Death In Farming

I have long believed that farming is one of the most selfless jobs out there. You work your whole life on the farm, it is your life. Working tirelessly to feed the nation, to keep Britain fit and strong, well that is what I was taught in history class. Although this is true, this is not why I get up in the morning, of course, it is to cater all my time to the farm, milk the girls and get all the jobs done. But there’s always a point in the day, where I stop, usually at the top of a hill, admiring the valley where our farm is located, my mind always wanders to the same thought “wow”. A sense of pride and admiration comes over that you are farming this land and look how amazing it looks, yet I never feel alone in those moments, I am sharing that same view with farmers who stood before me, doing the same job I am doing now.

I know they would be admiring the same peaks of the Munros, as it is impossible not to at certain fields. The hills, land and even trees will outlive us, but we share these memories with the men and women who farmed before us through this land. And by farming I am carrying on their legacy, even if I do not know them, we are connected. Now I understand this all may sound strange, maybe even a bit hippy, but this was always something I personally felt however, it became something I relied on in March 2020.

The news was spouting about some virus that London was experiencing, a distance threat. The first lockdown began, it seemed a drastic step, but death was spreading. Healthy adults were packed into hospitals from this mysterious disease. And we ignorantly thought it was a problem facing the cramped-up townies. Meanwhile, at our ranch, we were getting along just fine, our life barely changed when the lockdown was introduced. Every morning I was still working in the parlour every morning with my great uncle, grandfather of 88 and father- assuming we would be waiting it out.

Townies were complaining of boredom and treating the first lockdown as a holiday. Many were rediscovering or even discovering the countryside with walks to get them away from their four walls. In comparison, I felt lucky. Then my grandfather needed some medical assistance a hospital visit later and he had covid.

The following days would consist of them bringing him back to the farm and called back out again for getting worse. Those days were so unpredictable and of course, emotional. He died in a hospital bed with only his wife by his side. A healthy farmer who was in the parlour just days ago with a spirit so pure and energetic it was infectious. He wasn’t just a grandparent. He wasn’t just someone I saw at Christmas and Birthdays. He was my business partner, advisor, and friend. His sudden death rocked us all.

The farm seemed emptier without his presence. The parlour was eerily quiet. We saw this man every day of our lives, we were intertwined, all four of us are. After his death, we would hear his whistle in the parlour, a cruel trick our minds played with us. The man you worked and lived alongside your whole life with and trusted for advice and guidance is gone. A generation of farming is wiped out and you hold him only in your memory. What stories did I miss? Those questions I forgot to ask? The fountain of knowledge had run dry and the farm is left with one spirit less.

He ran the farm since he was a bairn, he built our sheds and expanded the farm to strengths. He laid the shed floors that carry our herd. Does he know none of it was in vain? Does he know we will carry on as we are gifted with what he started? When death strikes so quickly it is hard not to think about what he thought of how we are farming.

Farm deaths are another level of grief; it changes your everyday life so drastically. I believe the reason farmers handle it better than most is due to such a healthy attitude towards life and death, since working on a farm, saying we understand the circle of life is an understatement. I think that’s why death in farming seems more intense, you don’t escape it, you are living the reality of what happened every day, it’s not a monthly catch-up phone call you now don’t make.

Although it was a difficult time for the family, each experiencing grief, we had plenty of laughs with family and friends reminiscing and discussing my grandfather’s life, as they say, “there is more fun at a Scottish funeral than there is at an English wedding.”

Is there anything to gain from death? I saw my father and great uncle in a different light, as we all struggled and milked in silence (a first-ever). I saw my father as a son who lost his dad and it terrified me. I believe it makes you truly appreciate your family. The time you have. This farming isn’t just about the cows (kind of), it is about the land, the history of it and how he, my grandfather has now joined that history.

To the farmers before me, your work is appreciated to this day, I admire the trees you planted in our fields, and I live in the house you expertly constructed from stone. We are part of the history of farmers. The people before us cherished this land and we are trusted with these fields to continue their work, not just for my grandfather’s pride, but all of them, I appreciate the work they did to bring me where I am. I will work hard for us.

 I farm for the love of cows and care for the countryside but with each day of quality work I carry on the work of those before me and for that I am proud. What we do is not dated, despite the societal trends just now. We are part of the countryside; our heritage is stronger than a fad in the town.

We feed a nation. We farm Scotland. And by God, do we do it well.

Stirks in November 

 

What is actually better for the environment- limited trade.

 

This week has been jam packed of news for farmers.

Cop 26, a global meeting to tackle climate change is taking place in the next coming days.

The government have agreed a trade deal with NZ that threats the lamb market in the U.K. which we pride ourselves on by being high quality, high welfare and sustainable.

We use land, unable to farm for arable or build on, with sheep.

Eating from locally sourced is better for the environment by severely lowering the carbon footprint of food.

If you are at the seaside and order seafood at the restaurant who bought it from the local fishmonger, THAT IS LOW CARBON FOOTPRINT.

Buying avocado from Mexico or Kenya….. c’mon, do I need to spell out everything?

So, this deal is threatening farmers livelihoods and Britain's ability to be self-sufficient. WHICH IS BEST for the environment and our producers!

If you go to Italy, France, Romania, they have a huge respect for farmers and are huge advocates for quality food.

I was in Italy 2 weeks ago, eating squid sourced from the harbour, and when I was in the hills, I was eating veal, no seafood in sight. This type of eating, where the resource is grown/bred is normalised in their cultures. They appreciate the quality of seeing it in the field/sea to on their plate, knowing it is delicious and of high quality.

That has been completely lost in Britain, consumers obsessed with wanting any fruit or veg at any time of day, for the cheapest cost. But have an opinion on farming standards in the U.K. when they buy foreign foods which has caused more than triple greenhouse gases than it would to produce here and cause an increase in deforestation.

Why can I go into Tesco to buy Prawns from Vietnam when Scotland literally has this at our seashores with leading welfare standards AND TASTY.

This is not the farmers fault; this is government decisions and what is the deciding factor? MONEY.

Consumers should demand that they are eating only food that would be legal to produce here.

The government are also in discussions about a "meat tax" to discourage consumers from eating meat for "sustainable reasons". WHAT!?

When Britain are one of the leading countries for sustainable livestock farming, which only contributes to 5% of the greenhouse gases in the U.K. (EU is 9%) and with our aim of being net zero by 2040.

Back our British farmers and the quality, ethical and SUSTAINABLE produce they provide for our nation #BackBritishfarming

Articles that are worth a read: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/10/20/whitehall-considers-meat-tax-slash-carbon-emissions/

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/sustainable-living/vegan-foods-low-carbon-environment-b1887195.html

Being A Farmers Daughter

So, many of my posts have been quite serious, however I wanted to produce something that was full of facts against the vegan protests instead of with opinions. I feel strongly about this as many others do as even though I have not chosen farming as a career choice I still see it through my father.

Working on the farm will stay with me the rest of my life.

It made me hard working, even when I didn’t want to and was dragged out the house in my pyjamas and wellies to help chase cattle, it taught me what work was. Never having a day off, cutting grass till 3 am and milking by 5am, was the best experience, it makes me a better worker in my other career choice.

It made me hugely sympathetic and caring as a person. If I had to miss a milking or was unable to feed the calves due to school or other commitments, I would not stopping thinking about that calf that needed extra help drinking or general jobs that needed done. Even though I was away I could not stop caring about the cattle. It made me love cows, like they are just amazing creatures and I had the honour of having them in my care, and enabling it to be amazing care- despite little conversation on their part. You would do anything in your power to ensure they were happy.

Working on the farm taught me how to appreciate. The freedom of land to play and work was something I took for granted in my childhood. 

I appreciate where my food comes from and all the hard work in my community to enjoy such amazing produce. It made me appreciate my father who has chosen to do this his whole life, to provide for me and my brothers and all the sacrifice’s he made for us, and the cows. Looking after the cows taught me how to appreciate my position, I was able to care for these amazing cows, I appreciated being able to do a job where I could work alongside them all day.

Working on the farm also gave me knowledge of farming practices. From dehorning to jagging cattle. From simply knowing how to handle cattle and understand them is something I didn’t realise wasn't common knowledge. As I did not realise how uneducated some people were about farming, as I was recently talking to a well educated adult who was surprised to discover that cows had to have a calf before being able to produce milk.

However I am not alone, many farmers children are choosing not to go into farming with these difficult times. But farmers can come together, with events such as The Royal Highland Show this gives a chance for farmers all over the U.K to take part in healthy competition for their cattle. With healthy competition it allows farmers to see what other farmers are doing to improve their own practices. This also gives farmers an opportunity to see other suppliers and machinery to improve their farms.

I am so proud to say I grew up on a farm and had the childhood I did, as it made me who I am, and I think the end result is fabulous!

All photos on this blog were taken by Heather Mackie from the cows at Belltrees 

Promotion and Purchases

 So trying to explain to a hateful community why farming is not cruel will always be a challenge when they have never experienced the farming lifestyle. In every farmer’s newspapers and magazines farmers are bombarded with advertisements on how to improve their farm. How to keep cows happy.

I have included some examples below.

From these examples you can see that all the advertisements are aimed at the quality, the improvement of care for the cattle, not priced focused or deals. Farmers are not like other businessmen, they make different decisions based on morals and values not on price and profit.

One story I would like to share is we had one calf that broke a leg during birth, now a cow with a broken leg is a dead cow, it’s extremely expensive to fix, they will never be worth the price to fix, and they will die from the broken leg as it rarely heals properly. Cows fart a lot, a lot of methane, a cow can never lie down for more than 12 hours or it’s a dead cow due to all the build-up of gas. So a cow must be able to walk and feed itself otherwise it is extremely uncomfortable and just ends up suffering extremely badly before eventually dying. Sad but very rare. We had a calf born with broken leg, a business man would shoot it, it’s not worth the time and care or cost. A business man would cut a lot of corners. We paid for it to be fixed. It lived in the house, it stank. It healed and was a brilliant cow, Charlie. He was an amazing cow and healed perfectly. Only a love of a farmer would make that financial and timely sacrifice for the care of every calf. And the only person who benefits from their sacrifice is the cow. Farmers are not evil. They never will be. Farmers care.

To emphasise this point, if a human has a urine infection, they go to hospital they get emergency treatment and then have to go to their GP and go through a lengthily process to get it fixed, for blood tests and urine tests, wait for them to come back referred to hospital which can take weeks, the whole process takes a lengthily amount of time having the disease. If a farmer has cattle which he knows have something as simple as a urine infection they can get done for animal cruelty. Cattle are literally looked after in some aspects better than humans especially when it comes to health. They are treated immediately for any health issue, humans are not.

However, animal welfare is something we are proud of and need to maintain especially with brexit just around the corner, read about it here;

http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/news/16071216.Animal_welfare_protections_won__39_t_survive_post_Brexit/

Milk Prices

Dairy farmers have taken a massive hit for the past decade, dairy prices have plummeted. Farmers are getting paid next to nothing for the white goods they produce. Farming is a high cost business, it costs thousands to keep sheds well-kept and to keep calves healthy with quality cake (cow food). Farmers pay an arm and a leg to buy the highest quality cake and technology in order to allow their cattle to have the best quality of life. So when supermarkets dropped the price where farmers could never pass their break-even point, what is a farmer to do? They cant go on strike and not turn up to work, their cattle will die. They cant not sell the milk or they cant afford to feed their cattle. They cant buy worse cake and just never clean the sheds to save on straw costs, as that opens up so many avenues of problems from disease’s, to bad cattle , which no farmer would ever allow. Still to this day farmers are paid pennies for their milk. Supermarkets and producers see all the money. If farmers fail in providing a healthy lifestyle for their cattle, if they die, the farmer has to PAY to get it properly disposed of, it is in every interest of the farmer to keep their cattle alive and happy.

(Sayid, 2015)

“There are other supermarkets, however, that actually pay less for milk than it costs to produce. The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers insists that all supermarkets could pay dairy farmers a price for milk that would meet the cost of production without increasing the price charged to the consumer: all they would need to do is to accept a slightly lower profit on the milk they sell.” Quote from the telegraph.(link below)

One of the reasons milk prices went down is due to the vegan lifestyle which taken into trend, buying soya and almond milk which has nowhere near the health benefits as whole milk or even skimmed milk! A 2008 Harvard study showed that higher intakes of soy-based drink and foods caused fertility problems and lower sperm counts- so why are people filling themselves with something that will only damage their health when there’s fabulous cow’s milk which not only has so much testing that it will not cause harm, only benefit to bones, teeth, protein and overall health?

No form of other milk gives you any of the necessary goodness as whole cow’s milk does, so many milks, mostly almond, have to have artificial powder inserted in order for it to give you any health benefits.

I highly recommend the article below as a good read for those who are not in farming it’s easy to believe marketing masters but for anyone that knows their stuff knows that whole milk holds all the important nutrient’s and is so important for the health in so many aspects.

Tioraid!

http://butterbeliever.com/fat-free-dairy-skim-milk-secrets/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/9399667/A-fair-price-for-a-farmers-milk.html

Image- Sayid, R. (2015). How the falling price of milk could wipe ICE-CREAM off the supermarket shelves. [online] mirror. Available at: https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/falling-price-milk-could-see-6230363

Laws and regulations- Comparing our rules to international ones

Before I continue to write about the amazing work of farmers and the hardships they face I feel I need to set the record straight of the false accusations that the vegan and vegetarian community are spreading. In this country we have extremely high welfare standards for cow’s, sheep, pigs and chickens etc.

Firstly…

IN THIS COUNTRY YOU CANNOT GIVE COWS DRUGS TO PRODUCE MORE MILK

 Other countries do.

It all has to be natural and just through careful breeding, to help produce healthy cattle. In America they can give their cows’ specific hormone growth drugs to make their udders massive, which has been proven to affect humans. In America they are allowed more than double the white cell count than the U.K, meaning their milk does not include the same health benefits as ours and cows are more likely to get bacterial infections. In the U.K cow’s milk is checked every milking and if there are any problems farmers aren’t paid and the milk goes down the drain, although this is extremely rare. If a cow is on paracetamol, in the U.K the milk cannot be sold to the U.K consumers. Even though it would have almost no effect on the consumer in order to protect consumers they are taking no medicines without their knowledge. In this country the British herd is tested for all major diseases on a regular basis to ensure the health of the British Herd.

American farmers can give their cows growth hormones, the milk quality is inferior and the drugs they give the cows are transferable to humans. With post Brexit approaching there is talks of lowering our “superior” milk to their standards. This is not okay for trade, for the economy or for the health of the British citizens. (link to further reading on this topic at the end)

Comparison of Global Food Traceability Regulations and Requirements in the traceability and regulations report, the United Kingdom compared to countries around the world including Australia and United States, we were ranked as superior and were perfect in every single aspect of the report. China, Canada and U.S were the lowest. Most European countries marked perfect in all tests due to the EU regulations.

Every cow in the U.K (not EU) must have a passport. A cow cannot be sold unless its whole life can be traced. Every cow has to be sold with its passport for the safety of the consumers and the knowledge of the quality of cow. So when the Tesco horse meat scandal arose, that was outside the U.K production line, our quality beef is being exported to top restaurants all over the world. Even when I went to Germany, a leading farming country, they were selling SCOTTISH beef in their 5 star restaurant as they said it was the best quality in the world (their opinion). Other countries know our quality of beef is so fantastic, so why does some of the British Public not consume it or appreciate their own produce? Because they would rather pay less, for poorer quality meat from countries with poorer welfare standards.

British beef and Dairy is not filled with anything other than the vital nutrients with no chemicals added and there are no cows which are in process of being treated can enter the food chain. In the EU laws and regulations we cannot feed the cows anything harmful or enhancing it’s all down to amazing farming practices and breeding from our skilled country workforce.

I recommend if you are at all unsure of the food we produce in the U.K from meat to dairy to sheep read the EU regulations (information below) it describes all the obstacles from the feed for the cows, to the farmers care, to the people in lab coats triple checking for citizens health, to the supermarkets to ensure it is all in the interest of the cows health, the people’s health and for overall care for the country.

Tioraid!


https://www.farminguk.com/News/Britain-could-weaken-regulations-to-allow-inferior-US-dairy-imports_48736.html

Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety

Charlebois, S., Sterling, B., Haratifar, S. and Naing, S. (2014). Comparison of Global Food Traceability Regulations and Requirements. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 13(5), pp.1104-1123.

The Life Of A Farmer

This blog is to reply to all the anti-farmer propaganda which has been circulating recently. I have grown up and worked on a farm since I could walk and as many farmers’ children will tell you, is the best way to grow up. To briefly describe my childhood it was full of exploration, love and care for every animal and learning to drive before high school. So when farmers have grew up with so much pride and dedicating so much time and care into their career it is heart-breaking to hear so many people who do not have the knowledge trying to attack farmers. If you want to be vegan and/or vegetarian that is your choice but there is no need to attack the farming community. Farmers have great pride in their work and have traditionally fed the country during wars and have been the backbone in the revolution of a healthy diet to communities, to suddenly be attacked centuries later by a community who talks of peace but many spread so much hate towards the farmers. 

A farmers lifestyle is like no other, what other job can you describe where the workers have no day off? Christmas day is just between the hours of 10am-1pm, 8pm-midnight. Would you work at a job that gave you no sick days and no holiday days? And every day working 12-18 hour shifts ? No! But farmers do it every day, how often do farmers complain? Do you see farmers protesting? No! Farmers love their job, thank god! Cos no-one else would agree to those conditions!! Yet farmers get a severe lack of respect and severely under paid! Everyday farmers get up before dawn to care for their animals, they will milk their cows, do their bedding, feed their cows, feed the calves, do all the jagging and extra time to all the cows which may need extra help all before their breakfast. They come in eat their breakfast the whole time worrying about that one calf that wont learn to suck or all the jobs they need to try and do before the next milking in the afternoon. Afternoons filled with cleaning out sheds, moving cattle, doing silage, spreading slurry, helping a cow calf to be interrupted by the next milking, the next feed and the next medicating. My father has two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, breakfast is at 10.30 am and dinner at 10pm every single day. No tea breaks, just continuous work. To be a farmer you need to have a big heart from snow and rain and lets face it this is Scotland so limited sun, always being there for your cattle putting your own needs aside for the better of your cattle. Farmers miss parties, weddings and funerals for the care of their cattle. I have never met anyone as sacrificing, determined or caring as the farmers in my community, its all in the interest of the cows.

To anyone who believes farming is cruelty, you will never see a cow run from a farmer, cows love farmers, when we go to the fields the cows run to welcome you, they recognise you. Farmers have a very close relationship with their cows, recognise their voice, their walk and understand what the farmer is asking with one hand gesture.

For a brilliant article from the prospective of the farmer’s wife click the link below. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/countryside/5933708/Life-as-a-farmers-wife-the-land-girls.html

Tioraid!