Farmer Blenkiron
By Paul Homewood
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65099546
That BBC report yesterday featured Farmer Blenkiron:
As well as extreme heat, rainfall has been consistently low for parts of south and southeast England, affecting crop yields.
Andrew Blenkiron’s 6,000-acre (24 sq km) farm in Thetford, Norfolk saw just 2.4mm of rain in February compared to the local average for that month of 43mm. He has now been forced to cut back on plans to plant potatoes, onions, parsnips and carrots by around a fifth.
He said: "Farmers are at the very forefront of climate change on a day-to-day basis… we are used to working with these issues, but we are concerned with the extremes we are now facing."
To cope with the impacts of extreme heat Mr Blenkiron has enlarged reservoirs on his farm and shifted harvesting patterns to prevent wildfires.
But he said that farmers needed more money from government to implement their climate plans, especially if they involved new infrastructure projects like reservoirs.
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As I guessed at the time, he was no ordinary farmer, picked at random by the BBC. It turns out that he is the NFU County Chairman for Suffolk:
What better way for the NFU to extort money from taxpayers than to use the climate bogeyman?
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NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT 
We just knew it didn’t we. I wonder if Blenkiron would be tempted to diversify with a few acres of solar panels.
Already done…
‘Andrew Blenkiron PFIAgrM’:
https://www.iagrm.com/iagrm-membership/member-showcase/andrew-blenkiron-p-agric-fiagrm/
If Farmer Blenkiron wants UK taxpayer dosh, let him have it, along with him and his farming limited company/partnership surrendering part of his business and a slice of the “profits” at a rate determined by the local “collective farming committee” – which means he will have less (IHT free) assets to pass to his heirs….no, I didn’t think he would agree.
I resigned from the NFU (after the best part of 80 years family membership) when leaflets designed to be handed out at one’s local primary school arrived with my monthly membership magazine. They spelled out (for the children) how farmers were ‘climate champions’ and how we could help save the planet. There was even a toe-curling website: farmvention[dot]com
I bought a new set of 18.4/R38s for my tractor instead, which will tell your how much my membership was.
In recent months, there have been major sackings and restructurings at the NFU to cut costs. Probably a coincidence, of course. I still have a soft spot for the NFU, and just hope they’re not the last ones to realise the madness of Net Zero.
Rainfall was indeed low in Suffolk during February but it has been considerably above average throughout March and it’s not over yet…
Not that you’ll hear that it’s been hi$$ing with rain for most of March from the MSM.
I live in Norwich and can confirm. Not many dry days forecast in the next 10 according to the BBC , that authority on all matters concerning the climate.
The NFU are clearly all over ‘net zero’. So – their management and their lobbyists (including the Biased Broadcasting Corp) will be looking to extort their unfair share of tax payers money to support this ‘endeavour’. It’s really not that much different to the Sopranos looking for protection money. Just in wellies and tatersall check shirts? What a pity they aren’t like the Dutch farmers – but this is the UK – it’s about large wealthy landowners working hand in mitt with Westminster cronies (as it always was – but now gone up several gears).
Here’s the NFU last month..
https://www.nfuonline.com/media-centre/releases/nfu-conference-2023-speech-press-release/
Can I have a new reservoir too please, at someone elses expense. And while your at it can you throw in a a couple of new electric rangerovers so i can cope with weather changes.
Don’t need new ones, they’re brimming in derbyshire.
Farming is a strange world economically speaking. Land values seem to have little to do with the capitalisation of an average profit from agricultural operations and much to do with the avoidance of inheritance tax/ death duties etc . That grants should be available to support the profitability of many types of farming land use seems odd when arable land values have risen from about £250 per ac. to about £12,000 per ac. since 1965. I cannot think of any other industrial asset values that have increased without some direct relationship with the profit to be had from their use. Whisper it not but but wealth tax exemptions of this type may not last indefinitely.
Blenkiron is not a landowner. He is an employee who works for the Duke of Grafton at Euston Estate. But he loves to big himself up. And he enjoys publicity particularly on local TV and elsewhere. Compare him to near neighbour Lord Iveagh who quietly farms his 20,000 acres without fuss or fanfare.
Does Mr Blenkiron perhaps know the CCC chair, Lord Deben, who lives in Suffolk ? How well their thinking would mesh and their interests coincide !
I bet an examination of rainfall statistics for this region would confirm that it is simply ‘weather change’ rather than ‘climate change.’
The Dutch government has been going for the alternative of simple expropriation.
He doesn’t appear to be popular with farmers…
‘Andrew Blenkiron’ [February 2021]:
https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/andrew-blenkiron.339877/
Yes, its funny how the ‘Climate’ can change so much from month to month, isn’t it Farmer Blenkiron?
FFS….!
A farmer complaining about the weather, well I’m blowed. If anyone at the BBC knew anything about the countryside at all, they’d know that is pretty much all they talk about. We live between two farms and one of my neighbours had a long whinge yesterday because he hadn’t got the barley in yet.
Just remember he is NOT A FARMER!…and never has been.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-blenkiron-ba4a657a/?originalSubdomain=uk
Jeremy Clarkson is more of a farmer than him!
On occasion I read the BBC just for a couple of good laughs now and then , when i’m feeling down. May I leave them with an old folk rhyme that sums up the climate hysteria perfectly;
”Of all the months of the year , curse a fair februair.”
As with many of the BBC’s documentaries the ‘facts’ are not always as they present them. Great work exposing the realities here. Some great comments as well.