Displaying items by tag: Farming

Most crops will get harvested. But yields are low, and many farmers will feel they have ‘sown much, but reaped little’ (Haggai 1:6). Yet, given the weather conditions earlier this year, farmers are glad to have a crop at all, while many fruit trees have yielded well. Give thanks for this sign of the Lord’s continuing mercy and faithfulness. Pray for better conditions this autumn and next spring, so that crops can make a good start and yield well next year. Pray for farmers to recognise their dependence on the One who causes the crops to grow (Psalm 104:14 and 64:9-13) and reach out to seek and know Him as their Saviour and Lord. The Agriculture Bill will continue its progress towards royal assent. Pray for the Government, the NFU, and for all involved in shaping the future of farming and food production (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

The National Farmers Union (NFU) says Britons would run out of food in five days if the nation was solely reliant on home-grown produce. New research shows the proportion of the food that we consume that is produced in the UK has plummeted from 80% per cent in 1980 to just 64% now. Experts say the alarming statistics should be a wake-up call for the Government to prioritise food supply and for the public to buy more British produce. City University's Centre for Food Policy said that a country with low self-sufficiency is at risk of negative geopolitics and we are in exactly that sort of uncertainty now. The world is facing extreme pressures from people, food, climate and landmass. Britain is still acting as though we have an empire. It doesn't and Britain is assuming others will feed us.' NFU research states that Britain now imports 93% of its fruit and 47% of its vegetables.

In March DEFRA. responding to the Godfray review, set out the next phase of its bovine TB strategy which will include cattle and badger vaccination and improved testing. The issues are complex. Straightforward preventative actions are still not being implemented by farmers owing to weariness and frustration. Pray for wisdom for government and opinion-formers. Pray for all farmers and animals affected. Pray that any spiritual issues and as yet unknown factors causing the disease to persist will be revealed and addressed (Exodus 16:26). Rain in June has greened up the fields and provided much-needed grazing, but predicted crop yields are still much lower than normal. This follows many turbulent months for farming due to the weather and Brexit. Give thanks to the Lord who ‘visits the earth and waters it’ (Psalm 65:9); pray that He will ‘crown the year with His goodness’ (Psalm 65:11).

Coronavirus has prompted a new appreciation of food and farming, a new interest in healthier eating, local food and national food security, and a greater awareness of injustices in the food chain. Pray that all these will be sustained beyond Covid-19 and will help improve relationships between producers and consumers, strengthen rural economies and create a more just and fairer food system. As families gather for more meals at home, pray for a strengthening of family life and a renewed awareness of the Lord who 'put us in families' (Psalm 68:6). The countryside has never been more popular. People have been flocking to farmland for exercise and recreation, and to enjoy all the sights and sounds of spring. Pray for a reconnecting between town and country and for farmers to deal graciously with the increased footfall.

None of the possible outcomes of the election will bring immediate peace and tranquility in rural areas, where farmers and small businesses face continued uncertainty. Across the nation many are anxious and fearful, including candidates facing intimidation and death threats as well as anti-Semitism against the Jewish community. Pray that believers will search the scriptures, understand the times, and pray in accordance with God’s ways and will about these issues. Pray that Christians will shine as lights in the darkness and bring a message of trust against the fear and hope against despair. Pray for God’s mercy on our nation, which mostly does not acknowledge Him. Farmers also ask for urgent prayer for their industry: so much depends on our food production, and there is a serious disconnect between producer and consumer. Pray also about climate change, safety, mental health, and the need for a strong rural economy.

Bovine TB is a long-running and deep-seated issue which continues to impact deeply both livestock and the livelihoods, health and wellbeing of farmers. In 2018, despite sustained testing, in Wales alone over 11,000 animals were compulsorily slaughtered and the movement of a thousand herds was restricted. Opposing views over the role of wildlife in spreading bovine TB have prompted deep divisions since the mid-70s. A recent government review made several new recommendations, including those designed to give greater responsibility for disease control to farmers and vets. They have also begun working with environmentalists to develop new approaches to disease control. As the Government considers the review’s recommendations, pray for wisdom and open-mindedness so that effective and widely-supported control strategies can be developed.

Emil Masud is an Arab Druze farmer who identifies as ‘for ever Syrian’, and Ofer Megged is a physics professor settler in the contested Golan Heights. The unlikely partners are working together to save the environment against Enrgix, an energy company which wants to erect dozens of turbines, some 64 storeys high, on cherry and apple orchards owned by the Druze. They promised jobs and financial incentives and about 40 Druze landowners agreed. Then news emerged of infrasound waves from the turbines that cause headaches, nausea and dizzy spells. The fertility of farmers’ bountiful agricultural lands was also at risk. ‘Our lands will be destroyed,’ Masud said. ‘We cannot allow this disaster to happen. Druze, Jews, there is no difference. We have joined hands against a common enemy to stop it.’ Many farmers who signed contracts with Enrgix have reneged, so Enrgix is preparing to file lawsuits.

1) The fatal accident rate on farms is higher than any other sector. 2) Theft from British farmers hit a seven-year high of £50m in 2018, with a 26% rise in stolen farm vehicles and a 3.7% rise in animal theft. 3) As a result of the crimes, farmers are reporting increased levels of anxiety and isolation. 4) Farmers fear they could go out of business following the post-Brexit trade deal with the USA that is being publicised as a way to boost the UK economy. They need reassurance that their high standards will not drop to compete with US chlorinated chicken, gamma radiation to eliminate microorganisms, and genetically modified crops. 5) Suicide rates in farming are reported to be among the highest of any occupational group, with more than one farmer a week in the UK taking their own life. See also 

Certain occupations can be more dangerous than others due to the nature of work that is carried out. The Health and Safety Executive reported that agriculture, forestry and fishing are the riskiest industry sector. One that consistently tops the list of hazardous industries is farming. Although no figures are yet available for 2019, 33 people died in the 12 months up to March 2018. Farming is more than five times more risky than the second such industry. Farmers had the most fatal injuries, and 48% of those killed were over 65. Almost twice as many self-employed farmers were killed as employees.

National Farmers Union (NFU) president Minette Batters stated at their 2019 conference that the Government needs to convene a new commission of food and farming experts to establish the principles to maintain British food production standards post-Brexit. Mrs Batter wants this commission to ensure that food imports will have the same high standards as the ones British farmers adhere to, and trade deals will be scrutinised by Parliament and industry. Crucially, there must be a commitment that the Government will act on these recommendations. The NFU also has ambitious plans to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and for British farming to aim to achieve net zero by 2040 by investing in incentivising carbon capture from the atmosphere and biofuels to power carbon capture storage systems. See