Robert Lasseter

Common Sense. Nolan Principles. Sustainable farming. Non Exec Director. Evolved as an omnivore. @LDWA1. #Nuffield scholar. Chair of amazing @tweet_KMC

[The_Global_Farmer @KennethObayuwan]

Yesterday marked the opening ceremony of the @ORFC (Oxford Real Farming Conference), and I was deeply inspired by James Rebanks’ statement on resistance:

“When I was young, I thought farmers were old, grumpy men who knew everything. Now I know that the point of farming is to create a sustainable future. We must resist the idea that farming isn’t important. We must resist the broken food system and empower young people, like my 17-year-old daughter, to see a future in the field.”

#ORFC25

[James Rebanks @herdyshepherd1]

This shit is mental

Not for farmers
But for the country
For everyone

It is literally insane for a food system to be governed like this

Worse than insane
It’s dangerous

[Robert Lasseter @LasseterRobert]

@clintwfischer Succession:
A good thread.
Not just for farmers.
Only by formally talking it through with all, regularly, will the mist rise and the path to the future become clear.

[Robert Lasseter @LasseterRobert]

Annual UK production of malting barley is 2m tonnes. Total tax take is 2m x £20,000 ie £40billion.
Perhaps not growing malting barley would make the government think again…
Oh I forgot - brewers would buy imports produced to lower standards for less.
@UKLabour @NFUtweets 👇

[No Farmers, No Food @NoFarmsNoFoods]

This farmer explains in harsh financial terms how the government are making a tax fortune due the food productivity of farmers.

Our farmers are selling their crops for a pittance in comparison to what the government receive in tax revenues from the endeavours of farmers.

[Robert Lasseter @LasseterRobert]

@PeterStefanovi2 @DavyMcCracken @EdConwaySky Budget change on tax is the straw that broke the camel’s back. There’s so much more going on that’s making farming tough and getting farmers to question why they bother.

[Robert Lasseter @LasseterRobert]

@hertsfarming @woodboroughpark Our various UK governments always believe we have soft power, influence. Where we lead others will follow, we are told.
On my travels to lands we import from; they laugh! Our rules make them more competitive. Bring on the soft power they say!
I return home - a foolish farmer

[Robert Lasseter @LasseterRobert]

One rule for us, lower rules for importers. This has been going on my entire farming career. A good example was unilaterally banning sow stalls in 1997, which reduced our self sufficiency significantly. When will it end?

[James Rebanks @herdyshepherd1]

Our moronic food system

Ban pesticide products here
Make U.K. products more expensive

Then import cheaper food from foreign farmers produced with the banned pesticides and undermine our farmers

[James Rebanks @herdyshepherd1]

Better late than never…

[James Rebanks @herdyshepherd1]

Then we don’t have national security

I was with @ProfTimLang this afternoon and asked him how many days food security we have

He’s written a book about this and is respected expert. He was very clear we have…

3 DAYS

[David Hill @TheHillsCountry]

We seem to be stuck in a circlejerk of debate on APR and how many people it affects, while the elephant in the room escapes debate.

IHT is a cruel and lazy tax. To chance it at short notice denying ability to plan is brutal. That’s why people are cross and fairly so. 🧵 1/

[William Hague @WilliamJHague]

Just been sent this. Think he won that one.

[Robert Lasseter @LasseterRobert]

Spot on Bud, as ever…
though @NFUtweets etc would do well to focus on the big issue for farming - underpayment for produce - and not on what makes members cross.

[janecraigie @janecraigie]

My @pressjournal column, yes it’s on the budget, APR and IHT. But it’s also on the rallies… looking at it from a PR perspective - things that I think are important if you’re going.

[Robert Lasseter @LasseterRobert]

This sort of tweet is unhelpful IMHO. For example my elderly parents really would not want to hear this suggestion. My polite advice - remove the tweet.

[Tom Allen-Stevens @tomallenstevens]

Dear @RachelReevesMP there is one sure way I can avoid saddling my family with a large tax bill. I could kill myself before 1 April 2026. If I was elderly, infirm, already suffering mental stress or had financial worries, I wd seriously consider this. 1/2
https://t.co/6drGAG1X8y

[Robert Lasseter @LasseterRobert]

He wrote a really good thoughtful thing:

[James Rebanks @herdyshepherd1]

I wrote a thing.

(And, for clarity, I don’t want any kind of revolt, I want to stay home and do my job) https://t.co/ur5ozjKo7G

[Rachel Salvidge @RachSalv]

Very excited to announce the launch of
THE WATERSHED POLLUTION MAP!

River health, landfills, sewage, road run-off, intensive farming, big industry, forever chemicals, abandoned mines, bathing waters, flood risk, protected areas and so much more... 🧵

https://t.co/upIKfAJQhP

[Robert Lasseter @LasseterRobert]

@DorsetCouncilUK have at last seen common sense…The best way to reduce nitrate leaching etc across a catchment is to invest in advising/helping all farmers, not buying one farm. #itsnotrocketscience!

[Farmers Guardian @FarmersGuardian]

Dorset Council has confirmed it is no longer seeking to take over a dairy farm for 'rewilding'. 🌻

⚠️The @LibDems run council had criticised the farm's 'intensive' dairy operation as 'unviable' due to 'pollution' from run-off and soil erosion.

READ MORE: https://t.co/FxpiIfZOZF

[Robert Lasseter @LasseterRobert]

Spot on Rob. @blackgull Rural leadership required. Nothing is achieved without people.

[Rob Yorke @blackgull]

“embracing change doesn’t mean giving up farming, in fact retaining functional farming communities is essential”

[Robert Lasseter @LasseterRobert]

I agree with very little the reform party stand for, but @RupertLowe10 speaks truth to power here. I can’t disagree with a word he says. Will #government listen to #farming common sense?

[Rupert Lowe MP @RupertLowe10]

There are very few farming MPs. I am one of them.

Unless drastic action is taken to properly support British farmers, a catastrophic decline is inevitable.

Productive land MUST be used for farming.

Always remember - no farmers, no food. Ask yourselves, what happens then?

[Robert Lasseter @LasseterRobert]

@timfarron @piggy_jags This is a complex issue, with interesting points from all sides @1GarethWynJones and @BenGoldsmith included. First and foremost, we need #ClimateResilience and #FoodSecurity. We can only deliver this with people living on the land ie #farmers that are economically sustainable.

[Organic Live Food @OrganicLiveFood]

Did you know #Mcdonald's GMO potato chips and #fries have cancerous #neurotoxin #Acrylamide?

French Fries are linked to higher rates of death and #cancer, Don't feed it to your children 🍟

https://t.co/sI7b5tGEYd