I've spent the last 30 years building up a farming business to do just this but since Brexit we have been removed from the previous regime and now are beholden to the new ELMS scheme of the British Government. There is no mention of food security or food production in this regime. In fact the opposite. All the government wants is for us to grow our existing crops less efficiently by offering payments to in effect reduce the yield of the crop or for us to replace whole fields with various environmental mixes. In all things there is a balance to be had and I personally feel that the pendulum has swung from what the public would deem sensible to an all out emphasis on reducing crop production wholesale in the UK. More food will then have to be imported which will further increase the risk of the supply being at the whims of world events. Indeed only a year ago wheat went from £180-00 per tonne to over £300-00 per tonne pretty much over night as a result of the Ukraine situation. Is the British government happy for this to happen with the associated inflationary issues? Do they care? Who knows? As Harry says we have to do what's available to protect our businesses. If that involves growing flowers then I guess that's what we have to do. And we wonder why it's difficult to get young , motivated fresh blood into our industry. Yours disgruntled. @@petermgruhn
It’s all down to the WEF “world economic forum”. They’re coming for all farmers, look at what has been going on around the world (now in Germany) with farmers being dictated to on what crops they can grow and how many cattle they can have because of the carbon narrative (which is all bollox). They’re putting farmers out of business on purpose so the government plus big organisations can buy your land cheap.
This govt. has zero strategy for any sector by any reasonable analysis.
Follow the money, tangibly in these stewardship schemes to keep your businesses afloat, but also forensically to see which types of businesses donate to and influence tory policies.
Nothing to be gained by energy companies if we all get govt. incentives or subsidies for dwelling-level micro-generation. Ditto, better insulated homes require fewer kwh to heat them.
Nothing in it for supermarkets if they can buy cheaper abroad and undercut UK agriculture.
If hypothetically farms were PLCs you can be sure the Govt would be interested in. They don’t care about small businesses
Completely nuts, I emigrated from the UK over ten years ago - and watching from afar I just do not understand decisions that are being made. I was in the UK last year, and you can see the changes, everything is more run down, untidy, you can see there is no money. You can see poor decisions and the outcomes. It is awful and so sad. There needs to be a sea-change in all levels of government and get some pride back. Support farmers, support business, increase productivity, fund social services and heath. Become world leaders as a modern, caring, supporting society and as a proud nation.
13 years of Tory austerity and greed
May god save the country, for its evident that the people will not
Oh their is money it's just not in the right places
This is utter madness!? 😩 😖 Thanks for the update Harry. 👍🏻
The best farming channel on RUclips by far ( I speak as a 61 year old farmer ) Well presented Harry you're a great spokesperson for the small family farm. Ag-industry is clearly marching toward us, I doubt a lot of us will see it through to 2030.
May I ask if your next generation are going into farming? - everyone near us have gone into different industries, a lot are selling up.
@@oldmcdonald6319 no, my son (33) is an area manager for highways , my daughter (30) is a head veterinary nurse. My son had the option but decided he didn't want a life of working for nothing and very little time to live and enjoy other things. We are a tenanted business not a family farm that owns land, it's a very different economy for us with no future infront of us. Still three generations , 110 years, we had a fairly good run.
It's a shame isn't it it's much the same in Australia
I've got a second job in a completely different industry to try and get us through, the farm is pretty small so as long as it doesn't loose money... We can (fingers crossed) can make it past 2030 - Big business/ gov certainly want it owned by the corps
Many years ago there used to be a Milk Marketing Board. It had its own problems, but I would love to see a farmers board for produce, to collectively sell to the supermarkets, so that farmers are not at their mercy.
Also, some of us, who long to grow some of our own produce but have no land ( and look enviously to the dakkas of eastern Europe)We would love to be more involved on farms but opportunities are as rare as hens teeth. Farmers ( understandably) get defensive because they feel under attack re farming methods, etc.,, but because of this it can be hard to find out what is going on in the farming world. Ordinary people are largely unaware of the issues so people need to hear from their local farmers first( otherwise public action will result in anger) Talk to us, like Harry does. Get your young folks talking to their friends too. Share your concern about food supplies and how farming works.
Finally, i am a keen veg grower but cannot get land at affordable price, so have to work with a tiny patch of garden. Even if farms were at full production again, we need more people growing for food security and keen individually can grow at bigger density than farms. Those of us at the lower end re income would then have spare pennies to be able to buy, from the farm or others locally, what we cannot produce ourselves. Perhaps there are ways to involve keen locals helping on farms, if you share with them a bit of produce, or a corner of presently unproductive land ( and a bit of manure)at token cost, or a bit of help on the farm work. Teach us what you do, as Harry does, and what TO do. Even rural schoolkids and adults are largely ignorant of how food is really produced nowadays. And we could all put our minds to how could local farms help avoid the need for local foodbanks. People used to be involved in gathering crops but now its all big tractor-y devices round my way. I know its cheaper but sharing where possible benefits you too, look at the problem some farmers had when cheap labour from Europe was cut off.
Mr Metcalfe,
Thank you again for being an ambassador for farming. If the supermarket shelves go empty then nobody could reasonably say that you didn’t try to prevent that! Your message is important across the Western world.
I now believe that hunger might change people’s attitude to the countryside, but at 72, I was hoping to avoid the hunger that I believe that my mother and her parents experienced in their lifetimes.
Your liaison with a certain neighbour ensures that a fairly broad spectrum of the population are reached.
God Bless You, both!
I do find it absolutely absurd that UK Gov are happy for us to import more rather promoting growing our own. As an island you'd think lessons from the past would have been learnt about food security. Keep up the good work Harry. I really enjoy these short educational pieces saying it as it is.
What on earth is going on with this government, growing less food is utter madness,thanks Harry 👍😉💪
I would agree, but can you nestle say Labour will be better?
@@MrJudgementday99Ironically, and very surprisingly, Labour Governments are often far more helpful to farmers than Tory ones.
@@Rickwardful Labour governments are usually more helpful full stop !!
@@MrJudgementday99no they are both unelectable,you need to ask yourself a good question,why are we letting in terrorist into the country on a daily basis?,why are they cutting our home food production?why are us brits quality of life going down on a daily basis ?this is all ploy tactics to get us closer back to the EU,the government told us what they would do after brexit now they seem to be doing the total opposite,the sooner we get a government who actually cares about the country and its people the sooner we can stand on our too feet,I’ve voted Tory my whole life”NEVER AGAIN”,if me voting for Reform UK gives us a Labour government then that’s a risk I’m willing to take.
Another post deleted without one profanity ,Very sad that RUclips still silence people in 2024.
Thanks Harry you explain the issues between the political and the practicalities of farming in the UK with excellence - I wish more people watched your channel - Keep it up
The UK doesn't have farmers just small factory managers pretending to be farmers, where most things are contracted out and cost a fortune. While they drive around in expensive 4x4 vehicles telling everyone how hard it is to make ends meet.
Land costs tens of thousands per hectare if they were making losses on it constantly it wouldn't cost that much!
Thanks Harry for a very interesting video. As an ex farmer your analysis is also very good re the finances. A £50,000 loss in any business is unsustainable. You make a very interesting point about food security and domestic supply. I was farming in the 1970’s and we had quotas and food mountains which today seem years away. I am older enough to have spoken to and known people who lived through the war and the food shortages and supply issues which occurred and carried on into about 1953 I think. Planting eco friendly schemes is fine but we can’t eat grass, flowers or trees and food security is the key to all densely populated areas which includes the UK.
Harry, This is a disaster for all our hard-working farmers; it's been the wettest winter season I have seen in years. Farms are a financial black hole, and we have to subsidize them to get our farmers to grow food. As the world climate changes, we need to change with it. Farms must rest their land to recover and be market gardens for us. Harry keep up the great work on spreading the word about how tough it is for this sector.
It is essential that the UK is largely self-sufficient in food production in order to secure the food supply for the nation - that means farmers have to be able to make a reasonable profit in all circumstances.
Fine…but your weekly shop will cost significantly more. That’s unrealistic for many low income households.
@@IverKnackerovYeah, but then you'll be paying millions of people who live in the countryside lots of unemployment
All going to plan
@@IverKnackerov Having to import food no longer grown here will lead to incrementally increasing prices.
If your premise is correct - that it is essential that the UK is largely self-sufficient in food; how is it this hasn't been achieved for around 300 years?
I'm looking forward to the £10 loaf of bread! It amazes me how little insight the so-called leaders have in this world. Maybe they also have shares in the Yingtong wheat futures market? 🤔
Full respect for your decision, but still very depressing. Best regards from Norway.
Happy new year Harry to you and your family ! I really appreciate your hard work in both of your RUclips channels. When I first saw you were going to open another channel I wondered what you would have to say about farming. Your garage channel is as unique as they come and I have noticed of late how many channels from younger generations are following your lead. But you took it to a whole new perspective by sharing your personal farming victories and your woes. You impart a lot more than just watching someone plowing their land. Again I appreciate your unique perspective. Thank you Harry! Well done!
You're an extraordinarily clever chap Harry, thanks for both your channels :)
Growing population decrease in crops what could possibly go wrong.
Wait for the food prices to go through the roof, and the government will make out they didn't know it was coming.
Great video Harry thanks
Love your commentary and your concerns really help me understand farmers struggles. Agree we should be growing food locally and incentivised to do so!
I know precisely zilch about farming, Harry, but always find your videos fascinating and instructive. It shines a light on a facet of governmental incompetence that I was hitherto oblivious of! Thanks for sharing your expertise with us town folk x
Thanks' for the farming report from the UK. Thing have been challenging here in Canada to.
I wish you all the best for 2024. You're such a nice bloke. And like watching your vids 👍🙏
As someone keen on the natural world I expect to see regular updates from your new bird channel😂 pleased you don't seem to have been affected badly by the recent flooding, all the best for the farm in 2024
Hey Harry thanks a lot for this video
A chap i work for had numerous break crops within the scheme, he put 95ac into bird food and wild flowers. Last year I ploughed one of the little 10ac fields up and drilled in spring barley, despite the piss poor weather we had a real bumper crop and no nitrogen was needed. The only thing I would say about the wild flower mix is their a lot of Scottish thistle's within and it would seem they're immune to roundup..
I remember walking through fields as a child near Weymouth where thistle was a common and tenacious plant. Especially as my sister kept breaking off some to hit me with. Never been keen on them ever since.
Something put in the mix to make it harder to farm in the future?
NOBODY should be using roundup. There's a reason it is banned in most places.
@@willdatsun, what is the alternative?
@@johnnunn8688diesel in tractors to plow the fields
Thank you Harry for the openness in revealing your financial outcome. . I’m a bit of a conservationist but it’s clearly madness to prejudice food security.
Thanks Harry - interested to see how 2024 plays out with the new strategy (I would be doing the same in your shoes!)
These are so interesting but a bit scary. The next couple of years look to be testing to say the least, I do hope 2024 is a great year for you Harry! Also, great to see ELV1Y out and about and looking gorgeous ❤
Thanks Harry for another insightful video. It’s amazing that something as vitally important as food security is only reviewed every three years. Well done on keeping a spot light on how things are affecting farmers in the UK. Do you have many problems with crop loss due to deer?
The Truth. Thanks Harry for nailing down the issues faced by farmers
People that think, 20% less wheat production is not a lot, it will have a significant ripple effect down the production chain. UK better be ready for the consequences of going all out on environmental schemes.
The ultimate plan is to help the environment by having less people. Starvation is part of that. Other recent gov actions have also already made a big contribution. You know what I mean.
Excellent update, thank you Harry. So, the madness continues, but not to worry - our leaders check status of food production every 3 years . . . . . . . . .!
Yes, there seems to be a general offensive towards farmers , not just in the UK but other countries as well. The people who create these policies obviously don't eat food.
Vampires much prefer blood.
They have better substitute lined up for us.... bugs, artificial meats and milk. Insane!
They make money for sure while everyone else pays.
Sad situation where your hands are tied behind your back and not grow crops - and earn money.
Great review. Keep going Harry.
Harry needs some merch. I’d totally wear a Harry’s farm or garage shirt lol
He always has great content. Hello from USA
Fascinating, thanks Harry, all the best for the year, keep well, and Charlie, obviously 👍
Big protest by the German farmers all over Germany media not talking about it so it doesn't ketch on 🚜🚜🚜🚜
Harry, hope as a country we are getting this land use right, thanks for the interesting insight into your farm and business, always find your videos fascinating, take care.
In my business if I dont make a profit I go out of business.
Wow Harry - really refreshing and actually quite sad to hear you talk so openly about the reality of food production and farming in the UK. I totally agree with you that the public at large is generally so far removed from where food comes from and the government appears to want us to be reliant on imports rather than home grown! Its such short term thinking its scary. To hear you say its basically financially better for the farm not grow food is absolutely upside down to me! If every farmer did this in the country send why wouldn't you ! Then what the hell would we do?? I absolutely despair and you guys on the front line are really up against it... fair play
The madness continues, our politicians really really are living in LaLa land!!!! Thanks harry for this honest review!!
Thanks for the heads up
Food prices are going to rocket and we should grow as much food as we can
As ever, Harry, a fascinating insight into what actually goes on on your specific farm, and in British agriculture in general. Two related questions: A) Over the past four years, your farm has generated total net profit of just shy of £50,000. That’s less than you spend on your car fleet some years. So does the £50K income from the farm include all subsidies, etc, or is that really it? B) Following on from that, in your case what’s the point? You’re a successful businessman and could easily make at least £50K a month doing other stuff. I get the lifestyle aspect of farming, but it seems like an expensive indulgence. Clearly you have other sources of income, but it must be desperately difficult for most farmers without your external resources.
Another really insightful update Harry - I had to watch it twice. Seems mad that we’re prioritising nesting ground for lapwings over food for the UK population
So if every farmer does this surely there will be a food shortage
And therefore there will be no need for the government 'pay the farmer not to grow' rewilding (grab control of food produce) programme whilst importing over a million legal and illegal immigrants.
What do you think is happening in Germany, Holland and France and has already devastated the Sri Lankan rice industry??????
www.gov.uk/government/news/government-unveils-plans-to-restore-300000-hectares-of-habitat-across-england
Yep. Still, might help the UK's obesity crisis...
Its ok we can eat zee bugs.
Glad you’re having a bit of luck with your crops, thanks for the episode
Sounds like my job taxi driver work very hard for no cash always thought farmers were kinda well off thanks to harry for the explanation complete madness paid not to grow stuff
i love your realistic and sober view on farming.
Interesting and timely video. There is one thing I'm left wondering bout tho, do the figures you quote include government subsidies etc ? I remember Clarkson totting up after his first year and coming arriving at something like 13p but then adding £90,000 from government grants/subsidies.
An absolutely fascinating video which makes me question the future of British farming and the general public being able to buy healthy food instead of processed at sensible prices. A brilliant video Harry and explained in a way everybody can understand. ❤
Many comments on the madness of scaling back food production and I agree but when you're facing losses in the tens of £thousands your hand is forced to look at alternatives. Many farmers across the country are in dire straights with the record breaking floods we've had with entire crops effectively written off in the worst hit areas. I think consumers are in for a shock in the next few years with not only the price but availability of many basic food products.
Many thanks to Harry for continuing to give us all a proper insight into the realities of farming.
2023 - all that work and a £3.5k loss.
I'm in sheep country and last week some prices dropped 50% overnight. It ain't easy.
I find it bizarre and scary with what is happening and truly can’t understand it. I know Sunak has slightly decreased the rush to net zero, because he says it needs to be more pragmatic, but in farming we are carrying on destroying the industry. My fear is that with Labour it will only get ten times worse.
Is it the case that the Tories are monumentally stupid or is it that the civil service disregards what politicians want and ploughs on with their plan to destroy the UK to try to get us to move back into the EU? I suspect it is both, but will be worse under Labour.
I then look at Europe and the EU is trying its hardest to destroy farming and that scares me even more. You wonder what truly is behind all this.
It would appear many of us are asking the same question? But where do we go to get an answer? I was in the Netherlands just before Christmas and there were still a few bridges over the motorway being blocked by the farmers tractors. So it would seem the madness is still ongoing there ?
@@rogerblackwood8815 it is all across Europe farmers in Germany are calling for a general strike on Monday and it is just not being reported in the mainstream media.
Politicians will do as they're told by their Globalist masters, their party is irrelevant. They are two cheeks of the same bottom, and both smell equally bad. WEF will have their meeting soon at Davos and make decisions for the world, backing their decisions with their incredible wealth, and the use of bribes and blackmail on their puppet politicians. Fortunately a change is in the wind and I think a wind of change may have started to blow by the end of this month with a lot of international swamps being dredged, and shock revelations about who these creatures really are and what they indulge in. It's all about control.
A very clear insight into some insane policies, Harry. Thanks for that. Let's just hope the 'powers that be' see some light and change course.
As a farmer I expect it really frustrates you to be subsidised to brow stubble rather than being subsidised to grow crops. I would have thought it made far more sense for both the government and the economy to have UK farmers growing crops, and give you a subsidy so you can earn a living whilst doing that. It isn’t your fault, you need to make a living, it is a mad government policy
Thanks for highlighting the problems here
How can we end up with a situation where our farmers are paid NOT to grow food but feed the birds, this policy will also have a severe knock on effect to all the companies and workers who support the farm industry, not to mention the inevitable price rises in the shops as we import more and more.
Very interesting content Harry. Thanks
We've lost our industry, our ship building, our energy production and now they are taking the food production away. I suppose we'll depend on other countries who can do what they like. At least the wild birds will be happy.
The only industry the UK has now is financial products - in a global system facing financial collapse. It is very vulnerable - if I were there I would plan to get to a country with more basic resources.
@@DavidNotSolomonVERY TRUE!
These problems are not confined to the UK,if shortage comes it will be Global.
We seem to lurch from crisis to crisis in the UK. I keep thinking that surely things can’t get any worse - and sure enough something worse comes along!
Nobody could blame you for taking the government’s money but it is madness.
But it’s not government money, it’s tax payers money
Govt would argue that enhancing wildlife through environmental schemes is a public good.
Some people might say ensuring a supply of affordable food is a slightly more important public good. You can’t eat the scenery.
Always enjoy hearing the business side of farming. I hope the British government subscribes to your channel.
I very much doubt they have ever talked to a farmer. They're more interested in their global BBB policies and Ag3nda 2030 rather than feeding people
Seems to contradict the need for food security, which was highlighted not that long ago.
What will you use for a break crop for the reduced wheat acreage?
The one year fallow, or enhanced winter stubble, will act as a break crop. Not as good as good a break as growing peas or beans but is much less risk and has a guaranteed income, which is just what is needed right now..
WOW......... very interesting Harry thank you so much for this insight, for sure you are running a buisness. You HAVE to do what needs to be done for your buisness and that is that and you're not the only one in that "boat". Again many thanks, OH also A Happy New Year to you and yours.
Another wonderful video and no one can blame you for doing the government scheme. But what the hell is the government doing cutting food production at this time, they don't seem to have a clue.why not just give farmers help to produce the extra food the UK needs.
Thanks Harry. Classic bureaucratic answer. “We only look at food security every 3 years.” Completely out of touch with reality, lost in their cubicle mazes. How will you eat?
Do those profit / loss numbers include an income for you and family who work on the farm? Could someone without other sources of income make a living from a farm the size of yours, taking into account the costs (e.g. combine) you have left out of your figures?
Thank God I have the garden and the time to grow at least some of my own food. A valuable if concerning video Mr Metcalfe.
I can see dairy feed costs going up again next year ,if too many revert to environmental schemes
Would enjoy your interpretation of why the farmers in France are up in arms. Thanks 👍
We all realise that farming is a business, it's their to make money and I respect that but I'm truly worried that we will not be producing enough food. It's like always, someone gets a bee in their bonnet about something (in this case ecology) and we see an enormous overreaction. We have a growing population with a shrinking food production, that's not right.
Looking forward to seeing the farm in '25 in its new party frock.
I would like to see, your water courses acoss your farm, water management and those areas that you have shown as flooded.
I would also like to see historically how the farm looked 20, 60 and 100 years ago
Have you ever considered growing hemp? It seems to be a fast-growing industry here in Australia. No chemicals are needed and hemp conditions your soil.
I look forward to harrys dank weed farm channel
Presumably, you mean the type of rope used on the rigging of superyachts 🤣🤣
the law/guidelines look like a ballache to get the licence and then to show you're compliant
@@jonnoMoto yep, it's not straightforward to get going, but I'm not sure that the regulations are that much more onerous than many other crops.
The best thing about it is you can use it as a rotation crop between crops, and the return on investment seems pretty good compared to other crops.
I think that all farmers should take caution from the sudden uprising in hemp farming in Australia and the US when the processing industry wasn't ready. But I don't see many downsides if farmers dip their toes in the water to start with.
Hemp soaks up more CO2 than any other plant or tree, and sucks up contaminants from the soils. It's kind of a no-brainer to grow it.
I also think that once proper ways of processing the fibre of the plants are developed, hemp will be very popular.
@@LordandGodofRUclipsyeah, im all for the stuff to be grown. Its supposedly very hardy and easy to grow practically anywhere and has many uses. Some countries seem to have come around to that fact like Australia and some states in the US.
Very interesting. It would be a good idea for the Government to watch your videos!
Would it not be good idea to bring back the various marketing boards to regulate production according to need??. They used to work pretty well before we went into the EEC.
hasn't the cartel function been moved into the supermarket tier
John: Previous comment. I suggest you learn about soils, pollination, and what holistically it takes to raise crops. This gentleman is doing the right thing.
Everyone should have a Veg Plot, like the olden days
A no till veg plot is vastly more efficient in terms of food produced per m2 than these industrial farms
Really? More efficient in what way ? The whole point of ANY kind of industrialisation ,farming or whatever , is that it reduces labour input per unit of output thus reducing the cost , I can’t see either how yields would be any higher either . No idea what the figure per square meter is but you can get around four tons of wheat per acre on a modern farm , how is this surpassed by growing it on a no dig plot ?
Many thanks Harry for another informative video.
what you fail to mention Harry, is you would be bankrupt is you did not have funds and income elsewhere...Many Farmers do NOT have that Luxury Sir.
Always fascinating and informative. Thank you 👍🏻
Rational action within an irrational system. Lets see what happens with a change of government
Thank you Mr Harry for another valuable update. I have very, very little trust in gov’s of any hue, and this ‘strange’ emphasis of not growing food is worrying. Might it be said, some years from now, “this land has not been used for food production for years” …so it can be built-on to meet demands for social housing.? Just as farmers plan years ahead, gov’t agendas do too.
Have you considered leasing the land out? More and more land owners up here (North East Scotland) are doing this to transfer the risk.
Leasing land out contravenes showing Harry as ‘taking risk’ with regards how HMCE would view IHT relief rules.
Just like Clarkson, he wont do that or sell his farm for that very reason. Rightly so.
Harry is also leasing some of the fields himself, I'm not sure on the rules regarding subletting!
@@Rover200Power If a landowner lets his land, HMRC regards him as not taking ‘risk’ therefore loses his ability to use that land to offset against IHT.
There are various ways around it such a Contract Farming Agreements, whereby somebody else does the actual farming, using the owners special ‘number 2‘ back account to pay for the crop inputs. It isn’t a simple system, especially when paying the person doing the farming his fees and dividing/sharing the annual profits.
I don’t think Harry does any of that for others or has his land Contact Farmed.
However, he does use a Contractor to do his drilling, spraying and fertiliser spreading operations. This is a simple situation that works just the same as getting a plumber if to fix your pipe work.
Basically, Harry is very much in control of his farm and how it is farmed.
And here in Oz we are either under water or in a drought. So there will not be much coming from us. Thanks Harry.
The UK and much of the world depends on Oz - and countries like it - Oz has been feeding the UK since 1800, it is basically a farm and mine for the world.
Does the profit exclude farm labour / wages including your own? Not interested in knowing your wage (if any), just interested in the economics of it.
He said it excludes drawings - so his wage is not deducted yet.
Great video and great insight. Looking forward to eating all those flowers 🤭
What about food security?? With the World having more and more conflicts impacting farming and border issues (Brexit) forcing up prices can the UK afford to have our famers forced to rest their land? Surely the government should prop these businesses up to ensure that we produce as much of our consumption as possible "just in case"?
Excellent and concise discussion about schemes and food production
As a youngster I remember my father saying that the best thing to do (as a farmer) was the exact opposite of what the government was recommending farmers to do. I predict that 2 years from now there will be grain shortages worldwide. But of course that's what the World Economic Forum want!
Yes I agree, with doing the exact opposite of what government suggest, same applies to main stream media.
Still there’s no point in producing grain, only to sell it at cost of production or slightly lower.
What happened to one of the farm vehicles, Harry? What happened to the 1954 Land Rover 86-Inch? Great video - Many Thanks. Keep up the good work. Kind regards.
Fascinating! There is zero understanding of farming in government, insane.
The people in charge know exactly what they are doing.
Another great video has always harry and family 👍
With all your land given over to grass, wildflowers etc how does this affect the food market? If all farmers do this will we start to see food shortages in the market
There is a world surplus of commodities in wheat, etc.
@@stevee7467 yes but with war after war and farmers around the world being affected by the ridiculous climate hoax shouldn’t we be doing more farming in the UK to be more self sufficient?
@karenbarker9474 I'm not sure what any government can do to increase productivity in farming.
All the farmers I know have incomes from other interests outside farming.
This money for environmental goods as it is called is too good to turn down.
@@stevee7467 That’s the problem. The globalists are doing everything they can to shut farming down . They want us to eat lab grown meat and bugs!
No thanks. I am trying to support my local farmers.
Fascinating video, thank you....much of my life has been linked to agriculture. Whilst you obviously have little choice,I am deeply suspicious of these government schemes. I suspect they are "world" plans rather than just the UK. This points the finger at Davos in my opinion. Having watched many of the videos on the WEF website, I find their plans for us, including food production quite scary.