Agriculture July-September 1951
In 1951, UK agricultural legislation focused on post-war recovery, food security, and expanding support for livestock production. Agriculture was undergoing a significant transition, with mechanisation increasing despite horses still being common on farms - tractors and combine harvesters were replacing horses. The workforce was shrinking, comprising about 5% of workers, yet production was rising. Key issues included rising production costs, a focus on increased food output, and the implementation of state-supported, guaranteed prices for farmers. From 1951, the results of the Annual Agricultural Review were published as a White Paper which became the central tool for setting "Guaranteed Prices" for commodities like wheat, barley, and potatoes.
The Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries says we must plough more.
Beekeepers might bear in mind ...
Speaking in the recent supply debate on agriculture in the House of Commons, Mr George Lambert, MP, for the Torrington Division, said the Minister of Agriculture, Mr T Williams, had great charm and powers of persuasion but as the speaker listened to him that afternoon he thought the Minister showed quite a considerable amount of complacency. “He definitely did not convince me that his policy was sound, consistent and successful. In fact, far from being consistent, I feel that he, as a hard-headed Yorkshireman, is very easily led astray. He has been led astray by the blandishments of Mr S N Evans. Last April, far from issuing the farmer with a feather bed – which I maintain he never has – the farmer woke up and found he had a pebble bed, and now in July, the right hon. Gentleman has added nails as well. If he continues in this way, agriculture production will so decline that we may have hon. Members like Mr Evans realising the importance of our producing the maximum quantity of food for this country, realizing that we are dependent upon foreign countries for half our food, and asking that the farming community should not only have a feather bed but a silken and quilted bedspread as well.”
Woolaways can help you move the earth!
A harvest report from Mr C W M Turner, of The Barton, Abbotsham.
At Appledore it is reported: “Here again, good weather is needed to finish the harvest and to clear up the cornfields, but the crops themselves are up to average despite the late sowing, reported Mr E Cork, of Watertown. Hay is of good quality but the little wheat grown in the district gave only a fair yield. Oats tilled early will yield well but the late crop was sown in wet ground and straw is short and not up to standard. Mangolds, cabbage and rape have all been exceptionally good and although early turnips were poor, those sown late show promise. Very little sugar beet has been grown but what was grown has been very good. The late crop of potatoes seems very good indeed and up to now there is very little blight.”
Prices of vegetables in the Bideford area were much higher than in London, it was alleged at a meeting of Bideford and District Trades Council when it was decided to write to the Minister of Food and the T.U.C. expressing concern at the high cost of living and to forward a list of prices being charged for vegetables in the Bideford area and pointing out that Bideford had had no cheap market facilities. Ald W H Chubb said that living conditions were better, but against that had to be set the terribly high cost of living. It was ‘a burning shame.’ Mr G Polley said traders today had an opportunity to set an example in trying to keep the cost of living down. There was, he maintained, a large difference between prices for certain articles in London and in the West-country.
Gilscott, Fairy Cross, Bideford, selling cattle and sheep.
The death of Mr Arthur Trewin, aged 80 years, has taken place at his home at Lew, Bradworthy. He was the proprietor of an extensive threshing-machine business, which was founded by his father, the late Mr Thomas Trewin. He was widely known in this connection and also as a keen, practical farmer. His wife, who died in 1938, was a daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Elijah Westaway, of Bradworthy, and he is survived by five sons and a brother, Mr Frederick Trewin, a retired veterinary surgeon.
Farm workers, firemen and RSPCA Inspector Ambrose combined in a rescue operation at Shutta Farm, Littleham, when a Devon cow in calf fell down a deep well being dug for the new Council houses. Four men in succession went down the well to assist. They were Leading Firemen Kingsley Hearn, Mr Tom Coles, Mr Clause Nicholls (son of the cow’s owner, Mr A F Nicholls) and Inspector Ambrose.
Fordson major tractor
Ferguson Diesel Tractor
The Council of Devon Farmers’ Union has passed a resolution deploring the fact that none of the eight new slaughter-houses recently announced by the Government is to be built in Devon. The resolution thought slaughtering should take place in the feeding areas. That, it said, would do away with the need for fat stock to travel long distances, which involved loss of weight and depreciation in quality. A similar resolution from South Molton, but suggesting that South Molton was an ideal centre for a slaughter house and asking union headquarters to press for one to be built in that area, was lost.
Dawe & Son is selling frozen fruits and vegetables.
A harvest report from Buckland Brewer – “A hard winter for the smallholder who has built up a dairy herd and has to buy nearly all his concentrates, which have already reached a high price and are still rising, is forecast by Mr S Brimacombe, of Tythecott Farm. Grass was not too plentiful during the dry spell and hay was not a heavy crop generally. Farmers who were not too anxious hav excellent hay; others had ricks which heated too much and had to be relieved. Owing to a wet 1950, very little autumn wheat was shown but several acres of spring wheat were planted and should yield well up to average. Oats were sown too late to give a heavy yield, but considering the short time it has been in the ground had matured wonderfully well.
In Clovelly, harvest operations are in full swing, with promise, on the whole, of a good yield. Owing to the late wet and cold spring, most of the corn is somewhat later than usual.
A hay rick containing about 20-25 tones and belonging to Mr C Littlejohns, of West Dyke Farm, Higher Clovelly, was destroyed by fire caused by internal combustion on September 1st. Mr Littlejohns rose about 6.30am and found it blazing fiercely. He immediately summoned the Bideford Fire Brigade, whose efforts prevented the fire spreading to adjacent buildings and also enabled many willing helpers to cart the hay to a place of safety, where it could burn itself out. There was no supply of water at the farm, the fire brigade having to go to Burford, more than a mile away to fetch it. A water tender was dispatched from Bideford and later a second water tender from Barnstaple. Firemen were under Station Office Tithecott. Much sympathy is felt for Mr Littlejohns, as the loss of the hay during the coming winter will be keenly felt by him.
Hartland Cottage Garden Society’s 82nd annual exhibition was a personal triumph for Mr W Johns who won the silver challenge cup for the best exhibit in the show and the biscuit barrel for most points gained in the show. The event was held in the Deer Parks, by permission of Mr W Pillman. Entries and exhibits were up to the standard of previous years. The results….
Mr Henry Shute, of the Almshouses in Hartland, Mr Jeffery and Mr Slee, try the combine harvester.
Hatherleigh Autumn Sheep Show attracted good entries and a large company of buyers from a wide area. Messrs Ward and Chowen had on offer at their ordinary market 20 cows and calves, 1, 350 sheep and lambs, and 96 store cattle.
West Regional Autos, Limited, of Barnstaple, advertise manure loaders and spreaders.
Instow & District Horse and Agricultural Show is advertised.
And the menu for the public lunch from C M Mitchell is …
“Given the weather which in previous years had eluded it, the seventh annual Instow and District Horse and Agricultural Show broke all records. In earlier years the show has dodged about the calendar, but always the rain has followed and in the last few years the show has been insured against rain and the insurance company has paid. The Show Committee decided to save this money and a smiling Mr Tom Anstey, the show secretary, was triumphantly announcing “We’ve beaten the insurance company and the weather!” The Show, held at West Living Farm, Westleigh, at the invitation of Mr W Joslin, attracted an attendance estimated at between three and four thousand. Entries in both the agricultural and horticultural sections were a record.
Mr Eric Withecombe of Bone Hill Farm, Northam, and his prize winning Ayrshire won the Fulford Challenge Cup at Instow
Properties at Hollacombe, near Holsworthy, sold at auction by Messrs Kivell and Sons, included Ivy Cottage, which realised £850. A pasture field, known as Lind Field, about 13½ acres, with two cottages, was sold for £1,325, and a freehold farm known as Lower Lewdon in Kilkhampton, comprising 61 acres of land and two cottages, realised £2,200.
At Langtree, the productive freehold mixed farm known as Higher Doggaport Farm is for sale as instructed by Mr Moneypenny.
A harvest report from Mr A G Heywood, of Littleham Court, Littleham.
At Monkleigh, a superior freehold farm Annery Barton is for sale as instructed by Mr Charles Millman.
In August, live and dead stock, surplus furnishings, etc. are to be auctioned.
The dispersal of the well-known Looseham herd of pedigree British Fresians at Monkleigh necessitated by the death of Sir William Reardon Smith, Bart. The sale took place at Looseham, Messrs R B Taylor and Sons, Yeovil, being the auctioneers. The herd was among the largest in the South Western Counties and it attracted a very large company and a remarkably fine sale resulted. A hundred and forty-five animals were sold and the whole lot realized not less than £110 12s 10d a head. The herd was founded in 1942 mostly on cattle purchased from the famous Kingswood Herd but a few from the Venn Herd had also been purchased.
An interesting and well attended film show was given at Monkleigh Parish Hall for the benefit of farmers and those interested in improving soil fertility and the general standard of health on the farm. It was organised by members of the Soil Association, and Mr J H Phillips, of Middlesex, in conjunction with the Central Office of Information. The subjects of the films shown were silage-making, pig-keeping and the film of the Soil Association entitled “The Cycle of Life” which cleverly illustrated how man’s neglect of the soil had diversely affected the health and well-being of the rapidly increasing population of the world.
Buy your Rhode Island Reds from Keith Rous at Parkham.
A preliminary notice for Woolsery and District Agricultural Show taking place on Monday, July 30th.
In August, it is reported that ‘Held in glorious summer weather, Woolsery and District Agricultural Show again demonstrated the vigour of its attraction over a wide area by having entries up on last year and the introduction of an attested dairy section.”
Farmers can save money if they ‘lime now’
Midland Bank Limited is assisting farmers through its 2,100 branches.
Meat supply now better in North Devon.
In September 1951, it is reported that ‘feeding stuff prices rise’
