Farmers' page

It never rains, but it pours... A reflection for farmers grappling with floods and the affects of climate change

Jesus Walks on the Water (Mark 6. 45-52)

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

The Bible reading set for today (14.11.24) was the story of Jesus going to his followers who were caught in the midst of a storm. They were being thrown about in a small boat and the water threatened to engulf them all. In the last few weeks, the stories of flood waters have been across our news headlines on a daily basis – the absolutely catastrophic flooding in Valencia (with more very heavy rainfall in other parts of southern Spain today) which followed on from the severe flooding in Hereford & Shropshire in mid-October. So much farmland has been inundated and the resulting fear has been compounded by the very real disquiet among smaller/local/family farms that have been affected by the changes in inheritance tax announced in the recent Budget.

I am not a farmer, but I know how many are feeling that (like the disciples of Jesus) their lives and businesses are being hit by storms that are leaving them angry, apprehensive and fearful. The Bible story reminds me once again, how vital the work of Borderlands is – the storms are real; the people are frightened; the threat is great, however, our role as a Chaplaincy team is to be alongside those going through the storms; to be a calming and prayerful presence; to offer support and signposting; and, to keep those in our churches aware of what life is like for those who work long and hard to provide our food in the face of the present storms. So, are these just empty words? I know my concerns may not directly address the farmer dealing with all the complexities of the modern industry, but we do hold to the truth that Jesus continues to come to his people in crisis and can bring calm and renewed hope when everything else is in turmoil.

A Prayer:
'O God, be with all those in farming and the agricultural industries who fear they are drowning under the waters that flood their land and, the legislation and financial worries that threaten to overwhelm their future. Give me a greater appreciation of the work they do to provide the food on my table today. Bring calm and a renewed hope to all who are desperate or despairing, through Jesus Christ, the one who is able to still storms and create calm. Amen.'

Rev Paul Arnold – Borderlands

28/02/17 Avian flu: Poultry to be allowed outside under new rule

Poultry in Wales will be allowed outside in a change to avian flu restrictions to allow keepers to maintain the free range status of their flocks.

The Welsh Government had ordered poultry stay indoors to protect them from a highly infectious strain of the illness.

But from Tuesday flocks will be allowed outside as long as keepers take risk-reducing measures.

Farming unions welcomed the move.

An avian flu prevention zone covering the whole of Wales was introduced last December after cases of the H5N8 strain were found in countries across Europe, including France, Germany and the Netherlands.

There have been 10 incidents across England and Wales since the restrictions came into force, with cases found in domestic birds in Pontyberem and wild birds in Llanelli and Conwy.

The original rules had prompted worries from NFU Cymru that the restrictions on poultry would damage the free-range egg and meat status of flocks.