I never thought I’d be interested in the details of the price of milk. But, I am and have posted on the matter recently here and here. And now look what has happened after the farmers’ protests…
It seems that the interdependency of the retailers and the producers has been recognised. If farmers have to sell their milk for less than it costs to produce it, they cannot continue in business. Is common sense invading the ‘market’?
July 22, 2012 at 2:50 pm
Delighted to see that the farmers’ protests are having the desired effect…and so they should.
I think the lessons of the past few weeks are that whether you are a UK farmer, or a grassroots member of the Church of England, well organised and mobilised protest can indeed have a significant and powerful effect in high places.
July 22, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Farmers really do get a raw deal. They are the stewards of our countryside and producers of our food, working most of the hours God gives them in order to make a living so it is great that their plight is, at least partially, being recognised. There is also the problem of what to do with calves from milking cows which most people are unaware of – many are shot at about 2 days old or are transported to the continent since our farmers cannot afford to keep them and organic ‘Rose veal’ is not very popular yet. The only option for most farmers is to grow into huge intensive farms which are not good for the wellbeing of the animals and are greedy in terms of synthetic chemicals. Some farmers diversify or follow many others and sell their homes to wealthy people (usually those who want a ‘nice country house’ from which to commute to the city to work). As you can see, this is part of a HUGE complicated problem which I feel strongly about and admit that I am just as much to blame due to lack of choice in the shops – I will keep petitioning online…. at least I feel I can add my voice there.
I am also enjoying your German sermons though have only read two so far (the internet is not bad at translation for us non-linguists!!). Keep on blogging!!
July 22, 2012 at 10:24 pm
By far the best bit of common sense I’ve seen in a long time – beats using a Collins pocket dictionary to try to decipher your German addresses
(I didn’t get very far…) Anyway, wouldn’t it be nice to think the not-so-humble supermarkets could actually be at the vanguard of a new social order?!