farmviews & opinions…

…in Southern Norway…

opinionated? – not really…

In case you haven't noticed elsewhere on this site already; we do indeed have views and opinions on many subjects. I personally can't see the point in holding on to opinions that shows severe veaknesses when tested though, so I may change opinions wheneever I find good reasons for doing so.

Fact-based opinions are the best ones, but they are of course only as good as the (re)search for and availability of facts allow for. As facts are often obscured by opinions, we prefer to do our own (re)search whenever possible. If that's not possible and all we can find is diverging opinions, we may settle for “no opinion” until it has cleared a bit.

Often one is expected to choose side when it comes to politics and/or other matters. Living up to expectations when we haven't made any promises, is not one of our priorities, so consequently we may or may not do so.

We may also look at other sides of whatever matter we are supposed to chose side on, and end up making choices that are not on the ballot. I don't think we're supposed to do that, but if presented with a set of bad choices we see it as our right to discard them all and go for something better.

ecology in farming…

Interesting and important subject, but as mentioned on first page in this farming section we're not involved in any of the official and certified forms of ecological farming. Having to submit formal applications whenever we want to do what makes sense, makes no sense at all at our end. It's a waste of time and money better spent on further development of ecological farming locally, in our opinion.

Doesn't look like we're alone with this view, as almost as many Norwegian farmers that enters such a formal ecological production, leave it for a more informal ecological or traditional one each year (source: BV - 15.aug.2008). The reason for leaving is nearly always that the bureaucratic regime is too cumbersome to deal with, which is exactly why we have never seriously considered entering such a regime.

The official goals of 15% ecological farm-area in Norway won't be met in decades with the present convertion-speed, as it is not even 4% at the moment and barely rising year by year.

Now, it is both funny and a bit sad to see sensible farming-approaches being hampered by bureaucracy, but apart from that it doesn't bother us too much. Sensible and sustainable farming-methods that play along with nature, will always work – as long as the land itself isn't degraded for other uses.

politicians and farming…

The majority of Norwegian politicians don't seem to care much for farming and basic food production in Norway. This is easiest seen in that they want food-prices down, production-cost up and the farm-land cultivated in ways that resemble parks to attract tourists – and of course they want 15% of cultivated farmland to be run ecologically within a few years. Sorry … you may catch votes by arguing for it, but it can't be done.

Consumers are subsidized so they can buy locally produced food at reasonable prices – by covering some of the extra high production cost in a high-cost country like Norway. Of course these subsidies are presented as farm-subsidies, so many consumers/voters don't know that lost subsidies means more unpredictable and generally higher food-prices, in addition to loss of farming and cultivated farmland and lost revenue for all businesses that depend on active Norwegian farms to sell their products and services to.

Again, it doesn't bother us too much, as altering and reducing production to sustain ourselves and those geographically in our neighborhood who are willing to pay for locally produced food, isn't difficult. Those who want to rely on imported food may do so, as Norway is a rich country that can afford to compete on the global food-market even when there's a food-shortage and distribution-cost is rising.

I personally don't think such a “we can import everything we need” strategy will do much good for people's food-budgets in the long run, as it isn't the farmers that push food-prices the most in this country, it is those who make it so expensive to farm in this country. All consumers/voters will lose, are choices and say on prices.

changing direction…

Being flexible and a bit opportunistic suit me better than being opinionated. Talk that isn't based on and presented with facts don't make much of an impression though, so I see no reason to change direction based on the quick news-coverages and popular “thinking” that flow everywhere from everywhere these days.

When a different reality (not the kind they make shows out of) comes knocking on the door I will probably have a suitable option ready, as it is always good to “be prepared” as the Scout-saying goes. Until then I see no point in changing opinion based on the ever-changing direction of the wind or other minor factors.

sincerely  georg; sign

Hageland 10.aug.2008
last rev: 29.aug.2008

farmviews & opinions…

I see no point in changing opinion based on the ever-changing direction of the wind or other minor factors.
— Georg

If it can't be recycled and/or revitalized, then it's probably not worth buying into.
— Georg


farming…
…2000 - 2008