Memorandum submitted by Andrew Brown (RAS
04)
1. I would like to raise the following points
to the EFRA Select Committee at the Royal Show:
2. First, how are future Governments going
to incentivise the growing of energy crops like oilseed rape.
The current system gives only a very small incentive, half of
which is taken by the processor as an administration fee, which
leaves very little for the farmer.
3. Secondly, if the effects of global warming
are to be as bad as predicted will the production of food take
priority over the production of energy crops, and if so where
will that leave those who have invested large sums in plant and
machinery for the energy crops?
4. I am a farmer from Caldecott in Rutland
farming 620 acres of mixed arable and permanent pasture, and I
have looked closely at growing miscanthus and short rotation coppice
but come to the conclusion it is not worth the effort.
5. I am 42 years old, a graduate of Nottingham
University and have been farming for 20 years on our family farm,
which has been in the family well over 150 years.
June 2006
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