What's the true environmental impact of beef farming in UK plus why I've taken up kite-flying..

[@stephensimpson3352]

Harry.................NEEDS TO BE HANDED THE JOB AS ........Top AGRICULTURAL MINISTER FOR UK🇬🇧👍❤️🎬

[@TheByard]

Back in the 1960s I used to watch a farming program on the BBC, maybe it's time to bring a good one back, but it must tell the true facts no a one sided one.

[@Pilkboi]

Fat chance, hardly any minsters have ACTUAL experience in the field of their roles. Disgusting

[@TheByard]

@@Pilkboi The fisheries minister couldn't even name fish species

[@rogerhudson2814]

Is the Farming minister a farmer? Now we are not governed by the CAP farming,fishing and food should be a ministry back at the top table, it was down graded into a mere part of environment because decisions were made by the EU.

[@sq1rlsqu4d]

"as top agricultural minister for the whole of the EU and the UK" (FTFY - despite the CAPS ranting like a madman, you are quite correct ;)

[@roberthiggins6401]

Not a rant at all Harry! This is what needs to be broadcast on mainstream television.

[@JonBushell]

Eating seasonally will help environment too. We shouldn’t be able to get strawberry s in the winter.

[@michaelgurd7477]

Correct just look at where the fresh produce in our shopping baskets come from. All over the world and a lot of it comes to us by the worst polluters of the lot, planes.

[@harrysfarmvids]

That too. It's all got too easy!

[@rtratt06]

I generally agree about seasonality, on the other hand we have a strawberry producer in Somerset who grows in greenhouses supplying ASDA in the off season. He uses recycled wood chippings to heat his greenhouses when he has too but other than that it's fairly low input. some times in the year he's the sole supplier to ASDA. just wanted to put that out there to say it can be done in this country.

[@cv97035]

Correct! In Greece we now have tomatoes all year long, which is against nature!

[@tobiasliebstvonobelitz6554]

Not correct - you can sustainable and locally grow strawberries in stacked indoor farms they are both more efficient and take up less space than the traditional method.

[@johngeekieart]

So well presented, I am an artist and paint out in the fresh air in Yorkshire. I often meet farmers in the Wolds who are always happy to talk and appreciate me listening to their issues with farming. The land is beautiful up here and is down to their hard work and husbandry. Looking at your video puts me back into the land. Learning more about farming is now an issue for me and a farmer friend regularly feeds me ‘Farmers Weekly’ which I devour with great interest. Thanks for putting it together so professionally.

[@rfpho1456]

The problem isn’t sustainable farming. It’s low cost food (50p burger anyone) that demands high intensity low cost production for cheap food which promotes high carbon produce. We should try to eat better - and that probably means less . But that’s not a headline is it.

[@danielmarshall4587]

Very good point. My first job from school was in the clothing industry UK, an industry that has now almost disappeared now in the UK. Clothes are as cheap if not cheaper now than they were back when I started work.

[@michaelgurd7477]

Perhaps if we paid a proper fair price for our food to the farmer instead of subsidies and middlemen (supermarkets and big dairy's) driving the price down then the food we put on our table would be of a far higher quality.

[@mignik01]

I've been a student in the UK and expensive food wasn't an option. Also if you keep banning stuff they will move to other countries where they simply don't care.

[@michaelgurd7477]

@@mignik01 Harry highlighted your second point with Oil Seed Rape where a neonicotinoid seed dressing is banned in the EU and UK so shortfalls are made up with imports from The Ukraine.

[@dustinwillis3261]

@@danielmarshall4587 here in the USA , a lot of the clothes we buy are made in China . These politicians sold us out to CHINA . Prob 99% at big corporate stores is all Chinese junk

[@ReclusiveDuck]

"On the BBC I had a sort of table thumping moment"......I think there's a lot of people who can relate to that.

[@robkay2474]

Thank you Harry, as a town boy and petrol head, this channel has really enlightened me. Keep it up, one of my favourite channels.

[@peterchilcott4192]

Harry - a farmer's wife who is also a Professor of Entomology is researching the impact of cows (Dexter's in her case) on sequestered carbon levels in the soil. She is studying dung beetles and similar invertebrates because grass fed ruminants also improve biodiversity enormously. On global warming your soil has been grass for decades and so carbon levels are probably pretty stable, but if you transferred your cows to another field that was newly put down to grass the sequestered carbon would increase quite dramatically, making the whole operation (assuming no external inputs) carbon negative!

[@mattshaw9449]

A properly logical conclusion regarding the beef there. Very nice to see in this absurd world these days.

[@uniqprojects381]

I love your vids Harry , both the garage and the farm , what I like is the honesty of laying out the costs ect and the way you explain things so we can understand what actually is happening on farms in our country , some of us may know someone in the farming world but most of us have no idea, and you bring it to us in a friendly and informed way , well done , keep up the good work

[@harrysfarmvids]

Thanks. I guess it helps having an journalistic background and making sure you get your facts right. Editorial integrity is everything, which I sometimes think the BBC has forgotten..

[@Hutchslover]

Full disclaimer: I'm a conservational biologist. Something to note with any research that makes it to the popular press: we, as scientists, have no influence over what a journalist might conclude from our findings or which aspect he might highlight. This is incredibly infuriating but also highly frustrating. We work on these publications for weeks, months, years and decades to deliver accurate and replicable results only to see them taken out of context and fitted to a narrative that it was never intended for and subsequently ridiculed and discarded. The point you make here is perfectly put. It can't all be on a global scale, because it shouldn't be in the first place. It's about making reasonable decisions. Livestock as such can't be demonized as the sole reason for our deteriorating environment. While there are lots of problematic practices around the world concerning livestock (cf USA, Argentina,Brazil to name a few famous examples) the practices you outline here are not only good but they're actually used in conservation. I can't speak for the UK, though I imagine there are similar projects there, in continental Europe we use livestock to regenerate ecosystems. It's good practice and also important to communicate to the general public. It's much more important to reflect on own actions than trying to shift blame according to a narrative. Overconsumption is a problem with any good, that applies to meat as much as to anything else. With meat there are some thermodynamic intricacies to be discussed as 1kg of meat theoretically needs 10kg of carbohydrates and protein to be generated. But that just means consuming consciously, as everything else as well. Eating less meat and of higher quality is good, but also eating what's locally and seasonally available is crucial. Producing locally and sustainably with the resources available and without shifting environmental impacts somewhere else is what we should focus on. Grocery shopping on farmers markets, re-establishing the connections to our land and the people that harvest it. These discussions can't be held unilaterally. Farmers, scientists and the general public should be much more involved in finding long term solutions and helping each other rather than playing the blame game. This would not only help each entities credibility, it would also help the general progress in which we tackle many of these complex issues. The BBC unfortunately doesn't seem to agree.

[@lewis72]

I agree. The BBC seem to have their own agenda, which more and more people are beginning to realise. Even my parents, well into their 70s, realise that the BBC is biased in many areas.

[@stonemarten1400]

Very good post, thanks. I’m a naturalist also with a conservation background and acknowledge that most farmers and land managers love and wish to protect the countryside, wildlife and landscape. In the UK at least, it doesn’t take much good practice advice and modest incentive for farmers to embrace improvements to the environment if they are not already managing their land in a sustainable and wise manner.

[@jon4539]

The BBC will be closed down soon,English people have had enough of them

[@lewis72]

The BBC should be relocated to North Korea. They'd be great there.

[@tinniswood2577]

BBC needs a good swill out of the PC parasites.

[@UKFilmDesigner]

Harry I have to thank you. I am not a farmer (I am a film writer/producer) but I am an avid consumer of beef. As I write there is a beautiful piece of organic British topside resting in the kitchen! It's so refreshing to hear someone talking sense, complete sense, about this most demonised of industries. I'm not adverse to a bit of Harry's Garage either!...one of your legion of fans and a local.

[@nicklewis1475]

Nail on the head Harry, yet again. So fed up with selective facts, I started a degree in envirnomental science 2 years ago, trying to find the truth. If the green vegan brigade took time to look at the damage almond milk, rice, avocados etc do to the environment, the soap box wouldn't seem so high!

[@harrysfarmvids]

Thank you. It's very hard to find the truth, as you say. We do have to look at climate change on a global scale, it's no good doing it in the UK but not in India or China, for example. But to not question why a cow is producing methane, or whether it is part of the natural carbon cycle is simply making facts you have available to fit your story. One thing my journalistic background taught me is editorial integrity is everything and once you've lost it, it's gone for ever. I worry some of the stories the BBC has put out recently may have damaged its authority for ever. Good luck with your studies, the truth is out there but when it comes to environmental stuff, it takes some finding!

[@bejay69]

@@harrysfarmvids It's what happens when you hire activists instead of journalist.

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

@@harrysfarmvids Well said harry !

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

And the rainforest cleared for their beloved Soya.

[@kenneyflynn4951]

Marvelous informative as always Harry. Your brilliant at explaining things. I have no farming background and came from your car show just to look when you started the farm video and I’m hooked. I learned a lot from you. Thank you.

[@yeracj2799]

Harry. Yet again, a great video. As previous comments said, you hit the nail on the head. I'm tired of the of the media both in the UK and in Ireland presenting lazy data. Our farming representatives need to educate the public. It's a matter of survival now. The ways things are going we will be out of business because of mis-information. Brazilian and Argentina beef will take over. Where did you take the information slides in the video from?

[@petergalbraith3422]

Great video Harry, as always. It's a real pleasure to listen to somebody that actually looks at ALL the facts and produces a scientific, factual analysis of what's actually going on. Our media, as well as our government, could learn a thing or two. I'm not going to hold my breath, it's much easier to bark up the wrong tree, right?!

[@winewithchris5577]

I applaud and admire your analysis on British grass-fed beef. COngratulations and thank you for spreading the word!

[@MrEMrC]

Such a well composed piece. It is a symptom of the dumbing down of broadcasting that broadcasters think they can get away with milking the zeitgeist and playing to the galleries. There seems to be no compulsion to go for the whole story, but to select the bits that feed the narrative. Excellent stuff Harry, I hope those kites work!

[@derekwarner6898]

Excellent rant, thank you for clarifying the beef situation in your usual clear and informative way.

[@superseven7947]

Well Said Harry! As a sheep and beef farmer in Northern Ireland I couldn't agree more. The Beef and lamb produced in Britain and Ireland are the best in the world. Our Animals are well cared for and extremely well regulated

[@kusaweir3074]

Well cared for? You have them killed. That's not how you care for an otherwise healthy animal which would choose survival over death.

[@legin3753]

@@kusaweir3074 🤡

[@capnskiddies]

@@kusaweir3074 That's what farming does.

[@jamesd3002]

@@kusaweir3074 you kill poor broccoli 🥦

[@benhar1829]

New Zealand has better beef and lamb then you

[@digitalimager4946]

Hear, hear. A grand job. I’ve been fascinated by your channel. I was brought up on a farm in the East Riding of Yorkshire in the 1950s and very interested in how things are done now. I discovered you from Harry’s Garage. Another passion. Great cars 👍🏻🇬🇧

[@stephenauty3370]

Eating less but good quality meat is the way to go...taste so good.

[@TruthTortoise81]

I don't eat meat. Nobody needs to eat meat.

[@juku619]

@@TruthTortoise81 You maybe dont need to eat meat, but then you have to get Iron from other methods. Also have you thought other people like the taste and feel of meat and want To support beef farming?

[@andrewknight9080]

Thoroughly enjoyed that Harry. A very balanced and informative viewpoint. As Hutchslover eludes to below, eating seasonally and more importantly locally produced produce is key to addressing many of the issues the media like to press home. It has alway amazed me that it's often cheaper for me to buy New Zealand lamb rather than locally produced Welsh lamb. How can this be when the Welsh lamb is produced within 5 miles of where I live? This seems crazy to me! I stumbled on Harry's farm from watching your content on Harry's garage and have to say I'm hooked! Nice one Harry.

[@markspeller5722]

Well said once again Harry, I've said before you learn more from Harry in 20 minutes than all the other fluffy biased outlets.

[@drivingthought5983]

Well said that man! Top work Harry. I saw a quote this week - If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything. Too many people are so easily led by selective information that’s thrown in your face on tv without knowing the true facts.

[@jooky87]

Man, I like Harry’s Farm almost more than Harry’s Garage...

[@philipmulville8218]

I agree with you. Really great stuff. For some reason Harry’s video about rebuilding a collapsed stone wall on his farm struck a chord, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Such a likeable fellow.

[@andy5619]

They're both brilliant - thanks Harry!

[@ralphbradley]

Long time viewer/lurker but subscribed and wanted to comment. Thankyou for a very thorough and balanced discussion on the topic! I've said to others when complaining about a wood burning stove, "what happens to the co2 if the tree ends up rotting...?", the same thing!! Appreciated your extra details on the case of beef farming though, especially the stat of emissions from growing rice! Another sad fact that is missed is the energy used to produce the crazy 'meat' alternatives (in the lab) but also how well (or not) the body can actually digest these highly processed products.

[@coco-m6603]

Harry, thank you so much for this. I was so angry watching that program, couldn't believe how badly it had been researched. I've read some of the facts you relayed in Diana Rodgers Sacred Cow book and now film. Another problem was the lack of info on nutrition as if that didn't have a place in a discussion about food - what? And the portion sizes were not comparable - tiny bit of soy product against a huge steak. Thanks again Harry, the programme makers need to be consulting experts like you and also not being so shoddy about research. Collette

[@davidwebb2318]

spot on, there is no point in comparing 200g of protein in a steak meal and 40g of protein in a vegetarian meal and saying they are equivalent meals from an environmental point of view. If they are going to be compared then meals with the same amount of protein needs to be compared.

[@ricktd6891]

CO2 caused catastrophic global warming is a scam.

[@lindosland]

I love these videos; so good to see a proper rational discussion of the facts. Until I saw this I thought I was the only one talking about the Bison and the Deer! One thing you didn't mention - bison were a great deal heavier than our farm animals, and presumably produced more methane in proportion to weight. That suggests that bison produced more methane in the past than current beef farming does!

[@persevere777]

I think the story for environment change from eating beef , comes more from industrial beef farming,( gmo feed and antibiotics given to cattle, in the states) and cutting down trees in the amazon forest area to create pastures to raise cattle, , if the land itself can raise and maintain a number of farm animals safely, and humanely , then that process makes sense , manure and chemical runoff from industrial farms hurt everyone.

[@harrysfarmvids]

Fully agree about the industrial beef farming happening elsewhere in the world. What I'm hoping is people in the UK start to realise is raising beef on grass that can't be used for anything else, is actually a very sustainable way of farming and should be supported.

[@persevere777]

@@harrysfarmvids i follow Harrys garage religiously , and have just recently subscribed to this channel and i fully appreciate the quality of the presentation that is shown, on how and why jobs are done on the farm. Thank you for bringing to light the beef situation living in the states i have refrained from eating animals on a personal choice, but i would and never will, tell people what they should or shouldnt do on a personal choice, thank you for this channel and always look forward to excellent content on both channels

[@WhosPhotoTube]

Well said Harry. The grazing cattle in the your field with the May Flower, buttercups and clover is a wonderful image to the eyes.

[@captainsaus6740]

Top work Harry, very informative as per usual. I think you are overdue a slot on the BBC to give yours / beef farmers point of view on this increasingly covered issue.

[@veemcg3682]

As a new subscriber I am very appreciative of your knowledge and your ability to explain and communicate that to those of us who are not farmers and only have what the media tell us to go on. You are farming in a more natural way that respects the animals and the land as well as the customers as far as I can see and your arguments seem well thought out and reasoned. Thank you so much for helping us understand the reality of things here. God bless from Northern Ireland.

[@Jack-cu7rl]

another issue is brazil, cutting down acre after acre of rainforest and burning for space for cattle. How about we also focus on stopping deforestation

[@andy199121]

What do you think the UK was before it became a huge farm? Aha deforestation isn’t just a problem in Brazil, Borneo, Congo etc just happened beyond living memory in Europe.

[@naturshoot8448]

So deforestation in Indonesia for Palm Oil (plants) hasn't been an environmental disaster then?

[@SteveT3D]

Its up to Brazil to do what it wants with its rainforest, sorry, but do you actually a want a world government or something?

[@andy199121]

@@naturshoot8448 absolutely has, but they would call us hypocrites considering the whole of the UK is a farm where it was once Atlantic rainforest. Most of the palm oil grown is for the processed products the west buy in supermarkets. So you do have to be careful when we start to witch-hunt these people, we are effectively saying it’s ok for us to do it but because your ancestors respected the land you cannot. A lot of them hate what western capitalism has done to their rainforest but they feel they have no choice, so when we turn around and tell them off I can understand why they tell us to piss off.

[@slikasrick]

Yes that is what we have to do, but why are they cutting down the forest? 1 for soy which goes to China. Nothing to do with our beef and two for cattle who have been moved from the grass lands Because they are growing sugar cane in the traditional grassland,

[@neilfairless4589]

Harry, subscribed to your garage channel a long time ago, this video got me subscribed to your farm as well. Great delivery.

[@jolark2259]

I love this channel. I have no interest in farming until I see a Harry’s Farm video. I learn something every time. Thanks Harry!

[@wilkitcher6960]

Excellent video Harry I’m heavily involved in Regenerative agriculture and the biggest battle we face is the perception of farming created by the media. The fact is, in a perfect farming environment, cattle are an integral part of the life cycle and are necessary when looking to move away from synthetic ferts and sprays. Unfortunately that doesn’t make for sexy headlines. I’m all for grass fed cattle used as part of a mob grazing cycle and I’m vegan!

[@clifforddark]

Harry, I really enjoyed your “rant” you really want too get that info to the average Joe Public, so informative of what the farming and countryside is all about, Thanks

[@NoGoodHandlesComingToMind]

6:47, awesome. Great looking birds! Regarding the commentary about the steep hill at 8:45, what would the breakeven period be if you were to terrace that land out by excavating the hillside into a series of stair-like, flat plateaus wide enough to fit the equipment? I imagine it could take a decade or more, but it piqued my curiosity. 9:15, "worms operating" sounds very hardcore in relation to their role on the farm. 10:15: woo, Octopus! Love it. 11:25, very gorgeous and artful photo.

[@philby999]

I’d personally like this vid to be shown on BBC Countryfile - better than the environmental drivel they normally spout. “Table thumping” moment - love it! Keep up the good work Harry!

[@CanadairCL44]

There is so much misinformation and disinformation broadcast these days. It makes you wonder what the real agenda of that programme was. I got rid of my TV when I woke up to these shenanigans!

[@mrwobbly185]

Clear explanation Harry, thank you. Is it just me or have others noticed how much of the BBC output is journalists interviewing journalists in recent years. Try an experiment - for the next few days keep an eye out for that and you’ll see what I mean. I just wonder, given how much air time they try to fill nowadays, that is their easiest (and cheapest) option. Unfortunately that elevates those journalistic opinions above the facts. Perhaps the Horizon film is an example of that. Just a thought.

[@lindosland]

I won't be looking out - I gave up watching mainstream TV a year ago in disgust at the lies and censorship over every issue, as did many others. The BBC is finished.

[@aaronbiggin1103]

I do like a well informed rant. I have friends and family in farming both arable and live stock, and they are fed up with being demonised, because as you said most of the info on the news doesn't represent the UK farmer.

[@pdalia]

This is a gem of video, thanks Harry. Just shared in a group or voisin rationale grazing here in Uruguay 🇺🇾, 12 million cattle heads and over 80% of production made in open range pastures . Hope some day you can come or the other way around when all this covid thing finish. Cheers!

[@iandervan8221]

Fair play to you Harry putting the facts out there as they are. The BBC and RTE here in Ireland give out the same rubbish. It seems that national broadcasters have a major issue with putting out the truth with facts.

[@jackbrenny9576]

Well done for a wonderful explanation of beef farming. Very interesting and worthy of a university lecture, no way could this be interpreted as a rant ,Thank you Harry.

[@rennaaa6667]

I think a lot of people confuse beef production with how it's done in the USA, where it's mostly done on constrained land in pretty inhumane conditions.

[@JohnnyMotel99]

Unfortunately, industrial beef farming (not only in the USA) is the ONLY way man's craving for super cheap animal protein can be satisfied. Harry and other smallholders like him are being slowly squeezed out by the mega-farms. I don't see the UK Gov making life any easier for the small farms.

[@georgedoorley5628]

@@JohnnyMotel99 very true ..........uk gov will most likely ramp up a cheap food policy , regardless of standards ect ........

[@andrewg.3434]

As a ranching and feedlot operation in the Central Basin of Washington State, USA, we are trying to be as efficent and resposible as possible with resources. With an annual capacity of ~40,000 head, we are trying to turn commdities into beef as fast as possible. Studies have been conducted that show that cattle are just as happy being on a small lot as a big pasture, as long as they are with their penmates. our cattle stay on lots of 50 or 100 from birth until packing, this eases stress and creates a higher quality product. The effiency of having 15 guys and 280 acres feed that many cattle is incredible, if all those cattle were out on pasture, they would be tended by hundreds of ranchers spread over hundreds of thousands of acres all around the PNW. In the feedlot, the cattle are always well taken care of, sick ones are taken to a sick pen, where they can recuperate with other animals, and recive close attention and good care. We try to move cattle in as low stress of a way as possible, because that stress will damage the meat, and cause us to recive a dockage at the meatpacker. To finish them any other way is not financially viable for the amount of beef that is needed to supply the meatpackers and the meatloving people of the USA.

[@andrewg.3434]

@@tomrobinson2914 A grass fed animal will never grade as well as a grain fed one. The hanging weight of the carcass of grass weight is always less than a grain fed one. The fat marbling and distribution always grade lower i.e. choice vs. prime. This video by the bearded butchers does a great job of explaining it in layman's terms kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6DQlqWehtCjicU . What this translates to is that a grain fed beef (feedlot finished) is going to be juicer and more flavorful than a grass fed been(pasture finished) which can be gamier and not as tender. so, to use your argument, yes, do consume the higher quality product. Our current CAFE regulations require that American cars must meet a certain level of emissions standards in order to be legal, and with the surge in electric and hybrid vehicles, we are steadily getting cleaner fleets in general. As to your parting shot, our overweight population could use to eat les carbohydrates and fatty foods, consume more protein and exercise more often.

[@ColinMill1]

Thanks for this. There needs to be a serious push-back against the MSM and what amounts to propaganda against UK beef and sheep farming. I live in the Peak District and used to work at the summit of Great Dun Fell in Cumbria (where the radar dome now sits) and the people who turn such steep upland areas into productive agricultural land deserve our wholehearted support and not the denigration to which they are currently subjected.

[@harrysfarmvids]

Thanks and so true. The upland farmers of the UK are the real heroes in all of this, carrying on the tradition of upland farming, which is a flipping tough way to make a living. I simply don't get this sudden obsession with methane emissions from livestock in the UK. If it was such a problem, then why wasn't it a problem when UK livestock numbers were much higher? Also, livestock don't create the methane from nowhere, the composition of methane (carbon and hydrogen) are in the cellulose and starch the cow is eating, so it's just the natural carbon cycle in balance. Only man creates any additional release of CO2 from farming livestock, via burning fossil fuels or adding inputs like fertiliser, etc. which has nothing to do with the innocent, grass-eating cow!

[@ColinMill1]

@@harrysfarmvids Many thanks for the reply. I should perhaps say that my reason for being at Great Dun Fell in the 1970s and 80s was to perform cloud physics experiments (it was a handy location for it being in cloud for parts of about 250 days a year). We had no idea at the time that, as the “indirect aerosol effect”, it would take on central importance as one of the primary areas of uncertainty in the whole climate change issue. I do worry that it has been deemed necessary to convince the public that the “science is settled” as, in reality, there are huge areas of uncertainty - not that there is climate change, but that we have a total unarguable understanding of the causes. Clouds interact with a very high proportion of the incoming and outgoing radiation of the Earth and imperceptibly small changes in the lifetimes of clouds or their albedo (reflectivity) could have a huge effect on the radiative balance. The received wisdom is that everything to do with clouds is driven by the greenhouse gasses. This overlooks the very real possibility that our changes in land usage, deforestation, etc could have made slight changes to the cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) spectrum that, quite independently of the greenhouse gasses, could be a significant contributory factor in changing the radiative balance of the planet. We still have a far from perfect understanding of the organic sources of CCN (trees, etc) Unfortunately, CCN are difficult to measure and we have effectively no historical data to use as a baseline and we still don't make extensive accurate measurements of CCN. Of course this comment will get me labelled (not for the first time) as a denier - such is the politicisation of the issue.

[@colinjones2505]

I was never really that interested in farming, until Harry popped up. Learning so much now, and finding it fascinating. Learnt so much about methane and Co2 emissions etc in just 20 mins. Thank you!

[@SilentDMotorShow]

Hi Harry! You are my hero! You basically summarized the book 'Sacred Cow' in a short video! It's such an important subject, with so much dis-information, you may wanna consider making an even shorter video with just the grass feeding/C02-part, so it would be easier to share and get that information out there. Either way, thank you for talking sense!! Greetings from cattle farmer in training from Norway.

[@timgosling6189]

Good piece Harry; if only the facts were more fashionable than opinions. You keep making it, I'll keep eating it!

[@ricktd6891]

Facts prove CO2 doesn't control the temperature of Earth..

[@crgmrgn]

Wonderful, just the balance and depth that you are looking for from trusted sources, which the BBC used to exemplify, but now panders to the short sharp shock headline approach, shallow in approach and far too much spoon-feeding, both of their sources and to their audience. Harry, you're a breath of fresh air in this field as you were to automotive publishing with Evo, long may it last.

[@elliottwhitfield1046]

Well said about the beef farming situation Harry. Best wishes

[@struancochrane753]

Once again Harry, you have explained a complex issue very plainly, well done. My farming "boat" is an extensive Organic beef farm near Poole in Dorset.

[@Northstar36]

Why haven’t you been snapped up by the BBC as a presenter, you’re the best thing on Utube, full stop.

[@williamhagertygabbiani604]

Because he has an opinion...

[@tomeisberg2356]

Harry, no apology needed. Your "rant" is actually some of the best brass tacks info on sustainable farming I've ever seen.

[@thomasfromswindon7609]

Slightly off topic. Most of the weight of a supermarket lorry's load is liquid. i.e. Drinks , a lot of it bottled water . less than 10 is dairy or meat. This does have a huge impact on fuel which, of course impacts CO2 emissions. I am a Lorry Driver who delivers to a supermarket.

[@carolinemiles5971]

Harry, we have been binging your videos starting from the beginning and we think you are, GREAT!!! . After watching this morning we think you need to have a slot of Country file on BBC1. Even having your own half an hour programme. We have learnt so much about wheat yields etc from you, we feel we could run our farm ourselves, lol. We live in the south east corner of England on the edge of Romney Marsh, spending loads of time out in the morning frost and mist as keen photographer's. Keep up your great videos and positive manner......... Caroline and Vince....

[@lindosland]

No, why support the BBC who get it wrong and care more about viewing figures than content truth. He HAS a slot here, it's the new media source, the most watched by youngsters, who shun the BBC, and not controlled by programme commissioners and editors. Most smart TVs can view You tube easily.

[@kirmy1]

Another sensible well researched argument from Mr Metcalfe. If only some ministers were as sensible as him!

[@sallykoep]

Hi Harry. I'm a new subscriber to your excellent Harry's Farm channel, and I'm working through the earlier episodes. They're great, but I'd like to suggest that you number the episodes so the number can be seen under 'videos'.. It would make it easier to dip back in after a break.

[@steveking4966]

yep don't disagree, but culling the deer would aid woodland regeneration and provide organic venison, why not, oh bambi! thats it environmentally what is needed is a well managed doe cull to reduce the deer population and manage at a sustainable density to reduce the cost of tree establishment and allow cost effective ancient semi-natural woodland management.

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

I told my young daughter, she was eating bambi sausages and Rudolph burgers. The silly primary school teacher went literally crying to the headmaster stating that my daughter was a demon child. 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻

[@TheByard]

Culling is already going on to manage the deer herds. My son in law assist's with it.

[@EP-bb1rm]

The whole UK deer population is controlled.

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

@@Q-nt-Tf Who ? The silly teacher? Or my daughter? This was back in 2006/7.

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

Muntjac are vermin, introduced and totally out of control. Deer by and large are managed. Muntjac are also vicious if you corner one. They need total culling.

[@RhysMorganpewpew]

Insightful, articulate and fact sourced. Harry, you really do these videos well. If the world could take the initiative and deep fact check stories (no use calling it factual news) the planet would be all the better.

[@markw4263]

Very informative, included a Lot of things I hadn’t considered. Harry is pretty smart!

[@Cotlandfarmer]

Great video Harry, grass fed meat and dairy is the way forward for UK/ world agriculture. Two inspiring programmes I've watched recently are, "Kiss the ground" and "sacred cow". Looking forward to more of Harry's Farm. 👍

[@ghostrider7688]

Great job Harry true gent and a well needed ambassador for beef farming . Get this mans presentation to the Prince of Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Let Harry make his case 💪

[@canatik1621]

Thank you Harry. It’s work like this that encourages people to look beyond eye catching headlines and not simply jump on the bandwagon because it’s “perceived” as the right thing, when there is a possibility it isn’t and/or makes no real difference.

[@jonathanbeale3978]

Thank you Harry for educating us and giving us the bigger picture. This is why I watch this channel, to learn where my food comes from and effort that goes into producing it.

[@ricktd6891]

You didn't get educated. That would involve telling you it's a scam.

[@forcesfarming8511]

Really enjoy your videos Harry. A great insight into life on the farm. Would you be interested in doing some specific video requests or maybe a live session with service leavers and veterans?

[@Ingens_Scherz]

Solid gold. Balanced, objective, no-nonsense insights from an expert in his field (as it were). Should be shown in schools. Not that many decades ago, it would have been.

[@michaelfraser5723]

depends on the school

[@ricktd6891]

Nope. CO2 doesn't control the temperature of Earth. Climate change is natural.

[@tomheath5014]

Excellent video Harry and really enjoyed listening to some actual facts on beef production here in the UK. It's a pity that the BBC don't look at it from a balanced view. Hopefully they will in the future as we all spread the message. Best wishes, Tom

[@jasonperry1444]

I’m no expert Harry, far from it but I recently watched “Cowspiracy” on Netflix and the whole beef production to feed global population (not Uk specifically) means it’s unsustainable for the planet, they did a part on grass fed which is far better for the environment but I think they said if you produced all beef from grass fed beef (better beef, more humane, better flavour) you’d need to convert half the worlds land mass to grass pasture. Like I said I’m no expert but it doesn’t appear sustainable longer term full stop at the rate we are currently consuming beef.. vid content is excellent btw. Cheers

[@slikasrick]

That movie is full of lies, sorry but it is,

[@sparkyplug28]

Does the program tell you how much land you would have to covert to rice fields if we all stopped eating beef?!

[@lukio12]

@@sparkyplug28 To grow 1kg of beef takes like 100x the land area required to grow 1kg of rice. Eat beef if you want but it is an undeniable fact that it is insanely bad for the environment.

[@sparkyplug28]

@@lukio12 only the land where beef graze is impossible to grow rice. Of course I’m sure eating just rice gives you a good diet 😂

[@Doppelrocking]

Love it, relating cattle genetics to J-class yachting is 100% the most applicable analogy and I've subscribed. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing!

[@tobywells2625]

I would love to see “J Class” accreditations being introduced to the farming sector based on Harry’s analogy

[@bryandickerson5365]

Harry, I’m a veggie farmer in the US but I probably spend more time educating people on the merits of sustainable cattle farming than I do on organic produce. It’s so fun to hear a fellow motor head/farmer “ranting” about grass fed beef! Some pastured beef cattlemen here in the states call themselves “grass farmers”.

[@TraditionArt]

Best wishes from Germany to you ❤️🇩🇪❤️

[@chriswalford4161]

🇪🇺- minded. Sad we’ve left. I know it’s not perfect, but.......

[@TraditionArt]

@@chriswalford4161 👍🏻❤️

[@regmac64]

Great educational video thanks Harry. I live in Kinsale and can attest to the fact that a) Irish beef is great because it's grass fed year round, and b) judging by the local soccer pitch, the "black shadows" do deter the grazing birds.

[@alliedfroth]

Superb Harry, You should be invited onto the BBC & explain this to the ill informed

[@cbrboy76]

The bbc having someone on who is inteligentent and gives honest facts, dont be so foolish.

[@gerrywatson261]

Think Harry would be wasting his valuable time! 😂

[@bernardh9994]

Thanks Harry - well researched! I think the BBC programme ( not the BBC per say) would not have intentionally tried to present a misleading story. There is, quite rightly, a big discussion about climate change going on at the moment. Just to put the CH4 emission due to rice into perspective, you have to normalise the emission by the number of people being sustained by whatever it is you are considering. I eat a good piece of beef twice a month, it's expensive but it's something special. I think we've lost our sense of value with over and easy consumption of many things.

[@WilliamStevens007]

Such a well-balanced view from Harry about Beef production in this country. I remember when I was on the farm everything was fed on grass when they were out and round bale silage and cake. That was it. So agree with every single word Harry.

[@andrewsmith-jf6ou]

A fantastic evidence based explanation that all politicians need to appraise themselves of before the jump on the band-wagon of condemning beef production. Thank you Harry. Andrew.

[@cormackeenan8175]

Harry, could you please do a video and on the effects Brexit is having on farming , i know you have the integrity to give us the good, the bad and the down right ugly. I lay my cards on the table I’m a avid remainer, but i like to base my arguments on empirical evidence ergo my request.

[@danielmarshall4587]

Another very interesting video Harry thank you. Also.... very happy to hear "gin palace" being used. OUTSTANDING.

[@Gorbyrev]

You can't beat a bit of urban middle class outrage to skew an argument. That was an excellent explanation of what British farmers have been doing for generations. Cows are carbon neutral. That is how it is for any animal husbandry that respects it's natural habitat and diet. Disclaimer: I am both urban and middle class!

[@robi4387]

Ooooh oooh oooh. Steady on my dear chap. One shouldn't write on here with a middle class, middle aged or middle english accent. No one will believe you. More inclined to believe mad Russian scientist - see comment above.

[@lucifarian93]

I like the idea of the combine which does 'everything' is going to sit on the very spot of the machinery it replaces. I never knew there was so much in it! Thanks Harry .

[@johnfox4691]

Thank you, very interesting and informative. Lot of things I didn't know.

[@grahamholliday9962]

Great pieces Harry You need to sell yourself to Beeb to get the message across on sustainable farming and the food it creates for all. Having spent my youth as a labourer on a barley/spud baron farm in SOxon I've always had an interest in husbandry & farm methods. Getting more local produce in supermarkets all part of that education. Your beef cattle - breed? - classified as organic presumably? Do you sell via farm shops? How do you go for abattoir/butchery? Do you participate in the Open Farm scheme?

[@clarkshaw4000]

Don't you think that there are other things someone can bring out his little saves(money) to invest in, rather than farming.

[@lopezwalker742]

Investing in crypto now is really cool, especially with the current rise in the market for now

[@jonesbarbara2527]

@@lopezwalker742 You're right ma'am But don't know why people still remain poor out of ignorance

[@jonesbarbara2527]

Most people don't invest due to ignorance

[@user-xp5it7ny4x]

People are scared of investing because of the high rate of scam in the business.

[@wardbryant5622]

Hello I'm new to crypto and I have been making huge loses but recently i see a lot of people earning from it, please can someone please tell me what am not doing right, though I spend most times taking care of my farms

[@swiper1818]

Very informative and interesting - as you point out so much depends on how the animals are raised - in addition, this form of animal husbandry is vastly more humane than feedlots etc...

[@joshb3929]

Does Harry sell his beef direct? Be interested in supporting these responsible farming practices.

[@piffpuffpeng]

I seem to remember from another vid, that it is not his cattle but he rents his pastures to his neighbor.

[@neilpearce7032]

Could not agree with you more. I’m passionate about agriculture in the UK and the general public need educating about are farming methods in general. Keep up the good work.

[@afon_s]

everything Harry talkin about is interesting)

[@fisherh9111]

Harry is the most interesting man in the world.

[@jamesdecross1035]

Totally agree. Also, you make such a good point to counter the trophic-levels argument. There's a lot to be said for trophic levels (where only 10% of the solar energy captured is passed from one layer to the next). But, you or I cannot eat the grass. Grass is everywhere. It is one of the Worlds most common biomes.

[@dellhell8842]

Excellent video. This is the second time Harry has explained the ethics of his beef farming on this channel. BBC needs Harry to bring some balance and enlightenment.

[@lewismcnicholas2631]

Fantastic video Harry - I hope more people continue to shout about how sustainable well reared beef in the UK is!

[@Barkerboy1616]

Really nicely explained Harry, long live the Rolls Royce cow.

[@TheGameCamer360]

It’s been said before in the comments, but I feel the need to say it again. When Harry talks, you listen. He just has the knack to completely capture and suck you in, no matter what the subject matter may be. He really needs to be utilised by a tv company, his knowledge, manner and charisma is simply one of a kind. Almost Attenborough esk.

[@thomas316]

I'm shocked, someone is still watching broadcast TV? In the developed world by far and away the largest contribution to emissions comes from burning hydrocarbon. Eating pastoral beef will have a very tiny net impact. In New Zealand we have this argument all the time because we have a lot of cows (not to brag) and they all graze year-round because the climate is very gentle. Yet we get compared to U.S. feed lot operations. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@andrewg.3434]

As a ranching and feedlot operation in Central Washington, USA, we are trying to be as efficent and resposible as possible with resources. With an annual capacity of ~40,000 head, we are trying to turn commdities into beef as fast as possible. While this method may produce more methane, it saves a lot of CO2, by being in close proximity to kill plants and commodity traders. It is much cheaper to ship a load of #600 calves 200 miles then it is to ship #1200 finish beef the same distance. The effiency of having 15 guys feed that many cattle is incredible, if all those cattle were out on pasture, they would be tended by hundreds of ranchers all around the PNW. In NZ, you may have the manpower to make a system of pastoral finshing work, but you also do not have the same demand for high quality beef, because of the small population size, but here in the states, we do. To finish them any other way is not financially viable for the amount of beef that is needed to supply the meatpackers and the meatloving people of the USA.

[@thomas316]

@@andrewg.3434 Yeah, good point. A lot of ours is for export because the country only has a small population. We just all have to pray that veganism doesn't take off! 😬

[@andrewg.3434]

@@thomas316 That makes sense. Yes, otherwise we'll be stuck between a rock and a hard place. Much of the emissions stemming from the beef industry is from the transportation, from ranch to backgrounder, backgrounder to feed yard, feed yard to kill plant, and kill plant to consumer. Eating locally sourced meat is the best way combat emissions

[@cuebj]

@@thomas316 I've read a lot about NZ rivers. Once upon a time, good for swimming. Now toxic due to run off from cattle production. Is that still the case or have beef production methods changed in recent years?

[@brucedriffill7668]

Very well explained and researched piece. It's very easy to look at one part of an issue and miss the much bigger picture.

[@jamescasey3760]

Thanks Harry for explaining this to non farmers. I produce cattle like you do and it offends me that the bias media has never tried to educate people like you have here. I'm a big fan of your work ...... from Ireland

[@garyjolley2955]

Great content as usual Harry. Your videos are like small Insightful documentary’s, very informative and interesting. Keep up the good work.

[@marcusp905]

Wish harry was an MP ,fact talk followed by common sense.

[@Trendyflute]

@@johntease6782 Nobody should ever be "too good" to represent people in their government, that's an attitude that can only harm society. Why shouldn't people have the best, the smartest, the most moral, the most balanced people in government?

[@JJ-zg1hh]

Another video which made me think. Well done Harry. A balanced discussion is required here. I eat much less beef these days but if I knew it came from your farm I think I'd put it back on the menu!