14310 fcj 257 autumn 2015 web

Farmers Club HARVEST JOURNAL 2015 • ISSUE 257

www.thefarmersclub.com

INSIDE Club news p4 Minette Batters p6 August opening p11 Nottinghamshire p12 Africa p14 Pinnacle p16 Under 30s p20

INSERTS New Year’s Eve Stoneleigh Park Harvest Festival Nutcracker

Ireland tour Club group finds vibrant farming industry pushing ahead in Ireland (p8)

www.thefarmersclub.com for the latest Club news

Contents

Farmers Club Over 170 years of service to farming

3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL Patron – Her Majesty The Queen

FRONT COVER Ireland was a fascinating destination for the Club’s overseas tour in June, revealing an industry with high ambitions, backed by widespread collaboration and robust government support.

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.

8

3 Chairman’s Comments

Ireland is gearing up for export drive

4 Club News

Latest developments within the Club

6 Minette Batters addresses the Club

NFU deputy president provided a wide ranging talk at special post-AGM luncheon for members

8 Ireland the innovative

12

Dairy production has rocketed since quotas ended on April 1st.

The whole industry has its sights set on exports

10 Sixth form farming

Northern school introduces farm study A-level alternative

11 August opening

Rooms, meals and the bar are all on offer throughout August

12 Dukeries deliver

Three major estates in Nottinghamshire show Club members how they are responding to the changing farming climate

14

14 African aid

Farm skills training for students from Africa is proving a powerful tool to help countries develop

16 Pinnacle of perfection

University students competed for the top accolade, revealing a vibrant determination to enhance business acumen

18 Farming figures

How LEAF’s Open Farm Sunday racked up over 250,000 visitors

18 Highland Show

21

Pre-show Club dinner with excellent entertainment

19 La Traviata

Stunning opera wows Club members and guests

20 Under 30s

Under 30s chairman looks forward

21 Oxford farm walk

Under 30s enjoy fine farming-focused weekend around Oxford

22 Club Information and Contacts

02 • The Farmers Club Harvest Journal 2015

Chairman’s Comments • Anne Chamberlain ambitious and so was very refreshing to explore and hear about.

For example, at Teagasc, Ireland’s Agriculture and Food Development Authority, its director Professor Gerry Boyle said:

Chairman’s Comments “Irish agriculture has team spirit, a game plan and commitment”

AUGUST OPENING This year the Club is fully open throughout August – with great bedroom availability, a full restaurant menu and bar service, and our wonderful terrace to enjoy for members and guests alike.

The dress code is relaxed to weekend attire throughout the month. Book your room now on-line at wwww. thefarmersclub. com or call Reservations (020 7930 3557 ext 204).

IRELAND has a government which regards agriculture as a key industry; it has an ADASlike state agricultural and food development authority integrated with education*; and it has a strategic plan for sustainable expansion of agriculture and food to 2020 ‘Strategic plans’ and fine words from politicians could be empty vessels but, judging from the recent Farmers Club visit to Ireland, they are matched with positive commitment and a thoroughly progressive approach right across the sector from government, through research, the advisory service and the specialist farming media to processors and farmers.

All these groups seem to be working cohesively towards common goals – notably of efficient production, added value (Irish and “Green”) brands, expansion of exports, all of which, they believe can add to the recovery of the national economy.

Ireland was the first country in the euro-zone to enter recession in 2008 but GDP growth recovered to 4.8% in 2014 and the EU Commission this spring forecast 3.5% for 2015, well ahead of the UK and Germany. The Republic’s government clearly believes its food and farming industry can play a major role in building on that growth.

When we visited in June, Irish farming put its best foot forward for the Club. Nonetheless, the country’s economic recovery is admitted to be fragile by its Taioseach and the Irish farm structure of many smaller units poses challenges.

Its development service (Teagasc, pronounced Chawg-ask) faces more spending cuts. So I am not suggesting Ireland is getting everything right and the UK is getting everything wrong. Rather, that Irish agriculture has team spirit, a game plan and commitment. As a result it is energised and

• (referring with regret to austerity cuts in Teagasc staff from nearly 1600 in 2001 to less than 1200 in 2014): “However, the public sector can get fleshy and needs flushing out every so often.”

• “Public organisations are not there to serve themselves. Farmers must have great influence on the organisations that serve them.”

• “Innovation must be focussed on profitability and competitiveness” and “Research, unless it is useable, is useless.”

• “We use the UK as an example of why we wish to keep our public service.”

I look forward to hearing more about the ‘new’ integrated AHDB plans to make British agriculture more sustainable and competitive when the Club visits its Stoneleigh headquarters in September (page 15). And I can only wish Defra could enjoy the status and sway of the Irish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and the Marine.

The Farmers Club visit to the Kilkenny and Carlow area of Ireland in June is reported more fully on pages 8 and 9.

Royal Highland Show Dinner In mid June a record number of members and guests attended the Club Dinner on the eve of the Royal Highland Show. Speaker James Withers who is Chief Executive of Scotland Food and Drink and formerly held the same position with NFU Scotland capably demonstrated how farming and food can and must work together.

One of the privileges of Chairing the Club is to visit excellent shows across the country. So I look forward to the Royal Welsh Show and Club reception (as I write the countdown on its website whets my appetite by telling me it takes place in 21 days 18 hours and 24 minutes, on 20-23rd July) and the Westmorland County Show on Thursday 10th September – www.westmorlandshow. co.uk.

Dukeries Estates In May Club member Tony Strawson opened his Hexgreave Estate and son Mark’s vegetable packing business to a Club visit and facilitated enjoyable and interesting tours of two other Dukeries Estates in the of Nottinghamshire area which had until recently been better known for its coalfields (pages 12 and 13). One image which stays with me is the orange cordoned-off areas in the middle of arable fields. Trial plots? No, they mark mining subsidence. * Scottish members on the Irish visit reminded our group that, in Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Scotland has an integrated research, advice and education service.

www.thefarmersclub.com • 03

Stephen Skinner • Club News

Club News

Balmoral Show sum it up I think. And yet, while the requirements of dedication and sacrifice are also needed in farming, Rory found the essential peace, relaxation and pleasure he needed on his family’s farm as a counter to his more bruising way of life. Rugby and farming seem to fit together well.

Once again the Club held a hugely enjoyable dinner at the Balmoral Show in Ulster this year and our Guest of Honour was Rory Best, farmer and Ulster and Irish International Rugby player. As ever, Colin McDonald, CEO of the RUAS, and his team put everything in place that we needed to make the event happen – and happen it did! We had a wonderful turnout and a great evening.

For those that haven’t been to the Showground at the Maze, Long Kesh, it is very special indeed and purpose built for an agricultural show and unquestionably worth a visit.

Rory Best gave a wonderful insight into the commitment required by professional rugby players – total dedication and sacrifice seems to

After Rory, we were treated to a few words by Richard Wright, whom many of you will know made an outstanding and unique contribution to farming through broadcasting on Radio Ulster each morning for some 30 years. Richard’s broadcasts were probably the only specialist broadcasts to survive on main stream news programmes. His ability to speak the language of the farmer while also retaining the trust of the general public was unique by any standard and his contribution to agriculture should not be underestimated.

And finally, to close the evening, we were honoured to hear The President of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, Mr Billy Robson OBE, firstly welcomed us to the Show, and then thanked all concerned. A fitting end to our dinner, but a great start to the Balmoral Show.

Suffolk Sheriff Congratulations to Club member Judith Shallow, High Sheriff of Suffolk for 2015-16. Judith joined The Farmers Club as an Under 30 whilst working in public relations in London, and used its facilities greatly when working with Peter Jackson on British Food & Farming Year in 1989, culminating in an agricultural show in Hyde Park attracting half a million visitors. She now plans to concentrate on issues surrounding rural isolation/deprivation and the benefits of the arts to all by launching an Arts & Culture Fund with the Suffolk Community Foundation.

04 • The Farmers Club Harvest Journal 2015

New General Committee Members In the Summer Journal, I hope you noticed the nomination form for new committee members for the Club’s General Committee. While I appreciate everyone is fiercely busy these days, The Farmers Club General Committee can and does make a difference. So, if you do want to see change, or not, as the case may be, and contribute, then why not put yourself forward. And I should add, we are very keen to attract members from all four corners of the UK and beyond. New talent is always very welcome.

Farmland seminar & Stoneleigh visit David Fursdon, Chairman of James Dyson’s Beeswax Farming, is to be the keynote speaker at a Club Seminar on Monday 19th October: Who owns and farms the UK’s productive farmland – and why this matters.

The seminar will seek to address some of farming’s biggest issues – does farming need new business structures to decouple ownership from farming; are commercial pressures and five year tenancies leading to short term thinking and damage to the vital top seven inches of soil; are the new ‘barons’ a force for good. Booking details are due soon.

The Club is to visit the National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre at Stoneleigh Park on 30th September.

The site of the former Royal Show is now seeing many millions of pounds spent to transform it into the hub of British agriculture and a vibrant science park. A booking form is included in this issue.

Future Works As you receive this magazine we should just be embarking on refurbishment of some of the bedrooms on the seventh floor.

We are looking to add a bathroom and refurbish Room 21 ‘Oscar’s Room’; update (and sound-proof) rooms 23 and 24, both singles and both looking very dated now; and, in the process, by using available space a little more intelligently, provide dedicated bathrooms to each of these singles – albeit they will not be en-suite, more ‘out-suite’ I suppose.

Club News • Stephen Skinner

Summer Opening

Club Calendar

While our summer opening is being trailed elsewhere in the Journal, I would like to encourage you to think about using the Club this August. We are open, we are serving food and the bar will be open. For the whole of August there will be relaxed dress (smart casual), in order to attract families, and past experience tells me that families really enjoy their time here.

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

JULY Royal Welsh Show Monday 20th July

You would be hard pressed to find a better position in London from which to explore what your capital city has to offer. And of course, it also offers a haven to which to retreat at the end of day.

Drinks reception on the showground Application form in Summer issue

Royal Welsh Show

Charles Notcutt dies aged 81 Charles Notcutt OBE died peacefully at home on Tuesday 1st July. A charming, intelligent, driven stalwart of the Club, he served as chairman of the House Committee and helped transform the catering and accommodation services, and much else besides.

Born in Woodbridge in 1934, horticulture was his passion. He oversaw the rapid expansion of Notcutts Garden Centers family business and brought to the Club a wonderful ability to steer committees with charm and great focus.

AUGUST CLA Game Fair Saturday 1st August Joint drinks reception with Under 30s Application form in Summer issue

CLA Game Fair

SEPTEMBER Westmorland Show Reception Thursday 10th September Drinks reception at the showground Application form in Summer issue

Buckingham Palace visit Friday 25th September

Buckingham Palace

Lunch in the Club followed by tour of Buckingham Palace Application form in Summer issue

Stoneleigh Park Visit Wednesday 30th September Insight into developments at the National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre Application form in this issue

Harvest Festival

He organized numerous Club visits to the great gardens of England as well as Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows. The Club extends its condolences to all his family.

OCTOBER Har vest Festival Ser vice Tuesday 13th October Wonderful church service with choir followed by Buffet Supper at the Club Application form in this issue

Statoil Masters Tennis

Farm ownership seminar Monday 19th October Event at the National Liberal Club, Whitehall Court, London Booking details due soon

DECEMBER Statoil Masters Tennis Friday 4th December Nutcracker ballet

Masters tennis at the Royal Albert Hall with supper in the Club beforehand Application form in this issue

Nutcracker ballet Friday 18th December

New Year Party

English National Ballet’s Nutcracker at the London Coliseum with dinner in the Club before Application form in this issue

www.thefarmersclub.com • 05

Charles Abel • Club Luncheon

NFU’s

Minette Batters call to action NFU Deputy President Batters addressed a special post-AGM luncheon at the Club in early July.

Charles Abel reports

“We are talking too much about farming and what farmers want, when we need to talk more about the wider debates.”

After the Club’s Annual General Meeting, where Wiltshire farmer Richard Butler was elected Club chairman and south-west Wales dairy farmer Tim Bennett vice-chairman for 2016, NFU Deputy President Minette Batters gave a forthright view of what needed to be done to refocus Government support for farming.

She called for a united industry, across sectors and across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to grasp a once in a lifetime opportunity ahead of the EU in/out referendum, which is widely expected to be in 2016, to convince the Government that farming is key to the nation’s health and economic well-being.

“We are talking too much about farming and what farmers want, when we need to talk more about the wider debates that are relevant to the public,” she said. Health, the growing diabetes epidemic, global climate change and water scarcity were all topics farming could, and should, be contributing to, to show its relevance to society, she insisted.

“We need a government bold enough to take food seriously,” she said. But it would not do so of its own volition. Industry needed to set the agenda and the imminent EU referendum was a prime time to do that. “I think the public are there, but we’re not tapping into it and the referendum offers us the chance to do so.”

She slammed the role of non-governmental organisations, which seemed to win the

06 • The Farmers Club Harvest Journal 2015

Government’s ear too often, making her role sometimes “extremely infuriating.” “Too often it is a numbers game, no matter how much politicians tell you it is not.”

NGOs attending London Mayor Boris Johnson’s Food Board forums highlighted the problem, repeatedly calling for the countryside to be allowed to return to its ‘natural state’ and to ‘make space for nature’. “We all know derelict land has no significant biodiversity or environmental value, it has to be managed for wildlife benefits, as a visit to your 2016 chairman, Richard Butler, highlighted to me recently. Agri-environmental areas bring tremendous benefits.”

Public Debate NGO conversations showed where the NFU should go, she said. The benefits of CAP needed spelling out, and connecting with the everyday lives of the public, as well as the new breed of food policy influencers. The industry needed to create new alliances to explain this. “There is a total misunderstanding [amongst the public] about what farmers do.”

With a majority government the industry had a colossal expectation that issues like bovine TB, neonicotinoid insecticides and the wider chemical toolbox would be resolved. But that was completely unrealistic, she said.

UK austerity was going to be ‘dire’. “Taking £83m out of Defra will like cutting its arms and legs off.” No wonder Defra Secretary Liz Truss

Club Luncheon • Charles Abel

looked so downbeat at Norfolk Show. “We have been lucky with Secretaries of State who have understood our industry, but we now have a government that is very happy to out-source to the global supply chain.”

The UK’s stand at the hugely influential World Expo exhibition in Milan, which is focused on feeding the world, highlighted the problem.

Put together by an NGO (at a cost of £6m), it focused on bees, with a brilliantly conceived beehive concept the size of a two-storey house, but utterly failed to explain the role of pollinators in crop production, or even show honey as an output. “I felt completely lost – it was quite a stark moment,” Mrs Batters noted.

Minette, the first female office-holder in the NFU’s 105 year history, grew up living and working on a farm, but with no succession tenancy available she had to wait until 1998 to secure a long-term Farm Business Tenancy.

She has built her Barford Park farm business to over 300 head of stock, finishing Angus cattle on a premium scheme for a major retailer, as well as diversifying into horse livery, a converted 17th century tithe barn wedding and corporate events venue, and a catering operation specialising in home grown produce. Minette also worked with industry and retailers to develop ‘Ladies in Beef’ and the ‘Great British Beef Week’. Her NFU involvement grew from grassroots to County Chairman in Wiltshire and Regional Board Chairman for the South West. She has been a member of the NFU’s Governance Board and the agricultural representative on the SW Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Committee.

Profound Statistic “We are part of the 3% feeding the global 97%, and that is a pretty profound statistic.

And if we are going to deal with issues like climate change and water resources we have to get government to engage with agriculture.

It can’t be left to focus on urban society and ignore farming.

“We in farming need to talk to the public like they are in the USA, where they are using social scientists to put farming’s roles into consumer language.”

“The industry needs the NFU more than it has ever needed it,” she concluded.

Recently refurbished Eastwood Room provided a great luncheon venue.

www.thefarmersclub.com • 07

Charles Abel • Club Tour

Dairy island A Club visit to Ireland revealed massive dairy growth backed by a supportive government.

Charles Abel reports

TEAGASC FIELD DAY Ireland has just 10,000 arable producers, and only 3000 arable specialists. But its field days are fascinating, given the country’s wet, disease-prone climate. To help combat potato blight a GM variety modified to carry a natural resistance gene is being evaluated. Initial results are very promising, giving the same yield from ten fewer fungicide sprays, explained Ewen Mullins.

08 • The Farmers Club Harvest Journal 2015

IN late-June Farmers Club Chairman Anne Chamberlain led a group of over 50 Club members to investigate Ireland’s rejuvenated pursuit of overseas markets for its farm produce.

The tour was based at the excellent Lord Bagenal Hotel in Leighlinbridge, a small town of narrow, twisting streets either side of a quaint 14th century bridge swathed in pink valerian flowers, one of Europe’s oldest functioning river crossings.

By contrast Ireland’s Food Harvest 2020 policy is anything but dated. Sponsored by an enthusiastic government in 2010, and continued by a newly elected government in 2015, it has already helped drive a 33% rise in the value of farm outputs. And the dairy sector is well on track to meet its goal of 50% growth by 2020.

Farmers Club Committee member Matt Dempsey, a Co Kildare farmer and chairman of the Irish Farmers Journal newspaper, stressed how Ireland’s farmers differ from their UK counterparts. Whilst there were more farmers aged over 80 than under 30, it was also true that total dairy farmer numbers were static, with as many joining the sector as leaving it, and land changing hands very rarely, with less than 1% traded per annum.

The Irish public sees farming as a key industry, with cabinet-level representation in government, and quitting the EU is not even an agenda item. The whole sector works co-operatively to make farming a prime driver of economic recovery, recognising EU support payments for what they are – compensation for lost market support and the delivery of wildlife and environmental benefits to society.

Released from the shackles of milk quotas on April 1st the whole industry is determined to make the most of its world-leading ability

Club Tour • Charles Abel

to produce milk. Farmers are not holding back, weekly milk production already 18.5% up on the previous year. Over 90% of dairy produce is exported, mostly as powder, so protein content is the goal, and milk is priced per kilo of dry matter, with a deduction for volume.

Wall of milk To exploit the ‘wall of milk’ coming forwards processor Glanbia has invested €185M in a brand new processing facility at Belview, with infant formula, nutritional supplements and sports uses chasing added-value sales, explained newly appointed chairman Henry Corbally at a special seminar in Kilkenny, involving The Farmers Club group, Glanbia staff and Irish dairy farmers.

The sector is sanguine about surging supplies hitting prices. Ireland produces just 1% of world milk, and its great grass-growing climate makes it the lowest cost milk in the world (according to Rabobank). “Plenty of other producers will be forced out of the market long before we are,” is an oft-heard comment.

But, it isn’t milk at all costs. Milk from grass is the key to profit and government sponsored research is helping deliver that, thanks to Ireland’s vibrant extension service, Teagasc (pronounced ‘chawg-ask).

To support the drive for added milk output Teagasc’s Greenfield Dairy site at Kilkenny is championing a New Zealand-style low input grass-based system, not just to drive efficiency on existing dairy farms, but to encourage arable farms to switch from grain to dairying too.

Pivotal to its success is weekly monitoring of grass growth and detailed grazing plans to optimise usage, explained Teagasc’s Dr Pat French and project manager Abigail Ryan.

The project has been fully costed from the outset (www.greenfielddairy.ie).

For those less eager to embrace an all-grass system hybrid approaches are finding favour.

In the far south-east Mark Murphy explained how he was boosting output from grass using a Keenan feeder wagon, to buffer feed according to a precise nutrition plan. The concept it simple – more milk from grass, without dips in milk quality and volume, and breeding efficiency, when grass runs short. It seems to be working, with milk output up 1000litres/cow and costs contained.

Productivity threat A big threat to Ireland’s dairy sector is the relatively faster development of intensive systems. US maize productivity, for example, is storming ahead at 2-3% per annum, outstripping the 4% per decade improvement in grass-based systems. That constant erosion of grazing’s advantage over concentrate feeding is making grass a progressively less valuable feedstock for Irish cows, a real risk for the sector, Mr Dempsey noted.

“Plenty of other producers will be forced out of the market long before we are.”

County Wexford dairy farmer Mark Murphy

Teagasc director Prof Gerry Boyle gave the group a fascinating insight into the philosophy of the hugely influential state-supported research and advisory service, which was staging its arable field day at its Carlow headquarters during the Club’s visit.

As well as fascinating farm visits the group enjoyed a fine dinner and traditional Irish entertainment in the Parade Tower of Kilkenny Castle, and on the last day toured Ireland’s fabled National Stud. What a fitting finale to a fabulous tour, which left few participants betting against Ireland’s food sector delivering on its ambitious Harvest 2020 targets – thanks in no small part to a hugely supportive government.

• More on the Greenfield Dairy project in the Autumn Journal.

See News story on the Club website www.thefarmersclub.com for Photo Gallery of the tour

www.thefarmersclub.com • 09

Charles Abel • Education

Sixth form farming and we are delighted with the quality of teaching and their commitment to the partnership.”

New A-level equivalent course offers students an opportunity to study agriculture at sixth form.

ONE of Britain’s oldest Boarding Schools has launched a course in agriculture for Sixth Form pupils.

Sedbergh School, founded in 1525 and located on the boundary between the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks, has formed a partnership with Newton Rigg Agricultural College, a part of Askham Bryan College.

The City and Guilds course covers physiology, animal husbandry, crop studies, machinery handling and business management. The course is recognised by the Royal Agricultural University Cirencester and Newcastle University, amongst others.

Deputy Headmaster, Dan Harrison, who grew up in a farming family in Wharfedale, comments: “No-one doubts the importance of agriculture, but investment in its future through education remains pitifully low.

This course offers young people a practical route into the industry and others with an insight into modern farming.

“Newton Rigg has recently benefitted from a huge investment programme so that its facilities are state-of-the-art,

10 • The Farmers Club Harvest Journal 2015

Sedbergh is deeply rooted in the northern landscape and the only school in the country to run its own pheasant shoot, which recently featured in The Field (November 2014). Not surprisingly, the school is popular with land-based families.

It is also well known for the calibre of its sporting teams, which regularly feature in the final rounds of national competitions and more than 400 pupils have represented their country since 2000.

Mr Harrison expands: “Pupils can study agriculture alongside many other A-level subjects, whilst still playing sport, music and enjoying the rich opportunities that exist in a full, seven-day-a-week boarding school. Many pupils who have an interest in the subject combine it with Business Studies A-level and one other course, but we also have pupils who take the course for different reasons.”

One such pupil is Katherine Fleck, who combines the Agriculture course with Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics A-levels. She says: “I have really enjoyed the practical element of the course, which provides insight into modern agriculture.

I have chosen to combine it with Maths and Science courses, as I will be applying to become a vet, and it has given me a great range of experience in handling animals.

I have learnt about the highest standards in husbandry.”

The course is entirely taught on the Newton Rigg campus, which recently benefitted from investment in a new dairy herd and unit. Pupils travel there on Thursday each week and return to Sedbergh in the evening after a full day’s work, which encompasses theory and practical studies.

WCF COURSE OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS The Royal Agricultural University is recruiting for its 65th Worshipful Company of Farmers Advanced Management Course, which will run from the 17th January to the 5th February 2016.

Delegates, who need to be in management positions, will have the opportunity to interact with influential business leaders, conduct case studies and learn from the experiences of other delegates.

In 2012 Farmers Club member Richard Price, now Director of Farming at the 3,200-acre Lowther Estate in Cumbria (FCJ 256) attended the course.

“Farming is not without its challenges, however with the right management training, which addresses areas such as risk, time and change management, as well as personal and business development, farm managers are able to reduce the effects of negative challenges and in many cases, even prevent them,” he says.

Information and application forms from naomi. haywood@rau.ac.uk (01285 889833)

Sedbergh boarding school (pictured) has strong like to Newton Rigg Agricultural College.

Summer Opening

Club fully open in August

Summer cocktails in the Club – a speciality of barman Armenio Santos.

WITH summer fast approaching, we would like to invite you to come and stay with us, see all that London has to offer, and enjoy the Club, which will be fully open throughout the summer – including the traditional August break.

Accommodation can be booked and The Restaurant, Lounge and Bar will all be open as normal. So, if you are in London on a day out, why not pop in for a break from the constant hubbub and enjoy lunch, dinner or a relaxing drink on the Terrace.

Lunch is served between 12:30pm to 2:00pm and dinner from 6:30pm to 9:00pm, Monday to Friday, in our beautiful Restaurant, or on our Terrace overlooking the Embankment Gardens and River Thames. Alternatively, a more modest light bite or snack may be taken in the Lounge and Bar. For those visiting on a Saturday we also serve a full afternoon tea between 2pm and 4:30pm although this needs to be booked in advance.

In response to our member survey, our Head Chef has created a special Under 12s Summer

Children’s menu for them to enjoy, along with a delicious non-alcoholic fruit cocktail. Meanwhile, classic cocktails such as Pimm’s are of course available for the adults.

If you wish to hold a Summer Party for your friends in one of the function rooms or on the sun-drenched Terrace you can do that too.

During August the relaxed “weekend” dress code will apply, which means jeans and polo shirts are permitted – although shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops are not!

“The Club will be fully open throughout the summer including the traditional August break.”

If you are looking for activities during your stay, check www.visitlondon.com for a detailed guide to all that’s on, including lots of free events.

We look forward to welcoming you to The Club!

• Book Accommodation on-line at www. thefarmersclub.com or call 020 7930 3557 extension 204 or e-mail reservations@ thefarmersclub.com

www.thefarmersclub.com • 11

Denis Chamberlain • Club Tour

Dukeries estates excel The Club’s recent Nottinghamshire tour took in three fascinating estates, as Denis Chamberlain reports

IN mid-May, Farmers Club Chairman, Anne Chamberlain, led a group of sixty members of the Club on a visit to the Dukeries area of Nottinghamshire to discover how modern farming and estate management was turning back the years and providing a 21st century boost to the rural economy.

For centuries, the sand lands of North Nottinghamshire were thought of as nothing but scrubby heathland fit only as a playground for Dukes and Kings to hunt over.

Today, thanks to irrigation technology, improved crop nutrition and modern farm management, those same acres are among England’s most productive.

The Farmers Club Nottinghamshire visit was centred on three estates – Thoresby and Welbeck, two of the original four Dukeries estates, and Hexgreave, the modern estate of Tony Strawson

with its nearby Strawson family potato and vegetable business.

Common to all is a success in combining profitable in-hand farming with the development of a huge range of businesses and enterprises to make bets use of open space and converted old buildings.

Strip farming But the tour began in the past – at in the historic village of Laxton, where the last remaining working example of strip farming is practiced.

Some 480 acres of land, now owned by the Crown Estate, are divided into the West, South and Mill fields, each laid out in a strip system. The 14 farmers in the village farm the same allocated strips each year on a rotation of cereals, oilseed and fallow. They have to stick to strict rules of farming and occupation and any slip is ‘punished’ by a fine from the elected jury!

The system is little changed since medieval days but, as existing farmers reach retirement visitors were left to ponder how long this can continue.

Moving to Thoresby and then Welbeck the group saw examples of how two historic estates were faring in modern middle England.

Both estates sit above the now unworked Nottinghamshire coalfield, the tour passing through Bilsthorpe, Ollerton and Edwinstowe – names with national prominence during the bitter days of the 1984-85 miners strike.

12 • The Farmers Club Harvest Journal 2015

Club Tour • Denis Chamberlain Thoresby Hall is grade 1 listed and has, like many great houses, had a chequered history since it was first acquired by the first Earl of Kingston in 1633. The estate is now owned by the Pierpoint family, direct descendants of the original owners, and the great house is a Warner Hotel.

Estate diversification Club visitors saw how the estate was managing its 6000 acres, in-hand arable, woodland and tenanted, and the imaginative way in which estate buildings had been converted into a restaurant, a garden centre, holiday lodges and cottages and to accommodate commercial business – all of which put money back into the local economy.

Welbeck had a similar tale. The Welbeck Project, launched in 2007, transformed one of the most important collections of heritage buildings in Nottinghamshire to breathe new life into surrounding communities. Today a rich diversity of commercial enterprise, the arts and creative industry provide the economic activity.

Club Chairman Anne Chamberlain, Tony Strawson and Helen Bates at Hexgreave.

Robin Brown and Rob Mayo at Welbeck.

That evening, the party entertained a very special after dinner speaker – Bill Eastwood, nephew of Sir John Eastwood, great benefactor of the Club.

Food supply chain On the final day, visitors saw Hexgreave Hall, home to Club member and tour co-host Tony Strawson, which provided a marked contrast to the first two visits. Hexgreave is a more modern house at the heart of a 1000-acre estate farmed by the Strawson family, with root vegetables, cereals and oilseeds alongside a large sow-unit producing weaner pigs for further fattening.

The house and converted estate buildings provide offices for a wide range of business and unique Hexgreave ‘live/work homes’ provide housing and office accommodation all under one roof in the serene deer park.

Then visitors got a glimpse at the sharp end of the modern, commercial food chain.

Bilsthorpe is the heart of the Strawson farming business packing carrots and parsnips for the supermarkets. Potatoes are washed and sorted on the Bilsthorpe site as part of the Strawson supply chain, which provides potatoes for Walkers crisps.

The aim is to grow vegetables and potatoes in as long a rotation as possible, which means taking land under contract to grow crops in Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Scotland – all of which pass through Bilsthorpe on their way to market.

Mike Jackson, host at Laxton Open Fields (inset: map of ancient strip fields).

All in all, a fascinating trip from the remnants of medieval strip farming at Laxton to meeting the needs of Sainsbury and Morrison at Bilsthorpe.

A journey through centuries of rural enterprise, and a reminder that change is the only constant in British agriculture.

www.thefarmersclub.com • 13

Charles Abel • Overseas Farming

African farming experts hone skills at Shuttleworth British farmers have a proud history of supporting the development of farming overseas, and the Marshal Papworth fund is doing more than most, as Charles Abel discovered “I am from a farming community, but when I come here I find I am not a farmer, not when I see what a UK farmer is doing,” commented Erastus Maluki, from Kenya, speaking only partly tongue-in-cheek.

with Farm Africa and Self Help Africa, two charities with on-the-ground roles in Africa, who have greatly improved the process of selecting candidates, and supporting them and measuring their progress when they get home.

Erastus was just one of 13 students from Africa reaping the benefits of a legacy left by East Anglian farmer Marshal Papworth, who was keen for young people from developing countries to learn skills in agriculture, horticulture, water management, sustainable development and the environment to take back to their own communities.

The fund was formed in 2001 from monies bequeathed by farmer and East of England Agricultural Society member Marshal Papworth.

His farming career started as a tenant on Lord de Ramsey’s Townsend Farm at Upwood, but was tragically cut short in a flying accident.

The programme is gaining real traction, particularly since a partnership was forged

14 • The Farmers Club Harvest Journal 2015

The multi-million pound fund is now managed by the EEAS and has already improved the lives of over 125 students, plus thousands more who they influence once back home.

Overseas Farming • Charles Abel The 10-week BTEC short course was specially created by Shuttleworth College to target issues students face at home, with a special focus on small-scale business management, and getting their hands dirty through vocational teaching of animal and crop husbandry, machinery operations and IT, explained programme manager and EEAS education officer Sandra Lauridsen. The fund also finances degree-level studies for students from Africa.

Many of the students work for extension services and non-governmental organisations, but have little practical expertise, having come through a system based on text book learning. Developing practical skills is a key focus.

Intriguingly, learning in the context of UK farming, which differs so markedly from Africa’s subsistence farming, is seen as a huge advantage, not a barrier.

Many of the challenges are common and the value of witnessing new ways of thinking about farm, crop and livestock management, cannot be over-estimated. The course is 35% practical, 35% technical and 20% personal development, with a strong focus on problem-solving, thinking around issues and collaborating, fund chairman and local farmer David Parrish explained.

Experiential education – show, don’t tell – is the focus, and resonates well. “I never imagined I would be in the UK,” says Bwalya Kangwa from Zambia. “I’ve spent most of my life in my village, and the work I do with 1500 smallholders involves people who have not even been to school. Talking to them one-to-one is the key to getting them to look at new approaches, like creating enterprise groups, using crop diversification and improving livestock welfare.”

The course leads to a Level 3 Certificate in Agriculture, validated by internationally recognised awarding body Edexcel. “We get 10 enquiries a week, throughout the year, which shows how popular the course is,” Mrs Lauridsen noted.

Applicants must show ambition to share their learning. Every student felt they would be able to talk to thousands of small-holders and subsistence farmers at home, through established NGO networks.

Students were particularly fascinated by the way UK farmers could tap into market intelligence and added-value supply chains to take a larger share of the value of their produce. “In Africa the middle-man has all the information,” said Patrice Gwasma from Tanzania.

The ability of UK farmers to call up huge amounts of information to aid on-farm decision making came as a huge shock. “The access to information farmers have here is astounding,” Kenya’s Edgar Mwundi commented. “We are

Students with Stewart Papworth at the 600ha Newbottle Estate in Northamptonshire.

only just compiling it.” He foresaw a huge role for ICT on mobiles and TV. Tanzania’s Tumaini Mkenge agreed. He was working with 50,000 farmers and small-holders, encouraging them to use smart phones and tablets to improve seed multiplication, value-chain creation and nature conservation.

Challenging climates and the ever-present threat of hunger and famine were huge problems.

But tapping into increasingly available information, planning ahead, building added-value supply chains, improving basic husbandry techniques and adopting a year-round attitude to farm management, were felt to be key to helping fellow countrymen break out of the subsistence farming trap.

Seeing the environment as a resource, not a problem, was another big difference. “UK farmers work with wildlife and the environment, because it helps them earn more,” David Ogwang noted.

“In Africa wildlife is either the enemy, or food.

It’s very different.”

Taking greater account of natural resources was a key learning, especially encouraging farmers to focus on their land, and soils in particular, throughout the year, not just during the brief growing season.

Encouraging small-holders to monitor performance more closely, especially responses to irrigation, was a key challenge for Teklay Berhe.

“Explaining to farmers in Ethiopia how much UK farmers do this to improve their crop performance will be a huge help.”

Lord Iveagh, patron of the Marshal Papworth fund and the Guinness family custodian of the 22,500 acre Elveden Farms estate in Suffolk comments: “Being equipped to effect change, quickly and efficiently, is fundamental to our future and being able to share such skills and knowledge with agricultural students in developing countries will help us to support and maximise opportunities for generations to come”.

The programme is doing great work, but is only scratching the surface, noted Mr Parrish.

“Additional help from the food and farming industry is crucial for us to continue to provide these valuable, life changing skills.”

• More info/donations to slauridsen@ eastofengland.org.uk 01733 363514

www.thefarmersclub.com • 15

Pinnacle Awards

Be true to yourself Farm management excellence was the focus as judges quizzed students in the 18th Pinnacle Awards. Here we profile the finalist Michael Almond Newcastle University Pinnacle Gold Award, Nickerson Cup and a cheque for £2000.

Detailed rotation planning for 120ha former open-cast mining site, rising to 350m above sea level, with high gross margin spring barley optimised, and minimum tillage introduced to help raise organic matter levels and cut establishment costs. Profit and risk sharing fully detailed in a professional, yet simple, contract farming proposal with all aspects fully costed. Excellent awareness and explanation of issues, backed by a ready ability to answer probing questions realistically.

Pinnacle champ Michael Almond celebrates with family.

This was Prof David Leaver’s last year of chairing the judging panel. The Pinnacle Award organisers would like to thank him for his excellent contribution over the years. Prof Bill McKelvery, former Principal of the Scottish Agricultural College, is to chair the judges in 2016

BE true to your purpose, values and dreams, take care of your health, invest in relationships and be positive, finalists in the prestigious Pinnacle Awards were told at a celebratory dinner in the Club after a busy day of competition.

“The friends you make at university and college are relationships you will keep for life, and farming is a long-term industry too, so it is well worth investing time in your working relationships,” urged honorary guest Caroline Drummond, Chief Executive of the influential Linking Environment and Farming initiative.

“Live your purpose, values and dreams, be positive about yourself, and make your own luck,” she continued, admitting that her own 25 year role with LEAF had stemmed from a 3-year project that completely captured her imagination.

16 • The Farmers Club Harvest Journal 2015

Good health was also important. “Students are generally pretty healthy, but once they get out into the industry it is something they need to keep an eye on. It is something farming needs to focus on too, as the nation increasingly struggles with issues like obesity and diabetes,” she added.

In a closely fought contest the Pinnacle Award judges assessed the business management skills of finalists through detailed scrutiny of a course-work project, followed by a panel interview and then a formal presentation at the Farmers Club in London.

This year’s overall winner, Michael Almond, was the second Newcastle University student in four years to win the award. The competition is run by the Farmers Club and ADAS, with generous sponsorship from the Cave Foundation for the 18th consecutive year.

Pinnacle Awards

Alasdair Bailey, Reading University – Pinnacle Silver Award and a cheque for £1000. Worked with colleagues to improve beef and sheep grazing returns, add solar PV energy production, a vineyard and winery enterprise to an established estate with a thriving wedding venue business. Hops and apples could feature in the future.

Lots of detailed budgeting and loan structuring, with a strong presentation style and good interview.

Robert Clunas, SRUC, Ayr – runner up. A fascinating project with colleagues to develop an integrated ATV helmet location/shock-sensor to alert emergency services in the event of an accident, following a near-death experience in the Highlands, including market research and projected sales growth.

Lauren Hladun, Nottingham University – runner up.

Comparing commercial central grain storage with building a new on-farm store, with full consideration of logistics, drying costs, marketing strategies including hedging to offset limited sales period, labour demand and full budgeting.

Michael impressed the judges with his robust and well thought out contract farming tender for 120ha of challenging reclaimed open-cast mining on hill land above Consett. His strong interview performance, excellent business acumen and clear grasp of the practical realities of contract farming shone through throughout the day.

“Once again it was very difficult to separate the finalists,” stressed chairman of judges Prof David Leaver. He commended the number of projects pursuing realistic business strategies, reflecting what is actually happening on UK farms. “Balancing practical farming with business management and environmental/social/community issues, which are rightly gaining greater prominence, in an overall business strategy is not easy.”

Farmers Club Chairman Anne Chamberlain was struck by the determination of finalists to

Will Hinton, Reading University – Pinnacle Bronze award and a cheque for £600.

Worked with colleagues to develop a fascinating project to add a sheep milking and cheese-making enterprise to an established estate with a thriving wedding venue business.

Outdoor pigs and parkland management also featured.

Very detailed budgeting and loan structuring, great enthusiasm and an excellent presentation including virtual tour of 3D modelling of project.

Ailsa Thomson, SRUC Ayr – runner up. Selling off a pedigree beef herd and replacing it with 750 Mule and Scottish Blackface sheep to lift total flock size to 1150 and managing those for optimum output, with detailed sensitivity analysis for price and lambing percentage.

Jack Weeks, Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester – runner up.

A whole-farm plan for a challenging National Trust tenancy, including extra beef, sheep and pigs for a lucrative frozen meat box scheme supplying a very loyal customer base and an expansion into organic arable.

maximise every opportunity a farming situation offered. “Farms used to be defined by their core enterprises. But there is now much more of a perception of the farm as a resource, with a view, a landscape and a customer base nearby, for example, and the issue is about how best to derive a desired lifestyle from all that the farm has to offer, not just the established farming model.”

ADAS senior consultant Tony Turner commended Michael for his rigorous budgeting, which was accurate and particularly realistic, particularly around planned profits and risk handling. “Michael addressed the brief he had been given and understood the issues surrounding it well, demonstrating a wide knowledge of the sector. He had struck a sensible balance between sharing profits and risks, which showed a good understanding of what is actually happening on farms.”

LEAF Chief Executive Caroline Drummond – farming needs to focus on national issues like obesity and diabetes.

www.thefarmersclub.com • 17

Stephen Skinner • Club Event

Farming Figures A quick look at... Farming promotion to the public....told through some key statistics

Highland Show dinner

1,250,000

Total visitors to Open Farm Sunday events since the concept was created

15%

Surge in visitor numbers to over 0.25m in 2015

1,000

Number of farms hosting events since first OFS in 2016; 400 farms involved this year

1 in 5

Proportion of OFS visitors who have never visited a farm before in their lives

85%

Share of visitors who say they learned something new about farming at an OFS event

1045781

Charity number of OFS organiser LEAF

No. 3

Position achieved by #OFS15 hashtag amongst top trending Twitter topics on OFS morning

17,500

YouTube views of new OFS animated videos

1.5 million

Online views of #OFS15 hashtag prior to OFS

x 30

OFS mentions in national media, inc Mail, Sun, Times, Telegraph, Mirror, The Archers, Express, Chris Evans, Steve Wright, Simon Mayo

5th June

Open Farm Sunday 2016 – LEAF’s 25th year

Source: LEAF (www.leaf.co.uk) and Open Farm Sunday (www.FarmSunday.org)

18 • The Farmers Club Harvest Journal 2015

FARMERS Club members and their guests enjoyed an excellent pre-show dinner at the Royal Highland Show, where Mr James Withers, Chief Executive of Scotland Food and Drink, spoke about the sector’s impressive value to Scotland’s economy.

Over 145 members and their guests were present in the President’s marquee for the traditional start of the Royal Highland Show – one of the best attended Highland Show dinners for some significant time. The dinner was once again held at the Ingliston showground, marking a promised return after last year’s visit to RBS’s Goggarburn headquarters in Edinburgh Following pre-dinner drinks the Loretto School pipers, led by Pipe Major Colin Pryde, piped the assembled guests in to dinner. An excellent meal provided by Saltire Catering drew very favourable comments.

The Chairman, Anne Chamberlain, summarised recent developments at the Club before Mr Withers delivered his talk, highlighting the particularly well integrated nature of the food and catering supply chain in Scotland.

His organisation’s vision is to make Scotland internationally known as ‘A Land of Food and Drink’ and grow the industry to £16.5 billion by 2017, by exploiting growth markets in premium, health and provenance.

More specifically a new target for export sales to top £7.1bn by 2016 has identified fifteen key markets offering the greatest opportunities.

In-market experts will be in post over the next three years.

Entertainment was provided by the pipers and Scottish dancers of the Loretto School – a spectacular start to the excellent Highland Show.

• As with many Club events a wide range of pictures from the Highland Show Dinner can be found in the News section of the Farmers Club website at www.thefarmersclub.com

Club Event

La Traviata opera

ALMOST 50 members and their guests were most privileged to attend the Farmers Club outing to the Royal Opera House on Friday 19th June, experiencing what is perceived as THE most popular opera, Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata.

Our unforgettable evening started in the Club’s Eastwood Room with a splendid pre-opera supper, carefully created and cooked especially for us and beautifully served. Our sincere and grateful thanks to all involved.

Coach transport took us to the ROH where we had time to wander round, visit the shop or order interval drinks. Our seats were amongst the best in the house, in the central Orchestra Stalls, allowing us to experience the full majesty of this spacious, beautifully designed and lit opera house.

transported us to 19th century Paris. There were very strong performances in the principal roles of Violetta (Sonya Yoncheva); Alfredo (Ismael Jordi); and Alfredo’s father Giorgio (Franco Vassallo), all superbly complimented by the excellent opera house chorus and dancers, and the simply superb opera house orchestra directed by Marc Minkowski.

The production was of the highest order and it was a privilege to be there and experience a wonderful evening of heartbreaking romantic drama, with sensational and truly beautiful melodies by Verdi – THE operatic master.

We left the ROH elated.

The evening’s anticipation had been heightened by recent press comments (notably in The Times) recounting the British premiere of La Traviata at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1856, when it was condemned as – “a contribution to moral turpitude”!

Such an evening does not happen without exceptional organisational skills, time and energy.

We are not only indebted to Lisbeth for all of that, but for staying with us and personally overseeing everything. We and the Club are immensely lucky to have such an invaluable and charming Events Coordinator. On behalf of everyone, Lisbeth, please accept our sincere thanks.

From the orchestra’s opening chords, this revival of Richard Eyre’s classic production immediately

• Dr David J D Farrow and Mrs Francesca Makins.

CLUB ITEMS FOR SALE MEMBERS interested in purchasing items bearing the Club logo will be pleased to know a wide range of goods is now available.

A rather excellent new rendition of the Club cuff-links is available, English Whisky with the logo engraved on the bottle, bottles of our own-label Port, as well as leather wallets, passport holders and luggage labels.

The new, higher quality, Club tie bearing the new logo is also available, whilst those seeking a smaller gift may be interested in branded tins of travel lozenges, packs of jelly beans and other sweets. Ask at Reception to see the quality of these items – you will not be disappointed.

www.thefarmersclub.com • 19

John Jaques, Chairman; Mary Bell, Vice Chairman; Lisbeth Rune, Secretary • U30s

U30s Chairman’s Jottings

Since the last issue of the Farmers Club Journal the U30s have enjoyed two extremely enjoyable events – both luckily graced with fantastic weather! However, I will leave Kelsey and Kathryn to give you an insight into these events (see facing articles).

The next event is the Summer Dining Evening at the Club on Friday 17 July. Tickets are already on sale and proving popular due to the planned Pimm’s Drinks Reception on the terrace and because we have invited Al Brooks, 2016 Chairman of the Oxford Farming Conference, to be our after dinner speaker. There are also a number of events organised for the Saturday too.

For more information on the above or other upcoming events please do not hesitate to contact me or visit our Facebook page (‘Farmers Club U30s’).

Contact John for more information John Jaques U30 Chairman www.thefarmersclub-u30s.com john.jaques@bidwells.co.uk 07799 633304

A Record Breaker The tenth anniversary of Open Farm Sunday was celebrated in style on the 7th June thanks to support from across the whole food and farming industry, including Farmers Club Under 30s members. Nearly 400 farms opened, with organiser LEAF estimating over 250,000 visitors. Farming Minister, George Eustice MP said: “This initiative is a fantastic way of raising awareness of the essential role farming plays in all our lives, helping everyone learn more about where food comes from, and inspiring young people to consider a rewarding career in farming.” Open Farm Sunday 2016 is scheduled for 5th June. Find out more at: www.farmsunday.org or contact enquiries@leafuk.org

20 • The Farmers Club Harvest Journal 2015

Gathering at sunny Cereals Event THE Cereals Event is a great part of the farming calendar. This year we were blessed with two gloriously sunny (if windy) days, during which we learnt more about technical arable topics, and met friends and contacts from across the industry.

The Farmers Club U30s were given an extra excuse (as if one was needed) to get together with current, past and potential members, when on the second day Bidwells very kindly hosted a delicious lunchtime BBQ, with plentiful drinks.

The stand provided the perfect venue for an informal catch-up on all things farming and more. 15 members brought along friends and colleagues. There was an additional mix of other non-members, who

had either seen the event invite on social media or joined in the event whilst passing, all eager to learn more and warmly welcomed.

In all over 40 young people joined in and enjoyed the event. We are all most grateful to our Chairman John Jaques and Bidwells for organising such a successful event.

KATHRYN MITCHELL Job Title: IFM Development Manager Company Name: LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) Interests: Farming, being with friends, enjoying beautiful countryside and volunteering with my Brownie pack.

U30s • John Jaques, Chairman; Mary Bell, Vice Chairman; Lisbeth Rune, Secretary

Fabulous Oxford

Under 30s members enjoyed a stunning farm walk weekend based in Oxford recently. Kelsey Wells captures the essence of the visit WITH the golden orb high in the blue skies and a warm breeze present for the entire weekend it was hard to be anything but in good spirits throughout the Under 30s Spring Farm walk, based in Oxford.

The group rendezvoused at The Oxford Hotel, our five star accommodation for the weekend, complete with gym, pool and sauna. After welcoming new faces and reconnecting with old, we were chauffeured to the Ashmolean Museum Rooftop Restaurant and Bar. Centred within the historic town of Oxford the views were nothing but spectacular and the chilled Prosecco that greeted us on our arrival accompanied by the Oxford University Brass Band practicing in the courtyard below added a wonderful charm to the evening.

Conversation was free flowing and after dinner the more culturally adventurous explored the ‘Live Friday’ event taking place in the museum, before moving on for a spot of dancing.

Perdiswell Farm The following morning we were full of anticipation, encouraged by the evening before being nothing short of perfect. Excitement was plentiful for the day ahead. We arrived in the picturesque surroundings of Perdiswell Farm, and were warmly welcomed by James Price.

From here we enjoyed a tour of the farm before sitting in the sun and enjoying a sumptuous feast sourced from James’s hamper business. The conversation over lunch was mostly on the progressive and entrepreneurial spirit with which James has approached the management of the farm.

With full tummies we moseyed to a quaint old English pub with an alluring terrace enshrined by a stone wall for a quick pick me up before proceeding to meet an enthusiastic Mike Gooding, Managing Director of FAI Farms.

Brave farm management Our Under 30s Chairman, John, was our ‘chauffeur’ for the afternoon, driving the tractor that towed our trailer through the remarkable countryside. Once again we were left enthralled by the dynamic, varied and at times brave approach to farm management and Mike’s down to earth and honest disposition.

Admiration was not in short supply for John either, who successfully reversed the trailer and his audience out of a tight spot… despite many of us secretly wishing him to fail for our amusement!

“We were left enthralled by the dynamic, varied and at times brave approach to farm management.”

Sunday morning’s breakfast was awash with talk of the farm visits and the Saturday evening’s antics: A decadent evening hosted at the Quod Brasserie and Bar, with drinks and dancing at the Varsity roof top bar, further ensured new friendships were forged.

River Cherwell punting Yet the weekend was far from over, as we went on to enjoy punting on the River Cherwell.

Bravado was abundant as were the copious outbursts of instructions from girlfriends to their partners, which were received with the odd terse response and ‘accidental’ splash of water from a punting pole.

Nevertheless, teamwork and a good sense of humour ensured we had time for a pit stop upstream before returning to the boathouse for a private BBQ. To describe the first farm walk of the year as five stars in every way does not seem to do the event justice. It is feared our Chairman and those involved in the making of the weekend have a hard task ahead to meet or indeed surpass the expectations now set from such a fabulous weekend. A huge thank you and assured well done.

KELSEY WELLS Job Title: Business Analyst Company Name: BNP Paribas Interests: I enjoy escaping the city at weekends and walking my dog Bilbo through the English countryside.

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, Roddy Loder-Symonds, Sir David Naish DL, John Parker THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB 2015 VICE PRESIDENTS Barclay Forrest OBE, Mark Hudson, Norman Shaw CBE, Mrs Susan Kilpatrick OBE PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN Anne Chamberlain TRUSTEES Jimmy McLean (effective 1 Jan 2016), Mrs Nicki Quayle, Julian Sayers (Chairman), 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)

Nutcracker Over 100 dancers and musicians bring English National Ballet’s Nutcracker to life with exquisite dancing, beautiful sets and Tchaikovsky’s glorious score played live in the splendour of the London Coliseum – an unforgettable Christmas treat the Farmers Club is organizing on Friday 18th December 2015.

On a sparkling Christmas Eve in a frostdusted Edwardian London, Clara and her enchanted Nutcracker doll discover a magical world, where she battles with the Mouse King and meets a handsome stranger. As the air grows colder, Clara and her valiant Nutcracker take a hot air balloon ride across London to the glistening Land of Snow where her adventure really begins.

Our programme starts at 5pm with a two-course supper in the Club, before a 6.30pm departure by coach to the London Coliseum. The ballet runs from 7.30pm to 9.45pm (approx.) after which the coach returns to the Club.

This event is limited to 40 places. Cost per person is £120 (max two people).

Applications should be received by 28th August. If oversubscribed, places will be decided by a ballot. Register interest online at www.thefarmersclub.com or complete the booking form in this issue.

New Year Last New Year’s event at the Farmers Club attracted over 300 applications and the night was a great success. Needless to say it will go to a ballot again this year.

However, don’t let that stop you applying!

It really is the best seat in the house for the celebrations on the River Thames.

This Black Tie evening on Thursday 31st December 2015 will commence at 7.45pm in the Lounge with a glass of Champagne and Chef’s Treats, before a special 4 course meal prepared by Chef and his team. Champagne will be served at 11.45pm before we move onto the Terrace in time for the stunning Firework Display as Big Ben chimes in 2016. The highly popular bacon, sausage and egg rolls will arrive at 12.30pm and the Bar stays open until 1am.

This event is limited to 90 places. The dress code is black tie. Cost per person is £130. All applications received by 11th September 2015 will be entered into a ballot to be drawn on Friday 9th October 2015. To register interest apply on line at www.thefarmersclub.com or complete the booking form in this issue.

Harvest Festival

NEXT ISSUE Watch out for your Autumn issue of the Farmers Club Journal, due out in mid-September, with all the latest Club news, including a review of the Club’s AGM, the Livestock Event, Farmers Club Charitable Trust-funded research into TB, a visit to the Royal Henley Regatta and Ireland’s novel Greenfield Dairy project.

22 • The Farmers Club Harvest Journal 2015

The Club’s annual Harvest Service at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in central London will be on Tuesday 13TH October at 5pm.

Our Preacher this year is Canon Dr Jill Hopkinson, National Rural Officer for the Church of England Mission and Public Affairs Division, Archbishops Council. The traditional Harvest Festival Supper will be held at 6.15pm back at The Club. The cost per person is £40. Apply on-line at www.thefarmersclub.com or complete and return the booking form enclosed

with this issue. Applications will be accepted on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Maximum three guests per member

Club Information • The Farmers Club Deaths It is with regret that we announce the death of the following members: Miss G Alston Suffolk Mr R Bishop Berkshire Revd Canon G Brown London Mrs S Clarke Dorset Mr B Fraser-Smith Devon Mrs C Harrison Yorkshire Mrs E Heath Oxfordshire Mr R Muddle Nottinghamshire Mr C Notcutt OBE Suffolk Mr S Packe-Drury-Lowe Leicestershire New Members The following were elected: UK Members Mr P Abbatt Mr P Askew Mr J Attrill Ms R Bailey Mr I Baker Mr R Bull Mr C Cardell Mr P Cavill Mr J Cole Professor H Constable Mr J Corbett Mr A Cottey Professor T Greet Mrs C Hilton Mr I Hudson Mr R Joseland Mr C Kersey Mr T Martin Mr J Martin Mr C Matts Mr H Merriman MP Mr A Mooij Sir James Paice PC DL Major K Robinson Mrs J Scrivener Ms L Somerset Mr T Somerset Webb Sir Richard Stagg KCMG Mr I Strudwick Mr M Suthern Mrs B Walker Mr R Warburton Mr N Waugh Mr A Wigglesworth Dr A Woods Overseas Mr I Morrell Mr K Petersen Under 30s Mr C Andrews Mr E Beale Miss A Briscoe Miss G Bullock Miss E Dalton Mr H Dashwood Mr J Driffield

Wiltshire London Isle of Wight Northamptonshire Norfolk Suffolk Cornwall London Kent Midlothian London Devon Suffok Cumberland Bedfordshire Gloucestershire Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Sussex Lancashire Cambridgeshire Shropshire Hampshire Worcestershire Midlothian Dorset Cheshire Lincolnshire Leicestershire Cumberland Selkirkshire Hertfordshire London Zambia Germany Norfolk Worcestershire Norfolk Worcestershire Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire Yorkshire

Miss Z Dunnett Mr I Ferguson Melville Wright Mr J Harrison Mr T Hopkin Miss K Jones Mr J Pile Mr J Thomas Mr H Webber

Suffolk London London Surrey Yorkshire Essex Suffolk Gloucestershire

Whitehall Court Mrs V Al Said Mr N Maher

London London

Forty Club Mr I Kalsi Mr R Vickerstaff

Kent Suffolk

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 prebookings. 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 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.

Storage of Shotguns Members are reminded that the Club does not hold a licence for the secure storage of shotguns.

There are however a number of “Registered Firearm Dealers” in London who offer this service.

Details are available from Reception.

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 Financial Controller Zarreena Neeson ext: 106 or direct line: 020 7925 7101 financialcontroller@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® Mix Credit. Elemental chlorine free (ECF) fibre sourced from well managed forests.

www.thefarmersclub.com • 23

Farmers Club

Events Application forms included in this and future Journals

Royal Welsh Show

Statoil Masters Tennis

Monday 20th July Drinks reception on the showground Application form in this issue

Friday 4th December Masters tennis at the Royal Albert Hall with supper in the Club beforehand

CLA Game Fair

Nutcracker Ballet

Saturday 1st August Joint drinks reception with Under 30s Application form in Summer issue

Friday 18th December English National Ballet’s Nutcracker at the London Coliseum with dinner in the Club before Application form in this issue

Westmorland Show Reception Thursday 10th September Drinks reception at the showground Application form in Summer issue

Buckingham Palace visit

New Year’s Eve Supper Party Thursday 31st December Supper party in the Club with a stunning view of the firework celebrations Application form in this issue

Friday 25th September Lunch in the Club followed by tour of Buckingham Palace. Application form enclosed in Summer issue

Stoneleigh Park Visit Wednesday 30th September Insight into developments at the National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre.

Application form in this issue

Har vest Festival Ser vice Tuesday 13th October Wonderful service with the choir at St Martin-in-the-Fields followed by Buffet Supper at the Club Application form in this issue

Apply online 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

AUGUST OPENING Farm Ownership Seminar Monday 19th October Event at the National Liberal Club, Whitehall Court, London

This year the Club is fully open throughout August – with hot meals, bar service and the terrace all fully available to members and guests and the dress code relaxed to weekend attire throughout the month. Book your room now on-line at wwww.thefarmersclub.com or call Reservations (020 7930 3557 ext 204).