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Post by yeoman on Aug 29, 2023 6:16:57 GMT
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Post by terry on Aug 29, 2023 9:27:42 GMT
Here we go again. One step forward and two backwards. They have no idea😡
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Post by Pete Tyjas on Aug 29, 2023 12:30:27 GMT
I didn't really want to read it but took a deep breath...
It is little surprise the building companies welcome it!
They are building on any little patch of land they can on the village I live. It does look like they have worked on the STW here though and I noticed on the small estate they've recently built near me that they have tried to tick a few green credential boxes like EV charging points but why no solar panels? . Wouldn't it be good if builders looked at pond filtration systems to process sewage?
I also was alarmed at how the water companies acknowledged the damaged they've caused but cleverly said that they'd undertake the work at the cost of higher bills. To me, it was a smart way to make those not engaged by the water quality issues to focus on higher bills rather than the environment.
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Post by yeoman on Aug 29, 2023 17:20:28 GMT
They're nothing if not crafty. Seems to me that any hint of them having to invest and improve infrastructure etc. is met with the " Bills will have to rise" Chestnut. The big can of worms, however, as I see it, is how to tackle the problems caused my modern farming methods. It's one thing to have a go at water companies, and they definitely deserve it, but does anyone have the Cojones to take on the NFU?
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Post by boisker on Aug 30, 2023 6:19:37 GMT
Successive Tory Gov’s couldn’t arrange a piss up in a brewery… Brexit vote 2016, left EU 2020… you think that would be enough of a run in to have a viable farming environmental land management scheme in place… The sustainable farming incentive was supposed to be live in August 2023… but they’re not quite ready, 7 years was a bit too tight, so no payments until 2024; whilst at the same time BPS (basic payment scheme) has already started to phase out with reducing annual payments. Although the final schemes have backtracked on what the gov originally said they would do, they still have very useful options/requirements to protect water courses etc… but farmers aren’t going to do it for free. Although the cynic in me would point out that the old BPS scheme could have offered great improvements to the environment, but as most farmers never got an inspection few of them really implemented it properly😏
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Post by Pete Tyjas on Aug 30, 2023 12:23:48 GMT
Ben, you make an interesting point about modern faming methods. I seem to recall that someone, somewhere told me that farming is accounting for 50% of river pollution. I can't recall if this is the case or not but it would be mildly ironic as it would probably mean that urban streams are now cleaner than those in the countryside.
I had a pal, Tim Smith on the podcast not that long back. He is a "younger" farmer and is acutely aware of the issues that arising from farming and has ensured he does everything he can to run his farm cleanly as he possibly can and advises other farmers where he can. I also spoke to someone in Bakewell who is a farmer and similarly is focussed on the environment on a broad level. He has a stream that runs through his farm that he has done a lot of work on to improve the habitat.
I'm only speaking on a micro basis of experience but is there potentially a younger/modern vs older style of farming based on age and a wider understanding of conservation issues?
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Post by yeoman on Aug 30, 2023 16:24:23 GMT
Hi Pete That's good news, I'm sure there are plenty of Farmers who would like to do more but have to make a living first and foremost. I'm sure Governments could help a lot more than they do at the moment in the way of subsidies for good practice and funding for more stringent inspections.
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Post by Pete Tyjas on Sept 1, 2023 12:44:05 GMT
Hi Pete That's good news, I'm sure there are plenty of Farmers who would like to do more but have to make a living first and foremost. I'm sure Governments could help a lot more than they do at the moment in the way of subsidies for good practice and funding for more stringent inspections. Makes perfect sense Ben, you'd get my vote!
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Post by terry on Sept 1, 2023 16:17:22 GMT
And mine Ben. I’m afraid though the idea is too logical for this government. Far sooner look at developing Dartmoor as we know there are no watercourses there. At least we have a new defence minister fifth time lucky. I bet Putin is pooping himself.
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