Chairman’s Comments • Keith Redpath of the excellent facilities that the Club provides. It will also enable us to arrange events at short notice. As the year progresses I hope that it will be possible to hold several events farther afield including a trip to my home area in the Scottish Borders where my wife Grace and I farm near to Kelso. Farming business Our farming business is principally based around growing combinable crops. Autumn 2020 enabled us to sow our winter crops early thanks to some fantastic weather. The wheat and oilseed rape crops established well and look hardy and resilient, ready for any extreme winter weather. We also rent out land for growing potatoes which were lifted in dry conditions leaving the land in superb shape for sowing. This was in sharp contrast to the 2019/20 season. It is encouraging that the commodity prices for wheat, oilseeds, beef and sheep are strong this winter but disappointing that pork, barley, potatoes and vegetables prices are weaker.
Chairman’s Comments “The reality is that the planning of a comprehensive event programme for the Farmers Club in 2021 remains challenging.”
“The cuts to farm support, planned to be implemented on a sliding scale over a period of eight years, are going to have a significant impact.”
AS I sat down to draft my first Chairman’s Comments, in early December 2020, England was about to come out of lockdown and enter a tiered system of restrictions. The remaining countries of the UK were living under a variety of constraints in another attempt to try and bring the Covid pandemic under control. After what had felt like a very long year, many of us were weary of living with uncertainty, and were looking for some signs of hope as we entered 2021. How quickly the times change! Here we are in 2021 and Covid has put us into another lockdown. Thankfully, there is more optimism this time. Last November we learned that vaccines were about to be rolled out. Light, at last, at the end of the tunnel! Events planned Following on from the experience of past Chairman, Allan Stevenson’s year, who organized an interesting series of trips and visits, the reality is that the planning of a comprehensive event programme for the Farmers Club in 2021 remains challenging. Not knowing when the limitations we have been living with will be relaxed makes it impossible to proceed with any certainty. It is my intention, however, to involve Allan in the 2021 programme when he will host a number of last year’s cancelled events. Looking forward to this year I do hope that we will be able to attend the Agricultural Shows that actually take place. In addition, Allan is hoping to take a group to the Beaune wineries in September. Due to the ongoing unpredictability as to when our freedoms will be restored it is my intention to concentrate on organizing events in and around London this year. This will allow us to take advantage
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Throughout my 50 years in agriculture constantly changing returns for our produce have always been the case, so even in these strange times the ‘’up horn down corn’’ rule still applies! Food reputation Now we have left the European Union farmers face major change in how support is allocated with an emphasis on the environment and welfare. Subsidy is a considerable part of the majority of farmer’s income and so the cuts, are going to have a significant impact. These cuts will no doubt undermine food production as the reduction in support will make many farms unviable. The UK is renowned all over the world for producing quality food to the highest standard. Surely it is our aim to maintain that reputation. As you will be aware the Farmers Club is emerging from a very difficult year along with the whole hospitality industry. The financial impact has been huge. Andrei, Virginia, and the team have been under great stress, and dealing with the uncertainty has been almost unbearable at times. Making tough decisions that affect the lives of friends and colleagues takes a heavy toll. Words are inadequate to express the Committee’s gratitude to all those who have taken every possible opportunity to keep the Club functioning. Support your Club Please continue to support us with your membership. I am optimistic for the future and hopeful that we will bounce back this year. It is my sincere wish that once again we will be able to enjoy the benefits of being members of this great Club.
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