SUMMER JOURNAL 2015 • ISSUE 256
www.thefarmersclub.com
Farmers Club INSIDE Club news p4 Club lecture p6 Rural proofing p10 Tea at the Club p11 Innovation nation p12 Poultry perfect p14 Charitable Trust p16 U30s tasty tipple p20
Mentoring matters Club member Richard Price of Lowther Estate believes more mentoring is essential for the industry’s success (p8)
w w w .th e la Visi far m te t st fo e Cl r a rsc ub ll lu ne the b.c om w s
INSERTS Summer Shows Buckingham Palace Painting Paradise Masters Tennis Annual Accounts Committee Nominations Form
Contents
Farmers Club Over 170 years of service to farming 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL Patron – Her Majesty The Queen
FRONT COVER Mentoring played a crucial role in the career of Club member Richard Price of Lowther Estate. Today’s new entrants need mentoring too (p8). Disclaimer: The articles published in The Farmers Club Journal do not necessarily reflect the views of The Farmers Club. No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in the magazine can be accepted by the publisher. Advertisements are included in good faith’. All rights reserved.
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Chairman’s Comments Who owns the UK’s farmland – and does it matter?
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Club News Results of the membership survey are explored
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Monday Evening Lecture Can novel feed ingredients boost livestock productivity? Keen debate followed the latest lecture at The Farmers Club
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Mentoring makes a difference For Richard Price mentoring was instrumental in the success of his career. Now he says more is needed in today’s industry
10 St George’s Day luncheon Lord Cameron of Dillington delivered an inspiring talk, calling for far greater rural proofing of Government policies
11 Tea at the Club Saturday Afternoon Tea in the Club is proving popular
12 Innovation nation Building a network of agricultural societies working to boost on-farm performance is the goal
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14 Poultr y perfect A new feeding regime is helping boost poultry output, a Club member explains
16 Charitable trust New study tour grants have been awarded to educators
18 Farming figures Pig productivity is soaring according to latest data
19 Madam Butterfly
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Wonderful opera with prime seats for Club members
20 Under 30s A talk from Beeswax Farming and a visit to London’s City Farm
21 Tasty tipple U30 member explains how an on-farm Cornish drinks business is going from strength to strength
22 Club Information and Contacts
02 • The Farmers Club Summer Journal 2015
Chairman’s Comments • Anne Chamberlain
Farm ownership But does farming need new business structures to decouple ownership from farming? What is really happening behind the scenes? Are commercial pressures and five year tenancies leading to short term thinking and damage to that vital top seven inches of soil? Are the new ‘barons’ a force for good in British agriculture? The booking form for this event in the late afternoon of Monday 19th October will be in the next issue of the Farmers Club Journal, as will the opportunity to re-visit on 30th September the former Royal Show venue at Stoneleigh Park, where many millions of pounds are being spent to transform it into the hub of British agriculture and a science park.
Chairman’s Comments “Are commercial pressures and five year tenancies leading to short term thinking and damage to that vital top seven inches of soil?”
OWNERSHIP and occupation of our farmland has hit the headlines in the farming and national press in recent months – stimulated by the purchases of thousands of acres by Sir James Dyson and Stefan Persson, the Swedish chairman of the fashion company H&M. The Co-operative Group farms business, which manages 40,000 freehold and third party- owned acres, has also been sold to the Wellcome Trust. I have an enduring interest in this topic having introduced coverage of the market for farmland, tenancy issues and values into Farmers Weekly when I was Business Editor and been one of team which launched Farmland Market, the first comprehensive directory of farmland sales and prices. So I am very pleased that David Fursdon, Chairman of James Dyson’s Beeswax Farming, has agreed to be the keynote speaker at a Club Seminar in October. The title will be Who owns and farms the UK’s productive farmland – and why this matters. Mr Fursdon is also a Crown Estate Commissioner and owner of Fursdon Estate in Devon. Richard Binning of Savills will open the seminar with an analysis of who does own and farm our land with some historical context. These two will be joined by a farmer with experience of various types of occupancy. All three will address how ownership and occupancy impacts on sustainable food and energy production; on food security and soil health; on the rural economy and community, employment and housing; and on amenity, access and the environment. In his book, Green Gold, Peter Clery says the 20th Century saw one of the most rapid changes in the structure of ownership of farmland. In 1900 90% of farmland in England was tenanted from large estates and institutions. Now it is about 60% owner-occupied. Where next?
Lord Plumb Slightly belated 90th Birthday best wishes to Lord Plumb, who tells me that he often learned more about farming chatting to like minded people at the Farmers Club than he did at formal meetings he attended as NFU President and his many later roles. Henry, as he is known to all his friends in the industry, especially remembers his many productive informal meetings at the Club with Sir Richard Trehane, chairman of the Milk Marketing Board (MMB) from 1958 to 1977. Perhaps Henry’s meetings with Dick Trehane were in the bar in the evening, but I also recommend the Club Table at breakfast for stimulating discussion. Henry and his wife Marjorie continue to be frequent visitors to Whitehall Court. Henry’s amazing recall for, it seems, anyone he has ever met, leads immediately to a relevant ‘Henry’ anecdote and, perhaps most tellingly, he then seeks your opinion on an appropriate issue of the day…and listens to the answer. Much has been written about Henry’s past contributions to agriculture and he has rightly earned his national farming treasure status. But, anecdotes apart, Henry’s conversation has two themes encouraging others and looking to the future. When we spoke he delightedly announced a further five figure donation to The Henry Plumb Foundation which he founded in 2012 with the purpose of “Giving a leg up to those passionate about making their future in agriculture”. www.thehenryplumb foundation.org.uk Lord Michael Heseltine once described him thus: “Lord Plumb – a man that makes things happen.” Some things never change – Henry goes on making things happen!
AGM calling notice The Farmers Club will be holding its 173rd Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 7th July at 12 noon in the Hudson and Committee Rooms of the Club. All Club members are invited to attend.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 03
Stephen Skinner • Club News
Club News Membership survey 2015 Thank you to everyone who took part in our 2015 Survey. Your feedback will help us shape the future of your Club in an informed way. With just over 20% of the membership responding (representing every age group) we can go forward with confidence.
it might be. 72% said the current dress code was appropriate for gentlemen and 87% for women. It was interesting that the 40-49 age group was most interested in change, but even then, only 43% wanted change – 55% did not.
By a very significant margin members again said they were happy with the Club and the direction it is going. They were particularly pleased with the improvements made to the bedrooms and bathrooms and the quality of food and standard of service in the Restaurant. They also said they very much valued the home-from-home atmosphere that had been retained.
Another significant message was members’ desire for smaller, more confidential meeting spaces. The Shaw Room is viewed as a good venue, but if there is more than one group in there it is difficult to achieve any degree of confidentiality. We are looking to create smaller meeting places as we develop the Club and I hope to have news soon.
As we expected, a key area of concern was the availability of bedrooms, particularly during the week. There were not as many comments made over perceived abuse of bookings (on which I have written many times before and of which there is actually very little abuse). We have increased the number of bedrooms over the past year from 52 to 56, and the House Committee and I will continue to explore the possibility of additional rooms – but this will not be easy.
There were many individual comments, but few had widespread support. For example, there are undoubtedly members who would like TVs in the bedrooms. But drawing directly from the survey this number is far from a majority. That may change, and if it does, we will react.
The dress code during the week (jacket and tie for gentlemen), was NOT the polarised issue we thought
Rutland Sherriff In the 800th anniversary year of the signing of the Magna Carta Farmers Club member Andrew Brown was invested into the historical role of High Sherriff of Rutland for the coming year on 9th April in the Great Hall of historic Oakham Castle. Mr Brown runs a mixed 250ha farm at Caldecott near Uppingham.
04 • The Farmers Club Summer Journal 2015
For those who wish to read the survey in detail there is a link on our website to the full report (which was produced and analysed by independent marketing company Air Marketing). For those who do not have access to the internet, do contact me, and we can forward you a paper copy.
2015 Room Works I am delighted to announce that the Eastwood Room (pictured) has been beautifully refurbished and I hope this will encourage more members to book functions there. The feedback has been very, very positive. The toilets on the Lower Ground Floor have also been completely refurbished and are now both Ladies and Gentlemen’s toilets (not joint though!). During the summer period, as reported in the Spring Issue, we will improve some of the bedrooms on the 7th floor. This will include creating an en-suite bathroom in Room 21 and giving dedicated (but not en-suite) bathrooms to Rooms 23 and 24. We will also refurbish these bedrooms and improve the soundproofing. We are also looking to start a major programme of refurbishing many bedroom corridors.
Record Covers Our catering team were delighted (and very tired by the end) when they produced 101 ‘covers’ on the evening of Monday 30th March – setting something of a record which highlights how far we have come with our food offering in the recent past. We served 46 people in the Restaurant and the remainder in the Eastwood and Cumber Rooms – and these were all three-course meals. If you haven’t done so yet do come and eat at your Club when you have the chance, and try our new summer seasonal menu. Paul Hogben, Head Chef, and his team look forward to cooking for you and receiving your feedback.
Club News • Stephen Skinner
Accountant retires After 21 years and two months as the Club’s Accountant, Mr Mike Wood is leaving us on retirement. Mike started at the Club on 1 February 1994 after 27 years in the Royal Army Pay Corps. He was interviewed by the then Honorary Treasurer Mr Peter Jackson; Vice Chairman Mr John Kerr; and my predecessor’s predecessor Mr Gordon Murray. When he arrived there were no computers and the auditor came once a quarter, and was often all done and dusted by 10am. Not so now! In those early days Drummonds Bank made available an overdraft for the last 3 months of the year – how things have changed. Turnover then was £1.1M and we had £122,000 in investments – with 5666 members. Our turnover last year was £3.1M, with £1.6M investments and 5440 members.
Club Calendar Diary Dates Please check the dates carefully as they sometimes change and new dates are added for each issue. Details of Club events circulated in the previous issues are available from the Secretariat on 020 7930 3751. For more information on Club events, including further details on these events and new events as they are added to the Calendar, visit the Events area of the Club website www.thefarmersclub.com
JUNE Royal Highland Show dinner Wednesday 17th Dinner on the eve of the Royal Highland Show with guest speaker James Withers, Chief Executive Scotland Food & Drink
Royal Highland Show Mike has been a hugely loyal and committed servant of the Club throughout his time with us and has never given anything less than 100%. He has moved things on a very long way from where they were. Now it is his time to move on and enjoy a very well deserved retirement in Tenerife. While there are still a couple of parties to be had with colleagues here at the Club, Mike joined our Past Chairmen for lunch on the 14th April and was presented with a rather splendid set of engraved wine glasses as a farewell gift.
New Club Tie Our new Club tie is available, priced £25. It is a development of the previous one, rather than being a completely new version, and shows Ceres, the Goddess of Agriculture, in gold on a blue background with the words ‘Estd 1842’ underneath – this being the date the Club was established. It is made from silk and is, we like to think, of a superior quality to the previous one. Ties can be bought at Reception or contact us here (generaloffice@thefarmersclub.com or 020 7930 3751) and we can post one out to you once payment has been received.
Dinner in the Club and coach transfer to the opera.
Ireland visit FULL Monday 22nd – Thursday 25th La Traviata
Insights into the strategy of Ireland’s food and farming industry, its dairy industry, National Stud, and advisory service Teagasc
JULY Henley Royal Regatta Sunday 5th Application form enclosed in last Journal
Ireland visit
Queen’s Galler y Visit Friday 10th July Lunch and lecture in the Club before visiting Painting Paradise exhibition at Buckingham Palace Application form enclosed in this Journal
Under 30s Pimms & Supper Friday 17th Drinks reception and dinner at the Club
Henley Royal Regatta
Royal Welsh Show Monday 20th Drinks reception on the showground Application form in this issue
AUGUST CLA Game Fair Saturday 1st August Queens Gallery Visit
Joint drinks reception with Under 30s Application form in this issue
SEPTEMBER Westmorland Show Reception Thursday 10th September
Henley Regatta How better to spend a quintessential summer’s day than among fellow members and friends enjoying fine hospitality in the Temple Island Enclosure at Henley Royal Regatta? At the Farmers Club private riverside chalet and garden, alongside the rowing, you can enjoy morning coffee, a Champagne reception, four-course sit-down lunch with wine, river cruise and cream tea. Sunday 5th July is the date and tickets are priced £190 per person. Apply online at www.thefarmersclub.com or call Events Manager Lisbeth Rune on 020 7930 3557 ext 103.
La Traviata Opera FULL Friday 19th
Drinks reception at the showground Application form in this issue
Royal Welsh Show
Buckingham Palace visit Friday 25th September Lunch in the Club followed by tour of Buckingham Palace. Application form in this issue
Buckingham Palace
Web updates For more information on Club events, including further details on these events and new events as they are added to the Calendar, visit the Events area of the Club website www.thefarmersclub.com
www.thefarmersclub.com • 05
Charles Abel • Club Lecture
Feeding the future A talk on livestock feeding technology sparked enthusiastic debate at the second Farmers Club Monday Evening Lecture. Charles Abel reports
Graeme Smith, UK general manager of feed ingredients firm Alltech.
AN audience with questions aplenty made for a stimulating evening as the second Farmers Club Monday Evening Lecture took place on Monday 13th April, with Graeme Smith, UK General Manager of feed ingredients firm Alltech, speaking on the theme Feeding farm animals – 2025.
Nutrigenomics
His wide-ranging presentation followed on from the very successful launch of the Farmers Club Monday Evening Lecture series in January when Liz Philip, Principal of Askham Bryan and Newton Rigg Colleges, tackled the topic: Is Agricultural Education Delivering?
In Kentucky, USA, Alltech’s Nutrigenomics Centre uses ‘gene-chips’ to measure gene expression effects of different feed micro-ingredients, so identify which metabolic processes are stimulated and which are suppressed. Exploiting that information to fine-tune feed supplements was the key to boosting output, he explained.
Mr Smith argued that today’s nutrition and livestock management was holding back productivity of farm animals, which were producing far below their genetic potential. More can be done with less given the correct dietary approach, based on current understanding and not historical recommendations. It’s time to rewrite the textbooks, he said. “Look at the world record milk output – 32,804 litres in a year from Canadian Holstein Ever-GreenView in Canada in 2010. If she can do it, why can’t UK cows get much closer to that than the average of 8-9,000 litres/year. I think we are 30, 40 or even 50% off the potential that we could realistically achieve on farm.”
06 • The Farmers Club Summer Journal 2015
Nutrigenomics could make all the difference, he argued. By adding small quantities of specially produced micro-ingredients to target the specific genetic potential of livestock far greater feed and reproductive efficiencies could be realised.
Working more closely with livestock breeders, to develop lines better able to exploit such advances in feed ingredients, was also underway. “It is the form and function of nutrients that is crucial to productivity, health and physical and financial performance”. Alltech is also working on maternal programming, so nutrition during pregnancy boosts the productivity of the progeny. Indeed, evidence suggests grandparent nutrition has as much of a role to play as maternal nutrition. Modifying nutrient supply during the first 96 hours of life was also proving very worthwhile. “Poultry now spend almost as much time in the egg and the first few days after hatching as they do in the growing phase, so these are important areas to look at.”
Club Lecture • Charles Abel
Enhanced nutrition could help release the true genetic potential of farm livestock.
Functional foods could be a growing opportunity for livestock producers.
Meeting consumer needs for functional foods was also a goal. What if consumers increasingly saw themselves as being ‘what their animals ate’, he asked. Could food even be the new medicine?
Pregnancy boost
DHA-rich algae Boosting the average human intake of Omega 3 DHA, a health-enhancing constituent historically found in oily fish, was a prime example. Changes to farmed fish diets had reduced their supply of this important compound. But fermentation-grown algae rich in DHA was now being fed to livestock to produce high DHA milk, meat and eggs. In the USA 200,000litre fermentation vessels were able to produce 20t of algal biomass from a 10ml original inoculant in just 10 days. Adding just 0.5 -1 % of algae to animal feed can boost DHA content , and dairy farm trials were now underway to see if they could deliver just such benefits in UK cheese, he noted. Omega 3 DHA eggs are already on the supermarket shelf. Environmental benefits could accrue too. Improved nutrition, with better management, could help drive down greenhouse gas emissions, he explained. In a pan-EU study across 14,257 cows on 58 farms in 19 countries such changes had cut carbon emissions by 54g/litre, saving 7,038t of CO2, equivalent to 1.9m litres of diesel fuel consumption. Productivity had risen too, with 1litre/cow/day contributing to a Euro 238/cow/year rise in profits.
Alltech is the only privately held company among the world’s top-10 animal health companies, and has recently seen annual sales growth of 20-25%, with a global sales goal of $3-4 billion by 2017, with acquisitions set to play a key role in that growth. April 23rd saw Alltech announce the acquisition of Ridley Inc , strengthening its presence in the North American market. Founded in 1980 by Dr. Pearse Lyons, it uses innovative yeast and algae fermentation, enzyme technology and nutrigenomics research to add nutritional value to livestock and fish feed. Alltech has more than 3,500 employees and is present in 128 countries, with 43 production facilities around the world and major Bioscience Centres in the U.S. and Ireland.
“I think we are 30, 40 or even 50% off the potential that we could realistically achieve on farm.”
The Farmers Club Lecture series is open to all members of the Farmers Club, and their guests, and aims to build on what its founder, William Shaw intended for the Club, that is, to be a place where the farming issues of the day are debated.
Annual General Meeting & Club Lunch with NFU Deputy President Minette Batters Members are reminded that the Club’s AGM will be held in the Club on Tuesday 7th July at 12 noon. After the AGM there will be a Club lunch with Minette Batters, Deputy President of the NFU, as the guest speaker. The lunch can be booked either on-line at www.thefarmersclub.com or by contacting Meetings & Events Manager, Mrs Lynne Wilson at meetings@thefarmersclub.com or on 020 7925 7100.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 07
Charles Abel • Member profile
Mentoring matters Multi-award winning Farmers Club member Richard Price explains the huge role mentors have played in his career and why the industry needs more
I didn’t follow the traditional way into farm management. But when I left school aged 16 I was determined I would be a farm manager! Twenty five years later I am Director of Farming at Lowther Estate – and can tie much of my success to some excellent mentors, who were prepared to invest their time in my future. My father, Raymond, was from a farming family in Shropshire, near Craven Arms, but moved to Coventry aged 18 to pursue a career with Jaguar cars. He subsequently met my mother and I was born and grew up in Warwickshire. Through the Youth Training Scheme I worked for the Cockburn family as an apprentice on a mixed farm, before joining an NCA course at Moreton Morrell College and then bridging to a three-year NDAg course. My first mentor was Jim Yarrow, whilst I was a middle year student at Pilkington’s Estate. He instilled the need to be straight talking and deal with situations head on. Commitment, hard work, and ‘be true to yourself’, was his mantra. Wise words indeed. Ioan Morgan MBE, Warwickshire College Principal, offered me my first farm manager role aged 27.Vice Principal Bob Wykes was hugely supportive, encouraging me to develop focus, vision and goals. We created a five-year business plan, which gave me the structure and confidence to move the business forward, and develop profitability. These are all people I keep in touch with to this day. My time at Moreton Morrell also made me realise how important young people are and how farming must do as much as possible to preserve the enthusiasm and interest that is there. More recently Jim Lowther has been a hugely positive influence, providing an extremely steep learning curve during my seven years at Lowther
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Park Farms. A direct ‘hard-nosed’ businessman, and a stickler for attention to detail and numbers, he also infuses a passion and respect for the heritage of this unique Cumbrian estate. In 2012 I participated in the Worshipful Company of Farmers Master of Business Management course at the Royal Agricultural College, as it was. The team spirit and bonding made it extremely worthwhile, as did Prof John Alliston’s ‘black book of contacts’. He has made such a huge contribution to so many young people’s careers, over so many years; the industry owes John an awful lot. My wife Clare has been a tremendous support, and my wider family in Shropshire. So too has the Farmers Club. It is a great establishment, which allows like minded people to meet and learn from each other, whilst combining social and business engagements, in an environment that is warm and friendly, for members and partners alike. I am also proud to be associated with the Henry Plumb Foundation, as a mentor, and a council member of the Institute of Agricultural Management, which is determined to support the development of younger members.
Lowther Estate The Lowther team is very focused on what the owner wants from the estate businesses. Simple systems are favoured, so we control as much in-house as possible. There are no tiers of management – all managers report to the owner, Jim. If specialist knowledge is needed we buy it in – there is no resident agent. Fortnightly management meetings keep the owner fully briefed, and vice versa, with staff fully involved, so there are no surprises! Tractors and clothing bear the Lowther logo for unity and a great sense of inclusion.
“The Farmers Club is a base where farming can work to better its future – a very important asset to the industry.”
Member profile • Charles Abel
Industry accolades – Richard Price has won awards with Farmers Weekly and Northern Farmer. Now he’s looking to support farming’s next generation through mentoring.
Enthusiastic staff – the key to success. Looking after land and animals well ensures customers get the tastiest, consistent and safest meat, a real taste of the Lake District.
Award winner It’s difficult to say why the judges picked me for the Farmers Weekly award! We have been through a brutal restructure since Jim took over from his father in 2007. The judges said the changes had been bold and respected that they had been followed through, leading to profit and security for those who remain. They liked the way I respect staff and include them in decisions. The Northern Farmer award was a real surprise. I was entered for – and won – Manager of the Year, and at the end of the evening was awarded overall Northern Farmer of the Year – a great honour. There are some tremendous farms in the north and it is tough going up here, so the win meant a lot.
Future perfect? So what of the future? We are in an extremely volatile marketplace, which will inevitably see inefficient farms fall by the wayside. That doesn’t necessarily mean small or large farms, production costs can vary by up to 60% in all sectors, irrespective of size. I think we need to go back to basics and be true to ourselves. What do I want from the business? What does my employer want? What is my cost of production? Why am I producing what I am? Who is my marketplace? I think we can get too hung up on Brussels, CAP, etc. Instead, look at what you can change day to day on your own farm. Measure everything, then manage it! Main image: As Director of Farming at Lowther Estate in Cumbria, Richard Price is responsible for 5200 breeding ewes and 1000 replacements, 900 acres of arable, 200 B&B store cattle and 90 red deer are managed across the 3200 acres historic estate around Lowther Castle.
At Lowther Estate growing our business alongside our tenant farmers is crucial. Lateral trading of grain, whole crop, straw, silage and importing slurry and heifers for summer grazing helps cut risks and create cash-flow, whilst providing a service to 21 of our tenants. Farming’s future potential is huge and we must encourage and train young people to come into the industry. And mentor them well when they do.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 09
Charles Abel • Club Events
St George and rural-proofing
Our guest speaker was The Lord Cameron of Dillington. Taking the challenge of change in the countryside as his topic, Lord Cameron acknowledged that farming was not an important industry in terms of rural employment, representing less than 4% of rural employment and about the same in terms of rural GDP. “But it is the backbone to everything we hold dear about the countryside.” It provides the backdrop to a rural tourism industry, worth over £17bn/year to rural England in terms of GDP – over £30bn/year in terms of pure revenue. “Farming food may be a pretty unrewarding industry in terms of return on capital, and in my view is likely to remain so in spite of world food shortages, if the past is anything to go by. From 1968 to 1998 the world population doubled, but in that time the farmgate prices of our staple foods – wheat, rice and maize – fell by 60% in real terms.” But nowadays there was much more to the farm economy than producing food: • Tourism, from B&Bs to weddings, nature tours, shooting or go-karting and holiday lets • Energy from hydro, wind and PV • Businesses in old farm buildings
Rural proofing Government policy is pivoltal to the coutryside’s future – Lord Cameron, pictured with Club chairman Anne Chamberlain. AN enthusiastic audience of 65 members and their guests celebrated St George’s Day at The Farmers Club with a superb luncheon, followed by a fascinating speech from Lord Cameron. The Club was decorated with red and white flowers, including beautiful red roses for St George’s Day, and the sun graced us with its presence, allowing many members to head onto the Terrace for a pre- pre-lunch drink! A Chapel Down English Sparkling Wine Reception was held in the Lounge, where Stephen Skinner, Club Secretary welcomed everyone, before lunch was enjoyed in the newly decorated Eastwood Room and Restaurant. The menu comprised Wild Rabbit Pate, Crushed Pear Chutney and Smoked Chicory to start, followed by 21-day Dry Aged Loin of Beef, cooked for 14 hours, accompanied by Mushrooms and a Cauliflower and Sage Fritter. To finish a Blue Stilton Cream with a Port Sauce and Old English Cherry Biscuit… delicious! For accompaniment there was an English wine, Coleridge Hill, followed by the Club Claret.
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“I’m proud to say that on my farm in Somerset, with over 200 jobs, we have more people working on the farm than there ever was at the height of agricultural employment before the Corn Laws were repealed. The fact that these people are involved in computer software, accounting, insurance, event organising, veterinary practice and the defence industry is neither here nor there.” So what were the challenges? Broadband and access to training were significant. Planners needed to actively promote economic activity in every community, however small, he said. They needed to plan to make rural England as much the engine of growth as towns. “The greatest challenge as far as Government is concerned is rural proofing. Rural proofing is not about trying to question the actual Government policies, but more the way they are operated. “To be honest, the answer here is for the Cabinet Office to pay for skyping services in every village. There are many examples from around the world where services are delivered by IT, where you have a room in your village, where doctors can talk to patients, courts can talk to witnesses, jobseekers can talk to the jobcentre, businesses can talk to trainers or even their bank managers, schools can even talk to classes. Such general services would cost money but would really boost the ability of all country people to access both Government and private sector services.” For full report visit News at www.thefarmersclub.com
Club Events • Charles Abel
Rubens Tea at
revelation the Club Review of Rubens and His Legacy Exhibition at the Royal Academy
The Club’s lunch, talk and exhibition visit gave a fascinating insight into the work of Rubens.
IT was a real privilege to be the first to have Saturday Afternoon Tea at The Farmers Club, writes member Tanja Wright. AFTERNOON tea is, in my opinion, a real institution and a little decadent treat. The sandwiches were filled with the good old favourites, spot on! Just what you want – nice and traditional. Perfect smoked salmon, gammon, egg and cucumber with mint. The shortbread was as good as ever – melt in the mouth. The custard tart vanished in a flash. I do love a fruit scone and fall into the preserve first and then cream…is that the Devonshire way or the Cornish way? All complimented with a good pot of tea – heavenly! In true Farmers Club style the staff were delightful, very attentive and courteous. I would definitely recommend Saturday Afternoon Tea at the Club – a real treat!
WHETHER it was the brilliance of the colours or the exquisite realism of the clothes in the scene of courtship and love in The Garden of Love (1635); the sheer dynamism and scale bringing the predators to life in the visceral violence of the hunting scene Tiger, Lion and Leopard Hunt (1617), or the way the texture and complexion of the human skin are so beautifully and evocatively captured in the Venus Frigida (1614), it was very clear to see why Peter Paul Rubens was called ‘The Prince of Painters’ and has an enduring influence today. We were visiting the Rubens and His Legacy: Van Dyke to Cezanne exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, organised by Events Manager Lisbeth Rune in mid-March, writes Club member Madeleine Brewster. An excellent and wide-ranging private lecture at the Club by Anne Haworth prior to our visit introduced the six themes of the exhibition around which his legacy was organised – namely poetry, elegance, power, compassion, violence and lust. For each, the key works of art and examples of Rubens’ influence were described, enabling us to concentrate on the art works whilst in the galleries. The exhibition helped us to not only re-engage with Rubens and his greatest works with his confident, expressive brush strokes, but also with his oil studies and drawings, where we were able to gain a close insight into his artistic process and techniques. The final room, curated by Jenny Saville RA, assessed Rubens’ influence on modern and contemporary artists such as Picasso, Francis Bacon, and Lucien Freud. It was another excellent and highly recommended, programme of lunch, lecture and exhibition visit, organised by Lisbeth. Thank you.
Book Saturday Afternoon Tea on 0207 930 3557 Option 3
Madeleine Brewster
www.thefarmersclub.com • 11
Charles Abel • Innovation
Innovation nation Boosting agriculture’s productivity is the goal for a new organisation designed to champion innovation at farm level. Charles Abel reports
REBUILDING the competitive position of UK agriculture is a goal for the whole industry, and a fledgling initiative designed to help farmers innovate more successfully is starting to gain traction to really help deliver that. In just 18 months Innovation for Agriculture has delivered 46 events bringing together innovative farmers, scientists, students and commercial businesses. IfA has held its first conference and there is a vibrant sense that on-farm innovation is being championed. “I’m intensely proud of what we have achieved,” explains David Gardner, Chief Executive of the new charity which comprises a consortium of English agricultural societies. IfA Chairman, Henry Cator, Chairman of RASE and a former Chairman of the Norfolk Agricultural Society, stresses that IfA is a completely separate entity from the Agricultural Societies that support it. “It has its own charitable status and funding stream,” he explains. Core to IfA’s aims is helping farmers embrace novel approaches at a very practical on-farm level. “We see ourselves filling the space between research and commerce, which is where a lot of innovation happens on farms. When it becomes apparent that ‘something interesting is going on’ we want to be there to facilitate the process, getting involved and encouraging others to do so.”
Drivers of the IfA initiative – Chief Executive David Gardner (left) and Chairman Henry Cator.
IfA aims To improve the performance of agriculture and horticulture under four key headings: • Sustainable intensification and efficient food production • Environmental indicators • Animal welfare • Education and disseminating best practice
IfA consortium Devon County Agricultural Association Driffield Agricultural Society East of England Agricultural Society Lincolnshire Agricultural Society Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society Newbury and District Agricultural Society Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society Suffolk Agricultural Association Surrey County Agricultural Society The Royal Agricultural Society of England The Royal Bath and West of England Society The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association Three Counties Agricultural Society Westmorland County Agricultural Society
12 • The Farmers Club Summer Journal 2015
A classic example is a Hampshire farmer who attended an Enrich Your Soils workshop, that highlighted the importance of soil organic matter and how to improve it “It helped him decide to drop oilseed rape from the rotation and move to a system using five crops in three years – winter barley, catch crop, winter wheat, cover crop, spring barley – to radically transform soil management, boost organic matter and help combat blackgrass, with all the old cultivations kit going and a new cross-slot direct drill coming in,” explains Mr Gardner. Knowledge transfer was identified as a weakness of UK farming earlier this year by the Oxford Farming Conference’s Andersons report, which recommended an AHDB levy rate rise to redress it. Such a rise is felt unlikely. Furthermore, AHDB has a very evidence-based remit, to understand science and refine practice, whereas IfA is able to champion more practical farm-level innovation and can work very comfortably with innovation coming from the commercial sector, notes Mr Gardner. “We seek to work in partnership with the AHDB, complementing its work, helping to co-ordinate activities, so two plus two adds up to more than four. Innovation is currently very fragmented, and we see great merit in bringing that together.” Work is already underway in soils and organic matter, precision livestock and renewable energy.
Innovation • Charles Abel
What’s new at Stoneleigh Park? An autumn 2015 Farmers Club visit is being organised to see how Stoneleigh Park is being transformed from a showground into a science park and the heart of England’s rural economy. Our hosts will be LaSalle Investment Management, which has a long term lease on the site from RASE, with tours and talks including AHDB (hosted by Chairman Sir Peter Kendall or CEO Jane King), NFU (hosted by President Meurig Raymond), Horse of the Year organiser Grandstand Stoneleigh Events and RASE/IfA. When (provisional): 30th September, 10.30am to 4pm, coffee on arrival, lunch on showground, tea before departure. Why: because virtually all farming folk in England (and further afield) have their own affectionate and intense memories of the Royal Show and Stoneleigh Park. There is now a cluster of over 60 businesses on the site with their emphasis on food production, equine and livestock husbandry, sustainability, renewable energy, and the wider rural economy. Innovation workshops, conferences and events are a key way of driving on-farm performance, says IfA (Innovation for Agriculture), the new charity designed to harness the power opf agricultural societies to benefit farming.
By 2018 it is hoped that five further focus areas will be up and running too. “These will be hubs of expertise, more than physical centres – we are not in the business of recreating experimental husbandry farms,” Mr Gardner adds. The recent IfA Precision Livestock Conference, held with the Three Counties Agricultural Society, was a case in point, helping farmers see how sensors in, on or near livestock can aid productivity and welfare. “Uniquely, we have pulled together a network of agricultural societies, known and trusted by their members, giving unparalleled access to farming communities, so best practice and innovations can be championed, whether they come from practical on-farm initiatives, independent research or commercial development.”
To book: Details and booking information will appear on www.thefarmersclub.com/events over coming weeks.
IfA has enjoyed significant success fund raising with just under £500K committed to date. Over time the business model will build multiple income streams including a membership offer. An application for EU Horizon 2010 innovation funding last year almost succeeded. “This year I would be disappointed if either our bid around soils or precision livestock wasn’t successful.” “We have the critical mass for the project that we need, but would still welcome other agricultural societies – our goal is to be inclusive. And we are also in contact with our colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland too, who are all very supportive,” says Mr Gardner.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 13
David Filmer • Technology
Poultry feeding pioneer Ideas about a better way to grow broilers have evolved over many years, as farmer’s son David Filmer, a farm animal nutritionist and member of the Club, explains
Harry Shepherd in his new 40,000 bird chicken house. (Photo: Jim Varney Aberration Films)
TRAINED in animal husbandry and nutrition in the 1950s at the Kent Farm Institute, Wye College and Cambridge University, my involvement in livestock feeding systems goes back to the leading animal feed companies operating in the 1960s. Knowledge from those various livestock sectors contributed to the development of a broiler management system that is now helping improve feed conversion and flock health, and boosting poultry farm profits. With over 60 billion chickens raised globally each year, equivalent to 8 per person living, the potential to improve food security and sustainable intensification is clear – modern precision farming can bring real benefits. Harry Shepherd with his Ross 400 Club certificate.
The technology has been decades in the making. Indeed, older members may remember Project 360 from Silcocks, the first computer feeding program for dairy cows, based on the old SE (Starch Equivalent) system. That was followed by Dalgety’s Selectaplan, based on the replacement ME (Metabolisable Energy) system in the 1970s. Pig farmers got the first Pig
14 • The Farmers Club Summer Journal 2015
Grower feed from Silcocks and Ultraplan from Dalgety, while egg farmers had the Milmoor plan and intake-based diet selection from the same companies in the same periods. Today’s system requires a simple retrofit to existing feed auger and lighting systems, but no feed or bird weighing, computers or internet connections. Instead intermittent lighting, integrated with specific mealtime feeding instead of ad lib feeding, is used with 24/7 monitoring of the house cross auger to identify how quickly birds eat each ‘meal’, so supply can be adjusted in line with the birds’ age, breed, sex and genetic potential.
Protein key Work on the approach started in the 1980s with a project between BOCM-Silcock and Harper Adams College. The idea was to shift from four feeds (Starter, Grower, Finisher and Withdraw), with stepwise cuts in percentage protein, to feeding birds a different diet each day, using high- and low-protein feeds from separate silos, automatically blended to gradually reduce protein.
Technology • David Filmer
It involved recording feed intake each day, to calculate the ratio of the two feeds, so the correct nutrient intake was delivered to grow birds along a predetermined growth curve. After much R&D on customer farms, including some integrator R&D sites, a three year LINK award (LK0612) was obtained in 1998 from MAFF. The 2004 project report concluded: “combining these results with better regulation of feed intake gives improved performance”. The report included a verification trial on an integrator’s site, where four houses used our approach and four the normal approach. It gave over £10,000 extra margin per year per house of 35,000 birds (Table 1), paying back initial investment in a year. Although successful economically, the system needed an extra silo at each chicken house and the farm manger had to enter mortality and feed composition into a computer, and regularly calibrate the automatic bird and feed weighers. Pressure on margins in the 2000s meant labour cuts on poultry units, and the industry demanded simpler and less expensive equipment. Further research, with input from Bristol University, led to today’s system, which achieves the correct daily nutrient intake by controlling feed intake per day using standard feeds, with no blending, and several distinct meals each day. Results were similar, with substantially less manager effort and lower equipment cost, achieving return on investment in less than six months.
Natural feeding
Commercial trial – 8 houses Item Weight sold (T) Feed used (T) Weight Value Feed Cost Crop Margin House margin Annual margin 6.5 crops/year
Control 335 667 £167,500 £88,000 £79,500 £19,785 £129,188
Benefit 9 -31 £4,500 £2,000 £6,500 £1,625 £10,562
(35k birds/house)
International trials (9 sites, 2.2M birds) (Results 36-46 day old A/H flocks) Item Mortality Liveweight (g) FCR EPEF Margin/bird (p) Margin/house Margin/house/year 6.5 crop cycles/year UK Results: Harry Shepherd – Dec 2014 Days Weight Dead 42.46 3.134 kg 3.81% Age (days) 33 (Females) 41 (Females) 47 (Males) Ave 42.46
Flockman 344 636 £172,000 £86,000 £86,000 £21,500 £139,750
Final live/wt 2.000kg 2.668kg 3.874kg 3.134kg
Average benefit 1.01% 40 0.062 17.6 4.32 £1,463 £9,510
Minimum benefit 0.28% 10 0.046 11.0 3.14 £1,053 £6,845
(35k/house)
(35k/house)
FCR 1.651 Ross target 1.838kg 2.512kg 3.546kg 2.856kg
EPEF 430 % target 108.8% 106.2% 109.2% 108.3%
Key to the approach is the fact that birds naturally fill their crops several times a day, so feed soaks, cell walls burst, and contents are digested more readily. Exploiting that brings better growth and FCR, with less feed protein excreted. Nine international field trials, each with a minimum of eight houses of at least 25,000 birds and totalling 2.2 million birds, tested the new system in half the houses, with the others as controls. Table 2 shows the average and minimum benefits. Statistically, we are 97.5% sure that if installed and used correctly broiler growers can expect at least the benefits shown. Recently Harry Shepherd, a former Harper Adams student new to broilers, achieved the third highest efficiency factor recorded (430) by the prestigious Ross 400 Club on his fourth crop using our system. Three of his 2014 crops topped 400, with Table 3 showing his December results. The new simple version of Flockman is proving popular and has been exported to Thailand, Africa, Australia, Brazil and China. Indeed, Harry Shepherd and I have just returned from Abu Dhabi’s Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture, which had 4,000 attendees from 88 countries, and saw genuine interest from over 25 companies, investors and government officials in our innovation.
Livestock nutrition enthusiast David Filmer
Flockman controller enclosure
Club comment David, who lives in Somerset, doesn’t visit the Farmers Club very frequently, but has held several business meetings there. “Being at the very heart of London, it is a great place to entertain overseas as well as UK visitors, and we always enjoy the high quality, traditional British food and the excellent service and facilities available.” David Filmer MA (Cantab) Flockman, Brent Knoll , Somerset 07802 200760 david@flockman.com www.flockman.com
www.thefarmersclub.com • 15
Charles Abel • Charitable Trust
Charitable Trust Awards boost sector Five awards have been made by the Farmers Club Charitable Trust to assist UK agricultural educators in 2015. Charles Abel reports AFTER careful consideration five UK farming educators have been selected to receive special support from the Farmers Club Charitable Trust. For over thirty years the Trust has provided over £500,000 of funding to help university and college lecturers better meet the needs of the industry’s next generation. “The Trust has sent over 130 university and college lecturers to undertake studies in countries all around the world, to help them develop new approaches to farming, and develop their own teaching expertise, and we remain as eager as ever to receive more applications from agricultural educators,” explained FCCT chair of trustees Stephen Fletcher. The Trust was originally conceived and set up in 1981, by the late Trevor Muddiman, underpinned by donations and covenants from Farmers Club members, generously matched by the late Sir John Eastwood. In the late 1990s Mrs Stella Muddiman, who is now a valued trustee, very generously transferred land and property assets from a private family trust to the Famers Club Charitable Trust.
This year’s applicants were scrutinised by a panel comprising Prof Ian Crute, Chairman of the selection panel and former chief scientist at the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board, Vic Croxson, former chief executive of Landex, the organisation for Land Based Colleges Aspiring to Excellence, Farmers Club chairman Anne Chamberlain and Farmers Club Journal Editor Charles Abel. Commending the wide range of project topics, Mrs Chamberlain noted that the Trust was particularly keen to see a stronger focus on primary agriculture. “Innovation comes in many forms and at many levels, and is not always about white lab coats or the next new widget,” added Prof Crute. “We are also keen to encourage collaborative approaches, which are so rarely seen in areas of new opportunity.” Each applicant was allocated a mentor, drawn from the FCCT selection panel, to provide a point of reference throughout their period of funding. Summary reports will appear in future issues of the Journal and full reports are accessible via the Club website.
Knock-on benefits Evidence of the knock-on benefits from FCCT funding are very clear in the case of 2014 beneficiary Dr Mofakkarul Islam, based at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). He travelled from NTU’s landbased campus at Brackenhurst to the University of Guelph in Canada to learn about the use of social media in agriculture and in distance learning in the Higher Education sector. With the evidence he gathered, and the support of FCCT mentor Prof Crute, he won a highly competitive Vice Chancellor’s scholarship to support his first PhD student at Brackenhurst. Successful applicant Niamh Mahon is now studying how progress towards sustainable agricultural intensification can be quantified, measured, and disseminated among stakeholders. Dr Islam has also established a strong link with Dr Helen Hambly at Guelph, a renowned scholar in
16 • The Farmers Club Summer Journal 2015
agricultural communication. In addition, the visit has enabled Dr Islam to participate in the “Glocal Classroom” – a pilot project using social media to create virtual live classrooms in which academics and students located in different countries and continents can engage simultaneously. “It was all as a direct consequence of my FCCT studies, which gave me real leverage when I was seeking University funding for a PhD student and developing international collaborations,” Dr Islam comments. Professor Eunice Simmons, Pro-Vice Chancellor Academic at NTU is cosupervising Niamh and says: “As a recipient of an FCCT award some twenty years ago I know how effective they can be in supporting researchers to make new connections across countries and disciplines. I was delighted to support
Dr Islam’s application to the Trust for an FCCT bursary and know that his trip to the University of Guelph will bring on-going benefits.”
Charitable Trust • Charles Abel
This year’s successful candidates:
Ms Eleanor Boden, Myerscough College, Preston, Lancashire – travelling to Kentucky in the USA to investigate the perceived physiological barriers, such as strength and stamina, that seem to be limiting the progress of females in the dairy and horseracing industries in the UK far more than elsewhere.
r Boden Ms Eleano
Miss Lesley-Jane Innes, Reaseheath College, Nantwich, Cheshire – travelling to New Zealand to seek better ways of improving the effectiveness of knowledge transfer in grassland farming systems, be it through farmer meetings, demonstration farms, benchmarking or other approaches.
Dr Agnies zka Dudk iewicz Dr Agnieszka Dudkiewicz, National Centre for Food Manufacturing, University of Lincoln, Holbeach, Lincolnshire – working with artisan food producers in the UK to determine whether the sensory quality (taste and texture) and shelf-life of handmade butters are superior to standard commercially produced butters, using a range of analytical processes.
es ane Inn
ley-J Miss Les
2016 Applications
Dr Tony Wilson, Easton and Otley College, Norwich, Norfolk – heading to Iowa State University in the USA to see how it teaches precision farming management and to investigate the use of the technology on farms within the region.
Dr Tony Wilson
Dr Oluseyi Moses Ajayi, National Centre for Food Manufacturing, University of Lincoln, Holbeach, Lincolnshire – undertaking project work in the UK to explore a novel method of heating fruit juice and tomato paste during processing, using non-contact ohmic heating.
2016 Applications: Awards totalling up to £25,000 are made each year to advance agricultural education and training. Applications are invited from those employed in agricultural education and training, especially those early in their careers. Projects should aim to widen and develop the applicant’s technical expertise, through study activities either inside or outside the UK. The closing date for applications will be early February 2016 See: www.thefarmersclub.com/awards.aspx
Donations Donations and enquiries should be directed to Club Secretary (snskinner@thefarmersclub.com) or FCCT chairman (stephen@fletcherbarton.co.uk)
jayi Moses A i y e s u l O Dr www.thefarmersclub.com • 17
Sally Whittall • Club Event
Farming Figures A quick look at… UK pig productivity … told through some key statistics
-50% Collapse in UK herd size since 1983, after UK sow stall ban, low profits and disease
+ 1/3rd Rise in finished pigs per sow since 1990
23.9
Finished pigs per sow today. In 1990 it was 18.1. EU average is closer to 22 pigs/sow
10,466,000
Total UK pigs slaughtered in 2014
946,000 tonnes Pigmeat from around 760,000 sows in 1990
862,000 tonnes Pigmeat from around 420,000 sows in 2014
Two-thirds Rise in pigmeat per sow (1,200kg/sow in 1990 to over 1,933kg in 2014) thanks to better stockmen, genetics, nutrition and health
14 years Since UK pigmeat production topped 860,000t
1.6 million tonnes UK consumption – nearly static (carcase equiv)
947,000t Imports, 245,000t exported (carcase equiv)
40%
Proportion of UK herd now reared for premium outdoor market Sources: DEFRA, AHDB BPEX and Nix Pocketbook (www.thepocketbook.co.uk)
18 • The Farmers Club Summer Journal 2015
Sensational Madame Butterfly A buzzing atmosphere over supper in the Eastwood Room set the scene for the Club’s outing to Puccini’s Madame Butterfly in late February, writes Sally Whittall. There was almost a school trip atmosphere, albeit most of us ‘students’ were of mature years! My own experience of opera is rather limited, but the much acclaimed production of Madame Butterfly, an 86th birthday treat for my Mother, proved to be simply spell-binding. The Club’s chef and dining room staff excelled as usual and after a delicious early supper it was all aboard The Royal Albert Hall Express – waiting at the door of Number 3 Whitehall Court. Lisbeth Rune’s plan ran like clockwork and after alighting at the RAH’s most accessible entrance we were soon finding our seats – amongst the best in the house – and settling down with plenty of time to absorb the magnificent set “in the round”. Designer David Roger had achieved a breath-taking flooded performing area, which enabled the poignantly solitary world of Japanese geisha Cio-Cio-San (Madam Butterfly) to be played out in a way no conventional stage could provide. The expanse of rippling water filled the entire ground floor arena, with heavy duty liners holding 15,000 gallons of water. The resulting spirit of communication between spectator and performer was extraordinary and we, the audience, were indeed part of The Floating World theatre and geisha district from which Butterfly had sought to escape. The action all happened just outside Nagasaki, sometime between 1868 and the end of the century. In
Act I, we see centered within the lake, Madam Butterfly’s house, which her husband-to-be – the reckless American sea captain Lieutenant Pinkerton – has rented, complete with three servants including personal maid Suzuki. Pinkerton takes Butterfly, who is aged just 15, as his temporary but legal wife, the bride showing him her few possessions, including a dagger which her father killed himself with, by Emperor’s command. The arrival of the geisha girls coming down through the audience to join the celebrations was a spectacle in itself, a couple of dozen mezzo sopranos and sopranos performing absolutely simultaneously. The opera moves towards its tragic end with the revelation that after Pinkerton had abandoned Butterfly she gave birth to a son, who is three years-old by the time he returns – with his American wife Kate! As Butterfly realises her dream is over, and the child must be given up, she blindfolds the boy and draws her father’s dagger to end her own life… what a finale to a stunning evening! As we dropped Lisbeth off at Victoria Station to continue her journey homeward one opera goer was heard to say this was the ‘best event of its kind the Club had ever organised’. Agreement in the round!
Charity • Charles Abel
www.thefarmersclub.com • 19
John Jaques, Chairman; Mary Bell, Vice Chairman; Lisbeth Rune, Secretary • U30s
U30s
Chairman’s Jottings
2015 Hip Flask Chall
A lot has happened since the last Journal was published. I am therefore delighted to provide you with a quick insight into some of the significant additions and changes that are happening with the U30s. Firstly, Alexandra Day was appointed the Farmers Club Deputy Younger-Members’ Interclub Representative. Alexandra will assist U30s Committee member Holly Adams (continuing Inter-Club rep and secretary) to represent the Farmers Club at the London based Clubland events and is co-opted onto the U30s Committee. If you are 35 years and under, based in London and/or want to meet a range of people with widely varying backgrounds then please get in touch with Holly and Alexandra, as Inter-Club is calling you! We, as a committee, have also tasked ourselves with continued enthusiasm to increase the U30s image and presence within The Club. It is therefore great to be able to report that we have been allocated part of the main notice board (located near Reception) which we will use to update you on the latest news and events. Please also remember to request to join the U30s Facebook page if you are a Farmers Club member under 30 years to keep up to date with the latest news of the exciting events we have planned – the next being a weekend break in Oxford! Search ‘Farmers Club U30s’. However, the best way for us to promote what the U30s do, and can offer, is to help celebrate the work and achievements of its members (like Naomi Brogden and her sister, Emma, see facing page). We therefore really want to hear from you if you have a story to be told and look forward to sharing it with the Journal readers in future issues. That just leaves me to say to all of you who haven’t been to an U30s event for a while, or not at all, I am sure the latest reports on our recent London weekend (by Charlotte and Nicola), combined with continued growth and popularity, will entice you to the forthcoming events in the diary and I look forward to seeing you there.
Contact John for more information John Jaques U30 Chairman www.thefarmersclub-u30s.com john.jaques@bidwells.co.uk 07799 633304
20 • The Farmers Club Summer Journal 2015
Under 30s member Naomi Brogden reports on the huge success of her sister Emma’s venture into flavoured spirit production When a passion for enhancing the flavour of hip-flask tipple first took hold twenty years ago little did my sister Emma Mclardy imagine where it would lead. Today Cornwalls Hidden Valley produces and markets a range of flavoured spirits, including the winner of The Field magazine’s 2015 Hip Flask Challenge. Plans are now advancing well to branch out into soft fruit cordials too. Emma takes up the story: “My passion for a good heart-warming tipple all began about twenty years ago, whilst out hunting in the frosty land of Staffordshire with The Meynell and South Staffs. Waiting for the hounds to do their job, and in an effort to warm ourselves up, the familiar hip flasks were shared around, and there it all began.... who had the tastiest tipple? So year after year, for my own / family consumption, I made my own flavoured gins/vodkas.”
Flavoured gin and vodka A move to a beautiful farm in North Cornwall, with hedgerows bursting with delicious fruits and berries each summer and autumn, meant Emma was able to pursue her hobby even further, experimenting with different
flavours from the various berries and adding other ingredients and spices. It all led to a range of flavoured gin and vodkas, including the award winning Plum Pudding Vodka, a tipple especially formulated for the festive season (rather like Christmas cake in a glass!). Before long orders were being taken from crew mates at Padstow Gig rowing Club and a local following started to establish. Our mum proved to be the biggest supporter of the venture and is definitely the best sales person. Not a single dinner guest or visitor to the farm leaves without tasting or purchasing, and her charity events for the NSPCC have all received bottles for raffles and prizes. Winter brings the shooting season to Emma’s farm and all those secret foraging spots become cover for pheasant, partridge, snipe and woodcock. After a chilly day’s shooting the guns and beaters gather in the kitchen to sample the various new warming vodka and gin recipes. Along with good home cooking the noise levels soon rise, as stories of the day get more and more exaggerated. We call this market research!!!
Hip flask challenge champ Emma’s husband is a keen reader
U30s • John Jaques, Chairman; Mary Bell, Vice Chairman; Lisbeth Rune, Secretary
lenge Winner
Beeswax and City Farming of The Field magazine, and encouraged her to enter her Plum Pudding Vodka into its Hip Flask Challenge. The judging panel includes The Chase Distillery and The Field’s editors. In January 2015 the all-important news arrived – Emma won the Off-Piste category! ‘Over the moon’ would be an under-statement!! This year Emma has developed a soft fruit garden, growing raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries, damsons and strawberries. “The plan is to use only fruits and berries grown and foraged on the farm, hedgerows and fruit trees – truly a taste of Cornwall,” she enthuses. “We are lucky enough to have our own fresh spring water here so we will develop some fruit cordials also. We would love to get our drinks and soft fruits onto the shelves of a few local farm shops, attend some local farmers markets and see where this story takes us!!” Watch this space! See Facebook page cornwallshiddenvalley for further details.
NAOMI CHARLOTTE BROGDEN Job Title: Map Administrator for the Exact Project Location: North Wales Interests: Travel, member of the local spa/gym, skiing and gig rowing.
On Friday 20th March 50 members of the U30s met for the Spring Dining evening. After drinks in the Cumber room we moved through to a delicious meal in the Eastwood Room, featuring sharing plates of beautiful tapas dishes to start, followed by a full-flavoured guinea fowl main course, topped off with a rhubarb desert. Our guest speaker was James Thompson, Farms Director of Sir James Dyson’s farming company Beeswax Farm (Rainbow) Ltd in Lincolnshire. James spoke about his background and farming experiences in an inspiring and genuine manner that was most enjoyable and very engaging. The open debate that followed remained relatable and relaxed, even whilst delving into often controversial topics, such as tax, succession, organic farming and subsidiaries. James’s passion for responsibility and continual improvement, which sparked out through a mirage of ideas on different projects, was inspiring and left us feeling full of the potential that exists in farming. Questions continued in the bar until, instead of visiting the local club near Embankment, we stepped out of our comfort zone and headed to Soho for a spot of dancing. This turned out to be quite
an adventure, but a thoroughly enjoyable end to the evening none the less.
City Farm visit On Saturday morning we took a leisurely boat cruise down the River Thames to Surrey Docks Farm near Greenwich. This 2.2 acre farm works with local communities, schools and activity groups to help visitors learn about farming and food production, and the chance to be actively involved in the day to day workings of a farm. There are many animals reared on the farm for children to meet first hand – including cattle, pigs, ducks, geese, sheep, chickens, turkeys, bees and the very friendly goats. This is the only city farm in London with a working forge, where blacksmiths run educational classes and give demonstrations creating beautiful metal objects, some of which sit within the Tower of London. The farm also has a farm shop which sells the farm’s harvest of meat and eggs, as well as seasonal offerings from the orchard, herb garden and vegetable plots. It was a very informative trip enjoyed by all and a great conclusion to another wonderful Under 30s event.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 21
The Farmers Club • Club Information
Club Information 020 7930 3557 • www.thefarmersclub.com Office Holders Patron – Her Majesty The Queen HONORARY VICE PRESIDENTS Peter Jackson CBE, Sir David Naish DL, John Parker THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB 2015 VICE PRESIDENTS Mark Hudson, Roddy Loder-Symonds, Norman Shaw CBE, Mrs Susan Kilpatrick OBE PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN Anne Chamberlain TRUSTEES Barclay Forrest OBE (Chairman), Mrs Nicki Quayle, Julian Sayers, Paul Heygate VICE-CHAIRMAN Richard Butler HONORARY TREASURER George Jessel DL IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN Jimmy McLean CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND SECRETARY Stephen Skinner CLUB CHAPLAIN The Reverend Dr Sam Wells COMMITTEE Elected 2013: Lindsay Hargreaves, Tim Harvey, Nick Helme, Peter Jinman OBE (Chairman – House Sub-Committee), Mrs Jo Turnbull Elected 2014: Allan Stevenson (Chairman – Communications Sub-Committee), Alison Ritchie (Chairman – Membership Sub-Committee), Robert Lasseter, Martin Taylor, Campbell Tweed OBE Elected 2015: Tim Bennett, Matt Dempsey, Richard Maunder, Gerald Osborne Co-opted: John Jaques (Chairman Under 30s), Mary Bell (Vice Chairman Under 30s) THE FARMERS CLUB CHARITABLE TRUST TRUSTEES Stephen Fletcher (Chairman), John Kerr MBE DL, James Cross, Vic Croxson DL, Mrs Stella Muddiman JP, The Chairman and Immediate Past Chairman of the Club (ex officio)
Buckingham Palace
Painting Paradise
On Friday 25th September the Farmers Club is visiting Buckingham Palace, one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today, where visitors can see nineteen magnificent State Rooms furnished with many of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection.
On Friday 10th July the Farmers Club is visiting the Painting Paradise: The Art Of The Garden exhibition in The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace.
Tickets include entry to the ‘Royal Welcome’ display, which provides a unique insight into creating the magic and magnificence of an official visit to Buckingham Palace – from food preparation to choosing the linens and porcelain. Our programme starts from 11am with registration and ticket collection (the Club is holding a Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning from 10am, which you are most welcome to attend.) At 12.00 noon there is a 2-course lunch in the Club, before departure by coach to Buckingham Palace at 1.30pm. At 2.15pm the tour of the State Rooms starts, including the Royal Welcome display (duration 2-2 ½ hours). Members should make their own way home. This event is limited to 90 places. Cost per person is £65.00 including lunch at the Club, ticket and coach transfer to Buckingham Palace. Apply on-line at www.thefarmersclub.com or complete the booking form enclosed in this issue.
Whether a sacred sanctuary, a place for scientific study, a haven for the solitary thinker or a space for pure enjoyment and delight, gardens are where man and nature meet. The exhibition brings together paintings, botanical studies, drawings, books, manuscripts and decorative arts, including works by Leonardo da Vinci and Carl Fabergé, and some of the earliest and rarest surviving depictions of gardens and plants. Our programme starts at 12.00 noon with a 2-course lunch in the Club, followed at 1:30pm by a private lecture by Anne Haworth in the Club, before departure by coach for the Queen’s Gallery at 2:30pm in time to enter the exhibition at 3:15pm. Members should make their own way home. This event is limited to 40 places. Cost per person is £65.00 including lunch at the Club, ticket and coach transfer to the Queen’s Gallery. Apply on-line at www.thefarmersclub.com or complete the booking form enclosed in this issue.
August opening NEXT ISSUE Watch out for your Harvest issue of the Farmers Club Journal, due out in late-July, with all the latest Club news, including a report from the special post-AGM lunch where NFU deputy president Minette Batters will address the Club, our visits to explore farming in Ireland and Nottinghamshire, and the winner of the Pinnacle Awards for business management. 22 • The Farmers Club Summer Journal 2015
The Club will remain open for room bookings throughout August, with the relaxed ‘weekend’ dress code applying throughout the month. It is an ideal time to visit the Club and London. Contact bedroom reservations on 020 7930 3557 extn 204
Club Information • The Farmers Club
Deaths It is with regret that we announce the death of the following members: Mr D Bawcutt Hampshire Mr D Bennett Cambridgeshire Mrs D Bennett Lancashire Mr B Bennie Kenya Lady S Butler Essex Mr E Chamberlain Derbyshire Mr C Dyke Jersey Dr D Loane Yorkshire Mr J Maunsell Berkshire New Members The following were elected: UK Members Mr R Barry Mr C Burrows Mr J Buss Mr B Cannon Mrs D Close Mr J Counsel Mr H Dent Mr R Gladwin Mr T Harper Mr T Hayden Mr D Jackson Mrs A Jordan Mr C Knock Mrs R Mayman Mr J Menhinick Mr J Mitchell Mr J Nattrass Ms A Park Mr R Paul Professor G Poppy Ms J Powell Mr J Rains Mr R Reynolds Mrs N Robertson Mr J Ryder Mr D Swift Mr P Towers Mr M Voss Mr T Watson Mr S Wharry Mrs C Wilson Mrs P Wyer Overseas Mr R McPherson Mr C Page Mr D White Under 30s Miss L Andrews Mr T Baines-Sizeland Mr C Clack Mr N Curnock Mr J Douglas Miss A England Miss A Grierson Mr J Griffin Miss C Griffiths Mr J Hornby
Somerset Shropshire Kent Kent Somerset Somerset Durham Cambridgeshire Lincolnshire Somerset Essex Sussex Suffolk Shropshire Cornwall Herefordshire Yorkshire Cumberland Suffolk Hampshire Gloucestershire Cambridgeshire Herefordshire Warwickshire Berkshire Hampshire Leicestershire Somerset Yorkshire Antrim Denbighshire Gloucestershire USA Singapore USA London Bedfordshire Devon Worcestershire Lincolnshire Lancashire Yorkshire Wiltshire Herefordshire Shropshire
Mr J Howard Miss L Kempsey Miss G Knock Mr J Knock Miss E McDowell Miss L McVeigh Mr T Morgan Miss E Pile Mr J Waring Miss A Whitlow Mr A Whitlow Mr M Dyer Mr T Fullick Mr D Howie Mr C Janson Mr A Laing Mr J Simkins Mr W Wilson Special Associate Baroness S Hollins Firty Club Mr R Parker
Australia London London London Midlothian Suffolk Herefordshire Sussex Lincolnshire Worcestershire Worcestershire Cornwall Warwickshire Essex London London Hertfordshire Essex Surrey Somerset
Envelope Sponsorship The Farmers Club acknowledges the support of Agrovista, sponsor of the Journal envelope. Agrovista is the leading authority on all aspects of crop management advice, with many years of experience backed up with the most advanced and comprehensive range of agronomy trials in Great Britain. For more information visit www.agrovista.co.uk Mobile Phones, Briefcases and Business Meetings Mobile phones must not be used in the Public Rooms (except the Shaw Room). Briefcases should be left in the Cloakrooms and Business meetings must be conducted in the Shaw Room or designated and pre-booked meeting rooms. Members should speak with the Meetings Manager, Mrs Lynne Wilson for details on 020 7925 7100 or meetings@thefarmersclub.com Parking The Club has no private parking at Whitehall Court. However, the Club is pleased to be able to offer all its members discounted parking with Q-Park, our preferred parking partner. Discounts of 20% are available on the day and on pre-bookings. The nearest Q-Park is situated in Spring Gardens off Cockspur Street, approximately 5 minutes walk from the Club. Details of this can be obtained by phoning the Club Reception on 020 7930 3557 or by visiting the website at: http://www.thefarmers club.com/news/parking-5-mins-from-club Business Suite The Business Suite provides PCs, printing and WiFi for members. WiFi WiFi is available throughout the Club at no charge. Shaw Room The Shaw Room may be used for meetings of two or three people for up to an hour without booking. iPads, laptops and mobile phones may be used but phones should be set to silent ring.
Club Contacts THE FARMERS CLUB Over 170 years of service to farming 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL
Chairman 2015: Anne Chamberlain
Chief Executive and Secretary: Stephen Skinner
Club Number 020 7930 3557 Reception ext: 200/201 reception@thefarmersclub.com Bedroom Reservations ext: 204 reservations@thefarmersclub.com Restaurant Reservations ext: 200/201 reception@thefarmersclub.com Conference & Banqueting Vendula Papackova ext: 109 or direct line: 020 7925 7100 meetings@thefarmersclub.com Events & U30s Lisbeth Rune ext: 103 events@thefarmersclub.com Club Manager Virginia Masser ext: 102 clubmanager@thefarmersclub.com Head Chef Paul Hogben ext: 111 or direct line: 020 7925 7103 chef@thefarmersclub.com Accounts Mike Wood ext: 106 or direct line: 020 7925 7101 accounts@thefarmersclub.com Membership Mark Fairbairn ext: 107 or direct line: 020 7925 7102 membership@thefarmersclub.com PA to Secretary Claire White ext: 104 or direct line: 020 7930 3751 generaloffice@thefarmersclub.com Bedrooms ext: 3+ [two digit room number] eg. ext 301 for Room1 Whitehall Court Porters 020 7930 3160 Fax 020 7839 7864 Website: www.thefarmersclub.com THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Editor and Advertisement Manager: Charles Abel 07795 420692 E-mail: editor@thefarmersclub.com Designed and produced by: Ingenious, www.ingeniousdesign.co.uk The printing inks are made using vegetable based oils. No film or film processing chemicals were used. Printed on Lumi Silk which is ISO 14001 certified manufacturer. FSC Mixed Credit. Elemental chlorine free (ECF) fibre sourced from well managed forests.
Club Closures Members may book a bedroom to stay when the Club is closed on the understanding that it is on a room only basis as no other facilities are available.
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Farmers Club
Events Application forms included in this and future Journals
CLA Game Fair Saturday 1st August Joint drinks reception with Under 30s Application form in this issue
Royal Highland Show dinner Wednesday 17th June Dinner on the eve of the Royal Highland Show with guest speaker James Withers, Chief Executive Scotland Food & Drink
La Traviata Opera
L L FU
Friday 19th June Dinner in the Club and coach transfer to the opera
Westmorland Show Reception Thursday 10th September Drinks reception at the showground Application form in this issue
Buckingham Palace visit Friday 25th September Lunch in the Club followed by tour of Buckingham Palace Application form enclosed in this issue
Ireland visit
L L FU
Monday 22nd – Thursday 25th June Insights into the strategy of Ireland’s food and farming sector, its dairy industry, National Stud, and advisory service Teagasc
Henley Royal Regatta Sunday 5th July Application form enclosed in last journal
Harvest Festival Service Tuesday 13th October Wonderful service with the choir at St Martin-in-the-Fields followed by Buffet Supper at the Club
Statoil Masters Tennis Friday 4th December Masters tennis at the Royal Albert Hall with supper in the Club beforehand
Queens Gallery Visit Friday 10th July Lunch and lecture in the Club before visiting Painting Paradise exhibition at Buckingham Palace Application form enclosed in this Journal
New Year’s Eve Supper Party
Under 30s Pimms & Supper
Apply online
Friday 17th July Drinks reception and dinner at the Club
To book Club events and find further details as events are added to the Calendar, visit the Events area of the Club website www.thefarmersclub.com
Thursday 31st Dec Supper party in the Club with a stunning view of the firework celebrations
AUGUST OPENING Royal Welsh Show Monday 20th July Drinks reception on the showground Application form in this issue
The Club will remain open for room bookings throughout August, with the relaxed ‘weekend’ dress code applying throughout the month. It is an ideal time to visit the Club and London. Contact bedroom reservations on 020 7930 3557 extn 204