THE HEART OF FARMING
There is little doubt that the present Foot and Mouth (FMD) spread of infection in Britain, and earlier, the dramatic appearance of BSE, are a development of what was termed some years ago "Production Diseases". The expression, at the time, particularly applied to problems in dairy cattle and included chronic Mastitis, chronic lameness and hoof problems, infertility and abortion. The general result of this was early culling, or death, and a severely shortened breeding life. The cause was originally identified as increasing pressure on the cow from high output and industrialised management techniques used in modern livestock farming. Countering these problems also inevitably involved increasing use of antibiotics. Falling vitality in animals and crops was also noted in the early 20th century in Europe.
After initial more peripheral symptoms, the key central organ seriously affected in the case of FMD is the heart* of the bovine animal. The last two major runaway disease problems in Britain, BSE and FMD, have also an inescapable connection to the dynamics of nutrition, inevitably linked to the vitality of the land itself. It seems as if neither the land, nor our key domestic farm animals, are in good heart.
Since the arrival of BSE, and the latest desperate problem of FMD, we must have seen countless pictures of farm animals through the ever-active media, some alive, many dead, many burning and being buried. Children and parents today are warned that modern farms are potentially dangerous places where they too might contact disease, giving rise to fear. I suspect that, because of the 'image' of agriculture today, even our own appraisal of farms, farm animals, and even farmers themselves, has become critical, uncaring, and coldly economic. However, things will not remain as they are and they will never be quite the same again in British farming terms. It seems that farming needs a new Heart, a new culture, and a wider consciousness to reassess the whole basis of our farming practice There could arise a new 'picture' of the farm for study and development and the guideline standards for this could be International Ecological Agriculture, or more specifically International Biodynamic / Organic low external input, sustainable agriculture. These potentially offer, the best possibility for both the regeneration of fertility through rotation planning, and the rebuilding of strong plant health and animal immune systems, reducing the need for chemotherapy in both cases. With 90% self-sustainability for feeds and fertilisers as a target, production is thereby self-regulating, safeguarding the temptation to overproduce or overstock. There would be enough clover-rich grassland for a long grazing season and the making of hay or silage. Cropping could include, where appropriate, organic vegetables and fruit for retail selling through the farm shop, or larger wholesale outlets. Roots and potatoes could be grown and cereals, producing enough straw to provide winter bedding. Appropriate numbers and types of farm animals, emphasising the cow, would produce manure for composting and liquid manure would also be carefully collected.
New possibilities for farm activity and diversification could arise. Where a farm shop was possible, this could be considerably developed longer term and sell a wider range of food, processed foods, and other items that might appeal. This could naturally extend to a good coffee shop where people could meet socially, perhaps talk about their mistakes and explore creative new ideas with their friends. Arising from this 'workshops' could be offered to encourage interest in the farm itself, and its environment, including any social and economic questions arising. There could also be interesting voluntary work, offered for either satisfaction or therapy, available on the farm via an organised project or on a personal basis. In the longer term, a farm support group could come into being out of the mutual interest and activities of customers and friends.
As the farm develops as an organic 'Individuality', with a high proportion of self-sustainability, the quality of the produce itself would begin to speak more clearly of the area or region in which it is grown. The true farm 'Individuality' has surprisingly close links with the human parallel; as the inner processes and details of the farm become more integrated, they communicate more clearly the 'image' or 'ideal intimately involved with the consciousness of' the farmer, fields, fences, hedges, gates, and trees or woodland all become closely related and more significant than before, opening up the perspective of biodiversity. This more integrated approach would not only be essentially efficient but aesthetically pleasing and harmonious, speaking of the 'whole' and directly affecting the health of the animal about which we are so concerned. Children, and students of all ages, would be welcome. It is quite possible that our precious farmland and animals, with nature around them, could become be the new 'Universities' of the future and, as such, they must not only survive, but develop further. This points to a different path to the rapid growth of the ever greater intensive food production of global economic power - the source of our problem!
The reality of our rural and city life today ultimately and essentially involves a mixture of creative, scientific and artistic values in reaching an accurate sense of ethical judgement. We need to consciously develop the use of a combination of head and heart thinking, begin to see further into nature than before, and re-establish not virtual but real farming, or better still, a real agriculture, and both land and stock wil1find a new heart.
Jimmy Anderson
* Ref. “Agriculture of Tomorrow” E & L Kolisko 1939 (P. 348 etc)