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Renewable energy and farming

Politicians see the world as they want not as it is, as a function of their role in society, talk to a Torie or a Labour MP and they will take of the same event from two different perspectives because they fundamentally talk to different audiences.   The issue is less problematic in the UK than in other countries but it is the nature of the beast.   There is talk of encouraging farmers to be greener and to use green energy.  All fine and dandy but cows have to be milked barns have to be cooled during the hot summer months to help the animals and they have to be fed.  It always amazes me when people come to the farm and are surprised at how much hay a cow consumes in a day (12 kg in winter).  Milk cows consume sillage and not hay (30kg).    

Homestead farms consume very little power, but consume a great deal of human labour.   A small family farm will have anywhere from 10 to 15 cows and maybe two or three milk cows, but the entire family plus some help will be required.   Our farm has nearly 200 milk cows and nearly 400 meat cattle.  Also, almost 150 goats.   That operation alone uses about 10/15 people full-time.   The rest of our employees are engaged in the high-tunnel and transformation business.   Our "small" farm has about 20 times the turnover, and about only three times the labour.   

In addition, our cattle is better cared for, and better fed than on a small artisanal farm.  We have the resources.  Vets come to the farm at least once a week.  Our cattle are monitored 24/7 and are in excellent health.   Some will say we do so because of the government, I say it's because of profits.   Well-cared animals just do better.

As for energy, it's a pipedream in the UK to think that solar has any place in the equation.   This week alone in Norfolk we are expecting two days of sunshine, and five days overcast and rain.   Under some circumstances, we could contemplate installing solar panels on our outbuildings, and warehouses, but so far the economics do not justify the investment.   I follow two better-located countries for solar, Australia and Spain, both have the benefit of ample sunshine.   In both countries, the regulator changed purchasing agreements with suppliers when they became inconvenient, because, unlike traditional providers, 100% of the costs are upfront, whereas less than 30% of traditional power providers are the same, which gives them bargaining power.   

To go back to my initial point, on one side is a Torie who makes a promise of higher rates for new solar installation, and on the other side is a Labour MP who makes the promise to reduce electricity rates, and his first step will be to cut the outrageous payments to solar power providers.   So that you understand my point, this is the EXACT scenario that occurred in both Australia and Spain.  

NO solar doesn't make economic or political sense in the UK.

Note:  We installed Biodigesters because it solved two major issues on the farm, excessive quantities of manure and the risk of water table pollution.   In addition, we got a great deal.   When we acquired our system we were one of the first to buy one from that manufacturer in the UK (we still get weekly visits from British and continental farms).   We knew that more stringent water regulations were down the road, and we were right.   but also if we were to grow the farm, we had to resolve these issues.  Biodigesters had such interesting characteristics and the dual chamber models had a very positive track record.  Since they have been operating (more than two years now), we have had no problem bar for sourcing some consumables (since remedied) and one of our two pre-drying compressor tanks failed earlier than anticipated (we figured out the wrong type of steel was used, yes it was Chinese), but was still under warranty and was replaced in 48 hours.   

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