Slaidburn and Hodder Valley Farming

FARMING 2

During the second world war farmers were required to plant barley to help the war effort. Barley grew brilliantly but never ripened! Any farmer could have predicted this outcome as the valley is a prime pasture and livestock area; growing quantities of excellent grass.


The tragic scourge of foot and mouth in 2001 affected the area badly both socially and economically with a ban on animal movement for several months and compensation paid only to those farmers whose animals were diseased or kept next door to diseased animals.


As with the rest of Europe, in 2005 support for agriculture changed from the production of food to the protection of the countryside with some farmers taking the view they were becoming park keepers.


Both these events have hastened changes in local farming. The traditional small farm of 100 to 150 acres employing labour is no longer viable and many farmers are increasing the area they farm by acquiring parcels of land away from their home farm but they still concentrate on livestock.

Another consequence of the changes has been a reduction of stocking levels and an increase in quality of the average stock kept.

Many farms are on environmental stewardship schemes and an increasing number are farming organically. As farm land is amalgamated so farm houses are sold often with a few acres of land. The new comers are largely responsible for the increasing number of horses seen in the fields as well as on roads and tracks.

 

FARMING 3

Farming 4

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