Last week headlines stated, ‘New health fears over ready meals’. This following reports that chemical contaminants in processed food maybe raising the risk of killer diseases. Scientists report that molecules, which are left behind by bacteria during the preparation process, can trigger an over-reaction of the immune system, linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Ready-chopped vegetables, processed sausages and burgers, sandwiches and ready meals all contain these chemicals.

At the weekend another headline stated, ‘Hidden dangers of air fresheners, faulty boilers and household cleaning products.’ It went on to report that tens of thousands of deaths are caused by indoor air pollution.
A report to be published this week by the Royal College of Physicians, and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, will warn that these products contribute to poor indoor air quality, and may cause or contribute to over 99,000 deaths annually across Europe.
 
Every day household heating, cleaning and freshening products can damage our hearts and lungs, and the report also noted that certain furniture, furnishings and insulation have also been shown to be harmful to our health. The results from this research which highlight health hazards caused by both outside pollution, and indoor modern living, are perhaps a wake-up call to encourage us to go back to basics.
 
It has been suggested that diseases such as dementia, asthma, diabetes and cancer, all of which are on the increase, come as a result of contamination we face daily. These were not present in such quantities or at all, in years gone by, and they can tip the balance of the chemical composition of our brains and other finely tuned organs.
 
It seems the modern world is not improving our health or life expectancy. We should consider reverting to traditional wooden furniture, upholstery made from natural materials, and clothes which are made from natural fibres, and avoid synthetics and chemicals which are now shown to be deadly.
 
This would also be better for the environment, as furniture and clothing would be bought for life, not to be dumped or abandoned upon a whim to change our décor or fashion. It seems the good old fashioned methods taught to us by our mothers and grandmothers, such as not being wasteful, boiling everything, and using natural products in our homes, will keep us healthier and help save the planet.
 
The Prime Minister has fired the starting gun for the run up to the referendum. Ahead are now months of debates, discussions, falling outs, mini wars, claims and counter claims, and no doubts outright lies and fantasies.
 
“If you argue for leaving the EU, you don’t love Britain”, were the words used by David Cameron on Sunday. What I find hard to understand is that he also repeatedly said that Britain would be better off in a reformed EU’. He is probably right, but what is certain is that for all his late night negotiations in Brussels, he has not reformed the EU one jot.
 
He has so far not explained what reforms he has achieved regarding migrants for example, or confirmed that these reforms are now enshrined in EU law.

​On the contrary, recent judgements on freedom of movement rights in the European Court of Justice, strongly suggest that all migrant benefit concessions in the so called ‘deal’, are open to immediate challenge in the ECJ, and are likely to succeed.
 
Mr Cameron has spent the past weeks telling the other 27 leaders of EU states, that no matter what he achieved or failed to, during his negotiations, he would persuade the British public to vote to remain within the EU. This rather gave the game away that he is more in love with the EU, than he is with Great Britain.
 
When Scotland held their referendum last year, it was disturbing to see the animosity between the two sides. I am disappointed to hear that some seasoned MPs who should know better, and behave with rather more dignity, are already turning their spite and aggression on some new MPs who have taken what they consider a principled decision to campaign to leave the EU.
 
I wonder if these so called ‘honourable’ Members, are moreconcerned about their political careers, or ensuring their leader hands them a peerages when they retire at the next election. What a pity they are so unprincipled, but at least we know who they are!

The fields have not been getting any drier as not a week goes by without more rain. We are still limited to jobs within the confines of the farm yard, and John, despite his broken leg, is now coming in for a few hours each day. There is still much to do, including servicing machinery, repairs and the vital task of taking down the old grain store bins.

Planning Approval came through for the new grain store last week, from Lewes District Council. This was fortunate as the boys were not that keen on putting the old bins back together again, having spent weeks painstakingly taking them apart panel by panel, bolt after bolt.

The work on the new building should begin next month. Hopefully by then the water table may have dropped at least a couple of inches below ground level. The prospect of no more grain shovelling has already put a spring in our step, so with John’s new bionic leg steadily mending, by early summer things should hopefully be back on track.

It has never been easy merging town and country folk. As far as I can make out we sometimes struggle to speak the same language. And when it comes to coping with the peculiarities of either’s environment, and the practicalities therein, we sometimes fail to end up on the same page.

Those who have their boots firmly grounded in the mud, and who by necessity have to cope daily with life’s ups and downs, including blocked cess pits, births and deaths of livestock, fallen trees, fly tipping and other such things, can find those less used to coping with life’s little difficulties, challenging.

The advent of farm building conversions into offices has been a successful innovation, and positive for farms, bringing in a steady income through diversification, and also for those renting the buildings which are often full of character and practical. They are mostly off the beaten track, surrounded by beautiful countryside, have plenty of parking, and the rents are very competitive compared to similar space in the high street and industrial parks.

However, when choosing to locate to a converted farm building, most of which run alongside still active and working farm businesses, it is worth bearing in mind that such an environment is not necessarily going to be quite the sanitised, tarmacked surrounded, fortified office block that can be found in nearby towns.

On the contrary, farms do occasionally produce an exotic aroma from cattle yards or the more fruity scent of pigs and poultry. And if it is an arable and livestock farm with grain and feed stores, there is a chance that during the winter months the mice and other vermin may move in from the fields to stock up on provisions. As the weather turns colder they are thrilled to find nice cosy crevices in rafters above heated offices, an ideal new home to while away the winter months.

The draw back comes when these little creatures sample the bait we place carefully to deter these thieving intruders. They then return to their warm snug winter quarters, where they fall asleep never to awake, and a few days later we receive the inevitable call about ‘a nasty smell’ lingering in the offices!

Having spent the best part of the weekend poking about in the roof space above the false ceilings in the office block, and finding the occasional decomposing corps, I must say I am quite satisfied to know the bait is doing its job. However I think in future I shall hand out clothes pegs and air freshener until the little perishers have completely decomposed!

Talking of fresh air, I think we should call it Morning Glory, Woodland Wind, or perhaps Ote Hall Mist. Having been completely taken in by the report of an entrepreneurial team who were reported to be selling jars of ‘English’ fresh air to the Chinese in Hong Kong, I thought  -  ‘we too could do that’!

The idea of individuals leaping about the English countryside, ‘filling’ jars with fresh air, to enable millions across Asia to gasp a lung full as they battle through the smog, in Hong Kong, Singapore and dozens of other overcrowded and polluted cities, is somewhat appealing. And at £80 a pot, very tempting. However, the story just has to be a very premature April fool’s day hoax, but stranger things have happened!

I shall now have to put my mind to coming up with a similar project. If we can sell English wind and water, of which we have had far too much this winter, perhaps we could also find a practical use for copious amounts of Sussex Weald mud, which we also have in abundance.

An EU audit has shown that British farmers are bypassing strict laws on organic food production. Should we be concerned?

Apparently the nine organisations which have been given the power to control standards by Defra, including the Soil Association, have allowed transgressions, such as ordinary cows being brought into organic dairy herds. And milk has been sold as organic after the cows have spent only a few months living as the original animals.

Poultry farmers have been allowed to bring in non-organic birds. Cows, pigs and sheep have been brought on to organic farms to ‘bulk up’ numbers, where there were cases of shortages of animals bred organically from birth, or a farmer wants to try a new breed, or increase the herd or flock’s genetic diversity.

Research has shown there is little advantage or health benefits from eating organic as opposed to traditionally produced food. In reality, much of the food labelled organic is not, and as far more food is labelled organic, than is genuinely produced, it makes probably makes little difference. The real crime is that those who believe they are giving their families value for money and a healthier option, are sadly doing neither. They are however, paying inflated prices for produce which is no better than traditionally grown farm produce.

Worldwide Intensive farming and mass processed food is another matter. Each production unit or factory will have differing standards, including welfare and additives. And in these cases there is no doubt you get what you pay for. The price comparison between organic and supermarket ‘value’ products can range from: chickens at £2.50/kg to organic £6.70/kg, milk £1/ 4 pints to £1.80/ 4 pints, and eggs 70p/half dozen to £2/half dozen. The price of traditionally produced meat, milk, eggs and other products will fall somewhere between the two, and can be found locally in farm shops, independent high street shops and farmer’s markets.
The EU should perhaps turn its attention to matters of more importance, and leave farmers to manage their own farming methods. We are regularly inspected within an inch of our lives by Defra ‘inspectors’, so it is unlikely that much gets past them.

What is certain is that all food which is brought onto farms, to feed livestock now contains some GM soya or other cereals. But this too will make very little difference to the livestock, other than to those who believe they can remain true to the organic cause.

It is reported that councils which have reduced dustbin collections from weekly to three weekly bin collections, believe there is no connection between leaving rubbish, including food waste, rotting outside our back doors for weeks on end, to the increase in complaints from householders about rat and mice infestations. What do they not understand?

Councils should consider ceasing to supply up to six dustbins per household, which clutter back gardens and alley ways, and return to weekly collections. All separation of rubbish could be carried out mechanically at depots, resulting in happier ratepayers, disappointed rats and mice, but who cares, and the cost of dealing with domestic rubbish would be reduced dramatically.

Rodent populations in and around farm buildings go with the territory, and unless we are vigilant and keep up a regular programme of control, they can become a real problem.

From April baiting products will come under new stewardship conditions, for use by professionals, including farmers. The UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime has been developed by the campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use, and has been announced by ‘the Health and Safety Executive’!

Farmers must now hold certified proof of competence in rodent pest control before being allowed to buy and use certain rat control products. One hundred rats can eat their way through a tonne of grain a year, spread disease and cause structural damage. It is therefore essential that farmers do not have extra red tape and bureaucratic nonsense preventing them from controlling these vermin.

Talking of rats, it is disappointing that David Cameron is set upon persuading the electorate to vote to remain in the EU despite not having achieved any of his promises including; cutting immigration, repealing the Human Rights Act, protecting our sovereignty, repatriating powers from Brussels, stopping EU migrants from claiming child benefits from British taxpayers for children living abroad, and waiting four years for benefits.
If Mr Cameron wants to go down in history as a great Prime Minister instead of being a disappointment, he should now admit his failure and take the lead in the Vote Leave campaign, instead of urging MPs to ignore the views of members of the Conservative Party who were instrumental in securing his success last May.
The direction that Pied Piper Cameron, is currently leading us, if successful, will surely put the final nail in the coffin of this great nation, as we are sucked deeper into further integration within a federal Europe.