The start of January and the whole country decides to make a fresh start. Most of it revolves around reducing the effects of overeating at Christmas. There is a huge increase in gym memberships and every diet plan under the sun gets tried.

Just as Christmas was big business for the retailers, the dieting is big business for a raft of personal trainers and nutritionists.

I wish them all, customers and businesses, the best of luck.

The word “healthy” needs to come with a health warning

Where I do have a difficulty though is where a business deliberately tries to discredit me and my business to further its own profits. The word “healthy” needs to come with a health warning. Just as there is no health benefit to a non-coeliac avoiding gluten, there is no health reason why anyone should completely avoid dairy products unless they have a specific allergy.

That, however, doesn’t stop some people from trying to convince everyone that my varied diet, and indeed my farming business, is the root of all evil. I have no difficulty with people who decide not to eat animal products. There is a huge range of food available, all of which depends on a farmer to produce the basic raw material.

Who's behind it?

Similar to the meatless Monday campaign, there is vegan January. Animal rights charities backed by various vegan and vegetarian food companies and restaurants are behind it. Nothing wrong with trying to get us to eat more fruit and veg. What is wrong in my opinion is where I think serious profits are being made. Prices of the soya and nut “milks” are multiples of real milk from cows and other dairy animals.

Maybe it is the price of the water. Something tells me it’s not the farmer growing the soya or almonds.

I’ll just try to produce the best milk I can while caring for my animals and the environment

So what can I do? I get sick if I eat mussels and don’t like the texture of nuts. Maybe I should found an organisation to demonise shellfish and nuts. Then I could get big donations from celebrities with a similar thinking and sell advertising on my glossy website to restaurants who cook suitable meals. Eliminating those sources of protein should also boost demand for animal products.

Maybe though I’ll just try to produce the best milk I can while caring for my animals and the environment. Then I’ll make sure to continue to tell everyone where their food actually comes from. The best way to counter misinformation is to ensure the public are already well informed.

A good new year’s resolution for all farmers.

To read more from Harold Kingston click here.