Badgardener on Nostr: There was a quiet, behind the scenes, determination to put farmers in their place: ...

There was a quiet, behind the scenes, determination to put farmers in their place: during the 80s, when I first got involved, farming was doing ok at a time when recession was the norm under a right wing, divisive government. And painting farmers as greedy came as easily as breathing to the Thatcherites.

But it spilled over into overt action with the dismantling of the Milk Marketing Board in the mid-90s, which removed any stability in farmgate prices - and not just in dairy, but knocking on through the whole sector.

1996 was the last decent year. There have been small upticks since, but in every single one, market forces have quickly redirected profits into the hands of corporates.

I may just go outside for a while, commune with my chickens and attack the woodpile.