Sir, – Farmers in Scotland operate to some of the highest practical standards known to agricultural science, whether this be in animal welfare or plant protection, in its provision of safe and nutritious food.
The country will find a way through the challenges which face us all, and whereas today we are often using the produce of last year’s harvest, over the next few weeks farmers will be sowing the crops and rearing the animals that will provide our food into the future.
This means we are at one of those times of year when there will be an increased number of farm vehicles on the road and for every farmer seen on the road there will be many others who remain unseen going through the physical and mental rollercoaster which is the continuous 24 hour cycle of rearing newborn animals.
Being held up by agricultural vehicles can be frustrating, an issue easily compounded by the questions about the future filling our heads and the daunting pressures that may present.
At NFU Scotland East Central Region I would like to thank everyone for their forbearance and understanding as we go about maintaining the high standards of quality and welfare that you expect from us.
Euan Walker-Munro.
Mains of Kinnettles, Forfar,
Chairman,
NFU Scotland East Central Region.
Looking forward to my telegram
Sir, – Don’t worry about death, it is just nature’s way of recycling and is inevitable.
We may not wish to go too early and enjoy being alive but it is well to be prepared. Eat healthily, be careful with whom you associate and wash your hands properly whenever you return home.
It’s a sair fecht but I have made it to 84 and look forward to my telegram in 16 years time!
John Dorward.
89 Brechin Road,
Arbroath.
Treating people with respect
Sir, – I went shopping at 9.30am this morning at Lidl .
The shop was raided, but what really hit me was that one of the employees was in tears, so very, very upset
It turned out the employees had had the most abhorrent verbal abuse from customers that morning.
Abuse because some products were not available.
How selfish and rude is it to treat people this way?
The employees in all the shops around the UK are doing their utmost best and work long hours to provide for us.
We should salute them, instead of kicking them down.
Can we please, please bring some decency back and treat all the people with respect.
Mrs Maaike Cook.
Cash Feus,
Strathmiglo.
Research how to boost systems
Sir, – This strain of the coronavirus is certainly very nasty for a some but I believe the massive over reaction to it is ridiculous.
Here are some statistics that put the coronavirus into perspective.
Every single month globally there are an average of 90,000 car accident deaths, 49,000 deaths caused by HIV, 39,000 deaths caused by the ‘flu and a massive 1,007,000 deaths caused by heart disease.
In the USA there are 20,000 iatrogenic deaths per month.
There must also be deaths caused by medical mistakes in the UK, but I couldn’t find the numbers.
Each day we are bombarded with scare stories which will probably result in queues of people going to their doctors with anxiety states.
The only advice we are given is to wash our hands, wear masks and hide away for weeks or potentially months on end.
Not once have I heard anyone talking about how we can all improve our health by improving our immune systems.
It is a fact that most people in the UK are deficient in vitamins which creates a susceptibility to all viruses including this strain of coronavirus.
Perhaps if people stopped using their smart gadgets to top up their anxieties with the latest doom laden news and instead researched how to improve their health they could have massive benefits.
Harry Key.
20 Mid Street,
Largoward,
Fife.
Just a wild goose chase
Sir, – Councillor Bill Porteous’s phrase “…help us cut down carbon emissions in Scotland” (Never to buy a car in their lives, Courier, March 20) represents either a misunderstanding or, in some people’s minds, a con since we in Scotland emit only a tiny fraction of the planet’s man-made carbon dioxide, one-third of 0.1%, which is negligible indeed.
To pay for that token effort, especially along with the vast costs of the coronavirus pandemic, is a futile, crazy wild goose chase.
Cllr Porteous should know better.
Dr Charles Wardrop.
111 Viewlands Rd West,
Perth.
A home for all that toilet roll
Sir, – I am concerned that some of the people buying up toilet paper as soon as it appears in the shops will soon run out of space to store it in.
I have a large grain store building available until harvest time at a very reasonable rent with capacity for several million rolls.
James Cope.
The Cope Farming Company,
Hillocks of Gourdie, Blairgowrie.
Perthshire.
