After almost continuous rain, how does the wheat look & Red Tractor nonsense

[@nickhale2900]

Good news that British farmers are making a stand against bureaucratic crap!

[@grahamedwards9920]

Well said Nick.

[@teryd5672n]

Agree. Everyone should resist the woke crap.

[@chubeye1187]

That would be their handouts

[@cozza819]

More and more pandering to a tiny tiny percentage of the population crying on twitter.

[@Albert-nf8jk]

@@teryd5672n I'm curious as to how you make anything in Harry's vid an argument against "woke crap"? You're mis-using what woke means and are conflating it with a narrative that has altogether different origins. Harry makes very sensible common sense vids and I mostly agree with him, but remember, the Government of the day are in charge of agricultural policy, not a "tofu eating left wing wokerati".

[@AndreZA979]

Glad to hear the farmers are taking a stand against these crazed overlords!

[@SuperiorNo1]

Red Tractor 🚜 Illuminati🔺👁️ 😈

[@NigelMarston]

UK farmers should band together more often - to hold the environment agency to account and our politicians All fascinating stuff Harry - thanks for the update

[@alexandradane3672]

I agree and particularity because most civil servants and politicians are ignorant suburbanite or urbanites . They know absolutely nothing about farming , about the land , about nature , about the the country side and understand - even less.

[@grahamcoffer1720]

Harry should be a senior executive civil servant in the ministry of agriculture ,they simply couldnt cope with his common sense . Best farming content .

[@S.ASmith]

Head of Defra more like!

[@hughmarcus1]

Harry is a calm, measured thoughtful chap. Working in DEFRA would melt his head. 😬

[@rogerjayraphael]

You can't get those jobs , unless you're compromised

[@mattblack6736]

he needs to funnel some Russian money to the Tories to be able to qualify unfortunately.

[@daniel635biturbo]

Common sense and politics don't mix well, if at all actually 😂

[@ajs3046]

Thanks for bringing this to the attention of the general public. The majority of whom (including myself) knew nothing about this. We want to support our farmers, but most of us only have supermarkets to provide our food, so they call the shots. I hope the NFU hold their nerve.

[@ericwilson5742]

Thank you

[@andrewmellon5072]

In Ireland we have similar scheme to red tractor, Bord Bia. It originally marketed produce. Now imposes quality control similar to Red tractor. It now employs a small army of inspectors. It is paid at sale or slaughter. We have a neibour who was asked for his rodent control records. He said his cats were his rodent control. She then asked for his cat worming and vaccination records!

[@user-zu6qn9ux9n]

Fs, their stupidity know no bounds. Hope he said they were wild cats!

[@bloke755]

The problem in Ireland is we have vegetables propping up the government , ie The Green Party !! 🤬

[@paulcruse]

That is disturbing! Surveillance and control. I love your neighbours humour though, reminds me of my dad getting a sales call “can I speak to who deals with your security please..” my dad’s response “I would let you, but he’s in the garden right now barking at the pigeons” 😀

[@ericwilson5742]

Totally correct and in the north cats are a no no but must have proof of any dogs wormed and entered into medicine book as well. We can’t kill rats, catch them and drown in water then burry a certain depth total bonkers . I could go on an on

[@stuartrobertson4714]

And this is why the world is fkt up

[@davidforsdike4343]

The river Gipping near me in Suffolk has not been cleared for 40 years. It use to be dregged every 10 years. Houses have been flooded that have never been flooded before. Since the E A took over there has been no maintenance on the water ways .

[@CrazedCrittic]

Good the farmers are sticking together. Together we are strong, divided we are easy pickings. Great video as always.

[@andrewbradley1753]

Farmers sticking together, I'll believe it when I see it actually happen 😂

[@thetessellater9163]

I am shocked that the Red Tractor compliant wheat grown by UK farmers is being mixed with non compliant imported grain ! That needs publicising - I think this could be in your favour with the public to get them behind the "Good Food UK" push.

[@markm49]

We can’t grow enough crops in the UK to feed the nation - we haven’t been able to since the 1960s. Hence the joining of the EU and single market. We import 40% of our food.

[@tonys1636]

@@markm49 1960's more like 1860's, even before WWI we imported 40% of our food rising to 65% before WWII, mostly grain, sugar and 'exotic' (non native) fruit and veg. Just a lot less sugar now as Sugar Beet now forms the most used but a lot of that comes from Ireland (both NI and IE).

[@paulmaxwell8851]

Can't? The UK chooses not to be food self-sufficient. In the 1980s the UK produced 82% of its food needs, obviously unable to supply coffee, bananas and the like. The only thing stopping complete self-sufficiency is lack of political will.@@markm49

[@brianeggar]

Since watching your programmes my respect and admiration for all farmers has grown immensely. It should be required viewing to all those in government associated with the farming industry. I do wonder how multipolarity and BRICS might change the world with regard to commodities where it would appear that prices might be taken out of the hands of the existing financial markets?

[@TheJohn8765]

This and Clarkson's Farm showed me how dire the situation for UK farmers is. Who the hell would get into farming now with how hard it is and how little money you make?

[@richardmosley4549]

I love your Farm vids Harry. I'm no farmer, but I learn so much and find them thoroughly enjoyable and educational. Thank you. I know once you've harvested and then drilled there's not much to report, but even watching that (excellent )guy doing the dry stone wall was fascinating stuff. And what about your solar? As for this green Red tractor lark, go woke go broke as they say....

[@pdrawmer]

Harry thank you for your farming industry insights, it's good to have a greater knowledge of how our food industry works.

[@decayintheuk]

why do we let technically inept bureaucrats make the policy decisions, something needs to change because this is the road to ruin through no fault of the people on the ground

[@kieranosullivan02]

they start off as good ideas, everyone joins then it changes along the way it seems

[@JohnD-t9p]

Another great video. The actions or lack or actions of the E A are absolutely criminal.

[@HUMPERS42]

Floodplain are called this for a reason.

[@lutherblissett9070]

@@HUMPERS42 The land in Anglia is supposed to be drained properly, a lot of it is below sea level.

[@richardbrayshaw570]

More power to you, Harry. It's the time of harvest festivals and great bounty from the land. Thanks for your massive contribution.

[@EJWEST333]

Very well said at them end Harry. Respect ✊

[@WilliamPhelps-t9b]

Interesting and informative. Dealing with the unpredictable weather must be difficult enough without unpredictable bureaucracy weighing in and adding to your problems. Let’s hope sanity prevails.

[@shanedavis9166]

Thank-you Harry for yet another informative and educational video.

[@julianheritage6436]

Great informative video Harry. Hope the weather improves for all our farmers 🤞

[@johnsweeney1712]

Great video. Very informative and sadly revealing about the pressures farmers are under particularly due to the weather. Keep up the good work.

[@MrEMrC]

I was talking with a friend of mine in Norfolk yesterday; they had 200mm of rain in October, he pointed out that the drains around the fields were not dug because someone had a quiet afternoon and got bored so they thought the spade could do with an outing. The way land is managed has been squeezed and skimped on for so many years in order to balance providing food and the struggle to remain viable. Hedging and ditching was a regular winter job, but that was when each farm could afford a workforce. People need to think about what they eat and the choices they make. If people did, there would not be a need for Red Tractor Schemes.

[@dquad]

Someone's head will be rolling at Red Tractor after this ends up with the whole scheme being completely scrapped. This is what happens when people don't read the room.

[@martinjones4776]

unlikely, probably get a promotion & a pay rise.

[@GrahamFrench247]

Time for all farmers to leave the scheme en-masse. They cannot implement it when nobody takes part.

[@user-zu6qn9ux9n]

@@GrahamFrench247totally agree. It’s a money making scam. Red Tractor and Farm Quality Assurance are just more paper work and red tape.

[@kenmoore589]

Over-reach, got too big for their boots.

[@bigmoncrief6071]

Rainbow tractor will be next. How inclusive is your farm?

[@kevinbridle1831]

Look at what the lack of investment did to the Somerset Levels.

[@andrewdalziel4006]

Yes, and a lot of the flooding on the roads is due to poor, or non existent, drain maintenance. Much easier to just blame climate change.

[@welshherow2603]

Doesn't flooding start on the land? A healthier catchment with functioning geomorphology delivers less soil into the rivers, slows the flow and reduces flooding.

[@baldyslapnut.]

And if you build on flood plains... Ditch clearing used to be obvious when I was a kid in the 20th century, and road sweepers pumping out gully traps were seen 2 or 3 times a year.

[@bernardjackson7119]

The single disc planter is exceptional. You can can plant between the previous seasons rows. The Boss planter here the wheat is germinating in 24hrs

[@trojanorse]

Thanks for the update, Harry. Maybe consumers would rebel against red tractor if they realised the disadvantages it imposes on UK farming.

[@kristonfox]

As always informative factual, well presented and engaging

[@Louisa93able]

Thank you so much for helping me understand the issues from the arable farmers' experiences and points of view along with the evidence you present from your own situation. Also thank you for sharing your experiments with new methods of farming; always fascinating to me. You are so articulate, cogent and clear.

[@William986-i4q]

Mr Metcalfe, Thank you again. I hope you realise how important your farming programmes (I am a great fan of your motor car ones too) really are! Your good work might help to protect the people of the British Isles from hunger. We really do need some consideration for food security. Somebody needs to think about fuel for humans for a change!!

[@alanssnackbardailyrelaxati8155]

There seems to be a war against farmers from the government. Amongst many other wars If I had a tin foil that I'd assume it was all part of this build back better wef inspired horse shite . But thought like that would make me a conspiracy theorist. Very pleased to see some farmer push back against Mr wef sunak and his ilk. Always good to watch a Harry's farm update. Direct drilling of grass seed as an example, has been used on golf course's for at least the last decade. Thank you harry and Charlie.

[@farmernige]

Spot on. All the issues around the world are leading us into their "rescue" package called the great reset. Expect more problems, more wars, more price hikes and more debt which will eventually cause the financial system to crash.

[@freespeech3673]

There's a war against farmers from Holland to New Zealand. But why?

[@glendakirby5579]

@@freespeech3673 Control the food and the money and you have it all.WEFminster wins.

[@OnzeManInKazakhstan]

@@freespeech3673because current farming practices are not sustainable.

[@OldskoolCatflap]

@@OnzeManInKazakhstan Do you work for the WEF?

[@johnfurnival4133]

Excellent farming video by top presenter

[@cawsticky1322]

Great video, Harry telling it like it is as usual. Bureaucrats need to listen more to farmers like Harry and less lunching with the 'green' lobby who have no foresight or practical experience in what they are meddling in.

[@nfs9828]

Thanks Harry - you bring home to viewers the issues we all face

[@TomSnyder--theJaz]

Looking forward to seeing how till no-till compares this season. Cheers

[@steffydog]

Cheers Harry, thanks for the fab update, keep well.

[@hughmarcus1]

Thanks for that update Harry. Excellent explanation of Red Tractor too. 👍

[@peterjackson7426]

Thanks for video and info very good all best from north of Inverness 😊

[@CAAutoElectronics]

Harry, Great video as usual. I always look forward to your POV on farming matters. Regarding the red tractor rebellion, I was amused to see the still taken in your video (13m24s) showing page 6 of FW "Industry split over future of Red Tractor". However, the irony that on the bottom LH column of page 7 is an issue of a supplier passing off "free range chicken". This is an example of why Red Tractor traceability needs to exist to drive up quality in the food industry. In turn it should cause Red Tractor approved food stuffs to command a better price for those who want it. Maybe not the bottom line consumers but certainly where you want to market all your menu as Red Tractor produce. Please keep posting.

[@timwilkinson8023]

Interesting again Harry. The view from the field without the drama and anger that can disguise the simple facts. Thanks for posting.

[@S_Edward_Burns_ArtsEditor]

Redlines on farming issues mean something more than reaching the end of the video. Many thanks.

[@HQBProductions]

Harry…thank you again for the insight on farming conditions and for explaining the Red Tractor scheme and how flawed it really is. You surely deserve some Government job to tell the people now in charge, just how stupid they are…words of one syllable are needed! Good luck in the Winter which might be a cold one as we have escaped that for many years recently.🤔🤔😬😬😬🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@grahamedwards9920]

Thanks Harry - a brilliant watch.

[@whos-your-mate]

We're very moist in Suffolk. We have huge puddles in fields that have never had puddles in before and they're not draining 🤦‍♂️

[@zw4mp]

Thank you, it's interesting to hear what it's like in the UK. We've had alot of rain also in Sweden since mid July, and it just keeps going with no end to it. Fortunately we aren't affected the worst but its the wettest year for a very long time. I'm sorry for all the administrative burden being piled on. We see this in the dairy industry too..

[@kevinharker1840]

Can't beat the plough to get the water away.

[@nancysmith-baker1813]

Thankyou for the report.

[@ShazG69]

Well said re Red Tractor my hubby is always ranting about them . The woman that does his inspections absolutely rub him up the wrong way she is awful ! I have shared this to my FB to show my friends what hubby has to put up wit. You explained it so well !

[@SirGranular]

Does Red + Green not make Brown?! We do like to make things difficult for ourselves as a country sometimes, often not for the right reasons. Always enjoy a new Harry's Farm video. Cheers.

[@nickhoward9343]

Thanks for the catch up. Hope it dries up for you mate

[@danielmarshall4587]

There's me with long face 'cos it's raining when I walking to the car to drive home after work.Thank you Harry for giving me this insight. The "Red Tractor" caper is some thing I cannot comment on with any knowladge, however I can say most consumers have no idea how expensive "most things" would be if they were produced here in the U.K.

[@OzoneVibe]

Many thanks for your informative videos. Always learning loads. 👍

[@kittonsmitton]

Great stuff Harry, the farmers realize where the Asylum is and who's running it.

[@TheDanny5455]

Another great, we'll explained video. Thankyou.

[@rossross8224]

well done to the British farmers , how could we the British public support you more , didn't know a thing about Red tractor

[@ammo4184]

Another interesting video Harry. As contractors we haven't turned a wheel in almost 3 weeks, paying salaries but no furlough scheme for the weather. The weather regularly creates a type of lockdown for agri related business. Hopefully there will be some unity on the RT debacle going forward. Good explanation of what RT is all about for your non farming viewers too.

[@hyrdocomputing]

Back in the day when you could shoot seals in Scotland. All the salmon farms in Scotland signed up to the RSPCA freedom foods scheme as it was the scheme which allowed you to shoot the most seals! These foods schemes are funny old things consumers have no idea what goes into them!

[@edmatterson4405]

Awful dry here in Queensland Australia, send us some of that rain please Harry!

[@shaunjones6049]

The Environment Agency, The Government agency in charge of monitoring water pollution 😉😉 The Environment Agency who prosecute small businesses or farms when they accidentally pollute . Yet turn a blind eye to water companies who pump shit into a rivers and sea , on a industrial scale 🤨 on a daily basis 🤨. Water companies 2006 /2017 post tax profits of 18.86 billion 😳 75% of water companies are owned by foreign investors Black Rock Lazard Vanguard JP Morgan Cheung kong Group, hedge funders ripping the cash out , and not investing in Water treatment or infrastructure 🤨 with government blessings under the noses of the Environment Agency 🙈🙊🙉. And now they are telling the British people you are going to have to pay more 🙄 to get them to do the job they agreed to do when they took over the running of the water companies. THERE MUST BE A PUBLIC INQUIRY.

[@midlandgeordie]

Tory government only interested in dividends for rich backers!

[@Jason-cl8hk]

Another great episode. Thanks.

[@baccattack]

Appropriately it started pissing down again as I was watching this! Seen plenty of partly flooded fields around my way. Over double the average October rainfall here 😮

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Last week we reached the annual amount of rain in Denmark, and there’s still two months to go before the year ends. 2023 have been wet - very wet. 🌧🌧

[@ColinHarvey78]

Interesting about the Red Tractor… more evidence, if it were ever needed, that this government has completely lost it grip

[@expatscot]

To be clear, Red Tractor is an industry body and not part of Government.

[@alang911]

Read "DIRT TO SOIL by GABE BROWN". You NEED multiple cover crops to build up the soil Harry and water carrying capacity Harry.

[@tomriley5790]

Didn't realise that red tractor was linked to everything. I do try to buy redtractor meat etc. when I'm given the choice but I didn't realise it was also part of bulk wheat etc. too crazy that it's not a premium. Good luck with everything!

[@gordonbritton3215]

Thanks harry need more information like this government are out of touch with the hard reality of farming

[@sarahmansell3611]

Crops looking great

[@shadowred1980]

Thank you for the update.

[@nielsdybro9759]

Did you notice a difference in water infiltration rate in the direct drilled area vs the area drilled with the harrow tine drill, or if puddles formed more in areas drilled with the Claydon or the JD drill?

[@bobdinwiddy]

keep'm coming Harry 😊 excellent fodder

[@jazko]

Here in Eastern Europe, we haven't had rain since 5th of September. Yesterday we had the first 20mm of rain for the last 2 months. Almost no cereals have come up yet.

[@oarnbak]

Dear Harry Metcalfe I follow Harry´Garage, but also with great interest Harry´s farm. I think both channels are serious and very well produced. I myself am a trained farmer and former Danish milk producer. I very much agree with your considerations about steak production in the UK. In some ways, your considerations also fit into Danish steak production. I have a small but important question regarding Harry's Garage. Where is your fine Actic Rolls? Once again, many thanks for your youtube channels. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Ole Arnbak West Jutland, Denmark.

[@Rich10000]

Please continue growing food Harry!

[@holdtight46]

Harry well done for using your platform to speak up against nonsense red tractor compliance rules. Can’t stress enough your point about imported produce not having to comply with the same traceability rules that UK produce does. Not to mention chemicals allowed.

[@flytwin1772]

The same issue the farmers here in germany fight with, struggleing with all these government papers, we are fed up as well.

[@nephos100]

"2023 is a very peculiar year for farmers..." Harry, the last couple of years have been very peculiar for everyone! Very peculiar indeed.

[@deanie557]

"Harry's singing in the rain." ☔🎶

[@MrMarcol29]

Good luck for getting some sunshine ✌️

[@jimjams1581]

Another great informative video, Harry, but there's one thing missing - where's Stanley? Not seen him for a while.

[@jjjnout6778]

Invariably these schemes such aw Red Tractor become laden with layer upon layer of civil servants, and of course once the gravy train starts its impossible to stop it

[@kenmoore589]

Bureaucrats love to Bureaucrat

[@charlespaynter8987]

Their job doesn’t involve looking at the overall big picture

[@expatscot]

To be clear, Red Tractor is an industry body and not part of Government.

[@richardgraham1167]

How about planting rice in the apparent rice paddy area?

[@howarddavies136]

The intro said it all 😂

[@sianwarwick633]

Canada here, not a farmer. Sorry. With that out of th way, local grocery store threw out expensive premium bread suppliers in favour of pita bread. Before that it was wheat flour tortillas they were pushing. Pita is overpriced, but still cheaper. Thanks for showing the new drilling, and all fields. it has begun snowing here in spots

[@benpenagonzales6014]

Partly good news, expect headline inflation to drop down to about 4.5%. That’s still double the Bank’s target and with wage inflation still up, rates are still unlikely to fall.

[@ideasforu358]

Hope the farm survives this crazy rain.

[@charlessmyth]

[11:15] So long as there's somewhere to drain it to, a few lengths of tile drainage ought to have some useful effect on that boggy field.

[@bobspeller2225]

Very interesting, I don't envy you, you must be going mad with all this red tape, hope you farmer win your case. Bob

[@chrisnichols5208]

What a fantastic update Harry . farmers just want a level playing field kick the Red Tractor out not needed

[@nicksibly3808]

Thank you Harry for saying what a sham the Red Tractor government initiative is most enlightening. Plus I saw your NI road trip video on Harry’s Garage - you missed a trick by not going to a fabulous restaurant on the beach at Portstewart called Harry’s Shack I had the best John Dory dish I’ve ever eaten in the summer. Keep up the good work.

[@expatscot]

To be clear, Red Tractor is an industry body and not part of Government.

[@the_elder_gamer]

Have you considered rice as an option?

[@baldyslapnut.]

☀️☀️2022 anyone?

[@robertreznik9330]

Wheat on the US western high plains has not had much rain in 2023. non irrigated is needing rain to germinate. The good thing is wheat may not be as cheap as it was 4 years ago! 130 mm rain would not fill our subsoil. We direct sow to save the water for the crop.

[@H4rleyBoy]

Harry, great video as always but when you post a picture of a magazine etc page, in order to read it we have to pause the video and then get a red line, your logo etc through the lower part of the page making it awkward to read, can you adjust the way it is pictured so the line doesn't obscure the page please?

[@JxH]

Maybe plant trees in the useless swampy area. Something wet-tolerant of course. 😀 P.S. Little tiny trees, so you'd have MILLIONS !

[@harrysfarmvids]

That’s already in the works for next year. Great minds etc..

[@matthewtrow5698]

I guess we were somewhat lucky in Oxfordshire that we didn't get AS crazy an amount of rain as other areas, but we did get a Crazy amount anyway. Other farmers, as you've shown, haven't been as lucky. The recent storm went into Europe - and of course they've been hit by the same waves of wetter than average weather as we have. Probably harder to see for "townies" - where I live in Chippy, we're up on a hill, so unless we go and have a walk in the low lying fields, it all looks fine - just a lot of rain falling for us and rolling away down the hill. If it ever floods here, it's the end of the world and we'll be shouting out for Noah to help us... The Red Tractor thing, as a townie, but also as someone who lived as a resident on a farm for 5 years, it seems there's a constant meddling with farmers. I recall my landlord often cursing as he told me about the red tape, the constant fiddling, the ridiculous level of rules and confusing ever changing landscape.

[@PixelVogue]

Still chucking it down here in Bano!!

[@jamesmisener3006]

You might consider tiling that one wet field or a portion of it. If you own it or have a long term lease like 10 years or more it should pay off and more. As you know Clay drains slowly but can produce healthy crops. Cheers 🇨🇦

[@georgedoorley5628]

u need somewhere to drain to ...........might not have anywhere

[@baldyslapnut.]

Harry's farm is on a bit of a plateau with perhaps one main stream running through it.

[@jonh9561]

There really should be common agreement that the costs of compliance must be recoverable e.g. taxation credits or price increases, then perhaps we would see what is really necessary and what is not.

[@JohnNichols-u3j]

Farmers like Harry should be advising the government

[@baldyslapnut.]

Since when have governments listened to people who actually do the expert work?

[@Nicknofish]

Let farmers farm, at least they know the industry.

[@mattdavies3023]

Forgive my comment I’m not a farmer so this may be stupid to ask - is there a reason why large fields like these are not trenched to put drainage pipes in like they seem to do over here in the US? Would this not stabilize flooding like this?

[@georgedoorley5628]

cost is a big factor

[@user-fq2cf6xf2s]

The land is not prepared for it because there has never been a need to prevent this level of waterlogging in the area. The weather is changing, it's clearly getting wetter and additional drainage measures may need to be taken in the future. For now, proper maintenance of existing drainage ditches, watercourses etc is vital. Sadly, like most things under the purview of government departments, the Environment Agency in this case, that maintenance and improvement of the infrastructure hasn't been happening for years. They just blame climate change and scold us for our carbon footprint whenever there's a flood, it's easier than doing their job.

[@patrick_laslett_allotment]

There is a conflict between cleaning out drainage ditches and small rivers and leaving them overgrown. The farmer wants the water gone especially when there too much of it. The towns downstream want the water held on the farm especially when there is too much of it. To much water and their flood defences won't hold it. Trees on the high land could hold a lot of water but growing trees is not the same as growing wheat.

[@LittleNoiseBoy]

As a UK consumer, I felt proud of Red Tractor and our superior standards but had no idea what hogwash it was in terms of ingredients being mixed with non-compliant imports. I desperately want our government to help our UK farmers: a degree of re-localisation (to reduce food miles, promote the rural economy etc) seems to me essential to any environmental agenda. If only the government would listen...

[@marklorne6790]

I learn more from one of the Harry's Farm short videos than you will from a whole episode of the BBC's "flagship rural affairs programme"! Informative and put into language a layman can understand ; Good stuff!

[@DennisNowland]

I don't envy you, thanks for sharing.