A bad summer

The news that the International Cheese Show at Nantwich will go ahead, despite the one-day agricultural event that normally accompanies it will not, is one good piece of news in a dismal summer for most of the people in the UK, and most keenly for the farmers. The incessant rain has made even the most ardent landlubber start thinking of aquaculture as a possible way to actually make any money from the rain-soaked land.

I attended the recent NFU meeting in London and came away with not only the idea that Jim Paice, whatever he gets for his job, is not paid enough, but an intense feeling of sadness that British farmers are once again being squeezed by rising inputs and getting less money for the milk. The industry seems unable to regulate itself so that farmers can earn a living wage, and so processors can sell their products at a decent price. Not sure where exactly the blame lies but the rain is just the start of what has been an awful year.

Paice is a convenient whipping boy but I can’t think that the government will act swiftly enough to help the farmers in the end. I look forward to the autumn only because I’m hoping the rain will stop. And dreading 1 August, but I think most sensible people are.