Telling it like it is

Farming today – who would bother? As Jeremy Clarkson, the automotive presenter turned farmer in the UK, has noted, farming is often about producing food at no profit for people who hate you (editorial note: I am paraphrasing). His show, Clarkson’s Farm, is on Amazon Prime. He’s won a gong at the British Farming Awards because of his show (with Kaleb Cooper), which details how hard farming actually is, even with the money to engage in it, and all done with a sense of humour.

Overall, I do wonder why anyone would get into the field. The hours are long, the pay is low, government bureaucracy only increases year by year, it is a dangerous job and the media tends towards demonising the industry, while demanding that it continue to protect the countryside that agriculture has formed over thousands of years.

But then you hear people like Clarkson (who supports his farm with the TV shows, farm shop and books) and the Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen, who love their chosen jobs. Also, seeing the enthusiastic people at events run by the Society of Dairy Technology, who are at the food processors and along the supply chain.

Or, just people like myself, who enjoy dairy every day – for example, I just ate a beautiful piece of Dewlay traditional creamy Lancashire cheese with my apples and oat cakes. You can taste the terroir in it.

I suppose it’s why people get into the trade. They enjoy food and want to share it with others and dairy provides good, nutritious food at a reasonable cost. To help with this, more dairy processors of all stripes should be talking about their issues. Dairy UK and the AHDB has a website where people in the industry can get ideas and assistance with working with social media: www.tellitlikeitis.co.uk

They’re talking about us anyway, so we might as well get our thoughts in. Plus, any excuse to talk about the many good things, and there are recipes on the site as well. Might do a bit of macaroni and cheese tonight. #supportlocal

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