Quiet grounds for optimism

NEVER has Aristotle's maxim been more relevant to the agricultural community than when the Greek philosopher wrote: "One swallow does not make a summer, neither does one fine day; similarly one day or brief time of happiness does not make a person entirely happy."

These are encouraging times for farmers, and the custodians of the countryside, who appear to be surviving the deep-rooted nature of the economic downturn better than most. The public's greater appreciation, and understanding, of British produce has preceded a report on the future of North York Moors where grounds for optimism has supplanted the pessimism of the past.

This is, indeed, welcome, given that it is the work of the hill farmers that contributes so much to the rugged beauty of the national park. That they have been able to survive the innumerable funding crises to beset the farming sector is testimony to the years of toil, and invariably for very little financial reward.

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Yet, as the carefully crafted words of Aristotle imply, complacency or the status quo is not an option for a profession that did well to survive the fallout from the foot-and-mouth-crisis of 2001.

As the Askham Byran College report points out, hill farmers – one of agriculture's "Cinderella" sectors – are still dependent on subsidy payments, and there is no guarantee that the EU-wide Single Farm Payment will remain at existing levels when it is reviewed in three years.

Like all governments, the EU is, inevitably, going to have to make efficiency savings, while no one can predict the recession's impact on the euro – even more so following the Greek financial crisis.

However, this should not preclude the UK Government, and farming leaders, from looking at innovative ways to fund the agricultural industry and exploit the public's desire for high quality local

produce. In short, there needs to be a proactive response to the helpful analysis provided by Askham Bryan's experts, and the equally relevant words of one of the founding fathers of philosophy.