Driving back from Dorset last weekend we noticed that the fields on either side of the road were a golden brown colour probably due to their being planted with wheat. For the last few years at this time they have been mainly an ugly yellow colour as the farmers were growing oilseed rape, we both agreed that this more traditional colour looked much better.
Rather like the famous butterfly effect last years steep rise in the price of wheat has had a dramatic effect on the appearance of this part of England. While some people might accuse the farmers of jumping on a money spinning bandwagon I am aware that their costs have risen just as dramatically – the price of fertiliser has doubled in the last year.
Farming is a very hard way to earn a living as not many urban dwellers understand, the hours are long and the conditions can be harsh – all that is now compounded by criminals raiding their farms for diesel or metal to be sold for scrap.
Here is one of my favourite numbers from the farmer's friend Neil Young
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2 comments:
Farming is definitely a hard life.
rt, Very true, and not appreciated by far too many consumers.
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