SIR,—If Pharos, writing last week on the trouble—as he sees
it—with British small farms vis-4-Vis Den- mark, cares to give some weight to the politico-econo- mic history and circumstances of the two countries I think his criticism of the British small farmer might at least be ameliorated.
1. The Danish economy is dependent to a very large extent on its farm produce export trade. The country, i.e., its -Government, has therefore—as long as need be remembered—been both progres- sive' and consistent in encouraging the home agri- cultural industry.
2. The United Kingdom economy is based on a preponderance of export earnings from industry. There has been—again for as long as need be re- membered and excepting periods of, war—not merely an absence of progressive policy but a fearsome neglect of home agriculture which twice in a lifetime brought it to the lowest ebb of depres- sion.
Many of the farmers whom Pharos criticises not be- cause they are small per se, but because they are unbusinesslike, have 'lived' and struggled through these times.
All of us who have been privileged to see Den- mark's farms recognise the efficiency of their system and the sometimes phenomenal output they achieve from a small acreage. But it is not all to be explained away by disparaging comparisons between the Danish and English philosophy, business acumen or even , technical know-how.
Great Britain's present monetary difficulties make it necessary to limit the import of feedingstuffs to ' enable more foreign exchange to be spent on the im- port of raw material for industry. Because ,some of our small farms simply cannot grow more of their own feed, and are expensive users of imports, this type of small farm is unlikely ever to be aweconomic unit. The circumstances have little, or nothing, to do . with -comparisons of Danish efficiency in different geographical and other conditions. .
There are, however, many small British farms capable of more efficient production. Only now, iunder the Government's new long-term policy' for agriculture, have they the promise of .a consistent poliCy for production, backed by an adequate capital investment programme, which has quite^rightly and for so long been enjoyed ,by our Danish piends.— Yours faithfully,
The Farmers Weekly, EC4
GEOFFREY ELEY AssiStant Editor
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