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.
Accept the value of Skylark patches but for heavens sake why bang on about them so much the whole picture of birds in decline is neglected and not just farmland birds as the RSPB seems intent on ramming down farmers throats to perhaps hopefully improve membership by kicking farmers.All are never going to be interested in wildlife anymore than all interested in Rushden And Diamonds.Skylark patches are absolutely of no use or interest to grassland farmers,completely impractical as well so lets get some information out to grassland farmers that will help wildlife instead of just these next to useless margins round the outside of fields.