Landowners were being offered huge rents by contractors growing maize to feed the anaerobic digesters, that turn organic matter into methane that in turn powers a generator to create electricity. The result would be to drive out food production in favour of energy generation with potentially disastrous consequences for Britain’s food security and the landscape.
Mr Oliver, chairman of the NFU dairy board in the South West, said farmers were being offered up to £350 a acre by contractors in Cornwall growing maize for the AD plants. At that price, he said, it would uneconomic to rent the land for food crops or to grow maize to feed dairy cattle because the returns would not cover the costs.
Devon livestock farmer Richard Haddock has also raised concerns about the growth in crops grown for energy squeezing out the food producers. He said: “Bio-digesters were originally intended to generate electricity from slurry and food waste. But they work just as well on whole-crop maize, offering farmers a far better-paying alternative to making forage. As a result there has been a stampede into maize production with demand forcing rents up to between £300 and £400 an acre.” At that price, he says no-one raising cattle or sheep can possibly turn a profit. “As things stand now livestock producers just aren’t getting a look in when land comes up for rent,” he said. “They are up against contract growers who are desperate to take on more land simply because the returns are so high.”
Mr Oliver, chairman of the NFU dairy board in the South West, said farmers were being offered up to £350 a acre by contractors in Cornwall growing maize for the AD plants. At that price, he said, it would uneconomic to rent the land for food crops or to grow maize to feed dairy cattle because the returns would not cover the costs.
Devon livestock farmer Richard Haddock has also raised concerns about the growth in crops grown for energy squeezing out the food producers. He said: “Bio-digesters were originally intended to generate electricity from slurry and food waste. But they work just as well on whole-crop maize, offering farmers a far better-paying alternative to making forage. As a result there has been a stampede into maize production with demand forcing rents up to between £300 and £400 an acre.” At that price, he says no-one raising cattle or sheep can possibly turn a profit. “As things stand now livestock producers just aren’t getting a look in when land comes up for rent,” he said. “They are up against contract growers who are desperate to take on more land simply because the returns are so high.”
Your blog posts provide valuable extra information on the current situation. However we lack your faith and trust that nationalisation can solve the problems. It didn't in the past and it wouldn't in the future. The only way your very worthwhile alternatives can work is with a socialist system where profits were not the priority...and sadly that has always been the situation...even with such ideals in the NHS, rationing of services and drugs was introduced to balance the books. Sadly we do not also agree that a list of palliatives to the capitalist social problems is socialism or means towards it.
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