Was it just me - maybe it was - but was Peter Kendall in a bit of a bad mood today?
Have a look at the Farmers Guardian debate and judge for yourself.
Peter seemed very keen to have a go at me and the RSPB whatever I said.
And how predictable to see NFU mouthpiece Guy Smith going back to criticising the FBI - there is precious little acceptance, by the NFU President or by Guy Smith, that there is a problem with farmland birds. The NFU's attitude to the environment may be summed up by Peter Kendall's phrase 'wrapping (farmers) in green tape'. Remember please, NFU, that's the taxpayers' money you get and so there do have to be some rules attached to it.
But very good to see lots of good comments - many I guess from farmers who are working closely with the RSPB in all sorts of ways.
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A love of the natural world demonstrates that a person is a cultured inhabitant of planet Earth.
Trimbush - killing badgers has all the political appeal of selling the National Forests. It'll be a disaster for farming if you and NFU do manage to persuade the politicians to go ahead with it - especially bearing in mind Jim Paice's proven skills at communicating with the wider public.
And definining farming's relationship with RSPB around badgers is another real loser. Of course, everyone at the Farmers Club will support you, but where does that get you other than onto NFU Council ?
The NFU website reminds me of the Forestry Commission before the Flow Country - the standard 'Forestry Practise' publication had two pages on wildlife - almost all about stopping it damaging the trees.