You can tell me all you like but it's quite clear that their not ahead in any way. You're basically spouting rubbish about Irish stuff that you think you know.

Well, let's start with some facts. The average milk yield per cow in Ireland is 5,000 litres per year, in the UK 8,000. Ireland survives on EU exports. And its farmer survive on the CAP. Where they are very capable is in playing the system. They have a remarkable number of 'young farmers' for example, who happen to receive a grant but somehow never seem to grow into older farmers.

I can go to any number of places and buy direct from the farmer - no problem.

And if you lived in the countryside in the UK you would have the identical same experience. And would have done for as long as I have been alive. Plus UK producers have a history of setting up cooperative retail organisations. For example Northern Foods. India has had a recent such experience with its White Revolution. The only thing different about Ireland is it is so rural relatively speaking.

You have not absorbed my point that the actual, real issue of farming is price. Because it's a business.

The real and central issue of your hallowed Welsh sheep farmers is the price they get for the lamb - it's just not worth it. It's hardly such a stretch of the imagination to say that they need to do something about how they bring their goods to market. Like every other business in both of our countries have to. And probably much of the Western world.

Currently prices are good. The problem is not inefficiency it is a lack of a level playing field. Ask the EU how that works. The other EU countries have been far better at supporting their farmers.

Farmers wonder why they get bad feelings against them. This is why, they try quick fixes, they want subsidies, then they don't work and they complain. I fully understand but don't listen because if you don't change the stuff you talk about happens.

This is complete BS. They don't try quick fixes, they are very efficient and high quality. They generally don't bend the rules.

So if the farmers want to carry on bleating, so be it. As for farmers being miles ahead it's f***ing laughable. I'm literally living smack bang in the middle of loads of extensive farming with absolutely no sign of degradation or anything that would do it. I'm in the far west of Ireland.

Hmm, do they plough? If they do, they are degrading the land. Did you read the link I provided?

Seeing as my grandfather became a sheep farmer I know plenty. The way he did it was to breed rare breed sheep - which remain in demand. He sold up in the end and is a multi millionaire. Don't worry, I got sod all. You're not dealing with someone who you can sway or tell anything.

Yes, rare breeds can be a money spinner. But clearly not for everyone or everyone would be doing it.

The issue in Ireland is far more complicated than you are making out or the article wants to tell us. Rather than practice related, there is a wider issue with water. Surprise surpruse in Ireland. A lot of farm land being flooded and a lot of top soil being diluted or washed away. That does happen around here. There are no fast crops or intensive farming anywhere near me that I have seen. So it's not an issue. Could well be more of an issue at the border or in the East.

My point about top soil is global, I should have been clearer. The issues are the deserts and the forests. My point being that UK and Ireland are not going to change percentages of world top soil. We're quite clearly too small.

You're not dealing with Irish country bumpkin mate. I do actually understand your points but am making mine. Every time you say 'we' re ahead, we tried that'. Quite clearly not true, it has not been tried enough. My glamping point is that it doesn't hurt anything. Let them do it.

They do do it. You blame UK farmers and say they bleat but don't change. That is such nonsense.

Market gardening and new techniques are already making this irrelevant and I'm sure you know about it.

No idea about what you are talking. A few experiments but nothing that really moves the dial. Maybe you really believe floating cows is the way forward, maybe it is but I have this slight suspicion it ain't going to change the world.

However, I do fully realise your concerns and share them. I'm not trying to fob you off. I can see the argument.

Fishing has always been evocative for an island nation that used to pride itself on sea power. Reliance on imports for food is maybe 2 centuries old now.
UK is high in Agricultural machinery I believe. Ireland used to be around 40% reliant on agriculture: it's around 20% these days. Of course most goes to the UK so there are massive concerns.
No ploughing around here, more or less. Unless it's the ploughing championships.

If you look at Irish geography you would find the Far west of Ireland, where I live, has no arable or very little crop farming. All extensive sheep and cattle. Yes, we're miles behind, be gosh be gorra. Top o t'morning t ya squire. It's been literally a year since I have been out of this region. Ask the people in the Pale about the wheat, if you can understand their thick Irish brogue.