Nocton Dairies Ltd - Channel 4

Plans for first UK 'super-dairy'

There is an interesting report that was screened by Channel 4 - view here:

http://www.channel4.com/news/super-dairy-cash-cow-but-environmental-hazard

All Saints, Nocton - Parish Magazine

There is a report of a trip to Withgill Farm in the Parish magazine from local residents, Ralph and Mary Timms.  This touches on some of the issues surrounding daily management of a large dairy facility.

Please make sure you seek out the article when the magazine is posted through the door.

With respect, whilst this report is of interest, in part echoing what my wife and I observed during our own visit to the immediate area of Clitheroe and Withgill Farm, there are much larger issues at stake from the importation of these intensive CAFO units to the UK.  Much of the research into the implications for our food industry has been included in links on this blog... and we must also consider how supermarkets and processors appear to be squeezing margins of the traditional dairy farmer, almost forcing this shift to large-scale farming methodologies.

My view is clear, I do not want to end up in the hands of a small number of huge mega-corporations controlling our whole food industry, similar to what has happened in the States.  This is not just a local issue and we must look beyond our own front door for once.

Whilst the local issues of having such an intensive dairy close to our villages are important, particularly with the potential for accidental contamination to the local aquifer, you need to make up your own mind whether a Nocton Dairies industrial-sized dairy is taking us the right way forward for UK Plc.

It is alarming to learn that expansionist China are trying to buy up large intensive dairy operations in New Zealand
[http://www.chinabevnews.com/2010/07/natural-dairy-of-china-seeks-approval.html], not as some form of world domination, but just to feed their ever-increasing population.  The New Zealand Government are having to urgently consider amending legislation to avoid their dairy industry being sold up and controlled by foreign investors.  By developing big, by default could we be encouraging unwelcome foreign takeovers in the future... are you prepared to take that chance in supporting this venture?

New Zealand puts squeeze on foreign farmland purchasing

Move to tighten controls follows backlash against Chinese bid for New Zealand's biggest private dairy farm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/27/new-zealand-foreign-farmland-purchases

Super Dairy Problems in the UK and US

By Fr Peter

Who writes his blog as: "a resource for moral and environmental thoughts from a Christian viewpoint."

http://environmentalideas.blogspot.com/2010/10/super-dairy-problems-in-uk-us.html

24 Hour Dairy Farm Wants Public Funds to Improve Welfare

By Mac McDaniel

A rather more emotive article on the Nocton Dairy issue... but it does show the alternative views that are being published out in the world-wide web.

http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/factory-farm-wants-public-funds-to-improve-welfare/

Can cows help stop climate change?

http://www.theecologist.org/investigations/food_and_farming/320656/can_cows_help_stop_climate_change.html

Resubmission of Planning Application

All reports seem to indicate this is imminent.  Only then will we see whether Nocton Dairies have been able to meet all the substantial requirements laid out in the Environmental Impact Scoping Opinion issued by North Kesteven District Council  [10/0831/EIASCO] on 5th August 2010.

The full revised plans will of course be open to huge public scrutiny.  Not only will specialist consultees submit their professional submissions/observations, NKDC will expect a deluge of correspondence from the public and other organisations, who have opinions and strong views on this matter.  Our major political representatives will also have a keen interest in this application, as will the UK dairy and food industry, so there are many 'forces' at work!

So, unless a full public enquiry is initiated forcing a hold on proceedings, the local Planning Department of NKDC will consider this mass of evidence and write their report for Planning Committee.  If the original planning application was anything to go by, the whole Planning Committee will sit and debate on this issue.  It is a huge responsibility to fulfil, as the eyes of the nation will be on them!