2 UK Farming

Question 1

What is the recent history of UK farming?

Answer 1

For 45 we have been under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy

Question 2

What impact has this had?

Answer 2

Environment has deteriorated, productivity has been held back and public health compromised

Question 3

Extent of agriculture in the UK?

Answer 3

> 70% of land use in the UK

Question 4

What is the new policy post Brexit?

Answer 4

Gove will incentivises new habitats for wildlife, increased biodiversity, reduced flood risk, improved air quality etc

Question 5

What institutional changes have happened recently?

Answer 5

DEFRA have cut the budgets of (40%) and taking staff from (>400 members) from the EA and Natural England in order to work on Brexit

Question 6

How has this directly impacted the environment?

Answer 6

Some work e.g. flood protection, has been prioritised over others e.g. protection of protected sites (SSSIs)
There has been a significant fall in condition of SSSIs

Question 7

What was the cost of greenhouse gas emissions from UK agriculture in 2015?

Answer 7

$3.1 billion

Question 8

How much has ammonia emissions cost?

Answer 8

£456 million in 2015

Question 9

What is the annual external cost to farmers from soil erosion and compaction in 2010?

Answer 9

£305 million

Question 10

What are the farming trade implications of Brexit on the UK?

Answer 10

Increased trade with the US - don’t have the same welfare regulations

Question 11

What is the hormone used in pig farming in the US?

Answer 11

Ractopamine - promotes growth in pigs but causes lameness, stiffness, trembling and shortness of breath

Question 12

How much is the UK food and drink economy worth?

Answer 12

£112 billion

Question 13

What are sow stalls/gestration crates?

Answer 13

Metal enclosure used to hold pregnant pigs still

Question 14

When was ractopamine banned in the EU?

Answer 14

1998

Question 15

When were sow stalls banned in the UK?

Answer 15

1999

Question 16

What will the influx of US meat mean?

Answer 16

Undercut prices of UK produced farm products

Question 17

What are the main animal welfare failures of the EU farming industry?

Answer 17

Inherent system failures
Live animal transport
EU farms too small to be included
Slow response to EU guidance
Slaughter house processes

Question 18

Where are UK in the top countries for animal welfare?

Answer 18

4th

Question 19

Agricultural employment in the UK?

Answer 19

Employs 1.5% of the UK workforce (500,000 people)

Question 20

How is meat eating changing in the UK public?

Answer 20

Meat farmers are a dying breed (George Monbiot)

41% of meat eaters identify as flexitarian

Question 21

What is Gove’s vision for future generations?

Answer 21

Gove wants to attract more graduates to the industry, as technologies transform new opportunities for new jobs and gove will create more apprenticeships

Question 22

What will nano-sensors used for?

Answer 22

Collect soil and moisture data

Question 23

What will robots be used for?

Answer 23

Labour intensive tasks e.g. fruit harvesting and picking

Question 24

How does CAP work?

Answer 24

Pays farmers based on the total area of farm owned

Question 25

Why is this not equal?

Answer 25

Top 10% receive 50% of the payments

The bottom 20% receive 2% of payments

Question 26

What is the new agricultural bill?

Answer 26

Public money for public goods
Public will pay for better air quality, improved soil health, reducing flood potential, higher animal welfare standards and public access