Farmers I meet say they are serious about making the changes necessary to reduce emissions. But they need leadership, incentives and new technology to make it happen. At individual level on the family farms I visit, there are plenty of examples of resourcefulness, sustainability and efficiency which would put the rest of us pontificating from our urban sprawl to shame.

After all, it is farmers themselves who are the first to suffer

Collectively however, the figures are not good and any contribution which careless farming makes which negatively impacts on water quality, wildlife and biodiversity can no longer be tolerated. After all, it is farmers themselves who are the first to suffer and I’ve yet to meet a farmer who doesn’t want to leave the farm in a better condition environmentally than how they found it.

Farmers are happy to look for solutions which are mutually sustainable and beneficial for the environment, animal welfare and their own livelihoods

But their message is not being delivered to the broader public and as a result, farmer bashing by trolls and extremists is rampant. The bashing is not so much to criticise farmers regarding climate change but rather to get the hell off the land altogether.

Farmers are happy to look for solutions which are mutually sustainable and beneficial for the environment, animal welfare and their own livelihoods.

It is always heartening to observe environmentalists and farmers discuss productive ideas

And there are plenty of environmental campaigners and scientists out there who are logical and sensible in recognising this. It is always heartening to observe environmentalists and farmers discuss productive ideas to tackle climate change while not forgetting the fact that farmers need to be able to make a living too.

But what is galling is the way climate change is being used by some to lecture farmers. Farmer bashing only serves to undermine the genuine need to reduce agricultural emissions.

There have been plenty of recent examples in the mainstream media particularly on Channel 4 and needless to say on social media where anti-farming extremists are conveniently using the climate emergency to push through their own real agenda which is to rid the world of livestock farming.

Even if the beef and dairy sectors were to limit or reduce emissions, through capping expansion or through new technologies, it would not be enough for them

Peel away the outer layer and you will find that some of those pointing the finger at farming for climate destruction just hate farmers and would otherwise be campaigning on some extreme animal welfare platform. Even if the beef and dairy sectors were to limit or reduce emissions, through capping expansion or through new technologies, it would not be enough for them.

Farmers are happy to work with genuine realists and scientists

And such hate is dangerously mixed up in the search for more sustainable farming methods. We need to separate the wheat from the chaff if we are to look for workable solutions to tackle climate change. Farmers are happy to work with genuine realists and scientists but if the debate is being infiltrated by anti-farming anarchists with an ulterior motive who aim to end livestock farming, then who can blame farmers for standing up for themselves and their reputation?

Farmers know the role they must play, but vilifying them is only going to hold up the process

There is nothing wrong with being of a vegan ideology in the context of animal welfare and the environment. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but farmer bashing and shaming is counter-productive in the race to reduce emissions. Farmers know the role they must play, but vilifying them is only going to hold up the process because farm families are entitled to their pride and good name as much as any of the rest of us.

Whatever chance there is in a very short period of time to change farming methods, bashing them and dismissing them is one sure way of holding up the process as no self-respecting farmer should be brow beaten by permanently angry anti-farmer vegan activists abusing them for doing their job.