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Weird farming facts

I've been keeping a few thoughts as they were not really worthy of a blog post, considering how some of my posts are a little ridiculous:  We got 20 cats... (but people love cats, that's what my youngest daughter says when she sends me another cat video)

Cattle rustling is a thing in the UK, and not a small thing either.  It happens mostly on small farms because road access is easier and the cattle tend to be closer to the roads. Our old farm is "cordoned off" our cattle fields with prairies from which we harvest the winter hay. It increases the difficulty of moving cows off the property.  But it's a problem, most cattle rustling is done at night, although our farm is covered with cameras sometimes we have unwelcomed visitors (mostly of the drunken variety -- the whole cow tipping thing).  Still, that's why we have security at night.   

Inflation a bit of a pet peeve for farmers, farmers' input is cattle, feed, fuel, husbandry and overheads. Farmers control none of these inputs.  The only variable is what's left for the farmer and for the capital.  Politicians love to complain that farmers are making too much money, but then ignore them when things are bad (2023 was not good, and for most 2024 is starting poorly).   Feed costs have more than trebled in the last 5 years. The cost of slaughter has doubled (many slaughterhouses cannot meet new government rules).  However, there is a distinct reaction by British politicians to blame the farmers for food inflation.   

Acquiring capital for most farmers is a difficult task.  We saw it firsthand in 2019 when we acquired our farm.  The cost and availability compared to industrial plant costs and availability were staggering.  Negotiations were brutal and by the end, I had lost all respect for farm lenders.  The vast majority couldn't understand a cash flow statement if it hit them in the head.  I should not be surprised, the availability of capital to small and medium sized businesses in this country is abysmal

Crop and Facilities Insurance.  That was possibly the most surprising aspect of farming.  It is great and efficient.  On Monday, a driver had a little whoopsie in the new farm yard, the total cost of repairs was over £12k.  The claims adjuster arrived on the farm before 10.  Jennifer told me that we received the payment this morning.  The accident occurred at 8 am on Monday, by 10 am on Wednesday the claim was not only registered it was paid.  Shocking!

Tories & Farmers  Farmers are socially conservative and economically risk-takers.  Every year they take all their savings and gamble that they will make money in unpredictable weather and where they have no idea as to what price their goods will fetch.  Historically Tories were that!  Economic freedom and social conservatism.  In both cases now Tories fail to do this anymore.  They are no longer socially conservative and have become interventionist.  Why support them?

Labour and Farmers.  Labour has always been the enemy of farmers, they have historically taken the position that farmers exploit their labour, and keep all the economic gains.  They equate farmers with big bad capitalists there is a natural enmity between farmers and Labour.  Labour is socially progressive is all right, but for farmers, they remain the enemy.  Yet, this time around about 75% of farmers I know will vote Labour.  It tells you more about the Tories than it does about Labour, still!

Note:  No pictures of cats, they too want their privacy.  They are enjoying the farm a great deal, and our dogs are starting to make peace with them.  Staff is delighted, except for the occasional "gift" of cat manure...

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