Should we be advising our children to go into agriculture?

[Cortina]

There's so much on this board (lately) about giving our children a perceived advantage by ensuring they consider the 'best' universities etc. If you want to a fantastically paid career in the future there's so much written about 'magic circle' law firms, investment bank career opportunities, etc.

I've been reading that 200,000 students gain MBAs in the USA each year and how a serious recession is due in the near future. I've been reading that it's unlikely - quite soon - there will be any real money to be made in investment banking/financial sector etc just as there wasn't really 30 or 40 years ago. It's not the guaranteed 'pot of gold' career choice it once was, nor is it a far-sighted, clever move to aim for an MBA (if you are in your teens now) than it once, perhaps, was? Put simply there won't be enough jobs to go round.

Many commentators are saying if you want to be financially successful you should be heading to agriculture college. The average age of farmers in the UK is I believe 58 and in Japan, even older at 66. Pretty soon there will (allegedly) be a shortage of farmers and food/commodities. I was reading that pretty soon the investment bankers will be in the tractors and the tractor drivers in the ferraris. If you are smart apparently it will pay to set up a restaurant chain in the mid west where all farmers will be etc. Think these commentators have their tongues slightly in their cheeks but interested in the thoughts of those that know more than me about economics/business?

Are we all failing to see that things will be very different in the future for our children?

BeingFluffy I think you will find that animals in the "wild" with similar length of gestation have "continuous pregnancies" well like dairy yearly, you only have to watch any nature program or drive through the New Forrest and look at the ponies to see this.

I am unconvinced that this is being abusive as any half decent dairy farmer will tell you the health of their cows is there number one priority. Happy healthy content cows produce more milk. I spent my childhood on a dairy farms and on becoming involved in the industry 25 years later I was surprised at how high the welfare standards are. Professional journals are full of articles about the happy cow. The dairy industry in also very heavily regulated there is a misconception that the UK milk is full of antibiotics growth promoters and artificial hormones; its not.
We need to urgently support UK dairy farmers before its too late and our milk becomes imported form God knows where and with God knows what welfare standards. All farmers should be valued, farming is one of the things that make Britain what it is; the landscape we all love and makes many feel good; the fields the dry stone walls the animals grazing in the fields are there because of how we farm. 30 years ago a farmer proudly told me he was given a subsidy to remove hedging now they're being paid to out it back! As one dairy farmer said to me as he looked out over his 600 acres of pasture complete with hedges trees wildlife of all types and and many rare and common orchids making it in places an SSSI "this land has been in my family for over 150 years now I'm going out of milk whose going to look after all of it?"
The answer; no one.

I do not want to drink the milk of another animal and neither does my DH - it is our choice. Like you he spent his childhood on a dairy farm. I am not sentimental about animals, I think "wild" animals are obviously different in that their milk is for their young, which are not taken away and killed because it is uneconomic to keep them alive.

I am sure a lot of farmers do care. However the farmer next door to my Mum keeps his cows inside all year round now which also makes me uncomfortable.

We know about the problems faced by farmers as FIL was forced to sell his farm, which had been in his family for more than 200 years.

It was pointed out to me some years ago by my Chinese GP that a lot of people in the world had never used dairy products - including him!

Sorry, but you have to accept that some people have different views to you!

I worked with cows living in all the year round and like many involved in the dairy have concerns. I remain unsure about this type of farming I like to see cows in fields but I was pleasantly surprised about the very high welfare standards I saw. Unfortunately in the future unless farmers get a better price for their milk we will see more and more of this because this is the only way they can cover their costs let alone make a profit.
Of course I accept people have different views from me and I understand your position although it is a shame that soya milk is quite so revolting especially in tea!

IMO "Soya milk" is not milk at all , it is not natural as it is highly processed, full of sugar and phytoestrogens which are blamed for rising obesity and undesirable hormonal effects especially on males. I do agree that cows milk probably not necessary for adult consumption (but vital for children ).
Getting very interested in camel's milk though. How about a camel dairy farm?

Well my family use soya and are very healthy - definitely hasn't had weird effects on DH either so far as I can tell.

So you won't be buying camel's milk from my farm then :) ?

Isn't camel milk thick or is that yaks milk? Not sure I fancy it in tea if its thick might be ok in coffee or maybe ok on breakfast cereal!!

There not yielders camels maybe if your really really lucky 20 litres a day maximum!

Ahh typing error meant to say they're not big yielders camels maybe if your really really lucky 20 litres a day maximum!

It is a bit salty .. But supposed to be very good for you ..And you have to make sure the camels are in a good mood or they won't lactate.May be I haven't thought it through properly :(. Will research yaks.