Why bureaucracy is driving me nuts, thoughts on latest Food Strategy & harvest prep gets underway

The Government released its Food Strategy white paper this week, which seemed distinctly lacking in detail. Then the rebuilt stone wall is progressing well, the combine has its harvest service and I have a grumble at the daft bureaucracy getting in the way of me planting some trees.

[@Sam-ch9mn]

Compared to the overwhelmingly inane and patronising Countryfile from BBC, your videos provide much more useful information in just 15 or 20 minutes. Please keep them coming Harry.

[@alanpatterson2759]

Well said, Countryfile is sort of errr crap now!

[@Erectmygreenhouse]

@@alanpatterson2759 Yep. Used to be OK with John Craven? Is that his name? But now it's just climate change this, climate change that.

[@alanpatterson2759]

@@Erectmygreenhouse Yeh he did newsround as well. It was good as well, now crap and pushing climate change!

[@Erectmygreenhouse]

@@alanpatterson2759 Yeah. I only watch the BBC for football matches - and even then you get a political message. How i miss the days of Newsround, Blue Peter - which would now be Pink Petra - even Songs of Praise - cos that used to air on a Sunday evening and you knew it's time to do your homework!

[@alanpatterson2759]

@@Erectmygreenhouse Poor scholar that leaves the homework till Sunday night! Bring back Jess Yates! I'm hiding behind the settee the now Dr John Campbell's giving it the latest on money pox 😂

[@L5GUK]

What's even more infuriating about not being able to plant trees on that pasture, is that it was probably ancient woodland anyway, only as recently as 200 years ago, before it was all cut down for ship building. You can see the clues in the landscape from the random spots of trees out there.

[@earthstick]

I was talking to a WWII veteran. I suggested that the forests were felled for ship building, but he said it mainly happened just after, or during, WWII. People needed to make money and increase food production.

[@Non-zo4gh]

The ancient forests of Britan were already wiped out around 1500, well before the industrial revolution or the war. Britain hasn't been heavily forested for a very long time.

[@amandar7719]

What? Planting oaks for ship building began in the Tudor times, and zilch since then. Ancient shipbuilding oak forests might still be in existence/protected. But since then, governments have consistently interfered with “farming” practices that, apart from “Victory digging” in emergencies, have failed our population and soil health! Holistic management is the way forward.

[@Czechbound]

I can only assume that there is so very little natural pasture left, and there are species who rely on it for survival, that an impact assessment is sensible. Once it's gone, it's gone for good. So not a decision to take lightly. The farmed land on the other side is not remotely "natural" in its state, so planting trees on it is not damaging a very scare resource

[@buck-johnson]

@@Czechbound Then you should go out and buy pasture with your own money and not force other people to fund your moral stands.

[@kjb8321]

Anyone that makes a career from dry stone walling gets my full admiration. That process must take a very serious amount of patience

[@martinmcdonald4207]

And sweat, a lot of physical strenght required too.

[@john1703]

And skill.

[@ianashton1593]

It’s amazing how something can be made so precisely with randomly shaped pieces of stone.

[@mynewcolour]

I think more skill and graft than patience because they have to move pretty quick to earn a living.

[@peterm8969]

Mark's wall is just beautiful! An ancient art that still works today. As for the trees we need more arable land not less! Re-wilding makes no sense if we are over reliant on imports! Keep making the point Harry!

[@clockwork9827]

my argument too

[@kip8790]

Until we have no pollinators left.

[@Erectmygreenhouse]

It makes sense to the globalists who want to control your food supply. No trees? Sorry, no food deliveries. It's why after WWII farmers in England got subsidies to grow food - because we had to buy so much from America in WWII that the government said we had to grow our own. Now - they're reversing that. Be reliant on other countries for your food. Great thinking!

[@Tristanbirdyt]

I have just sat down with a cup of tea and of course Harry‘s farm notification comes through absolutely wonderful keep up the great work Harry thank you so much

[@JustinSeara]

Absolutely chuffed for a new episode

[@Erectmygreenhouse]

@@JustinSeara Yeah. I think Harry puts the problems farmers are facing in an eloquent manner.

[@npet6842]

I like to see airtime from a credible person who "outs" the BS of these White Paper writers . I haven't seen decent planning from a Government in my 60 years !

[@Erectmygreenhouse]

It's a classic case of idiots at Westminster who have never grown a plant telling the countryside what to do. But this is worse because the WEF are pushing Agenda 2030 and farmers are being paid to stop farming for a lump sum of cash. Neil McCoy Ward just did a good video on that and how chicken farms keep randomly catching fire, planes crashing into production plants etc. Check it out. Also - have a good day and take care!

[@kronkite1530]

Well, what about HS2. Oh, hang on… sorry, my fault.

[@wearejames1]

@N Pet, agreed, how many times do you see, for example the minister for foreign affairs become the minister of education or the environment and rural affairs in a cabinet reshuffle.... Too much Government policy made up by 'officials' with little knowledge or experience in the subject/department they are controlling. I have seen this happen in industry, where you have someone become a manager of a department, where they have no experience and the thinking behind it is that they just need to be good at managing the people who are under them, this is never successful in my opinion.

[@Erectmygreenhouse]

@@wearejames1 I think it's empirical. Governments want to kill us off by starvation or energy shortages

[@Bonezmi16]

I’ve said for a long time. Farming is the most important job in the world! No one can say otherwise. Without farmer everyone’s dead. So it baffles my mind at all these governments wanting to import food rather than grow it their self! People in offices should not be allowed to make such decisions!

[@dreamcrusher112]

Importing is cheaper as the infrastructure cost is elsewhere. Makes sense but bad for food security.

[@RoverWaters]

you think like a peasant

[@IanPritchard]

Your fourth sentence, I regret to say, will be a much more likely outcome with the current faux green policies in action.

[@craigmarr7986]

You farmers need to find your balls, and tell the government to get bent, and stay out of your business. I wouldn't ask them a damn thing, I would go ahead and plant my trees where I wanted.

[@Aliceintraining]

@@dreamcrusher112 importing is only as cheep as the cost to ship in bulk. once fuel price goes way up and the logistic workforce is too small, the price goes way up. we have been leaning on logistical capacity for way too long and not properly investing in it so when it falls apart. no wonder the price skyrockets. even if you dont have enough ag land. making sure you have enough well supported and trained farmers means that you have better sustainability. if you lose the skill set for farming, it becomes so much harder to replace. as with any other industry.

[@HROM1908]

Dear Harry, we were faced with the same thing in our village here in Canada ! We went ahead and planted the maple saplings that we wanted. No one noticed and now they are over 15 feet high. It is better to apologise than to ask for permission !

[@Czechbound]

Something tells me that Harry's character is one that plays by the rules, even if he disagrees with them. It's the only way to go to be a good person.

[@andrewgrosset9327]

@@Czechbound Reminds me of "1984" by George Orwell......

[@southney7211]

I think I’d be doing the same, but I’m not a farmer. I expect there’s funding available from the forestry commission or some other source for such things. Humans have done a lot worse to destroy this planet than plant a few trees.

[@nephos100]

@@Czechbound "to be a good person" Thank you for your virtue signalling.

[@Czechbound]

@@nephos100 I think you need to look up "virtue signalling" means. Laws are in place for a reason. Only sociopaths disregard them arbitrarily. I'm sure you always follow the law. Or do you go in for sociopath signalling ... Peace and love.

[@flathead3757]

The fertiliser plant on Merseyside has just been closed permanently. The Government subsidise: trains, buses and many other things, why can't they take over the plant and provide a bit of security for fertiliser production and give the other fertiliser plants a bit of competition. Might help lower the market price.

[@alanpatterson2759]

Think an MP mentioned that there were two in Wales that were mothballed that could be brought back into production...it's NOT PART OF THE PLAN!

[@cncshrops]

Almost as if this government is short-sighted and, well, stupid.

[@andrewgrosset9327]

Unfortunately in a short term view of the UK's future it is cheaper to import nitrogen fertiliser from the USA and Canada where Natural Gas is cheaper....

[@rdf6205]

Thank you Harry. Your farm videos are an absolute pleasure to watch. To my mind, they would not be amiss in young kids' classrooms.

[@jeffreygeorge3942]

From my experience of not mowing my lawn for two years the second winter/spring you will get oak plants growing on that permanent pasture field because you have a mature oak nearby .Just move the fence out nature will do the rest.

[@ab348]

Stanley makes a wonderful supporting player. He seems to know exactly just when to pop in and look curious about something Dad is up to, then get distracted by something else and exit stage left.

[@RoryMacdonald-pfff]

Keep ‘em on their toes Harry! Glad that there’s great content like this helping non-farmers get some insights to the operational side … including the involvement of gov.

[@edsilvester]

Your farming videos are an absolute highlight in my routine. Much appreciated.

[@Erectmygreenhouse]

Agreed!

[@rogerpritchard]

I farm rice in Thailand. Here there is very little help from the Thai government. In England you are very lucky because you get some help. Most rice farmers here are very poor and struggling, especially in Issan. Good luck to Harry.

[@andyp5743]

That drystone wall is a piece of art!

[@sweetcorn1968]

Harry, I love watching the farm videos. I live in a part of Kent surrounded by farmland and the knowledge you impart during these videos has given me more interest in my local surroundings. I’ve even found myself commenting on the amount of weed in the wheat crop while out walking the dogs.

[@jerehada]

Hehe me to.

[@PorscheRacer14]

That is wild to me having the government say where you can or can't plant trees on your land. Coming from the prairies in Canada where trees don't normally grow, we plant trees every yrear for shelter belts around the yard to protect from wind and snow. I've plant a couple thousand trees now and cut down quite a few old ones. Such is the cycle. Heck, they encourage tree planting. You can go and pick up trees pretty much for free from the PFRA. I love that stone wall. That's a certain type of skill there. Cheers to a good harvest. We're still a few months away that. It's been a wet and cool year so far so it might be a late harvest this year unless the heat comes on in August. I won't complain though, the dugouts are finally full after seeing them at their lowest the past few years.

[@SayedHamra83]

Exactly - the whole idea of the great society is a sham designed to prevent people taking prudent action on their own land so as to satisfy external interests, which usually means the monied urbanites.

[@scottcoe2633]

Aaaargggh Harry, my local council have given permission for 100s of faceless houses to be built near me in a really nice area, but they won't let you plant trees!! What's that all about ? Great programme by the way

[@pjclark8624]

I was going to comment but just had the rant inside my head instead, this time. Thank you again for making these videos. Plant the trees, damn it, this lot will be long gone and policy will have changed again before they are a metre tall!

[@Depinor]

The Department for the Eradication of Farming and Rural Affairs strikes again😂. So much easier when it was Ag & Fish! Great update Harry as usual, looking forward to harvest👍

[@alanpatterson2759]

No they aint trying to do that, are they? back 2 years ago they've been doing everything in their power to make things worse...oops better i mean better!

[@everestyeti]

The problem is and has always be, different governments have different agendas, then on top of hat every time you have a ministerial change they have there own ideas as well, that's why you get name changes and lately (ministerial crap trap) 'a different direction of travel'.

[@rl3898]

Ag and Fish paid farmers to take out hedges and marginal woodland when I started in Agriculture 50yrs ago !!

[@JustMe-bx8gu]

I start to feel government is a little bit like lawyers I dealt with over the years. They always tell you what you can't do but never have any ideas of their own. Great video again Harry, thanks.

[@Erectmygreenhouse]

You summed it up perfectly. And there's always new things you can't do that they add to the list

[@stephenoliver958]

That’s because government is full of lawyers

[@alanzyoutube]

Harry, would it be possible to have a video with you and a few other local farmers talking about what is really happening in farming, maybe some you know are having issues with vegetable and fruit crops, possibly something from Jezza? his mini-rants on Instagram don't cut it, but he is a stand-up articulate person in the right environment. 🚜🥕🌾🐄🍏

[@clockwork9827]

with Caleb

[@cristianmolina8148]

oh man, I like this channel ... believe me or not, we have the same crap of bureaucracy here in Chile. I am located in Colchagua Valley..(I grow wine vineyards, have cows, corn, wheat, etc)..I cant clean a land that use to be cultivated and now is with trees (mostly death)..there are rules written by some office ass that not allow you to clean that area, and be more productive in your OWN land..and fines are crazy expensive... crazy, absolutely crazy but like some old guy told me once when i was younger; this business is what it is; and is without crying.. everything is against farmers; just keep going

[@martinbradshaw692]

Keep the message going Harry. You're educating the the non -farming but interested public; myself included. Brilliant videos.

[@stevenbennett3922]

Really enjoyed this one Harry. Have to appreciate the skill, that we must not lose. on stone wall construction. I always remember seeing the progress on a wall I used to drive past on the A436 towards the A40 from Kilkenny. This was new Cotswold stone mind. God knows what it cost but a beauty to behold. As Clarkson's prog was recognised as being superior to Countryfile so is yours (IMHO). It is always informative and educates those of us that benefit from the endeavours of the UK farming community.

[@Czechbound]

Who recognised that Clarkson's Farm was superior to Countryfile, and in what way was that determined ?

[@stevenbennett3922]

@@Czechbound Use everybody's friend, Mr Google and have a look for yourself.

[@Czechbound]

@@stevenbennett3922 Ah, ok. So you're just making it up. Well done. Who needs concrete facts, right. Peace and love.

[@stevenbennett3922]

@@Czechbound Did you actually go and look yourself or are just assuming that because news outlet stories appear on the internet and they are available via a search engine then I am making up a story. Clarkson's Farm won a national farming award.

[@Czechbound]

@@stevenbennett3922 Finally, some information from you. Well done. Countryfile is mainly farming journalism, so the two aren't remotely comparable. But at least our interaction prompted something from you to back up your initial assertion. Although you do seem to be a bit Angry-of-Mayfair. I suggest some "shinrin yoku". You appear to like telling others to look things up. I'll leave you to look that up. Let's end it here. Peace and love. And as I think you can guess, no need to reply. It won't be read by me.

[@ewanstewart8011]

That wall is a thing of true beauty and should last a life time 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@gyrene_asea4133]

Dry-stone work is truly a work of art. It is marvelous to see what that man has accomplished. Hasn't changed in a millennia, I'm sure.

[@mrmartin2079]

Harry sounds happier when talking about ( and showing us ) his Combine than one of his super cars 😁

[@Ben-fk9ey]

On the topic of planting trees on pasture land I read a study in which they found (and I've forgotten the percentages) that plating trees on X% of land had either no impact on productivity or boosted productivity. I think especially with sheep it gave them shelter and allowed lambing outdoors earlier in the year or something along those lines and with cows allowed them to graze off some of the low hanging leaves giving them some better/different nutrients that they need.

[@billkeaveney1526]

Thanks very much Harry i was always curious how a combine harvester worked.

[@aston-martin-internationalist]

Harry, I'd love to hear more about the farm's overheads; maintenance, equipment, seed costs, field rents to other farmers. Being a Somerset lad living next to a farm, I've always been curious. Obviously it varies dramatically from farm to farm, where the farm is and what you're cultivating or using the land for.

[@Czechbound]

I think if you watch his videos from the beginning, there is a lot of information about input and output costs, for consumables and equipment. The rental costs and land values you can probably see in farm agents' adverts or in the Farmers' Journal

[@willjohnsnow]

Take a look at this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ope9m6Z9fJubn7M for example - I think Harry tries to do one for each year. This year will be interesting given the crazy prices.

[@clockwork9827]

agree with @Czechbound - for seed costs, for example there are a couple 2021 and 2020 seed prep vids - the cost or practice of retaining seed, and coating it for next year's planting

[@alanzyoutube]

The Government doesn't know what they are doing, it needs to be a long-term solution, everything is always short-term! Whenever I see something about farming on the news I always think about you Harry and Jezza & how it will impact you.

[@Richspeight]

Fantastic video yet again. Very strange with the use of permanent pasture, once the trees are established a good area of mixed grazing, like the park land look that is so typical of Britain would be great. I am trying to get into farming myself and there is a desperate lack of support from the Governments to actually grow our own food. Keep up the good fight.

[@adriankirk4644]

Fascinating Harry, thank you. I don't know how you stay sane, having to deal with our pathetic Government funtionaires.

[@buggerlugz6753]

What always concerned me was why when we left Europe the government didn't have an all encompassing self sustaining agricultural policy for the next 30 years. As usual instead we end up with nothing but self serving bureaucrats who only do anything if there is something in it for themselves.

[@davidcurry4433]

The thing is, we actually haven't left Europe, only by name only, the rulebook hasn't changed as we were promised.. As Harry said, "kicking the can down the road"

[@Mireaze]

@@davidcurry4433 Dont worry it will change, theyre looking at dumping the European convention on human rights as we speak..

[@yarkmates3409]

@@Mireaze Three cheers for lord saviour Boris 🫣🫢🤥

[@ahpadt]

Europe != European Union

[@cncshrops]

You have a very odd view of civil servants.

[@gibshall2007]

Can’t wait to watch this one. Your insight and knowledge on agriculture and cars is top notch.

[@notrut]

Way better reporting than BBC's Countryfile prattish stuff.

[@MrOvershoot]

Spot on there

[@alanpatterson2759]

@@MrOvershoot I'll second that!

[@erichoskin1687]

Hi Harry, I always look forward to watching your video, have learnt so much from them, WHY isn't someone like you in government, someone like you who really knows what they are talking about, surely now we need to grow more food, isn't that effectively what the word "farming" means ?? Why have we not produced fertilizer of our own since "Fisons" Fertilizer Factory closed ? now we're paying the price !! On another note.....That new wall is pure "art work" he is a very talented guy, hats off to him.

[@JonDingle]

Nice wall and having done quite a bit of walling I can see it is easy stone to wall. He should try river washed limestone, a whole nightmare to build with. I normally lay stone longways in rather than pretty face out. The walls tend to stand longer. Interesting video as always.

[@davidbarnsley8486]

He is doing an incredible job on that stone wall but my goodness how do you do that for a living I would loose my mind after 2 hours 👍👍

[@3rdkind]

Superb videos absolutely love watching the updates on the harvest, pricing and the rest!

[@TheMickybutler]

Kicking the can down the road. Like any weekly episode of Yes, Minister.

[@EleanorPeterson]

Yep. When people despair at such satire and say, "You couldn't make it up!", the scriptwriters nod and respond with "True. We don't have to."

[@ZIGZAG12345]

@@EleanorPeterson Satirists must be struggling these days. *Reality* is now SO twisted that there is barely any room left for the satirists to stupid it up in order to make an amusing point about it!

[@ewegg1271]

I really appreciate the effort you put into these. Always interesting and always educational! Thank you

[@garethjudd5840]

Should have just planted the trees 🌲 and on the rare chance anyone notices just say, "They have always been there" 👍

[@adrianchetwynd1334]

Gareth, I think that Harry was inquiring about a grant to plant trees. By the time the trees have matured to yield a return, Harry wont be as active as he is now. Growing trees is a a long term investment.

[@bentullett6068]

So they want us to plant trees or rewild areas that the farmers decide that would be suitable but decide the area that is suitable isn't ideal for trees, but then decide the the land that is being used for food production is absolutely suitable for planting trees. Who ever is in charge of these departments need sorting out as they seem to be in cloud cuckoo land.

[@davidoldboy5425]

I must admit, until I started watching you, and of course Jeremy, I had no idea of the stupidity towards farming by the Government, however I am not surprised. Having had dealings with officialdom through my job, I despair that anything at all gets done anywhere. We are seriously in danger of not growing anything, building anything or planning anything through multiple agencies, bodies and councils. I could recount dozens of stories, but I laughed the other day watching a very nice man from Indian railways being asked what was the best thing inherited from British rule, his answer? - bureaucracy (employed thousands). If we scrapped 90% of the HSE, Environment Agency and Local Planning I would guarantee at least a rise of 200% productivity.

[@Czechbound]

It's the lack of common sense that gets me. They give millions in Right To Buy payments to help people get on the property ladder. Of course the building companies will just increase the price. Lo and behold, I read in the FT with a graph they made that the increase in government support payments went straight to the building companies' revenue line ie they just raised the price by the subvention that buyers had access to. A blind dog with a mallet up its ass could have tapped the answer to that one out. But they went ahead and did the scheme anyway, and the building companies will continue to make big donations to the Conservatives. They don't care. It's how sociopaths operate.

[@sarahann530]

@@Czechbound Its the EUs fault

[@Czechbound]

@@sarahann530 Unfortunately, it isn't. Brexit was voted on 6 years ago. Everyone has had plenty of time to write to their MP and complain about things they don't like with the Brexit agreement. What is in place is there because your government backs it. So it's not the EU. It's the UK government, and all the people who continually vote to support them. You get the government you deserve if you don't proactively do something about it.

[@cortholiopezorama8879]

So demand went up and supply didn’t so prices increased. That’s not sociopathy it’s called supply and demand. If you want cheaper homes increase the number of people building them.

[@sarahann530]

@@Czechbound Of course its the EUs fault they are being mean and treating the UK like a foreign Country

[@jimmybroom]

Great video Harry. Looking forward to seeing the combine rolling again. Can’t believe we are approaching another harvest. Where does time go?

[@paulcunnington818]

That wall is an absolute work of art and to think there's care and thought spent on the placement of every single piece of stone. I'm intrigued though as to why there are some trees left so close to the new wall?

[@clockwork9827]

the hawthorn could be entirely removed after using it as a crib, but stump removal not reco'd after wall-building . trees at end of wall function to retain livestock with barbed wire fencing some yards from the wall or tree plantation as it exists - note this fencing is present on the livestock pasture

[@stephenauty2402]

It's be nice to see more Parkland in the UK, the odd big Oak etc with grass pasture for cows and sheep.

[@curthazlett595]

Plant the trees as you would like ! I can’t imagine them telling you to cut them down. In my area of Canada we can do what we want with trees run a dozer through them or plant them with zero oversight.

[@BasilBadger]

Pure zen to me. Thank you to everyone showing their work to us.

[@Zadster]

I suspect the government's agriculture policy (and indeed policy in general) owes more to the front pages of the Daily Mail and Daily Express than it does to actual science, research or the future needs of the country. So much of it depends on what Boris's particular whim is on any specific day. See the unannounced cessation of electric car subsidies.

[@midlandgeordie]

Government hot air…appeasing Brexiteers MaIl and Express at countries expense!!!

[@danielstiffel1599]

Nice work as always, I do have four chestnut saplings and one Oak sapling if you would like help with the forest.

[@pseggons9512]

Perhaps you could create some park land. It will take time but the cattle will appreciate the shade and retain the permanent pasture.

[@kyleelsbernd7566]

Representing Case tractors from Racine County Wisconsin USA! Great video!

[@kayeninetwo3585]

Great video. The food security numbers really are alarming. Probably most advanced countries are facing similar scenarios. It would be interesting to get Harry's take on the farm situation in the Netherlands. Somewhat related to what's being discussed here, or not?

[@michaeleaston547]

Great videos. Thank you.

[@OllyBlogsAgricontractfarmer]

On the top of that paper should be That uk gov will take over cf fertiliser at ince so we have fert and food security

[@malcolmhedges7346]

I was driving south down the new section of the A14 yesterday and they've planted wildflowers on the borders of the road, looked absolutely gorgeous.

[@ruarigillespie9133]

Missing the farm updates Harry,busy time I'm sure and look forward to next video.Cheers.

[@paulsouth4794]

same in Australia. john Howard to get accross the line at the Kyoto convention changed the zoning on private property not in production ie with trees on it, so you cannot sell the trees . We have 600 acres of 1939 regrowth we cannot touch . My father has sat on this resource since 1960's when he brought the place . now comes the time to renew fences and change the paddock layout to keep cattle out of creeks and rivers . nup no go .

[@sellier-bellot22]

The author of that stone fence is a professional !!!

[@peterrichardson9248]

Harry is such a genuine brilliant chap. Might be very wealthy but his respect for hard work and country skills immense.

[@jimhiggs6281]

This is like Clarkson’s Farm, yes! We need to see more of your videos thanks Harry! Wholesome and heartwarming, and you’re feeding the nation! Farmers are THE BEST! #HarryTheFarmerForTheWin #FarmersAreHeros

[@bengraham6672]

That article being published on the 1st of April says it all...

[@RedHeadForester]

I've only been watching for a month or so but I find this channel very useful and your manner is very reassuring and relaxing. My Dad is an agronomist with a particular interest in lettuce, but it's really good to have somewhat of an idea of what's the current state of affairs, plus some of the ins and outs, of farming of staple crops.

[@Erectmygreenhouse]

Glad you found this channel. Harry is great!

[@mentonish]

In France you would just do it, and then say you never knew

[@timbervalleyproductions]

Excellent video Harry. I love your content! Subbed. Greetings from sunny Worcestershire

[@gdwnet]

Thanks for posting these. It's good to see the details of what life on a farm is really like. We definitely need more education in how food gets from farm to table.

[@darrennolan3332]

That wall is a work of art. Looks brilliant.

[@louisholden5127]

Highly recommend reading Regenesis by Monbiot. Also highly critical of the new Food Strategy, but in a completely different way. Probably highly disagreeable to most farmers, but doesn't make it necessarily wrong.

[@AB-gb8lb]

Love Harry’s Farm , always feels like you’re there.

[@johnmoncrieff3034]

Harry just get the mower out and cut all the grass for hay or silage! then it cannot be classed as permanent pasture! till it and plant potatoes or some other crop and just to confuse them at DEFRA tell them it is all to do with field rotation!

[@alanmilton8056]

Having been off-grid for a while it was a pleasure to see the progress you are making, despite bureaucratic idiots. Not sure if you would have seen an article "The Great Food Con" by Boudicca (I kid you not) Fox-Leonard which was in the London Telegraph a while back & syndicated to the Australian Financial Review Weekend 18-19 June. Thought you might find it of interest, esp about raising beef etc. I have just received a copy of the book "The Great Plant-Based Con by Jayne Buxton, well worth a read. Cheers

[@tooyoungtobeold8756]

That wall is beautiful. Great skill.

[@fud1376]

Ha..I thought his Radio was some kind of Laser...Ha !!! Quality job !!

[@alexcocking7288]

A certain Lord Botham was saying much the same in today’s Telegraph (15th June). Where to start with what’s wrong with HM Govt’s approach (and not just the current govt.). It’s such an emotive debate - food security/buy local/support local production versus the current cost of living debate and food shortage caused by the Ukrainian conflict. But, going forward, as has been the case with energy/fuel security - if food security becomes more of an issue then costs will rise anyway through the simple supply & demand dynamic. Sadly our politicians are being far to vague, short-termist and downright naive and arrogant in imposing bureaucracy on farmers who really do know what’s best. As ever, a great video. Fancy having a go at dry-stone walling as it looks like the ideal digital detox!

[@ufx808]

Bureaucracy, the bane of everyone's life! Floyd would be proud of that wall as are you, Harry. Loved your video, as always.

[@davidwebb2318]

UK productivity has hardly grown for ages in the UK because the whole country is being held back by bureaucracy. It does a hell of a lot of economic damage. Unless we cut a load of red tape and slash the size of the public sector the UK economy will get weaker and weaker. This is a decision that only the government and electorate can make - the public sector aren't going to volunteer for redudancy. As far as I can see about half the public sector employees in the country spend most of their time inventing jobs to make themselves look busy. If we sacked them from all the useless non-jobs then we would also have a massive pool of skilled workers to fill the 1.4 million job vacancies. Then they would be contributing to the economy instead of taking wages from the tax revenue. End result? greater economic activity, lower taxes for everyone and more efficiency because jobs that need doing in the private sector would be filled.

[@callumhardy5098]

I thought we were supposed to have less bureaucracy now? This government are clueless about helping our British farmers!

[@stewartshackleton7825]

Sorry to say this government is clueless on everything!

[@keefr22]

The government are clueless, full stop.

[@bentullett6068]

The government aren't really acting for the good of the country but are being controlled by a higher power who only want to control everything in the world.

[@ben_jam]

@@stewartshackleton7825 Absolutely right, we have a bunch fascists in charge who only care about their populist agenda and not our actual lives !!

[@colinmiles1052]

Interesting video as always - thank you.

[@colinjones2505]

I've learnt more from you .......and Jezza...who brings over the frustration and humourous side of the industry so well...... about farming in the last 18 months, than I have from anyone or anywhere in the rest of my life. Absolutely tremendous, and find this channel more fascinating than 'The Garage' vids tbh. I'd love to see you two get together for a good ole chat and rant btw. So much in common

[@CharlieStyr]

Comparing the UK's diet nowadays with the 70s and 80s, there are probably a fair number of moving parts in that - access to vegetables grown in Spain seemingly year round is probably a considerable benefit to our health in some ways as an example. Although that decreases our security it is good in other ways. Not to mention the population difference between 70s-80s and now. I just wonder how plausible it is to get back to a number more like 78% vs 60% today...?

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

It would be easy, but the paid globalist stooges are allowed by the globalist funded political parties that have usurped the former British Govt to stop us from sending them all back where they were trafficked from (again by globalist funded organisations).

[@mikecrowe4674]

Great show as usual. Cracking stone wall being built by that lad.

[@jackbrenny9576]

Another wonderful video of your fascinating working farm together with practical problems and solutions encountered. I love these videos and thoroughly enjoy each one for their unique information, thank you Harry and Mrs M. for the filming. (I wonder who does the excellent film editing . . .)

[@Dg-zj6jo]

work of art the wall never see anything like it

[@Cronus111]

12 minute mark. This is odd, Harry. As there was/is a big push for farmers to include various trees on pasture land. Agroforestry is what they called it.

[@badbehaviourpanel]

Absolutely fantastic channel.. so interesting and informative i've been watching USA farms through lockdown and now found you guy! :) I really enjoyed the stone wall.. so good to watch real craftsman/women at work in Agri. I am hooked and currently looking for tracktor driving jobs so I can save up for some land - maybe not here in the uk tho. Thankyou, John.

[@jimwadland7728]

Worst thing you can do is ask the ministry if you can do anything like plant trees for example, do what you want or need to and say nothing, they’ll never work it out and if the satellite picks it up cross that bridge then!

[@muddyfunker3014]

The joke of of it is a property developer would probably be allowed to build houses where you want to plant those trees. I'm not a farmer but have 20 acres and live in a farming community. Thanks for what you do, the stress must be unbearable at times.

[@correctomundo4279]

That is a lovely wall. There's a sentence I never thought I would say.

[@gordonborsboom7460]

Would they make you remove trees from a pasture that seeded themselves? Just how far would they go to protect pasture acreage. Are they protecting it from urban development? Generalized rules never fit universally.

[@haka8702]

Thank you for your updates. I tend to try learn anything I am interested in myself but there are topics that are too complex and insider to learn. So hearing from you updates on how the shortages affect harvest, how long it takes to plan changes. That all helps to fill dark spots in my picture. Keep up the good work :)

[@PAYNEKILLER..]

Quite possibly the most soothing voice on earth, especially for a farmer 😆

[@Auraxium]

Your agriculture assistant is the best. Another great Stanley's Farm video 😁

[@caroldave4037]

One of the farms we were at i co durham.... i could only dream of stone like this ... a lot of our walls were built with river stone and more round than flat difficult too use brilliant vid again sir...

[@StrikeEngine]

RE The TB testing. Would be interesting to see the tool/measure they use and also the accuracy they are trying to achieve with said tools. Could be an eye opener on how TB is managed in the UK.

[@FREEDOOOOM]

I find it very outrageous, totally unreasonable and rather overbold to have to ask for permission to plant trees on one's own property.

[@neilmacdonaldfilm]

You can only say you own the land if you can do anything you want with it, anything less than that is diluted ownership.

[@FREEDOOOOM]

@@neilmacdonaldfilm And that's where we are.

[@xissburg]

There’s no such thing as private property.

[@lucycoleclough1182]

@@xissburg unless they mean everything :D

[@Kizron_Kizronson]

@@neilmacdonaldfilm Well, taking that viewpoint, nobody owns property anywhere then. Planning permission exists. It also exists for very good very well tested and established reasons. Turns out people are self serving arseholes and we need these rules, as annoying as they are to stop the jerk next door from doing something that would ruin our property and destroy our property value. The price of this, is that if we want to make changes ourselves, they have to check to make sure that WE aren't that jerk next door for somebody else.

[@henrikbunkenborg6743]

This wall is pure art❤

[@iandhill1539]

Seems that no one even dreams in the UK about Ciliary Forests and there preservation let alone importance. I hope the cows are not drinking in the brook !! Fairly obvious why the grass has been undergrazed at the end of the field and grazed harder by the brook !!

[@johnmcreynolds5299]

Go for it Harry! You out them…..👍🏼👍🏼