Lie of the Land on Channel 4

Clodagh

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I think that life and death is a much more visible and natural process in the country side, so people don't get so excited about it.
As the farmer said, we spend hours worrying about foxes being chased but expect food to be produced for nothing and don't worry at all about how it is done. Why anyone should think its acceptable to go to Tescos and buy a 12 pack of chicken breasts from Thailand for...well, I don't actually know how much they are, but peanuts. Probably the same person who declares themselves anti hunting.
If you spend your working days dealing with animals that either have a job or are bred to die then hunting and shooting are just a natual extension of this order of things. Lifes like that (for the animals).
We now shove our old people off to hospices and hospitals so that we don't need to face the actual death of anything. People used to die at home. (Couldn't have that now - might make a mess of the bed).
I thought it was a good programme, but very depressing, what hope is there for the small farmer? This cross compliance paperwork has just about driven OH to go and get a job in town. (Not quite!) :p
 

collie

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Although i did not se the whole prog i think it is important to keep agriculture and the hunting debate seperate. Some farmers do not mind hunts on their land and some do. It is the same as some farmers dont mind riders on their land and some do, even though there is an access law in Scotland some land owners still make it extremely difficult for riders to access their land.
In regard to farming in general i am afraid it is going the way of many traditional industries as i live in Scotland i can only comment on this area. I come from a mixed sort of familly where some are farmers and others are'nt i understand the problems farmers face especially the smaller ones or tennants. However, the world is a changing place and it is a case of adapt or die, many other traditional industries such as mining, steel making have all gone to the wall and nobody gave a toss about it except those in the industry.
Agriculture will continue to be a very imprtant industry in this country but it will not be in the form that has taken in the past 20 or so years. Some farmers have embraced the changes and made it work for them, unfortunately some have not and continue to farm the way they always have, it could be a very difficult time for them.
The only thing that is guarenteed in the modern world is that change will happen and at an alarming pace, but one mans demize is another mans opportunity and i think that is how you have to view the world.
 

henryhorn

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No you won't have a backlog because farmer's now pay into a livestock collection service set up by DEFRA.
I felt it showed the lives of ordinary farming people not toffs very well.
I know lots of people like those portrayed, quietly getting on with their lives, never breaking the law etc, yet thanks to the legislation that spews like diahorrea from this government their lives are made very difficult .
We can only cut hedges between certain months now, we can't burn plastic or string, we can't bury any dead animals on our own land (note OUR LAND not the damned Governmen's) honestly, the list is endless.
I should say we aren't even farmers but live on a farm!
I live in one of the strongest hunting areas in the UK.
I like seeing the foxes on the farm but I know they have to be controlled or they wander off and take the surrounding farmer's lambs. Not aguess, but fact, I've watched them do it. So I allow the hunt staff to come on the farm, but not the followers. This is because on previous occasions they have left gates open and our horses go beserk and sometimes get injured with a headlong gallop mixed in with riders/yougstock and old horses.
I admit to a smile when the fox gets away...
There is a vast misconception amongst many town dwellers that all farmers are rich, drive huge cars and have big incomes. Looking at those round here, they drive scruffy vehicles, they work incredibly long hours in often diabolical weather, and they work hard for very little return. Their social lives are wrapped up in the Hunt and the only time some take off is to follow the hounds for a few hours.
What is so wrong with that?
I was struck last night by what nice people the hunting lot seemed to be. Respect for the animals they had to kill, and a genuine sadness re killing unecessarily.
to the poster who mentioned about shooting the horse in front of the others, we wouldn't do that, but allow them to come and view the dead horse afterwards.
It spooks them too much if they see it happen.
I hope someone somewhere in power one day starts to think about the ordinary people like those last night. Decent law abiding sorts who are the backbone of this country, with strong work ethics and appreciate the countryside.
Sorry this has rambled a bit, but I could have cried last night watching it, so many unecessary problems for people who already cope with death often on a daily basis..
 

Sidesaddle

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I can't believe how many people say 'how can you raise those pigs and then eat them', yet they don't mind eating bacon from a pig that hasn't even seen daylight, I know what my pigs eat and that they've had a great if not short life!

I would imagine that is because what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over. The half wits who say that to you see your pigs as pets, not a business.
 

Sooty

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I finally watched it today. It made me desperately sad that farming is in such a dreadful state. On the hunting front, I am appalled that this film revealed that 700 hours of parliamentary time were devoted to the hunting bill, that snares are still legal and that a shot fox can live in agony, on three legs, for six months. In addition, after the BSE and F&M disasters, bullocks have to travel over 100 miles to salughter. Nobody could consider the members of the W Country hunts depicted were toffs. The film maker was Molly Dineen. I think we all knew the hunt ban was nothing to do with animal welfare, and this film certainly proved that.
 

jellybaby

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HUGE applause HH - very well put.
I know well the hunt in question- they were my local pack when I lived at home, and I was in that Pony Club (all those years ago!)

However, my OH's family are huge beef farmers and probably are one fo the biggest farmers in our parts, and undoubtedly one of the most successful. OH brother was appalled by the farmings eciton of the show, saying that the animal welfare was not good to say the least.

It seems like there are two sides to farming - that show, and those who are still making a good living from it. I guess its a case of Social darwinism - survivial of the fittest.

JB xx
 
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