The people who complain about modern farming methods are, naturally, the non farmers. And there is sense in what many of them say. It would be lovely, in theory, if everything were produced by organic methods. We won't see it again on a big scale, but be thankful for what we have. The London Times had a nice sentimental piece the other day about "an English farm where time has stood still for half a century" and which had been "saved for the nation."
It is in the Yorkshire Dales, a landscape many Irish people find familiar. Walter Umpleby has harvested his 65 acres by scythe each year, but only after "the stunning array of wild flowers has died. The hay is then baled to provide fodder for the cows and sheep, housed in the traditional byre and barn in winter. The fields are fertilised by the manure so produced. The fields are bounded by dry stone walls.
The farm stands at 1,100 feet above sea level. It is, says the article, a haven for wild life. Now Mr Umpleby is retiring at the age of 68 and there were fears that the old traditional methods would be superseded by a modern approach. All is saved, it seems. The National Trust has bought the property and will stipulate that the future tenants must farm in the same old fashioned way.
Lord Healey of Ribblesden (that must be Denis Healey that was), expressed particular delight. He was brought up in Ribblesden and used to nip off there when the pressure of high office bore in on him. "It is almost unique" he said, "to find such a working farm in these modern times" and great news that it will continue. "AND" he added, sticking out his neck, "modern intensive farming methods have destroyed this way of life on most farms and perhaps we are paying the price of that with the current BSE situation. You won't find silage or entrails used to feed animals on Mr Umpleby's farm, just good old fashioned hay."
And Mr Umpleby is pleased.
His late wife would have been delighted too, "I didn't want it turned into a factory."