It is staggering to see how much really good productive land is lying fallow yet again this year.
A good example is right in front of our eyes. The large field beyond the one cut for hay, is totally covered in Brambles. All that lush green you can see is 6 ft high Brambles; about two hectares of it. Not even of the fruit bearing variety, but the red stemmed one.
In the past the field has been used for Maize, Wheat, Hay, and more recently for Horses.
But these days the owner does nothing. He receives his 'single farm payment' for his acreage owned, plus (in this case) an extra payment for not touching the land. He has been growing Brambles there for the past 10 years or so. What was once a very productive field is now almost totally covered in Brambles. I notice that a number of trees have begun to emerge also.
We hear constantly that the price of food is rising because of the lack of production, yet the EU is actually paying people NOT TO PRODUCE.
This lovely part of France that used to be so productive and proud of its produce, now feels abandoned. Yes, there is still a bit of Maize and Wheat grown, and some farmers join forces with outsiders to grow Sunflowers for oil or seed. But unused land is everywhere, and there is a feeling of depression in the air.
Farmers need to farm. They want to grow, and want to be paid a decent price for doing so, but they are being discouraged. I cannot see this being a good thing.
It's really a sad situation. It seems to be happening in many places in the world.
ReplyDeleteAnd home-grown produce is being replaced by imports from S America and Africa.
DeleteI confess to being quite politically ignorant and am not sure I understand the rationale behind it. Why does the Government want to prevent farmers from using the land productively?
ReplyDeleteOne of my neighbours now has holiday rental properties, and chestnut trees; the rest he just mows to keep tidy. How different to when we first came to live here.
DeleteAt least that land could in principle be brought back into cultivation - the UK gov wants productive land smothered under solar panels and bird choppers when it's not being sold off for rabbit hutches to house the never-ending stream of immigrants.
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn't take a lot to bring it back. One would need a few pigs to get rid of all the bramble roots, but after a year or so it would be ready to use again; and well fertilised in the process.
DeleteThe lunacy we find in the modern world is well summed up in your fifth paragraph.
ReplyDeleteSadly it's true. This area has now been designated by the EU as a holiday area.
DeleteIt just doesn't make sense, when more than half the world is said to be starving. Food imported to Europe from places like S. America, Africa and Asia, is fuelling starvation in these countries. It's all about selling to the highest bidder and pocketing the proceeds. The poor man in the street sees nothing of the vast sums paid into the coffers of the few.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of the Irish Potato Famine, when Irish farmers sold to the highest bidders throughout Europe.
DeleteMore accurately grain was exported by the landlords while the poor starved.
DeleteThere is enough food and more in the world now..it's just not in the same place as the people who need it
When I go the local market square, and buy directly from the farmer, I am paying more than I would at the supermarket, from someone who has chosen to farm, rather than accept the subsidies for not farming, and I am paying what it really costs to grow fresh and local. At the same time I am paying taxes to pay his neighbors to not grow.
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste of land. Isn't that a fire hazard too!
ReplyDeleteThe piece of land next to us is full of tall weeds and brambles. A fire would rip through it, and then on to us
Almost everything is a fire risk around us. The woods are mostly Pine, and there is dry dead grass everywhere.
DeleteI much prefer the local farmer's produce. The quality is far better than anything that has traveled across the world only to be sold far away from the grower. One would think that the economics of growing and selling locally is advantageous for all.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, and the only people who are doing it these days are young city escapees who buy a few acres and live live simply. I always try to buy whatever they sell at market. Yesterday we met a young woman selling fresh Peas. She was very 'hippy-ish', and was very pleased to sell me a bag-full.
DeleteIs he at least allowed to grow food for his own and his family's use? I think the governments will eventually come to rue the day when they kowtowed to big business and people forgot how to grow things.
ReplyDelete