Autumn 2010 by The Farmers Club

THE FARMERS CLUB CHRISTMAS CARD 2010

Members are invited to order this year’s Farmers Club Christmas Card, featuring this stunning image of a Blencathra huntsman and foxhounds looking over Bassenthwaite in the heart of Cumbria’s Lake District. The card is printed with the Club crest and the greeting

“With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year” Available in packs of 10 the cards can be bought at Reception or ordered from the Secretariat using the order form on page 22. Profits from card sales will support the R.A.B.I. of England, Wales and N. Ireland and the R.S.A.B.I. of Scotland.

Henley Royal Regatta A splendid summer outing INSIDE • • • •

Farms feed the senses Charitable Trust 30 years on Knowledge transfer project Anaerobic digestion

APPLICATION FORMS: • Committee Election • Club Information Sheet BACK COVER: • Christmas card

Access the members section of the Club website at www.thefarmersclub.com using your individual Club membership number, which is printed on your Journal envelope

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS • Nicki Quayle

contents

THE FARMERS CLUB Over 160 years of service to farming 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL Patron – Her Majesty The Queen

Chairman’s Comments Water is essential to farming operations, so it is about time we had better forecasting and better water management too.

Industry outlook Synergies are there for the taking as farming grapples with the combined issues of food security, climate change and environmental protection.

As a nation so obsessed with water, why is managing it still such a major challenge? plan too, but maybe more emphasis might be placed on this considering their high profits. At home harvest is progressing at a steady pace amongst the showers. Yields have been variable, with oilseed rape better than expected and the grass finally growing for the cattle. Drilling is underway and I guess all too soon the cattle will be in again!

Ditching duplication Too much research and development money in Europe is wasted duplicating the efforts of others. A major initiative led by the Farmers Club aims to cut the waste. Country Channel TV Rural TV is the focus as a dedicated channel provides entertainment and education on the internet and Sky TV.

10 Anaerobic success A Staffs farm has a busy recycling agenda, generating electricity for sale and heat for on-farm strawberry production. 11 Food chain futures Unless the industry explains new and emerging technologies their benefits may be squandered. It happened with GM. It could happen again. 12 Thirtieth birthday 30 years on and still going strong. The Farmers Club Charitable Trust has supported a vast array of overseas study tours. Now it looks to the future. 14 Henley regatta A fine day out for the Club as it enjoys a private Thames-side enclosure at this popular summertime event. 16 Feeding the senses An exciting project is delivering on-farm sensory experiences to 10,000 less privileged members of society. 18 Under 30s Chairman’s report, plus event news 20 Roundup A lively look at what’s happening in our industry, including an exclusive book offer and an attention grabbing feature at Hampton Court Flower show. 21 Whitehall Court Ramblings Summer shows reviewed 22 Information and Diary Dates Your guide to all you need to know about Club activities, including the Autumn Garden Visits to East Sussex 24 Back Cover Christmas Card special offer FRONT COVER Henley Royal Regatta. Pictured are: Tristram and Anona van Lawick, Kelsey Wells, Daniel, Tristan and Lynette Derry and Fatos Selita.

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.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS • Nicki Quayle

It is said that as a nation we are obsessed with the weather. I think farmers are probably more paranoid than most, and rightly so, it is key to our farming activities and financial bottom line. David and I are no different, avidly watching daily forecasts and still desperately trying to find an accurate longer term forecast. It amazes me that in this day and age it still seems impossible to predict the week’s weather with any certainty. The forecast on BBC Countryfile is fairly good and usually plays a role in deciding the week’s activities. But who would have thought Cumbria would have a hosepipe ban this summer, the first in 14 years, following the driest January to June for 74 years, but bizarrely also following the awful floods of last November! Without doubt the reservoirs, and in particular Haweswater which feeds Manchester, are very low. Created in 1935 when the village of Mardale was flooded it can hold 18.6 billion gallons of water – enough to give everyone on the planet three baths. Water and water management is a big issue for the world and for us in the UK. We must become ‘smarter’ in the use of water and learn not to be so wasteful. However, every day more than 3.3 billion litres of treated water – 20% of the nation’s supply – is lost through leaking pipes. That would meet the daily needs of 21.5 million people. Our farm water bill means that if we have a leak we make sure we fix it and fast! Most water companies probably have a maintenance

For the past five years we have taken part in the ‘Birdtrack’ survey, an exciting project conducted in partnership with the BTO, RSPB, Birdwatch Ireland and the Scottish Ornithologist’s Club (see www.birdtrack.net). It provides supplementary information on some of the scarcer species in the UK. On average we have recorded over 23 species, including several recently announced to be in decline by DEFRA. In particular our tree sparrows are a real success story and our whitethroat and willow warbler populations are up. The boys are home from Uni – Doug helping me catch up with jobs at Moordyke, whilst Ben is conducting a research project at SAC Crichton Royal on automatic calf milking machines. Both joined me for a short stretch of my RABI sponsored walk along Hadrian’s Wall, with David providing the transport and back up. It was a thoroughly enjoyable, if somewhat humbling experience, retracing the steps of Roman soldiers so many thousand years ago. I’ve now completed the walk and would like to thank all those for their kind sponsorship, and should any of you still wish to contribute please visit www.justgiving.com/Nicki-Quayle. Parliament rises during August and this usually heralds the “silly” news season, with this year’s fiasco surrounding cloned cows doing nothing to help the general public’s perception of farming. Thank goodness ‘The Little Red Tractor’ is at last being recognised by the shopper as an independent mark of quality, guaranteeing food meets high standards of food safety and hygiene, animal welfare and environmental protection. It is worrying that following the reopening of the EU–Mercosur talks, imports of goods that fail to meet these high standards could be allowed. Thankfully, George

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010 • www.thefarmersclub.com

Lyons’ report, ‘The Future of the CAP after 2013’, adopted by MEPs in July, means the EU Commission and Council will take this into account when negotiations on the future of the CAP begin in earnest this autumn. The report recognises it is unacceptable for the EU to import food from countries whose production standards fall short of our own. It also covers the main themes of fair distribution of CAP support including Pillar I, the need for competitive agriculture, the need to tackle market and climatic fluctuations and the preservation of the CAP budget. There are many pressing issues for both the UK and EU parliaments when they resit, not least TB following the shock High Court decision against the badger cull in Wales. TB eradication is ambitious, but a battle we must win for the sake of healthy cows and badgers alike.

the heat winners of the Pig of the Year Award at the Royal Norfolk Show. I had a most enjoyable and educational morning and can now identify the difference between the Large White and Welsh White pig – I think! Lastly, the World Shearing Championships at the Royal Welsh Show. What a spectacular event, with over 160 top shearers and woolhandlers from 28 nations. I watched the hand shearing heats – the speed was impressive – definitely putting my feeble attempts with electric shears to shame! At many displays tractors, Ferguson

of the Shows we saw superb of lovingly restored vintage often including a Massey 135, the tractor I learnt to drive

on and which still works on my parents’ farm. One thing struck me – will modern tractors ever be displayed as ‘vintage’ in years to come? They need to be ‘plugged-in’ for servicing and diagnostic analysis. In fact a few years ago a mechanic informed us that our faulty tractor’s ‘brain had died’! Recently I also heard the sobering tale of a farmer who went to get his combine ready for harvest. He couldn’t get it started, so the mechanic was duly summoned. He was just as baffled. A call was made to the manufacturer and the problem resolved. It appears the farmer had not kept up his HP payments so the combine had been remotely ‘switched off’, presumably via satellite! Beware - it appears Big Brother doesn’t just watch these days!

For the first time the Club remained open throughout August and along with the ‘relaxed weekend dress code’ encouraged more members and their families to take visit London and enjoy a show. A less popular change at the Club concerns newspapers! For years the waste and cost of newspapers left outside members rooms, often never read, has been a concern. The Committee made the reluctant decision to ask members wishing to receive a newspaper to order one at Reception upon check-in. I accept and apologise that the change was not well implemented, but I hope you will appreciate that the decision was made with the best interests of our Club at heart. David and I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many of you at the many shows and club events this summer. Three highlights stand out for me. A visit to the 114th Nantwich Show, which hosts the world’s largest cheese show, involving 3230 cheeses from all over the world, provided an amazing sight and I was delighted that good friend and Club member, John Beckett of Belton Cheeses, won an impressive 27 Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, including a trophy for the best outright English Cheese! Hearty congratulations to John and all at Belton. Another highlight was presenting prizes to

Show season goes with a swing From the Highland Show to the South of England, the Ulster to the Royal Welsh and the Norfolk to the Devon Show, the Farmers Club was at many of the nation’s top farming events this summer. At the Royal Norfolk Show, bathed in glorious sunshine, Club chairman Nicki Quayle helped with the stock judging and is seen here with William Gregory (judge) presenting the Supreme Interbreed Champion Pig award to Andrew Wells of Gainsborough, Lincs, who won with his Large White Poplarburn Greta 87.

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010

GLOBAL AGENDA • Charles Abel

Farming is moving centre-stage on a host of key agendas. Here Charles Abel finds out why ADAS thinks our industry is ideally placed to provide benefits that are greater than the sum of the parts

Farming’s pivotal role in a web of inter-linking issues

James Clarke

Roger Sylvester-Bradley

Food for the masses and environmental benefits too? Farming can deliver.

FOOD security is one of mankind’s most pressing issues. It is one of the most complex too. Not only is it a challenge in itself, but it has deep links with a host of other critical issues facing our planet. The equation is simple; based on population forecasts and current food output, global food production needs to increase 50% in the next 30 years. But the interlinked issues of global warming, energy security, land use and environmental protection all need dealing with too. The good news is that farming is ideally placed to exploit that web of inter-linking factors, delivering solutions that bring headline benefits for one sector, and additional benefits in others as well. Farming’s net contribution really could be greater than the sum of its individual actions. “The complexity of the challenge really is the root of the solution,” explains James Clarke, science and business development manager at ADAS, one of the UK’s leading providers of agricultural and environmental solutions, rural development services and policy advice. By considering challenges in the round a 21st century approach to food security can be developed, which also addresses carbon, water and biodiversity footprints. The previous Government’s Food 2030 document sets the industry’s four-fold agenda as: food security, environmental 4

benefits, global leadership on food sustainability, and consumer access to healthy, sustainable food at affordable prices (see panel 1). It’s a wide remit. But ADAS believes there is real scope to improve on what is being done. There is no single solution, but by working together industry and policymakers can harness numerous marginal gains, including improved productivity, more efficient use of resources and the development of technological advances. And most important of all, the interaction with other issues needs taking into account, and synergies exploiting wherever possible. A prime example is land use. Diverting more land into crop production, which can feed more people per unit area than an equivalent livestock operation, may seem sensible. But converting permanent pasture to arable can increase greenhouse gas production ten-fold, whilst converting forest to arable can bring a 30- to 40-fold rise in greenhouse gases. Instead, livestock can be looked at as producers of livestock food products, and as vegetation managers, a vital role in upland areas. Their grazing is both effective land use and provides the landscape and wildlife values that people have come to expect, with grasslands playing an important role in locking up carbon dioxide and regulating the flow of rain into water courses.

Boost productivity Indeed, as a temperate country, there is a persuasive argument that the UK has a global social responsibility to work towards its own self sufficiency, continues Roger Sylvester-Bradley, principal research scientist. That not only secures the UK’s food security, it avoids it becoming a burden on countries where global warming could curb productivity. With the UK currently about 60% self sufficient, there is clearly some way to go. But ADAS believes there is plenty of scope to grow more food on the same area of land, while delivering beneficial environmental impacts. “Advances in husbandry mean yields of wheat and oilseed rape could be increased by about 70%,” notes Prof. SylvesterBradley. “Simultaneously, greenhouse gas intensities and other undesirable emissions could be reduced.”

Reduce impacts The potential for reducing environmental impacts is also clear. On the face of it the relationship between food production and the environment is all one way - industry takes without putting back. Every indication is that this is unsustainable. Whilst carbon issues are well to the fore, water issues have had less attention. Climate change could mean hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters, so it is not difficult to foresee some crop production migrating northwards and westwards to where the water is in the UK, say Jeremy Wiltshire, crop scientist and Chris Fawcett, head of water consultancy. Future government legislation will demand cuts in carbon emissions from farming to meet targets in its Low Carbon Transition Plan. Adopting BSI’s PAS 2050 specification for assessing greenhouse gas emissions can help food chains address carbon emissions. A similar approach is needed for water. ADAS is already working with PepsiCo to improve the sustainability of its Walkers Crisps potato supply chain, with working groups considering how to measure, monitor and manage four key sustainability areas: carbon, crop protection, direct energy and water footprints.

Reduce waste But food security isn’t just about improved production. It is about reduced waste too. This is a key area where food security wins can benefit other areas too, says Phil Metcalfe, waste product leader. Food waste represents one third of the UK’s municipal waste, with a further 1.9m tonnes of commercial food waste landfilled each year, creating significant amounts of greenhouse gases, especially methane, which is 20 times more damaging than carbon dioxide.

The level of such waste has grown as strict quality standards exclude lower quality raw materials from the food chain. It is a travesty such waste is not given a valuable second life.

But huge volumes of contaminated feedstocks still cannot be processed because of a lack of technological knowhow or because regulations render them unusable.

This nexus between dumping waste and growing food is where joined up thinking between commercial and public sectors can help, with a growing trend for recycling food waste, digestate and biosolids as partial substitutes for manufactured fertilisers.

Food supplies can be secured, at the same time as meeting the energy, environmental and ethical issues, provided the best ideas, specialist knowledge and solutions are harnessed and synergies exploited wherever possible, concludes ADAS Group managing director Colin Speller.

Food 2030 goals for a sustainable, secure food system • Food production: sustainable resource use, continued benefits from a healthy natural environment, high standards of animal health and welfare, safe food, benefits for rural communities, global leadership in food sustainability. • Socio-economic: consumers informed, able to choose and afford healthy, sustainable food, produced by profitable, competitive, highly skilled, resilient farming, fishing and food businesses, supported by first class research and development. • Food security: strong UK agriculture and food sectors, international trade links, support for developing economies. • Environment: efficient use of resources and waste used for recycling, reuse and energy generation.

Phosphate boost Phosphate supply demonstrates the benefits of better waste recycling. Phosphorous is an essential nutrient in crop growth, with needs currently supplemented by artificial fertilisers. But rock phosphate extraction is estimated to peak and then fall from 2030, posing a threat to global food production. A

sustainable solution exists by accessing the plentiful and renewable sources of phosphorous in composts, food waste digestates and treated sewage sludge. These are a rich source of organically bound phosphorous that return a vital nutrient to the land and improve soil structure.

“The complexity of the challenge really is the root of the solution,” James Clarke, ADAS science and business development manager

If commodity prices stabilise at higher levels, so farms make profits more regularly, farming and the supply industry should be able to invest to address the fundamental challenge of sustainable productivity. “Large production gains could be made without compromising the environment. But if we are to turn theory into reality, careful planning, prioritisation and targeted investment will be required.”

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010 • www.thefarmersclub.com

Jeremy Wiltshire

Chris Fawcett

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010

FARMING RESEARCH • Richard Holland

Boosting knowledge flow for cattle farmers More efficient knowledge transfer in the livestock industry is the goal of an ambitious new project, as Club vice-chairman Richard Holland explains

EUROPE, livestock farming and the funding of applied research and development have long been close to my heart. This major new project, in which the Farmers Club is taking a key role alongside the RASE, brings all three together in a way that could make a lasting difference for our industry. Over 20 years of working with the Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust and six years with the Milk Development Council I have seen the value of good knowledge transfer. But I have also seen inefficiencies. An MDC visit to the Dutch Dairy Board in 2003 highlighted the duplication of R&D in EU countries. It emerged that the respective technical managers of each organisation had been given the same research priorities and a budget of £1m each to investigate them – separately. Imagine what a pooled £2m could have achieved! As a long standing Europhile, having worked for six months on a farm in Germany in 1964 and three months on a farm in Spain the following year, it has been an ambition to encourage more cooperation. The Farmers Club is proving to be an ideal catalyst. The potential is huge. Defra statistics show the scale of our industry, with nearly 27,000 dairy holdings and 65,000 with beef cattle across the UK. But widen the view to the whole of the European Union and the numbers jump to nearly 23 million dairy cattle, producing over 500 million tonnes of milk. Over 600,000 people are involved in the EU dairy industry, which has a turnover of €117 billion. In many member states these producers are represented by national levy boards, managing a wide range of development, knowledge transfer, marketing and promotional programmes. 6

Partner organisations UK: The Farmers Club, RASE, AHDB, RABDF, Biosciences KTN, Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust.

In the UK the dairy and beef industries are represented by DairyCo and EBLEX, both under the umbrella of the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board. But while good international collaboration exists on the subject of breeding value estimation (eg Interbull and Intergenomics), there is little collaboration when it comes to industry-funded development activity and knowledge transfer.

require joined up thinking and action, with real concerns that control measures in one country, such as the UK target for an 80% reduction by 2050, can simply result in production and emissions being ‘exported’ to another country.

The potential for fostering greater collaboration can be illustrated in two simple ways. First, if just one UK levy board and one other EU levy board agree to cofinance development work, each body could save £200,000 per year, for the same outcomes. If that saving is then invested in new development and knowledge transfer activity, with a return on investment of, say six to one, then over five years this project would deliver £6m onto the bottom line of UK businesses in the sector.

• share and discuss their priority themes (especially in relation to GHG);

• a more coherent and coordinated approach to developing knowledge transfer,

Willem Koops has been very helpful, supported by particular collaboration with The Farmers Club and AHDB.

Second, if a new approach to greenhouse gas reduction can be developed and disseminated just one year sooner, thanks to collaboration, reducing GHG through improved efficiency in dairy production with a very small net value of £2 additional return per cow, the value if it gets 35% industry uptake would be £1.3m in one year.

• prioritisation of research requirements needing an EU investment to be fed into Framework programmes by the FABRE European Technology Platform,

The project will help address innovation opportunities in cattle genomics and breeding, feed materials and feed ingredients/additives, animal health and reproduction technologies, grass breeding and grassland management.

Joint research at a pan-European level takes place mainly through the EU FP7, coordinated by the likes of the FABRE Technology Platform. However, there is no coherent approach to development or knowledge transfer across Europe to follow up on these research outputs. Challenges such as reducing greenhouse gas production from livestock farming

Overseas: Dutch Dairy Board, Irish Cattle Breeding Association, DLG, Danish Dairy Board, European Dairy Farmers, EFFAB, CRPA Italy and others.

This project, backed by the UK Technology Strategy Board’s Knowledge Transfer Network International Fund, aims to create a forum for the main levy organisations in the European Cattle industry to meet to:

Timeline: Jun 2010: Initial partners meet and recruit more EU partners. Aug – Nov 2010: Partner excursions to participating countries to see KT in action. Feb 2011: Cattle KT Conference and Partnering Event, London

• share best practice on development activity and knowledge transfer • explore the potential to co-finance activities.

Apr 2011: European collaboration agreements and sharing best practice.

Greater European collaboration in research, development and knowledge transfer could help UK farmers address challenges like greenhouse gas emissions from livestock more successfully.

May 2011 onwards: Sharing best practice and co-financing activities.

The hope is that this will lead to:

• specific collaboration and co-investment agreements to deliver more impact. The forum will provide a general opportunity for enhanced collaboration, but will specifically focus on levy-funded development and knowledge transfer to reduce greenhouse gas production by cattle farming systems, in a food security context. The forum is being facilitated by the Bioscience KTN, managed by Toine Roozen, who made the successful bid to TSB, and the Dutch Dairy Board, where

“If just one UK levy board and one other EU levy board agree to co-finance development work, that could save each body £200,000 per year, for the same outcomes.”

By seeking bioscience innovations to help provide sufficient food for a growing global population, whilst reducing the sector’s environmental footprint, the project aligns itself with the Environmental Sustainability Application Area of TSB. In the UK the levy bodies and RASE already have communication channels with

levy payers and related industries and these will be the primary dissemination mechanisms utilised. The Biosciences KTN will also ensure the key outcomes are disseminated one-to-many through its networking of networks. The Farmers Club Journal will also play its part. Reports on the network’s findings and successes will be augmented by presentations at relevant events, case studies and information available through the web portals of the participating organisations, including the Biosciences KTNs. It is hoped that the cross-border nature of the project will lead to new collaborations between business and the science base, as

well as between businesses, as novel products and technologies are developed. Such new collaborations will result in new investments in joint activity, delivering greater impact from limited industry funds. I believe this project will reinforce the UK’s position as an international bioscience leader. It also fulfils The Farmers Club’s role as a driver of innovation in the farming sector. Any relevant contacts within EU countries would be gratefully received. As the RASE’s Denis Chamberlain says: “This project could save the industry across Europe millions of euros.”

Rhine study tour 2011 A key part of The Farmers Club visit to the Rhineland region of Germany next spring will be knowledge transfer in a European context, and in livestock farming in particular. It is hoped that the five night tour will include agricultural visits, time at the acclaimed BUGA garden show in Koblenz and cruising on the scenic River Rhine. There is an upper limit of 120 participants, so do let Club secretary Stephen Skinner know if you are interested

in joining this unique opportunity to visit the scenic Rhine valley. Outline itinerary: Day 1

travel from UK

Day 2

farm visits

Day 3

cruise to BUGA show

Day 4

Rhine cruise

Day 5

return travel to UK

Cruising on the Rhine THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010 • www.thefarmersclub.com

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010

COUNTRYSIDE • Robert MacDougall-Davis

The Country Channel Trust is a specialist countryside education service bolted onto a fast-growing internet TV channel. Robert MacDougall-Davis explains

Rural TV over the internet has strong education focus COUNTRY CHANNEL has become one of the most watched specialist internet TV channels in the world. Run from a converted barn in West Oxfordshire it beams high quality rural programming to more than 150,000 regular viewers worldwide. The programming is diverse, featuring over 200 hours of free-to-view countryside content, spanning 48 topic areas, subdivided into six major strands: Farming, Lifestyle, Wildlife and Animals, Recreation, Equestrian and Country Pursuits. Viewers can watch programmes on topics including country pursuits (fishing and hunting), equestrian, wildlife and animals, farming, homes and gardens, heritage, arts and crafts, shows and festivals and countryside politics. Founder and chief executive Paul Aitken’s inspiration for the Country Channel sprang from his passion for country matters and his desire to give a voice to the countryside: “I believe passionately that I want to give the countryside a voice. It has been

All the educational material and television programming supported by the The Country Channel Trust (registered charity: 1124337) is broadcast on the free-to-view Country Channel at www.countrychannel.tv, where scheduled programmes and video-on-demand are available 24/7 worldwide. Selected Country Channel programming is also available on Sky 171 Mon-Fri - 7am-8am, 12pm-1pm & 6pm-8pm Sat-Sun – 7-8am & 12-2pm. Much of The Country Channel’s work, alongside the Trust, is non-commercial. The Trust is open to suggestions for educational films, but like all charities relies on donations to fund its work. Donations can be made by Paypal or cheque to the Trust’s address (visit: www.countrychanneltrust.org or call 01608 649311). Membership of the Trust costs £25 per year, which helps the Trust develop its educational work. 8

The Trust’s mission is to advance the education of the public, and in particular young people, in matters concerning or connected with the countryside. Launched at the 2008 CLA Game Fair by renowned country chef Mike Robinson, it examines issues concerning all aspects of the countryside. Filming for global distribution with presenter Bill Turnbull

fragmented and, here at the Country Channel, we can look at all the issues holistically and give air time to the array of country matters. We want to air the real issues and real people in the countryside.” Programmes range from educational features, such as the plight of the honeybee and a monthly series documenting the farming year, The Naked Truth. There is also a series on fishing and of engaging face to face interviews with eminent countryside figures. Highlights of the Country Channel’s first three years have included a live six hour webcast of the Countryside Rocks festival from Highclere Castle, with Bryan Ferry, Stevie Winwood and Eric Clapton, exclusive coverage of Blenheim Horse Trials, and a behind the scenes visit to BBC Radio 4’s flagship countryside programme, The Archers. The Country Channel also filmed for Prince Charles 60th birthday celebrations in Norfolk with Music in Country Churches.

Trust Running alongside the internet TV channel is the Country Channel Trust, geared to delivering countryside education. “It is an essential piece in the jigsaw for improving countryside education,” enthuses Mr Aitken. “It enables programmes to be produced that would otherwise have not been made, about key issues that affect everybody. We are at the start of the development of the Trust and having the Duke of Westminster as the patron clearly demonstrates the commitment of senior landowners to the concept of linking education and the countryside.”

The Trust specialises in airing untold stories from the countryside, enabling and distributing educational films, DVDs and interactive web-based content for teachers, students, parents and the general public. Alongside the Duke of Westminster as patron, a team of six trustees, supported by the generosity of other parties, has established a reputation for delivering successful projects. Trustees include BBC Breakfast’s Bill Turnbull, Director of the Festival of Horse Clive Hetherington and renowned animal behavioural expert Gwen Bailey. The Trust actively works with educational and environmental organisations, including Farming and Countryside Education (FACE), The Countryside Foundation for Education (CFE), The National Farmers’ Union, Natural England and many others.

educational website, LANDed (www.landeducation.co.uk). The Trust also brought Grow with Me to fruition, a green-fingered programme presented by champion grower Medwynn Williams, which showcases a scheme intended to inspire pre-school children to start growing their own produce. Currently in production is A Legacy for the Future, a documentary telling the story of one of Britain’s most celebrated creatures; the red squirrel. Immortalized by Beatrix Potter, in her book Tales of Squirrel Nutkin, the red squirrel was once a common sight in woodland Britain, but it is now on the verge extinction from the mainland. Today, relatively isolated populations survive under increasing ecological competition from the non-native greysquirrel. This film, narrated by Alan Titchmarsh, reveals the plight of the red squirrel and will be broadcast in the autumn of 2010.

Rural Broadband ALTHOUGH The Country Channel has many loyal urban viewers it is committed to serving those who live and work in the countryside. Rural broadband coverage is currently patchy, with some areas better served than others. Rural broadband links, whether by cable or satellite, are expensive and difficult to install. Current government policy is to support rural broadband access and increase coverage, although there has been little evidence of this in practice and coverage is not increasing fast enough. Mr Aitken has held preliminary talks with rural broadband providers about the possibility of working in partnership to beam The Country Channel and rural broadband into the depths of the countryside.

Over the next five years internet TV is expected to expand rapidly, particularly now Samsung and Sony, amongst other manufacturers, have installed internet TV viewing capabilities in all televisions. To keep pace with the ever evolving digital media environment The Country Channel is planning a re-design of its internet TV player to bring it to the cutting edge of internet TV broadcasting. But while Country Channel is keen to expand, it has struggled to persuade some of the big countryside organisations to help. Many seem to be too centred on corporate goals rather than real issues in the countryside that deserve coverage, it maintains.

Country Channel TV aims to bring rural issues to life.

A particularly successful Trust production has been The Countryside News produced in collaboration with FACE with a grant from The Ernest Cook Foundation. This is a countryside news programme informing young people about important issues in the British countryside. Another part of the trust’s extensive educational resource is its interactive

“It enables programmes to be produced that would otherwise have not been made, about key issues that affect everybody.” Prince Charles features in “Music from Norfolk churches”

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010 • www.thefarmersclub.com

Paul Aitken, Country Channel founder.

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010

Country Channel Player – www.countrychannel.tv

GREEN ENTERPRISE

FOOD CHAIN

£3m anaerobic digestion plant opens on farm

Lower Reule Bioenergy team (left to right) Carol and Ian Critchley, Helen Franklin and Charles Kidson, strawberry production director.

Ian Critchley’s Lower Reule AD plant already processes 15,000t of organic waste.

A £3m green enterprise that will generate enough renewable energy to power 1,300 local homes and businesses, and produce a nutrient-rich biofertiliser, is up and running on a Staffordshire farm.

Most of the material going through the AD plant is separated food waste collected at the kerbside by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, plus food waste from supermarkets and food manufacturers. The AD plant will also process 1,000 tonnes of pig slurry and 1,250 tonnes of maize silage each year from the farm.

Ian Critchey of Lower Reule Farm used a £750,000 grant from the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to support the pioneering new venture based on the anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic waste from his farm and the local council. “The AD plant offers a very exciting diversification opportunity for the farm,” comments Mr Critchley, director of Lower Reule Bioenergy. “Not only do we have products to use and sell in the form of power and biofertiliser, we also have excess heat available to extend our existing strawberry business or possibly set up another enterprise.” Mr Critchley keeps 1,800 pigs and grows a variety of arable crops, including maize, wheat, barley and oats. He also supplies approximately 1,400 tonnes per year of strawberries to supermarkets from the 200ha (500 acre) farm he has run since 1971.

The biogas produced by the AD plant will be burned through a Combined Heat and Power plant (CHP), producing equal amounts of heat and power. Approximately 1.3MW per year of power will be supplied to the National Grid, in addition to the electricity needed to run the AD unit itself. Lower Reule is already trading its electricity on the open market, securing an average price of 36.5pence/MWH, with Renewable Obligation Certificates trading at around 48p each. A number of options are being considered for the heat, which may be used to heat strawberry tunnels on the farm, to extend the growing season, or to produce asparagus on heated beds or dry woodchip for the biomass industry.

“The AD plant offers a very exciting diversification opportunity for the farm” Ian Critchley, Lower Reule Bioenergy

The nutrient-rich bio-fertiliser which is an end result of the AD process is being produced to the national specification – BSI PAS110 – and used as a fertiliser on grass and arable land at Lower Reule and on neighbouring farms. A representative from Lower Reule attended one of WRAP’s PAS110 workshops, designed to introduce the standard and give training and guidance on how to meet it. The plant currently has capacity to process 15,000 tonnes of waste per year, but will be able to process 30,000 tonnes by the autumn, when a second phase of development is completed. The AD plant was supplied by WELtec and the 526kw Deutz MWM CHP engine by 2-G. “Lower Reule Bioenergy provides a perfect example of the scope and versatility of AD as a sustainable business opportunity,” comments Louise McGregor, supply programme manager at WRAP. “We are committed to supporting this technology, which will not only help to divert millions of tonnes of biodegradable waste from landfill, but also help the UK deliver on climate change and wider environmental objectives.” To be cost effective AD plants of this kind need to be able to process 25-30,000 tonnes of waste each year, notes WRAP. That would require a total budget of £2-10m, depending on the choice of technology supplier and location. Costs rise in densely populated areas in order to control odour control. On-farm waste processing has been broadly embraced by the local population, notes Trevor Nicoll, head of waste strategy at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. “We’ve had a great response to our separate collections of food and garden waste with recycling rates jumping from 27% to 53% in the month they were introduced. One of the reasons for this tremendous support is that people understand how their food waste is being recycled in the local area to create valuable resources and they are very supportive of the scheme.”

Biofertiliser is spread back onto fields. Pic courtesy of BiogenGreenfinch.

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010 • www.thefarmersclub.com

EVERYBODY working in the food chain faces uncertainty – and it is on the rise. Whether those uncertainties stem from sustainability, food security, climate change or shifting consumer habits, predicting the future is increasingly difficult. “We just don’t know how uncertain the uncertainties are, but we do know that predicting them is becoming increasingly difficult,” comments Prof Vivian Moses, Emeritus Professor of Microbiology at Queen Mary College, London and Visiting Professor in Biotechnology at King’s College London. The good news is that new and existing technologies can play a pivotal role in alleviating some of those uncertainties, providing affordable, nutritious food in a sustainable way. But their benefits will only be seen if their adoption is discussed rationally first. That is why Prof Moses and two colleagues have created the Food Chain Research and Technology Network (FCRTN). Launched at the European Parliament in May it aims to improve efficiency across the entire food chain, with clearer communication of technical issues as a cornerstone of that process. “People are very sensitive about what they eat and rightly so,” notes Martin Livermore a food and agricultural biotechnology expert who has worked for Unilever, Dalgety Food Ingredients, DuPont and Agricultural Biotechnology in Europe. “They only tend to become concerned if issues are raised, but if they are they can become very black and white in their thinking. Achieving a rational debate is essential.” In Europe today that is difficult, in spite of the urgency, because of the widespread distrust of modern science, and technology in general, notes colleague Roger Turner, a Farmers Club member and former chief executive of the British Society of Plant Breeders. “We need a future where consumers trust all the links in the food chain to meet their needs, and where they not only trust the end product, but trust the technology that delivers it too.” In a world of great uncertainty, in which the FAO predicts a doubling in food demand by 2050, climate change adds to the impetus. “Increasing output in an environmentallyfriendly way makes even more demands on technology. It would be hard enough under any circumstances, but current concerns about our future climate add both to the uncertainty and to the urgency,” notes Dr Turner.

Technology talk set to tempt consumers Building faith in the appliance of science

Prof Vivian Moses: “No silver bullets”

Dr Roger Turner: “More demands on technology”

Martin Livermore: “Rational debate essential”

“We need a future where consumers trust all the links in the food chain, and where they not only trust the end product, but trust the technology that delivers it too.” Roger Turner, FCRTN Britain’s food chain is dynamic and innovative, driven by a rapid uptake of technology and rapid retailer responses to consumer attitudes. Now it needs to address communications more strongly. Helping build understanding to prevent the sensationalisation of technical innovations, as happened with GM crops in Europe 15 years ago, is essential. Problems need to be identified, solutions developed and technology-related messages communicated, be they in livestock and crop genetics, optimum input use, improved storage, processing and delivery to consumers, or waste minimisation. “There are no silver bullets, because there are no individual underlying problems,” notes Prof Moses. “But through incremental steps technology can help us achieve some big rewards, as the global population rises from 6.8bn now to a predicted 9bn by 2050.” Nanotechnology, exploiting molecular scale developments, is an example, which could improve fertiliser uptake in crops and veterinary medicine efficacy in livestock. Similarly, new technologies for producing biofuels from waste and non-food feedstocks will allow farmers to get back to concentrating on food production.

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010

Growing meat in laboratories, rather than as livestock, is a prime example. It addresses animal welfare and environmental concerns, but still struggles with consumer acceptability. Similarly, cutting livestock production to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would also have issues, if ploughing out grazing land accelerates green house gas emissions. “I do believe that if new and existing technologies are properly explained they can help deliver the efficient food chains of the future that society is looking for,” Prof Moses concludes.

MORE INFORMATION: • www.foodchaincic.co.uk/index.html • www.ifr.ac.uk/waste/research.htm • www.research4development.info/ SearchResearchDatabase.asp? ProjectID=2362 • www.relu.ac.uk/events/ Eventsandmeetings.htm • www.foodsecurity.ac.uk/assets/pdfs/ programme-sponsors-partners.pdf • gow.epsrc.ac.uk/ViewGrant.aspx? GrantRef=GR/T29123/01

FARMERS CLUB CHARITABLE TRUST • John Kerr

Over £500,000 invested in farming THE JOURNEY SO FAR

families have also made very generous gifts to the trust funds.

implications of global positioning, biotechnology, food legislation and molecular science have all come under scrutiny.

THIRTY years ago the Farmers Club Charitable Trust was established to “promote the science and technology of agriculture in all its aspects for the public benefit”. Three decades later the Trust has delivered more than £500,000 of funding for a wide range of farming projects, taking UK agriculturalists to all four corners of the globe.

This has ensured that the Trust continues to meet its objectives of disseminating information, providing bursaries, or courses connected with the study of agriculture, and supporting activities calculated in particular to advance education and training in agriculture.

The brainchild of the late Trevor Muddiman, the Trust made its first grants in 1981, initially funded by donations and covenants from Farmers Club members, generously matched by the late Sir John Eastwood. In the late 1990s Trevor Muddiman’s wife, Stella, who is now a valued trustee, very generously transferred assets from a private family trust to the Farmers Club Charitable Trust. Over the years other club members and their

Over 120 travel bursaries have supported projects as diverse as fish farming in Japan and Korea, value-added milk production in Australia, share farming in New Zealand and viticulture in California. The farming

THIRTY YEARS ON IN 2010 In most years the Trust makes grants of over £20,000. This year, despite the economic downturn, we have made grants totalling £30,000, in support of studies in

Uruguay, Uganda, Canada, Australia, Germany and the USA. The diversity of subjects (see list) is a wonderful testament to the enthusiasm of the applicants and highlights the very great value to the whole UK farming industry. Over the years beneficiaries have come mainly from educational establishments and the extension services throughout the United Kingdom. Having served as ambassadors of the Farmers Club and UK farming during their study tours many have gone on to play leading roles in the education sector. Reports published in the Journal highlight the very high quality of the award recipients and the excellence of their work.

to 50, to widen and develop their own technical expertise outside the UK, enhancing their own career prospects and ultimately benefitting all the students for which they are responsible by sharing their experiences with future generations working in farming and the allied industries and professions.

future generations of agriculturalists, and to facilitate the exchange of academic knowledge. Thirty years later, with the industry facing new challenges and an urgent need for a better public understanding of valuable and proven new science, I cannot envisage a more laudable goal.

The closing date for applicants is midFebruary each year, with interviews of short-listed candidates conducted in midMarch and grants awarded thereafter, for post-graduate short-term study tours, normally overseas and rarely exceeding six weeks.

The Trust always welcomes new funds by way of donation or legacies to maintain this valuable work and to add to the Trust endowment funds. If you feel that you, or an individual, organisation or trust you know can help, please contact Club secretary Stephen Skinner snskinner@thefarmersclub.com or myself john@kerrfarms.com in confidence. We look forward to a further 30 years of helping the future of British agriculture.

THE NEXT 30 YEARS At its inception the Trustees were keen to broaden the experience of those educating

The post-graduate award assists those employed in agricultural education, aged 22

ABERDEEN UNI (27) SAC ABERDEEN (6, 40, 76) ELMWOOD (84) EDINBURGH UNI (15)

NORWAY (48) ICELAND (114) RUSSIA (84) CANADA (2, 4, 17, 43, 49, 54, 87, 89, 90, 91, 107, 115, 117, 122)

SAC AYR (34, 35)

ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE (93) EIRE (36)

POLAND & BULGARIA (85)

MYERSCOUGH (17, 37, 49, 61, 111)

EUROPE (35, 42, 51, 66, 71, 72, 100, 102, 116)

SPAIN (39)

ROMANIA, CZECH REP. NETHERLANDS (92)

LEICESTERSHIRE (26)

FRANCE, SPAIN & SWITZERLAND (80)

DE MONTFORT (45) JAPAN (46)

REASEHEATH (115)

BEDFORD (24)

HARPER ADAMS (11, 13, 38, 47, 70, 72, 83, 85, 90, 91, 96, 98, 101, 113, 117, 119)

HONG KONG & SOUTH CHINA (119)

AFRICA (36)

CRANFIELD (86, 99, 106)

LLYSFASI (22, 92)

TAIWAN & JAPAN (5)

CENTRAL AMERICA (58)

BISHOP BURTON (75, 82) NOTTINGHAM UNI (123)

BELGIUM (93)

USA (2, 15, 20, 21, 23, 29, 31, 33, 37, 49, 58, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 82, 83, 89, 91, 103, 104, 106, 108, 115, 118, 119, 121)

SAC GREYCROOK (55) WIGTON (2)

GERMANY (119)

UK (1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 32, 71, 72, 81, 101, 106, 111)

SAC EDINBURGH (18, 28, 32, 50, 63, 64, 97, 107, 109, 110, 116, 121, 122)

ISLE OF BUTE (16)

CAMBS (10)

EASTON (23, 25) BELIZE (28)

SOUTH EAST ASIA (58)

THAILAND & MALAYSIA (98)

UNIVERSITY OF WALES (87) OXON (4) WAC (7, 14)

GHANA (88)

BERKS (19)

UGANDA (120) SINGAPORE (46)

OTLEY (89) WARWICKSHIRE COLLEGE (67)

PERU (93) BRAZIL (93)

WRITTLE (30, 46, 53, 62, 94, 108)

GELLI AUR (54) ESSEX (33, 42) RAC (1, 9, 29, 39, 52, 58, 65, 71, 73, 81, 93, 124)

AUSTRALIA (13, 18, 46, 50, 57, 62, 64, 65, 86, 105, 110, 111, 113, 123) CHILE (44)

LONDON (100)

USK (105)

KENT (3, 8)

WILTSHIRE COLLEGE (102)

URAGUAY (124)

WYE (20, 21, 41, 43, 51, 59, 78)

SOUTH AFRICA (34) LACKHAM (31) TASMANIA (57)

PLUMPTON (56, 68, 88, 95, 103, 104, 118)

SEALE HAYNE (5, 60, 77) NZ (9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 22, 40, 62, 65, 69, 73, 95, 96, 97, 99, 109, 111)

KINGSTON MAURWARD (80)

SPARSHOT (12, 44, 48, 57, 74, 79, 114, 120)

READING UNI (36)

MERRIST WOOD (66)

Key to projects 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

Year

Name

Topic

1981 1982 1983 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1986 1986 1986 1987 1987 1987 1987 1988

Knight Cowen Fell Greasby Campbell & Slee Entwhistle Bell Turner Jones Graves Minter Cordery John Owen Stott Lyon

Farming media Co-ops Fat lambs Straw utilisation Fish farming Hedging potatoes Neo-natal pigs Fruit market Share farming Industrial crops Sheep production Deer farming Value-added milk Grass growth + use Dairy cow profits Free markets

17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.

Year

Name

Topic

1988 1988 1989 1989 1989 1989 1990 1990 1990 1990 1991 1992 1992 1992 1992 1992

Wherry Wylie Baines Bent Potter Till Pitkin Russell Benyon Stones Roden Rees Harrison Bishop Ridgeway McGregor

Specialist crops Training & education White clover Information systems Set-aside lessons Sheep breeding Computers Large sheep flocks 1992 farmer influence Pig welfare Co-op sheep breeding Tropical agriculture Biotechnology Crop storage Vocational training Economics

33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48.

Year

Name

Topic

1993 1993 1993 1993 1994 1994 1994 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1996

Norris Bromilow McRoberts Dorward Hart Parry Evans Mitchell Poole Smith Watt Hide Smith Raggett Pattison Koss

Farm support Farm systems Crop protection Farm advice Planning Molecular technology Forestry Sheep parasites Fish marketing CAP reform Deer grazing Fish farming Landscape ecology Farming Dairy farming Fish farming

49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64.

Year

Name

Topic

1996 1996 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1999 1999 1999

Tyson Perkins Simmons Scott-Andrews Hill Morden Baird Whittaker Burdass Davies Dedman Fuller Stanfield Hart McCracken Daniels

Distance learning GPS in farming Conservation Fine fibres Silage wilting Diversification Sheep disease Horse management Fish farming Crop production Enviro reporting Frost protection Work placements Herbs Less intensive farming Disease from wildlife

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010 • www.thefarmersclub.com

65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80.

Year

Name

Topic

1999 1999 1999 1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2001 2001 2001 2001 2002 2002 2002

Baines MacAdam Fellows Lamb Riddle Florey Martin Parrott Morris Crawford Johnson Sinclair Soffe Cook Baldwin Daw

Food regulation Education Equine studies Large dairy herds Livestock monitoring Risk management Agchem industry Egg sector decline Food safety Management Equine nutrition Molecular science Leadership education Water protection Fisheries management Rural economics

Year

Name

Topic

81. 82. 83.

2002 2002 2003

Hemmings Lavington Wilcox

84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94.

2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005

Franks Tappin Knox Christie Dunstone Ridley Byrne De Silva Roberts Aguiar Bishop

Equine neurochemistry Riding for disabled Agri-environment schemes Co-op farming Conservation Water scarcity Environmental impacts Veterinary nursing Self-help groups Rural policing Trespass + land use Environmental impacts Ethically traded coffee Traditional livestock pest control

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010

95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110.

Year

Name

Topic

2005 2005 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008

Foss Waterson Bromilow Crook Dresser Knock Crook Malins Smith Van Heerden Tranter Bartlett Bell Chikunya Dargie McSorley

Winemaking Farm forestry Sustainable farming Biodiesel Soil management Carbon-friendly farming Bioethanol Wild boar Horse biomechanics Super dairies Animal health Turf farming Heifer rearing Milk & meat fats Knowledge transfer Rural development

111. 112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124.

Year

Name

Topic

2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010

Northrop Knock Preston West Phillips Hoad Byrne Cowderoy Humphries Love Moran Sandilands Sparkes Topolansky Barbe

Horse racetracks Carbon Rating valuations Ecology protection Turf management Cereal varieties Food security Wine-making Anaerobic digestion Fish farming Greenhouse gases Poultry Soils & Water Broilers

SUMMER EVENT

Glorious day of racing at Henley Regatta WITH NO English Royal Show at Stoneleigh Club members found a fine alternative summer entertainment beside the River Thames in the form of an exclusive enclosure at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in early July. Over 120 members donned best summer wear to grace the exclusive Temple Island Enclosure, secured by Tom Copas, landowner and long-time Club member. With a special train timetable from London’s Paddington station the journey from the Club was easy, while drivers were able to park in Remenham Meadows right beside the enclosure.

balsamic and strawberry jelly, with mini doughnuts on the side?

Hospitality started with morning coffee before the first group headed off for a river tour, with insightful commentary from Mr Copas. Upon their return a champagne reception preceded lunch, the starter of green pea and watercress soup with Gruyere toasty signalling the fine dining to come.

A second river tour took to the waters after lunch, cruising beside the rowing course, which extends to one mile and 550 yards, a full 112m longer than the international race standard of 2000m. Much entertainment was provided aboard our tour boat as the roof was lowered to allow passage beneath Henley Bridge.

Oxford Isis and asparagus tart followed, with asparagus spears, shallot and white truffle oil. Main course was roast rump of lamb, savoy cabbage, saffron fondant potato, summer vegetables and Port wine jus. And what could be more summery to finish than strawberry semi-freddo with

The entire day was blessed with fine if blustery weather, which provided a big challenge for oarsmen battling against a stiff headwind. An exceptional entry, with 505 crews, including 116 from 20 overseas

nations, led to some very competitive racing. Many crews were preparing for the World Rowing Championships in New Zealand later this year, with strong entries from the USA, France, Holland, Germany and Italy, various UK clubs, and of course Henley’s own Leander Club. With appetites re-wetted, an afternoon tea of scones with strawberries and cream, slender sandwiches and an assortment of cakes – all most welcome. All in all the Henley Royal Regatta reception proved to be a fine complement to the Club’s varied summer programme. Let us hope it is repeated in 2011!

Lynette and Tristan Derry

Summer luncheon in the Temple Island Enclosure

Enjoying the boat tour - Andrea & Johnty Pashley and Sarah and Anthony Scholey from Yorkshire

John Kerr with wife Jill and Club chairman Nicki Quayle

View of Henley’s Temple Island from The Farmers Club enclosure

Messing about in boats – of all shapes and sizes

Club chairman Nicki Quayle with event host Tom Copas

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010 • www.thefarmersclub.com

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010

EDUCATION • Charles Abel

Feeding all five senses key to on-farm success Engaging the interest of some of society’s least privileged people can be hugely rewarding, as Charles Abel found in Oxfordshire.

‘Access to Nature’ programme), but James is seeking match funding to allow the development of interactive resources (such as audio trails and discovery bags) and to enable free transport to be offered to groups who would otherwise be unable to take part in a visit. It will be money well spent, judging by the enthusiasm of a mixed ability group from Aylesbury College when they visited Broughton Grounds, the LNFYS host farm closest to James’s heart since it is run by his parents, Andrew and Margaret. The mixed farm comprises a 101ha (250 acre) tenancy on the Broughton Castle Estate, plus 40ha (100 acres) of FBT grazing. Cropping includes wheat, barley and oats, mostly fed to 250 free range hens, 150 free-range Christmas Cockerels and a flock of 500 Texel ewes crossed to Suffolk rams. There is also a suckler herd of Simmental and Hereford crosses, with livestock either sold directly to local consumers or through Stratford livestock market..

Totally connected: Donna is keen to work with animals

“Giving everyone a sense of involvement and achievement is a big part of the day” Shepherd in the making? Tyrone revelled in his role as gatekeeper

ENTHUSIASM fizzes through the group of mixed ability young people at Broughton Grounds Farm, Banbury, one of 80 farms using taste, touch, sight, sound and smell to provide a rich learning experience for 10,000 visitors over the next three years. The experiences are flowing thick and fast: Donna’s calm connection with a free range hen she is holding; Phillip’s joyous smile as he collects eggs; Tyrone’s infectious enthusiasm as he sorts lambs; Jay’s determination to get hands-on with weighing and tagging the lambs. This is the innovative Let Nature Feed Your Senses project, an initiative run by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) and The Sensory Trust. The project provides vibrant opportunities for some of society’s least privileged people to spend time in the countryside learning about food, farming and nature. Unlike other educational projects it is extremely hands-on, with 16

James Taylor, LNFYS project co-ordinator. participants encouraged to handle livestock, taste produce, smell plants, and watch and listen to life in the countryside. LNFYS project co-ordinator James Taylor is one of farming’s real enthusiasts. From an Oxfordshire farming family he has worked for an NGO farming centre in Nepal for 18

months and spent a year on an EU-funded food security project in Mozambique. The latest mission is to find £200,000 to help finance farm visits for 10,000 people over the coming three years. Let nature feed your senses is partly funded by Big Lottery’s ‘Changing Spaces’ programme (administered by Natural England’s

The farm’s arable rotation includes a twoyear clover ley while permanent pasture is managed to Higher Level Stewardship standards. Eggs, cockerels, lamb and beef are all sold direct to the public. Together with some Gloucester Old Spot pigs, geese and horses it provides a wonderful setting for a multi-sensory experience of farming and the countryside, something the BBC picked up on for South Today. “Farms are wonderful places to get up close with nature and explore where our food comes from and how it is grown,” enthuses James. “Farmers all over England are not only growing crops and rearing animals, but are also creating homes for wild plants and animals. So what do visitors experience? At Broughton Grounds there were fleeces to roll, lambs to weigh and tag for market, eggs to collect, hedgerows and field

margins to investigate, pigs to feed, grain to handle, and much more besides. Laughter emerges as the confidence of a captivated audience grows. The group is having fun. James’s father, Andrew, encourages the group to handle and taste wheat, barley and oats, explaining how they can be used in bread, beer and animal feed. There are frozen cuts of meat too, and wool to touch. The questions soon flow: “What, where, when, why, how....?” For some the visit is a big adventure. Others are more apprehensive. For them a few minutes holding a compliant hen, stroking a horse, or collecting eggs is the highlight, boosting confidence and aiding their connection with the day’s activities. “Giving everyone a sense of involvement and achievement is a big part of the day,” explains James. Target groups include people with learning, physical or sensory impairments, older people, and people living in some of the most disadvantaged areas of England. “The hosts are farmers and nature reserve managers who are passionate about encouraging a love of nature through food, farming and our everyday lives and want to share their passion with groups who have found accessing the outdoors a challenge,” explains James. The group visiting Broughton Grounds is from Aylesbury College’s Thrift Farm disability day centre, run by Buckinghamshire County Council Social Services. Some are on NVQ Level 1 Animal Husbandry or Small Animal Care courses. The hands-on visit brought their learning to life, right in front of their eyes, comments group leader Carole Wise.

The smile says it all! Phillip celebrates a successful egg collection

In these days of safety awareness careful planning and management of the group on the day is essential. Eight farmers across England work part-time as regional coordinators to match farms to the needs of each group. Volunteer ‘community connectors’ then provide a link between the farms and the groups, helping to arrange the visit and ensure the needs of the group are addressed. Keeping everyone safe, happy and cared for is a priority.

• Active, with lots of opportunity to explore, discover, question, play, touch, taste, smell, feel, hear and make things, as well as seeing

James is keen to hear from farms interested in serving as hosts and from sponsors. The rewards are huge, for participants and hosts alike, he adds. “When you see Phillip’s huge smile of joy as he collected eggs and weighed lambs, it really does make it all seem very worthwhile.” See Philip’s joy for yourself at www.letnaturefeedyoursenses.org

£960,000 Lottery funded via Natural England

FOOD FOR THE SENSES SENSORY RICH VISITS: • Engage all five senses in numerous ways, including activities • Explain links between nature, food, farming and everyday life

• Tailored to specific needs of visitors

LET NATURE FEED YOUR SENSES 10,000 farm visitors in three years Managed by Sensory Trust and LEAF

£200,000 sponsorship needed Info: James Taylor 02476 413911 (m: 07875 626590) e: jamestaylor@leafuk.org www.letnaturefeedyoursenses.org www.sensorytrust.org.uk www.leafuk.org

Group gets to grips with farm produce in a very hands-on way THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010 • www.thefarmersclub.com

Project co-ordinator James Taylor www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010

U30S • Gemma Partridge, Chairman; Patrick Durnford, Vice Chairman; MaryAnne Salisbury, Secretary

Chairman’s Jottings HARVEST is now done and dusted and the Under 30s are once again looking forward to an action packed autumn. As this edition of the journal arrives with you we will be looking forward to hosting our Autumn Dining Evening at the club and then furthermore to the Autumn Farm Walk which this year will be based in Arundel, West Sussex with a visit to the Duke of Norfolk’s Estate amongst the plans for the weekend.

Despite a busy harvest the annual August get together with Pimm’s on the Balcony and Supper in the Eastwood Room was a great success with 40 members and guests attending; I was sorry to have missed the event especially after reading Beth and Victoria’s report of the evening. This week, along with my 2011 RABI calendar (I can’t quite believe we are at that point in the year already!) I received a ‘finishers’ certificate for the British 10K run that Lizzie, Holly and myself completed in July. Thanks to everyones generous support we managed to raise over £1000 for RABI and each got a little bit fitter in the process. In addition to my certificate was a request to enter next year’s run; I am as yet undecided!

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all under 30s members to attend the annual club Harvest Festival at St Martins in the Field on 5th October; the service will be followed by a supper at the club and we would welcome anyone who is able to attend this celebration of agriculture and food production. In the meantime a final thank you to all those who supported our fundraising efforts and we look forward to seeing you at the Autumn Farm walk. Gemma Partridge gem.partridge@hotmail.co.uk 07769 930389

Pimm’s on the Balcony and Supper – Wednesday 11th August

THE BALCONY of the Farmers Club was the assembly point for this summers Under 30s Pimm’s event, on 11th August. Fortunately any fears that this would have to be held inside or under umbrellas were not realised and the sun shone! The balcony provided a pleasant setting for the beginning of the evening, which was rumoured to be attended by over forty members and their guests. Although the London contingent was out in force the event was also well attended by those from further afield. The Pimm’s was flowing while new introductions were made and old acquaintances took the opportunity to catch up. We were invited by Lizzie Benson to take our places in the Eastwood Room and Rhydian Scurlock-Jones opened the

Coastal access changes have big agricultural implications THE MARINE & Coastal Access Act 2009 received Royal Assent on November 12 last year. Part of the legislation is dedicated to the establishment of a network of walking routes around the entire English coast, together with the designation of ‘coastal spreading room’ - land where the public are free to roam. Natural England, as the architect of the access provisions, was given the responsibility of implementing an approved scheme to deliver these objectives. The first stretch of land to which the new rules will apply will be between Weymouth and Lulworth Cove in Dorset, coming into effect by 2012. Clearly, this legislation carries with it many unwelcome implications for those who farm, manage or own land in coastal areas. As such, the Act has been the basis of a great deal of debate and contention. Much credit needs to be given to organisations such as the CLA and NFU, and indeed private stakeholders, who throughout the consultation process lobbied tirelessly to try to ensure that the legislation which inevitably came forward was as moderate, pragmatic and fair as possible.

evening by saying grace in Welsh. We were treated to a starter of goat’s cheese and beetroot salad, a main course of cornfed chicken and seasonal vegetables, a dessert of a plum and almond tart and finishing with coffee and mints. This was an informal evening, without a speaker, but provided an opportunity for a wide range of conversation (fortunately not all work based!). As is traditional at these events, the men rotated three places after the main course, allowing for further introductions to be made.

evening and we are all very much looking forward to the next Under 30s event which is the Autumn Dining Evening on Friday 17th September.

Festivities then moved through to the bar, and later, for those who were keen, into the London nightclubs. Many people took advantage of the accommodation available at the Farmers Club, and stayed overnight.

• One part ginger ale

Thank you to the staff of the Farmers Club who did a wonderful job of laying on the

U30S • Gemma Partridge, Chairman; Patrick Durnford, Vice Chairman; MaryAnne Salisbury, Secretary

For those who wish to recreate the evening…. Place a handful of ice in a large jug, then add: • One part Pimm’s No. 1 cup • One part lemonade (particularly tasty with Sprite)

• Garnish with fresh mint, cucumber, lemon and orange slices Enjoy! Victoria Goddard and Beth Hockham

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010 • www.thefarmersclub.com

This was illustrated by the fact that a right of appeal was secured for those who believe that land has been incorrectly designated, or that the access authorities have failed to strike a fair balance between the rights of an individual and the wider public interest. Unbelievably, the original proposals were against any such provisions for appeal and objection! The scheme that Natural England will refer to in considering route alignment and land designation has been published. In terms of agricultural implications, we can assume from reading the document that much grazing land will be nominated as ‘spreading room’. This will add to the difficulty of managing livestock in coastal areas. Aside from the usual problems associated with livestock disturbance, there is of course the issue of safety where cattle graze. Natural England simply glosses over this point on the basis that existing rules apply (Health & Safety Act, Animals Act) and that ‘risk

Public access increasing

assessments’ the farmer.

will

performed

Of course, no acknowledgment is given to the potential impact that increased access may have upon a farmer’s ability to properly utilise his or her land. Under the Countryside Rights of Way (CROW) Act an occupier does have the power to restrict public access for periods of up to 28 days a year, an allowance that has proven useful for farmers in protecting sheep from disturbance during lambing periods on CROW land. Coastal land will not be afforded these same concessions. Instead Natural England advocates informal measures, such as signage and route markers. Arable land will not be subject to the general ‘spreading room’ prescriptions, but may be affected by access routes either around field margins or ‘across field’. On a positive note, the MCA will provide for reduced liability so that an occupier would not be accountable for harm caused to a member of public as a result of either a natural or man-made feature, provided there has been no negligence on the occupier’s part.

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010

The scheme rules are now established, but there will be separate consultations on each ‘Coastal Access Report’ - localised proposals that will be prepared, in due course, for each stretch of coast. Obviously, landowners and occupiers will be highly involved with this process of consultation. In general terms, there remain a few unanswered questions in respect to likely outcomes and effects of the Act, not least, how the costs of the project are to be met. The last government estimated a cost of approximately £1,700 per mile per year to establish and maintain the route (£50M over ten years). Despite being a lot of money, in terms of funding coastal access this does seem very optimistic. Even if it were possible, we should perhaps ask if it is at all necessary, especially during times of economic austerity?

Patrick Durnford Land Agent, Lulworth Estate, Dorset (patrick.durnford@lulworth.com) 19

FARMING VIEWS

Farming Figures

RAMBLINGS • Stephen Skinner

Farming comes to Hampton Court Flower Show then a market garden beyond, with live bee hive and chicken run. A species rich hedgerow with an understorey of wild flowers surrounded the exhibit.

$4bn

Gillian, a dairy farmer from near Battle and deputy chair of East Sussex NFU, designed the 2000sqm feature with the help of awardwinning west-country designers Jon Wheatley and Mary Payne. Many of the crops were grown on Sussex farms, with the countryside’s role as a workplace highlighted by a New Holland tractor and baler.

US agricultural products trade surplus with China, prompting a £133m investment in a Washington State shipping terminal, two mountain ranges and 1500 miles from the Mid-west grain belt.

3 years Delay in Britain getting universal broadband coverage after culture secretary Jeremy Hunt extended Government deadline for two megabits per second to 2015.

0.9%

Limit for Genetically Modified material in food, above which GM labelling required. Advocated for whole EU by UK Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops, but ditched by European Commission, which wants member states to set own individual thresholds.

£440m

Value of insect pollination, by bees especially, to British farming. A £1.8m project at Dundee Univeristy’s Centre for Neuroscience is assessing the effect of “pesticide cocktails” on bee behaviour.

Deaths at work in farming last year, making it the most dangerous way to make a living in the UK.

Farming champion Gillian van der Meer

FARMING featured strongly at the Royal Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, where Club member Gillian van der Meer’s Home Grown display attracted huge media interest.

Over 160,000 visitors attend the show, which spans 34 acres in west London, including 16 show gardens, 13 small gardens, six conceptual gardens, five sustainable gardens and six Shakespeare’s Comedies gardens. See www.rhs.org/hamptoncourt for more photos.

Despite a severe knee injury incurred during the build-up Gillian persevered to provide a wonderful insight into farming’s role in managing the countryside and providing great food for the nation.

THE SHOW season is nearly complete and I think it has been a great success. Numbers attending our events have been markedly higher, with one exception, and all our speakers have delivered high quality, interesting talks, backed by our highly professional and enormously helpful hosts. Thank you all. The Club has been pleasingly busy too, with the general exception of lunches and meeting rooms. The meeting rooms, while undoubtedly among the best value in London, now look a little dated, so the House Committee has opted for a major refurbishment. My aim is to strike a balance between keeping the character of The Farmers Club while introducing up-todate, effective technology to match the needs of members and guests, who now demand such capabilities. First for change is the Forty Room, then the Committee and Hudson Rooms. Given their value and excellent location, as well as our increasing reputation for good food, I encourage those interested in either a

With sumptuous images throughout this large format hardback spans the John Deere era from John Froelich’s first tractor, through the Dain All Wheel Drive, Waterloo Boy, Johnny Poppers and on to the latest 8R new generation machines. Running to 288 pages it offers information aplenty for enthusiasts, and iconic images

Finally, newspapers. The General Committee agreed in June that the free daily delivery to every room of a Telegraph or Sunday Telegraph should stop. Not only was it very expensive but the majority of the papers were not being read. I do appreciate the upset this caused in some quarters and for that I apologise. If members wish to have a paper delivered to their room in the morning, limited to the Telegraph for now, Reception can arrange this.

Auchterlonie Putter, and the John Roberts Trophy for best senior. Fay Dilliway-Parry won the Eric Wilson Trophy for the second time with a superb total of 38 points. It is not too late to book a place at our last golf meeting of the year, the Autumn Mixed Meeting, on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 September at Wellingborough and Luffenham Heath. Always enjoyable and with a slight competitive edge, it has proved popular over the years. Contact me at secretariat@thefarmersclub.com for more information and an entry form.

Tyrrell’s vegetable musicians entertain at the Royal Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

John Deere book offer This is the definitive reference book for John Deere tractors, written by the world’s recognised expert, Don Macmillan, and The Farmers Club has five copies for members to win.

meeting or a private breakfast, lunch or dinner to get in touch. Do mention this to friends or colleagues seeking a meeting place too, albeit Club Rules mean you would have to be their sponsor.

Making it a double

“I can’t remember the last time I had more than five hours or six hours of sleep,” she commented as journalists from the BBC and national media visited the keynote exhibit at the show in early July. Designed to celebrate commercial agriculture and horticulture, visitors entered through a “field of gold” sunflowers, passed wheat, barley, oats and maize, a trellis-grown apple orchard and

Club’s meeting room updates are due soon

for everyone interested in power on the land. Price £25 (ISBN 9780760336533). To win your copy tell us about your most definitive tractor moment in less than 25 words be it humorous, impressive or historic. The five top entries will get free copies. • Rules: One entr y per person. E-mail to: editor@thefarmersclub.com or post to Editor, The Farmers Club, 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL. Closing date 18th October 2010. Judging by Journal Editor and Club Secretary will be final.

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010 • www.thefarmersclub.com

Golfing champions Macolm Patterson and Fay Dilliway-Parry.

ONCE again we had an excellent turnout on Wednesday 30 June for the Club Championships at Blackwell Golf Club, near Bromsgrove, writes deputy secretary Robert Buckolt. Fortified by coffee and bacon butties, the assembled members set out to play this beautiful course in glorious weather. Unsurprisingly, the conditions contributed to some excellent golf. Malcolm Patterson amassed 36 points to win the Men’s competition, the MacHayward

Cropworld 2010 Global crop production issues take centre stage at London’s ExCeL venue from 1-3 November as the British Crop Protection Council and UBM launch a new world-class threeday conference and exhibition, with special sessions on global food security, climate change and regulatory issues. More information at www.crop-world.com

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010

Not Quite Under 30s Dinner THE NOT quite Under 30s Dinner will be held in the Club on Friday 26 November 2010 commencing with drinks in the bar from 7pm followed by dinner in the Eastwood Room at 7.45pm. This very successful event is now an annual fixture in the Club diary. Last year 35 members and guests attended, with quite a few staying on to take advantage of the excellent weekend package. This year’s very competitive pricing is £80 for one night’s dinner, bed and continental breakfast, and £100 for two nights (dinner on Friday plus bed and continental breakfast on the Friday and Saturday). Dinner only on Friday is £50, including wine. An invitation and application form is being sent to all members on the event mailing list. The Club has over 500 members aged 30 to 40 and we are keen to encourage as many of those (and of course the over 40s) as possible to get involved with the Not Quite Under 30s. To book a place at the dinner, add your name to the event mailing list or discuss ideas about future events please do not hesitate to contact me at events@thefarmersclub.com or phone 020-7930 3751. MaryAnne Salisbury Event Manager

Christianne’s leap of faith Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Christianne Glossop, who spoke so eloquently at the Club’s Royal Welsh Show dinner, is planning a tandem parachute jump in aid of RABI and Farm Crisis Network in October. Support her endeavour at www.justgiving.com/ Christianne-Glossop

New Year’s Eve There are a few places available for a function to be held on New Year’s Eve at the Club, albeit there is very limited accommodation. Please contact Lynne Wilson, Meetings and Functions Office (020 7925 7100), if you would like to attend this event. 21

Club Information & Diary Dates

THE FARMERS CLUB

THE FARMERS CLUB Over 160 years of service to farming

The Secretariat 020 7930 3751

3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL

Patron – Her Majesty The Queen

THE FARMERS CLUB CHRISTMAS CARD 2010

VICE PRESIDENTS Peter Jackson CBE, Roddy Loder-Symonds Sir David Naish DL, John Parker

NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICE is hereby given that the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Annual General Meeting of The Farmers Club will be held at 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL on Wednesday 8 December 2010 at 12 noon.

THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB FOR 2010

Club Information

PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN Nicki Quayle

020 7930 3751

TRUSTEES Mark Hudson (Chairman), Barclay Forrest OBE Mrs Susan Kilpatrick OBE, Norman Shaw CBE

1. Minutes

Blencathra Foxhounds: Huntsman and hounds overlooking Bassenthwaite in the Lake District [photo:Pete Davies --- www.blencathrafoxhounds.com]

This year’s Farmers Club Christmas Card features a Cumbrian scene as a Blencathra huntsman and foxhounds look out over Bassenthwaite in the heart of the Lake District. The card, which measures 127 x 178 mm (5 x 7 inches), is printed with the Club crest and the greeting “With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year”. It can be posted with a standard First or Second class stamp. Surplus on the sale of the cards will be donated to the R.A.B.I. of England, Wales and N. Ireland and the R.S.A.B.I. of Scotland, both of which are dedicated to helping members of the farming community facing hardship.

Your Club’s Christmas Card is available in packs of 10 and can be bought at Reception or ordered from the Secretariat using the order form below. The price per pack is £8.00 including VAT and postage (UK only) for up to 5 packs (50 cards). A supplement will be charged on all orders of 6 packs or more to cover the cost of additional postage. Please place your order promptly to avoid any disappointment. Members are requested, if possible, to collect their cards in person which enables the Club to make a larger donation to the charities.

✁

Christmas Card Order Form To: The Secretary, The Farmers Club, 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL. Please send me ………….... packs of Christmas Cards at £8.00 per pack of 10

I will collect the cards from Reception on ……………… (approximate date if known) You can either pay by cheque, payable to The Farmers Club, or charge to a Debit or Credit Card (Visa and Mastercard only). Total paid £ …………… (add £2.00 postage on orders of 60 + cards) PLEASE COMPLETE IN BLOCK CAPITALS with FIRST NAME Member Card Start Date

Card No Expiry Date

Amount £ Signature Address Post Code Tel (Home) Email

Security No

To approve the Minutes of the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Annual General Meeting of the Club.

Further information is available on The Farmers Club Website www.thefarmersclub.com

2. Accounts To present the Annual Report and audited Accounts of the Club for the year ended 30 June 2010.

To register for the Members’ Area, enter your membership number as shown on the top line of the address label of your Journal and then create your username and password.

3. Officers

Obituaries

(a) To elect the Chairman for 2011. Mr R T Holland held office as Vice-Chairman for 2010 and the Officers and Trustees recommend that he takes office as Chairman from 1 January 2011.

It is with regret that we announce the death of the following members:

(b) To elect the Vice-Chairman for 2011. Mr P M Heygate held office as Honorary Treasurer for 2010 and the Officers and Trustees recommend that he takes office as Vice-Chairman from 1 January 2011. (c) To elect the Honorary Treasurer for 2011. The Committee recommends that Mr R C Butler be elected as Honorary Treasurer of the Club to take effect from 1 January 2011. 4. Committee To declare the members newly elected to serve on the Committee from 1 January 2011.

J Aldous J Balls Dr W Brancker J Grundy D McCausland D North Lewis MBE R Picton-Turbervill E Thornley-Taylor

Suffolk Essex Warwickshire Alderney Wiltshire Kenya Glamorgan Yorkshire

New Members The following were elected in July and August 2010: Rt Revd D Allister, Bishop of Peterborough D Dashwood G R P Davies H M Dixon H W Evans K R George Miss Annie Graham

Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Montgomeryshire Denbighshire London Yorkshire London

Hon Mrs Alison Haslam C Henwood W P Mahony G C Murray D Philips D S Pinkerton W M Potts Mrs E J Pullinger R Raine G Rennie Mrs A M Ritchie D Surgeon P J Watts J A Wilkinson Ms K C L Willard Ms P S R Wilson Overseas G P Allen R Offutt

Somerset Sussex Berkshire Norfolk Yorkshire Essex Devon Surrey Cumberland Fife Norfolk Essex Hampshire Durham Cumberland Gloucestershire

New Zealand United States of America

Under 30s Miss J E Clifford O G R Gardner N Johnston E P Lea J J Lea B P Lewis

Cheshire Rutland Suffolk Cheshire Cheshire Brecknockshire

Whitehall Court M G Maye

London

5. Auditors To appoint the Auditors for 2011. The Committee recommends that Haysmacintyre continue in office. 6. Club Rule Amendment The current financial year runs from 01 July to 30 June and the Committee believe it would be prudent if both the financial and subscription years were to coincide from 1 January to 31 December. The AGM will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, to approve the following amendment to Rule 24 of the Rules of the Club, proposed by the Committee and, under Rule 43, requiring approval by a majority of not less than two-thirds of those members present and voting at the Meeting: That with effect from 1 January 2011: ‘The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held on a date to be fixed by the Committee within 6 months of the audited accounts being made available for the previous financial year. Not less than twenty-eight days’ notice of the meeting shall be posted on the Club notice board and sent by post to all members.’ S N Skinner, Secretary by Order of the Committee September 2010

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010 • www.thefarmersclub.com

VICE-CHAIRMAN Richard Holland HONORARY TREASURER Paul Heygate IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN John Reynolds COMMITTEE Elected 2005 Charles Notcutt OBE Elected 2006 Stewart Houston CBE, Meurig Raymond MBE Elected 2007 Tim Bennett, Mrs Anne Chamberlain (Chairman Journal & Communications Sub-Committee) James Cross, Richard Harrison Campbell Tweed OBE, Mrs Teresa Wickham Elected 2008 The Reverend Dr Gordon Gatward OBE Jimmy McLean (Chairman Membership SubCommittee), David Richardson OBE, John Wilson Elected 2009 Richard Butler (Chairman House Sub-Committee) John Stones Elected 2010 David Leaver, Martin Taylor Co-opted Miss Gemma Partridge (Chairman Under 30s) Patrick Durnford (Vice Chairman Under 30s) THE FARMERS CLUB CHARITABLE TRUST TRUSTEES John Kerr MBE JP DL (Chairman), James Cross Vic Croxson DL, Stephen Fletcher Mrs Stella Muddiman JP, The Chairman and Immediate Past Chairman of the Club (ex officio) Chief Executive and Secretary Air Commodore Stephen Skinner

Diary Dates 2010

Deputy Secretary Robert Buckolt

These dates are reviewed for every Journal. Please read them on each occasion, as they are sometimes revised and additional dates included. Details of events circulated in the previous issues are available from the Secretariat at the telephone number shown above. Harvest Festival Service at St. Martin-in-the-Fields followed by Buffet Supper at the Club Tuesday 5 October at 5pm Preacher: The Rt. Revd. Dr Anthony Russell, former Bishop of Ely. The application form for the Buffet Supper was on p23 of the Harvest Journal Visit to Sheffield Park Garden, East Sussex Tuesday 26 & Wednesday 27 October Application form was in the Harvest Journal Annual General Meeting Wednesday 8 December at 12 noon in the Club

2011 Oxford Farming Conference Tuesday 4 – Thursday 6 January (Visit www.ofc.org.uk for more information)

Club Chaplain The Reverend Nicholas Holtam 020-7766 1121 Bedroom & Dining Room Reservations 020-7930 3557 Accounts 020-7925 7101 Membership 020-7925 7102 Private Function & Meeting Room Reservations 020-7925 7100 Secretariat 020-7930 3751 Personal calls for members only 020-7930 4730 Fax 020-7839 7864

LAMMA Show, Newark Wednesday 19 & Thursday 20 January

CLUB CLOSURES 2010 Wednesday 22 December – no afternoon, bar or dinner 3.00pm Thursday 23 December to 3.00pm Tuesday 4 January 2011

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Autumn 2010

E-mails secretariat@thefarmersclub.com accounts@thefarmersclub.com membership@thefarmersclub.com functions@thefarmersclub.com meetings@thefarmersclub.com reception@thefarmersclub.com reservations@thefarmersclub.com u30s@thefarmersclub.com events@thefarmersclub.com Website www.thefarmersclub.com THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Editor and Advertisement Manager Charles Abel 07795 420692 Email: editor@thefarmersclub.com Printed by Pureprint Group, Brambleside, Bellbrook Park23 Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 1PL Tel: 01825 768811