Communities, whether they are villages, farms or even flocks of sheep, work best when they work together. Late last Sunday night a 6ft 6in tall policeman carrying a machine gun came to the farmhouse door. I had responded to a cry for help from our neighbour concerning some “wild shooting” out on the marsh by […]
This article was originally published on 11 April 2018. I received a text message recently from the tenant of our converted granary. It requested that I telephone her immediately, there was a problem requiring my urgent attention. On calling, she relayed that in the middle of the night she had lain in bed listening to […]
On the difference between price and value. […]
ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 9th MAY 2018 Introduction – the danger of being a farmer at MBA school (or at a dinner party) MBA schools characterise farming as a commodity industry, subject to negative weather events and low returns. Farmers are often told at dinner parties that farming: is a low return asset class which produces […]
The construction of the World’s largest vertical farm, in Dubai, was recently announced. Effectively a high tech, multi-storied urban greenhouse, once built it will produce 2.5 tonnes of leafy greens a day, use no soil, and only 1% of the water and chemicals required if the crops were grown conventionally. It will use photovoltaics to […]
Having sufficient food is a basic human need. Sadly it is not always the case in certain areas of our world and many still die of famine. However in developed countries often its supply is taken for granted and not really valued. We expect full supermarket shelves, offering a bewildering choice and range of product. […]
Nature conservation on England’s farms has never been so important. While all biological measures are continuing to reflect drastic declines of almost all species, money is only available on a short term basis in a complex changing politic. Annual measures undertaken by farmers within cropped areas can only be a part of any solution. There […]
The global agricultural investment spotlight has moved ‘down under’ and is fixed firmly on the Australian dairy farm sector. Long overlooked as the ‘poor cousin’ of the agricultural sector, Australian dairy is now coming of age. Cattle stations, broad-acre cropping properties, wool and lamb-producing grazing properties and permanent row crops like citrus and almond orchards have been […]
Why the future of farming depends on determination and long-term vision. […]
Could we see wild elephants returning to Europe? Martin Hole discusses a return to ‘nature’. […]
