AUTUMN JOURNAL 2011 • ISSUE 234
www.thefarmersclub.com
INSIDE Rent reviews p4 Green tech update p6 Send a cow p10 Sheperds’ huts p12 APPLICATION FORM Club Christmas Card p15 Christmas Carols dinner p22
Show success
Warm reception at key events p17 & 21
INSERTS Staff Christmas Fund Members Information Sheet
Farmers Club Over 160 years of service to farming 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL Patron – Her Majesty The Queen
FRONT COVER Farmers Club members and guests enjoy a relaxing mid-summer’s day drinks reception at the CLA Game Fair, Blenheim Palace, Oxon.
Contents
Disclaimer: The articles published in The Farmers Club Journal do not necessarily reflect the views of The Farmers Club. No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in the magazine can be accepted by the publisher. Advertisements are included in ‘good faith’. All rights reserved.
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Chairman’s Comments Could the European model have greater relevance to the UK? Richard Holland considers the possibilities
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Rent reviews Volatility needs to be taken into account as farm rental agreements are struck this autumn
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Greening farming From dairying to pig production and river habitat protection to biofertilisers, farming is well placed to grasp the green agenda
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Uruguayan lessons A fascinating insight into how a developing South American farm economy is grappling with market developments
10 Send a cow Boosting the prospects of small-scale African farmers
12 Shepherds’ huts From utilitarian necessity to must-have countryside accessory
14 AGM Minutes
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Summary of the 2011 Annual General Meeting
15 Club Christmas card The time has arrived for ordering your Club Christmas cards
16 Cereals Event breakfast Consistent flour demands consistent grain
17 Game Fair Over 145,000 visitors enjoyed this year’s event at Blenheim
18 Under 30s
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British produce was the focus when the Under 30s hosted the thriving Inter Club Young Members event
19 Surrender and Re-grant Our Under 30s writer highlights some key tenancy tax lessons
20 Whitehall Court Ramblings Major new leadership initiative launched
22 Information and Diar y Dates
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Chairman’s Comments • Richard Holland
Chairman’s Comments
need for democratic leadership, which I totally agree with. Rather than standing back, because of the lack of such leadership, we should be coming forward to encourage it. As Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently noted, we should follow the example of Pericles’ efforts to unite Greece in 450BC, and not be put off by the small blip of Greece’s current debt crisis. The rewards could be great. Meanwhile, with the continuing devolution going on here, the Irish, Scots and Welsh are getting more and more of an identity, leaving England as what? If a group of England enthusiasts start jumping around with a St George Cross, we are deemed to be showing National Front tendencies, rather than the patriotism attributed to our Celtic neighbours.
International meeting
It is scandalous in any civilised society for so much land to be underperforming.
THIS photograph takes me back to our fascinating visit to Germany where alongside some fine dairy enterprises we experienced the best example of what I had hoped to demonstrate, that you can combine a beautiful countryside with industry. The countryside in the Rhineland is a picture, because it is managed. By contrast our countryside generally looks appalling – with scrub, weeds and reeds being the order of the day over large areas of the country. The French must laugh when they leave the managed land of Northern France on Eurostar to enter quaint Kent with its twisting overgrown hedges. Here it seems that a natural environment equals wild. Maybe Natural England should be renamed Wild England. In my opinion it is scandalous in any civilised society for so much land to be under-performing. As I write this article I am on the train passing acres and acres of weeds south of Bristol, on my way to Leeds. Very soon we will pass through the devastated industrial towns of Birmingham, Burtonon-Trent and Derby. So, why, with all our chaos, is the population of this country so generally wary of mainland Europe and the Euro? What are they trying to hold onto?
Propping up Greece Our amazing Rhineland tour guide, Club member Dr Carl Weiers, explained that if there was an election in Germany now, Chancellor Angela Merkel would be out, because the German population is so unhappy about propping up Greece, Eire et al. But she is in a strong enough position to ride out the storm for three years. Meanwhile, propping up the Euro keeps it weak, allowing German exports to fly high. I bought the Times newspaper a few weeks ago, to read Tony Blair’s comments about Europe and the
I have to admit that I had to chuckle at the brilliant Royal Highland Show when a challenge was laid down for England to get its Royal Show going again. They were surely joking! But the old showground did play host to the annual international meeting of the European Dairy Farmers group. That was appropriate, because this thriving organisation, now run by Germany’s Agricultural Society, the DLG in Frankfurt, was started by the RASE in the early 70s and now represents over 30 countries. This year 300 delegates met, probably at least 200 of them being dairy farmers, and the whole thing is run in English. Aren’t we spoilt! Indeed, it was at the European Dairy Farmers convention in Italy last year that I got my initial contacts for the Farmers Club’s 2011 European Collaborative Research, Development and Knowledge Transfer Project for the livestock industry. It was great to catch up with them all again. What a lot has happened and there’s still so much to do. Watch this space! Meanwhile, the summer social season has gone with a swing, including our Summer Day Out in London, which included an afternoon boat trip to the Thames Barrier, mostly in sunshine, and then an evening visit to the closest theatre to the Club, the Playhouse Theatre on Northumberland Avenue, for Dreamboats and Petticoats. As it says outside, it was a “Rockin Good Evening”. The icing on the cake, for Bob and Jenny Iles, and I, was having gone to the nearest pub for a nightcap we were very soon joined by virtually the whole cast and spent the rest of the evening with them until we were thrown out. You can’t plan things like that! Finally, congratulations to all those Romeos who brought their Juliets to the opera at the O2 Arena. And commiserations to all those whose Juliets said “you’re coming with me”! Richard Holland
www.thefarmersclub.com • 03
Management
Where now for farmland rents? Rent review time is here and fresh thinking is required, says Edward Briggs
MICHAELMAS is a traditional time for reviewing rents and granting new tenancies, and this autumn discord between landlords and tenants is likely to be greater than ever. A key issue is the perception of profitability. The past two years have seen considerable volatility in crop values, coupled with more extreme weather conditions, which have impacted yields. Input costs are up and the global nature of the market has made the timing of crop sales more important than ever. So while prices have hit some highs, how much more profitable is the typical farm? Looking to the future predictions of a “perfect storm” of greater world demand, limited water supply and more costly fuel and fertiliser may push prices up, but again, how much will profitability improve? What’s more this autumn’s wave of rent reviews will be against a background of unprecedented demand for land. A recent survey identified that the vast majority of farming businesses were looking to expand their acreage, by taking on more tenanted land. But how much is available? In the 19th Century
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90% of our farm land was farmed by tenants. Today that figure is down to somewhere in the region of 30%. This lack of availability of tenanted land to farm, plus rising land prices and market volatility, is highly significant. So how does our statutory two tier rental market react to such circumstances? Old style agricultural tenancies are strictly regulated by Schedule 2, para1 (1) of the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986, which states the rent shall be; "the rent at which the holding might reasonably be expected to be let by a prudent and willing landlord to a prudent and willing tenant, taking into account all relevant factors, including (in every case) the terms of the tenancy, the character and situation of the holding, the productive capacity of the holding and its related earning capacity, and the current level of rents for comparable lettings, …….." This includes the important disregard of "scarcity", which removes the premium from comparables, where key money is paid.
Edward Briggs, land and business partner with Bidwells in Oxford
Management
Farm rents are set to be a keen debating point this autumn
The interpretation of para 1 (1) has been subject to much debate by agricultural valuers over many years. What is certain is that the basis of valuation is very different from the default position for a Farm Business Tenancy (FBT) reviewed under the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995, under which the principle concept is that the rent should be the sum for which the holding might reasonably be expected to be let on the open market by a willing landlord to a willing tenant, taking into account all the relevant factors, not forgetting scarcity. What is not widely known is that FBTs offer far greater flexibility for the parties to agree their own review provisions, should they choose to do so. DEFRA statistics show that rents have remained relatively stable over the past ten years, with only small rises and falls reflecting movements in cereal prices. More recently there is anecdotal evidence of significant increases in the level of rents tendered for shorter term FBTs, with some increase being over 50% of the rent previously paid, with headline figures of between £150/acre and £200/acre being talked about. In practice the number of opportunities put out to
the open market is limited, with many land owners preferring to negotiate private deals with existing tenants they know, at much lower levels. Reviews for old style tenancies are generally not so clear cut, with many having other issues negotiated into settlements, such as diversification projects, subletting income and restructuring. Notwithstanding this, the evidence appears to show that the gap is widening between the rents tendered for FBTs and the rents settled under Schedule 2. With the demand continuing to exceed supply for FBT land of any length of term, it is easy to predict that, because of the scarcity disregard, the two tier market will become even wider than before. The current price volatility is also having an inevitable effect of shortening the agreed initial terms of new FBTs. Land owners do not want to miss out on the potential increases in rent going forward and conversely tenants do not want to tie themselves up into long term arrangements at high rents, (when a sudden drop in profitability will have a catastrophic impact on the overall farming business). Volatility in the grain markets is likely to have an adverse impact on rents for grassland, with pasture becoming more difficult to let as more people leave the livestock industry. This problem is more acute in the eastern part of the country, where income is now usually derived from subsidy payments alone. The need for flexibility will mean that those holdings that are fully equipped, with storage and drying facilities, land drainage and/or irrigation, for example, will attract far greater interest pro rata from potential tenants. We are also likely to see many existing farming businesses investing in new facilities on their own holdings, which are either owned or secured on a long term basis, so as to enable them to farm far greater areas. This in turn throws up the issue of how the rent for such base holdings is calculated (where let) and what regard should be had to marriage values, as was explored in some detail in the case of Childers -v- Anker. It is in the interests of the agricultural industry to have a stable and long term landlord and tenant structure, where tenants are encouraged to look after and maintain the land they farm. Many farmers will shy away from making excessive tender bids for FBT land, rightly looking at the risk of not only growing a cereal crop but also selling it profitably once harvested. Those who do make strong bids without properly analysing their costs are unlikely to sustain such levels for long and the land may suffer as a result. To conclude, I envisage that FBT rents will rise to levels which will be very difficult to sustain and in those circumstances progressive landlords and successful tenants will have to adapt to sudden changes in the markets. This adaption will possibly be an introduction of more bespoke arrangements, as envisaged by the 1995 Act, where rents are linked or are sensitive to commodity prices, so that in times of plenty, both parties will benefit and when margins are tight, both will see their levels of return reduce. • Edward Briggs is a Land & Business partner with Bidwells in Oxford.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 05
Environment
Towards greener farming Improving the environmental profile of farming is a key goal. Andrew Blake relays some topical tips from a LEAF open day
Seeking ‘greener’ pigs PIGS are getting ‘greener’, according to Harper Adams University College researcher Alan Stewart. Nearly two-thirds of the animals’ carbon footprint is linked to their use of food, with most of the rest accounted for by the way their manure is managed and handled. Direct energy use and transport contribute less than 5% combined. “With pigs it’s feed efficiency that has by far the biggest environmental impact,” he stresses. “Better genetics, improved management techniques and health, and better understanding of nutrition have resulted in significant advances – and they’re likely to continue.” In 1988 each kilo of liveweight sold required an average of 3.03kg of feed. By 2008 that figure was down to 2.87, with the top 10% of producers needing only 2.5kg. Lower protein rations and the use of synthetic ‘off-the-shelf’ amino-acids have been partly responsible. “Twenty years ago most rations contained up to 19% protein. Now they can be down to around 13-14%.” Feed technologies, such as the addition of the enzyme phytase to improve the animals’ digestion of phosphorous, have also helped. “The problem is that the natural phosphorous in wheat is indigestible to the pig, so we add phytase to overcome this.” The next big step forward, he believes, will be high yielding cereal varieties with nutritional characteristics better tailored to the pig’s requirements. Low-phytate wheat varieties, in which phosphorous is more available to the animals, have recently been trialled at Harper Adams.
Some of HAUC’s cows are fitted with back-packs to help monitor the methane in their breath
Lowering cows’ carbon hoofprints DAIRY cattle have been getting an undeservedly bad press as greenhouse gas emitters, according to Liam Sinclair of Harper Adams University College. Although cows undoubtedly create such gases – methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and ammonia – they contribute only about 2% to the country’s overall production, Prof Sinclair explains. “That’s considerably less than many people believe.” The figure has declined a lot over the years, mainly because farmers have been achieving higher milk yields from fewer cows. “Methane output is 25% less than it was 25 years ago, and compared with the transport industry we’ve been doing pretty well.” However, there is plenty of scope to improve. About half the greenhouse gases from cows is methane - 400-600litres/day; and as a global warmer it is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide. “About 90% comes from the front end – not the rear as the tabloid press wants its readers to hear, because that’s more humorous.”
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At the moment methane losses represent about 8% of the energy fed to cows. So anything that reduces those emissions is environmentally and commercially beneficial. “It’s a win/win, so farmers shouldn’t fear change.” The main targets for cuts are rationing, health and breeding. Starchier concentrates and forages, such as maize silage, help lower methane output. So too does careful use of linseed and soya oils. Tannins and some other natural plant extracts have also been promising. Improving herd health and fertility, for example through better heat detection, also helps. “Having fewer unproductive cows on the farm can reduce methane production by 25% or more.” There are also signs that genetics are involved, some animals being more prone to emit methane than others. “Nobody knows why that is, but it may be possible to select for lower methane production per litre of milk in future.”
Cows’ impact on climate change is less than many people think, says Liam Sinclair
Environment
This mayfly is just one of 280 species of riverflies that can help indicate water quality. © Colin Ebdon, Prize Winner National Insect Week
Striving for cleaner rivers HOW good is the water quality in your rivers, streams and ponds? Farmers wishing to check can turn to the Riverfly Partnership*, suggests its Bridget Peacock. “The partnership is a network of nearly 100 organisations all working to protect river water quality.” It includes anglers, conservationists, entomologists, scientists, and watercourse managers and authorities. Under its Anglers’ Monitoring Initiative, launched in 2007, trained volunteer groups conduct simple checks on their local watercourses to identify the riverfly groups present, explains Miss Peacock. “The greater the biodiversity, the better your water quality. Riverflies are the canaries of our rivers as they’re sensitive to water quality. There are about 280 species in the UK, and the more you have the better. “These straightforward three-minute checks can tell you a lot more than chemical analysis of the water.” Check the effectiveness of the field margins you have sown to protect watercourses from soil, nutrient and pesticide run-off too, warns James Grischeff of Natural England. “Buffer strips can get compacted, with grass growth becoming patchy, not allowing water to be filtered or slowed down. They may even become a route for pollution.” To avoid this, buffers must be established and maintained on good loosened soil structure and all efforts made to encourage good plant growth to help absorb any remaining pollutants. Even where buffers have been well established farmers should always strive to reduce the source of pollution. “Consider the pathways for the pollutant and mop up any leftovers with your buffers”. A judiciously sited lip or raised bank at the edge of a field might be useful to prevent run-off skirting an otherwise effective buffer strip, he advises. * http://www.riverflies.org/
Tips on plain speaking DITCH the jargon when trying to explain your agricultural activities to the public, urges LEAF’s Tom Allen-Stevens. Words such as ‘acres’, ‘livestock’, ‘pesticides’, ‘heifers’ and ‘steers’ mean little, if anything, to most people outside farming. “We shouldn’t use such words when communicating with the public.” Instead of talking about acres, farmers should strive to give visitors an idea of that size by relating it to a football pitch, which is about 1.5 acres, Mr Allen-Stevens suggests. “Don’t refer to your agronomist. To the public he or she is a ‘crop doctor’. Talks and presentations should be kept personal and positive, he advises. “They must relate to your farm and your situation – not the industry as a whole. “And avoid going down the negative route. Visitors don’t want to hear you bleating on, for example, about the menace of Chinese lanterns.” Encourage so-called ‘sticky knowledge’, he adds. “It’s not just about what they see – it’s about what they feel, hear and smell. That’s what really stays. So let them run their hands through a bucket of grain and feel cut hay, silage and even manure. Give them something they’ll really remember.
It’s not just about what the public see when they visit a farm – it’s about what they feel, hear and smell too, says LEAF’s Tom Allen-Stevens
Biofertilisers’ green reputation is growing AS THE spotlight on farming’s carbon footprint intensifies, biofertilisers are increasingly becoming acceptable arable inputs. For growers, the key benefit of composts and the digestate from anaerobic digestion plants is their reduction of fertiliser bills. But there is also an environmental spin-off, says ADAS’s Matt Taylor. “Ammonium nitrate isn’t going to get any cheaper – and making just 1kg of it produces 7kg of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.” Besides easing bills, good quality biofertilisers can improve soil conditions and boost yields, says Mr Taylor. “The organic matter in good quality compost or digestate fibre is great for lighter soils, and it can improve the structure of heavier ones so you use less diesel fuel working it. It also improves their moisture holding ability which is especially useful for crops like potatoes.”
www.thefarmersclub.com • 07
Farmers Club Charitable Trust
Uruguay grapples with market growth
Federico Topolansky used a Farmers Club Charitable Trust bursary to undertake a fascinating study into the development of food production in fast emerging economies THIS is a time of great change in Uruguay as the reality of the Mercosur Common Market of South America looms large and with it comes the prospect of free-market competition from hungry producers in neighbouring countries. So far Mercosur’s members, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, have not fully implemented common market principles. Some industries have requested an ‘adaptation regime’ to protect them from wider competition. Until now, a ‘sanitation barrier’ has protected the Uruguayan broiler industry from neighbouring markets, making it impossible to export fresh chicken products to Uruguay. But how will Uruguayan broiler production cope in a Mercosur without barriers? It is
08 • The Farmers Club Autumn Journal 2011
Farmers Club Charitable Trust
a fascinating issue and one which highlights the dilemma facing developing economies around the world. If Uruguayan broiler companies do not improve their competitiveness, they may be displaced by Argentinian or Brazilian broiler firms. My study involved in-depth interviews with directors and managers in six of Uruguay’s seven broiler companies, complemented by research at the Secretariat of Mercosur and Uruguay’s Ministry of Agriculture. Key to the success of Uruguayan broiler firms are infrastructure resources such as water, electricity and transportation. Indeed, the structure of Montevideo’s port is limiting further development as is a lack of suitably qualified employees. The Uruguayan market is small, underdeveloped, and mainly dominated by low-income consumers. But there is a strong desire for cheaper and leaner sources of protein, and the food industry wants longterm relationships with producers. Price is the main driver of consumer choice, so domestic competition, along with the supermarkets’ rising power of negotiation, has forced broiler companies to become more cost efficient. Until now Uruguayan government policy has had minimum influence.
Brazil Brazil poses one of the most significant threats to Uruguay’s broiler producers, not just through economies of production, but through environmental compliance too. Brazilian broiler firms are powerful thanks to joint market promotions by the government and poultry industry; indirect and concealed subsidies such as subsidies to grow maize; a favourable climate for growing grain; cheap and dedicated labour; the ability to tailor products to customers locally and in foreign markets; and entrepreneurs that build processing plants like cathedrals, and which have always been updated. Moreover, Brazil is the world’s leading soya producer. But Brazil also has extensive and thorough environmental protections, highlighted by its relatively slow introduction of GM technology. While it has its own environmental problems, it is many steps ahead of its Mercosur partners, which gives it a significant market advantage as market harmonisation approaches. But Uruguay is ahead of Argentina on environmental protection. Although Argentina created an Environmental Secretariat in 1973, it was dissolved in 1975, and there was no environmental department until 1991 when former president Carlos Menen reconstructed a National Environmental Secretariat. In 1999 that was moved into the Ministry of Social Development, where it lost the power of action.
there benefit from subsidized fuel and the best soils in Mercosur, all ensuring Argentina’s producers have access to the cheapest maize for feed. Argentinian broiler firms have also developed the know-how and skills to compete in a free market. While their government provided support as the economy was opened to regional competition, broiler companies would not have survived without making their own adjustments to remain competitive against very efficient producers in Brazil.
Recommendations Without government intervention Uruguayan broiler firms will struggle to compete with their counterparts from Brazil and Argentina, which is why Uruguay’s government needs to: 1. Help create specialized human resources, by reviewing Public University programmes, so graduates have the skills needed by the broiler sector 2. Allocate resources to conduct poultry research in one of the government’s agriculture centres, with private firms included in the decisionmaking process 3. Disseminate cutting edge poultry related technical and management information through a committee within the Ministry of Agriculture, with a focus on strategic management advice, collaborative research, business planning, financial assistance, marketing and quality. 4. Provide low cost capital. A lack of access to capital has forced all Uruguayan firms to develop their businesses with their own resources, in sharp contrast with Argentina and Brazil, where poultry firms not only get access to low cost capital but also enjoy other incentives such as subsidised credits, concessions of land, concealed subsidies, and tax and tariff exemptions. 5. Create a environmental protection programme, giving the Ministry of Housing, Territorial Ordering and Environment the power to enact and enforce environmental legislation; promote higher environmental protection, enact legislation that would allow the ban of imports from other Mercosur members that do not comply with national levels of environmental protection; support the development of technologies that are in line with environmentally friendly production; reward with economic incentives those firms that show environmentally sound results; and include environmental themes in education programs. • The full report is on the Farmers Club web-site www.thefarmersclub.com under Awards 2010
contact:
Argentina
Dr Federico Topolansky
Large scale grain purchases and Argentina’s currency exchange policy mean poultry mills there can secure key feed inputs at low cost. Indeed, Argentine government policies keep the price of raw materials down in an attempt to control inflation. Producers
Lecturer in Business Strategy Royal Agricultural College Cirencester, Glos GL7 6JS, 01285 652531 ext 2353 email: Federico.Topolansky@rac.ac.uk
www.thefarmersclub.com • 09
Development
Transforming the lives of African farmers As famine grips the Horn of Africa the work of Send a Cow is more relevant than ever. Charles Abel reports
Clare’s enthusiasm for Send a Cow is infectious
Gerald Osborne, Send a Cow trustee and Farmers Club member
AFRICAN voices sing out across the farmyard as two dozen school children listen spell-bound to three Ugandan women, dressed in national costume, extolling the virtues of Send a Cow. This is Church Farm, a 1000 acre arable and beef enterprise near Radstock in Somerset, and one of the host farms for Send a Cow’s Grow it Global initiative, which twins African and UK farmers, to build skills, exchange ideas and educate school children. It is just one of the many initiatives Send a Cow supports, as it continues to build an infrastructure of expertise in African countries, which not only lifts some of the most disadvantaged out of poverty, but ensures its messages are promulgated far and wide. Jane Apollot is a prime example. “I have a lot to thank Send a Cow for. It transformed my life.” Not only did the cow she received provide milk for the family and to sell, but Send a Cow equipped her with skills in nutrition, sanitation, group working and credit management. Jane now chairs a 58-member Send a Cow group in the Ngora district of Uganda. “We have subgroups influencing 210 households, all using the Send a Cow approach to sustainable farming. “I can say that I have a product of the UK in my
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house, my daughter Adwand Stella, who, thanks to Send a Cow, I have been able to get educated. She is to study Business and Administration at Kampala University, and if God wills it, I would like her to work for Send a Cow in the UK one day. “I don’t have enough words, even if I opened the dictionary, to thank the UK farmers and donors and the government for allowing you to donate to countries in Africa.”
Principle Send a Cow’s guiding principle has always been to build self-reliance through innovative agricultural training projects, initially geared around the care of a cow or goat. Now sustainable cropping using local resources, which can bring a five-fold rise in yields, is being promoted too, to help small-scale farmers grow food for their families, sell a surplus and develop businesses that will last. “I got my cow in 1998 and she has provided us with milk for the family, and six calves and milk to sell, which has helped me buy medicines and pay for my children to go to school,” says Helen Kongai a regional training co-ordinator. “What more could I want.”
Development
Send a cow
Ugandan smallholders (l-r) Helen Kongai, Jane Apollot and Clare Nsubuga show how a keyhole garden uses a raised planting bed, with a hole in the middle for organic material and waste water, to ensure vegetables get nutrients and water for maximum yield
AFRICA’S 500 million small-holder farmers hold the key to the continents food security, says Send a Cow trustee and Farmers Club member Gerald Osborne. “They produce 80% of Africa’s food, so helping them is essential.” From small beginnings in 1987 the charity now has a turnover of £4m, financing projects in Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Lesotho, Zambia, Cameroon and Kenya. “We still give livestock, but the really important thing is the training,” says Rev Osborne. Networks to pass that learning on, from farmer to farmer, are hugely important. “There is real potential for this very practical approach to help feed the continent, even in the face of huge and complex political and economic pressures.” Grow it Global funding, from the Department for International Development’s UK Aid, ends this year. But Send a Cow is actively funding from the EU, UK government, and private and commercial sponsors to maintain the momentum. www.sendacow.org.uk/growitglobal
Uganda Population earning less than $1 a day: Life expectancy at birth: UN human development index:
52% 54 years 143rd out of 169 countries
Undernourished population: 15% Access to improved water: 67% HIV/AIDS, conflict and environmental degradation exacerbate poverty.
So how has the visit to England been? “It was very nice to be able to see the Royal Wedding, and to ride on roads that are so smooth, with no potholes,” says Clare Nsubuga, an agricultural officer for the central region. “But it is so, so cold. I’ve been wearing an extra layer of thermal clothing.” Trees devoid of leaves after winter worried her too. “I feared they had all died!” Claire has used Send a Cow techniques to develop a tree nursery, which uses less than 1 acre of land to produce 10,000 fruit tree saplings for sale, with oranges, avocado, mango and passion fruit as the main lines. It means she can look after three other family members who live with her, her mother and grandmother. And what of the English school children who attended the Send a Cow day in Somerset? What have they enjoyed most? There is a tumult of enthusiasm. “Making clay pots.” “Boiling water on a traditional stove.” “Making the keyhole garden.” “Watching the ladies carry water containers on their heads.” Host farmer Sue Padfield, who has seen 2050 children visit the farm in three years, has no doubt the message gets through. “Every child who leaves
here takes a little piece of Africa with them. I recall one young lad coming up to me at a local netball match, months after a farm visit, and telling me how he had remembered what Zenah, a previous Grow it Global ambassador, had said about creating a keyhole garden and how he had persuaded his father to make one at home.”
Uganda Visits start with traditional Ugandan music, played loud as the children take their seats on straw bales in the modern grain store. There are Ugandan artefacts too, including richly coloured fabrics and items made from fibre extracted from banana plants. “It all creates an atmosphere that says this is going to be different,” says Sue, a keen supporter of LEAF Open Farm Sunday and SW co-ordinator of the LEAF Let Nature Feed Your Senses project. As one seven year-old told her teacher last year: “I know you’ve been trying to teach us about Africa, with the internet and a globe. But since I met Zenah today Africa has become real for me.” Long may that connection between African small-holders and British supporters underpin Send a Cow’s success.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 11
Rural enterprise
A hut for all seasons Hand-crafted Shepherds’ Huts are proving a popular countryside accessory reports entrepreneurial constructor David Cherrington
David Cherrington
MY FAMILY has had a long connection with the Farmers Club, with grandfather (John), father (Rowan), various uncles, and brother (Ross) having all been, or still are, members of The Farmers Club. For me it was an article on diversification in the Farmers Club Journal that inspired my final year dissertation whilst at Newcastle University. Ten years later I took that article to heart and diversified into the niche market of producing shepherds’ huts – the traditional residence for working shepherds, providing a simple yet comfortable wooden home on wheels.
Creature comforts are to the fore in modern shepherd’s huts
Since then the market has grown rapidly, with shepherds’ huts now being seen as a tough yet cosy, nostalgic all-weather retreat, which can be moved at will. We now construct around 16 units a year, with a host of different specifications available to meet the needs of an eager market. Having been born and raised on a sheep and arable farm on the Wiltshire / Hampshire border, I have grown up around sheep all my life, including working a lambing season on a neighbouring farm where a shepherd’s hut was the centrepiece to their outdoor lambing station.
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Rural enterprise
After Newcastle University I returned to the family farm where I worked in the woodlands managing, planting and replanting, and producing timber, firewood and charcoal. When we sold the family farm in 1998 I had to find another business. It was at this time I happened to be restoring an original shepherd’s hut, inherited from my grandfather, for my children to play in. Once restored a number of people asked if I could source and restore similar huts for them. After looking into the second hand market I realised it would be more economical to build from scratch. So, in autumn 1999, in a neighbour’s farmyard and with the help of a carpenter friend, The Shepherd’s Hut Company was born; the first of the new wave of shepherd’s hut makers to build shepherd’s huts from scratch. We decided to keep traditional carpentry methods wherever possible, with mortise and tenon joints where necessary, and manufacturing doors and windows ourselves. Initially we built the traditional style of hut, with a stable door in one end and a single window at the side. Then, to increase the product range, we designed a hut with double doors in the side, allowing for a more “summerhouse” feel. Believing it would be ideal for a fisherman on the riverbank we christened it the Fisherman’s Hut. With the first two prototypes finished in spring of 2000 we showed our huts at a local County Show, and along with a couple of editorial articles, received our first orders. Later that year we moved our young family, and even younger business, to the West Country, settling in the beautiful Tamar Valley on the Devon/Cornwall border. To reduce initial costs we sub-contracted the carpentry skills to a local carpentry workshop and searched for office space, which led me to Richard and Caroline Holland and their old milk retailing office. In 2006, when we expanded into our own workshop, Richard and Caroline offered their Old Granary and Calf Barn; where we have been producing our huts ever since. When clients asked for a slightly larger hut, so a bed could be fitted width-way, we increased the size, working out the new roof radius by drawing it on the Granary floor, (don’t tell Richard) and christened the new size the Drover’s range. The huts are mainly used as an extra room, a spare bedroom or office (including underfloor heating and telephone / computer points), or a summerhouse / hideaway. Increasingly clients have a commercial angle, using a hut to increase the letting price and potential of a property, or as a glamorous camping (glamping) unit, receiving a healthy return on investment. There is no need for planning permission, as the huts are on wheels and not deemed a permanent fixture, which is a contributing factor for many clients. We have delivered our huts as far afield as the South of France, Scotland, Southern Ireland and all parts in-between. Recently clients have been enquiring after a complete, self-contained, hut that could accommodate a kitchen, shower / bathroom and
space to sleep a family. I had been mulling over this idea for some time and then I remembered, as a small boy, playing in an old two-storey moveable milking bail. We decided to design the latest and biggest model based on these old milking bails, with production set for the summer / autumn of 2011. Buyers enthused by these nostalgic homes-fromhome have included lords and ladies, scrap metal dealers, amateur painters, professional jewellery makers, Oscar winning writers, and everyone in-between. • Find out more: www.shepherd-hut.co.uk
(Above) Let your imagination go with interior design (Left) Plans for a future super hut
www.thefarmersclub.com • 13
AGM
Report on the 2011 Annual General Meeting Minutes, Annual Reports and the Club Accounts The Minutes of the 168th Annual General Meeting of the Club were approved and the Report and audited Accounts of the Club for the six months to 31 December 2010 were adopted unanimously.
Election of the Club Chairman and the Vice-Chairman
2012 Chairman Paul Heygate
2012 Vice Chairman Stewart Houston
The 169th Annual General Meeting, chaired by Richard Holland, was held at The Farmers Club on Wednesday, 28th June 2011. The following is a summary of the Minutes, full copies of which can be obtained by email from the Secretary AGM move to June The change to a June AGM fitted in with the realignment of the financial year with the subscription year and meant The Club’s accounts could now be adopted within six months of being prepared. Furthermore, whereas The Club had hitherto held its AGM in December, so far down the current year that future officers would take up their new roles within just a few weeks of their election, the new date meant individuals would take up their new positions on 1st January 2012. The Chairman noted that there could be pressure to move the AGM back to December, but hoped it would not happen too quickly. If it did the Accounts would be 12 months old – not a very healthy situation. He urged members to give the new arrangement a chance for at least another year, if not a couple of years.
14 • The Farmers Club Autumn Journal 2011
Paul Heygate and Stewart Houston were proposed and agreed upon as Chairman and Vice-Chairman for 2012. Proposing the election of Paul Heygate as the Chairman of the Club, Mark Hudson, Chairman of the Trustees, reminded all present that Paul was a very, very busy man and yet was willing to take on the extremely onerous job of Chairman, which whilst not quite full time, certainly required two or three days a week. Paul is Chairman and joint Chief Executive of the family firm, Heygate and Sons Limited, which started well over 100 years ago and is now a successful business employing over 900 people and producing over three million loaves of bread from 8,000 tonnes of milling wheat every week. Alongside that he farms 7,000 acres. Paul is also a governor of NIAB, and a governor of Moulton College, where he trained after a period at Arundel. He is currently on the court of the Worshipful Company of Bakers and is in line to become its Master in two or three year’s time. He is married to Sally and they have a daughter and two grandchildren. Paul was the Club’s Treasurer for several years until recently. Trustee Susan Kilpatrick seconded the proposal. Replying, Paul Heygate, noted that he could not have done anything in his various roles without some superb people back at base. He noted that in three years time he will have been a member of the Club for 50 years, and stressed how much he appreciated the Club, and kicked himself every day, wondering where he was for the 25 years after being involved with the formation of the Under 30s. He was grateful for the opportunity to put something back into the Club and said he would do his best to keep up the traditions of the Club.
AGM
Proposing the election of Stewart Houston as Vice-Chairman from 1 January 2012, Barclay Forrest noted that Stewart was probably the best known pig farmer in the world. As chairman of BPEX, the British Pig Executive, which he set up originally, he had travelled the globe opening up new markets in Korea, China and Japan. He is married to Janet and was made a CBE in 2007 for his services to agriculture. Stewart was a past commissioner of the MLC and is a member of the AHDB. He also serves as a European representative on COPA and COGECA in Brussels and is a partner in an electronics self-feeding system, which is now the market leader in the UK, Australia and China. He was presented with the David Black Award in 2002 and is a Fellow of the Royal Agriculture Society. Immediate Past Chairman, Nicki Quayle, seconded the nomination.
Winter Sunrise – Kingfisher and Pheasants The River Menahyl, Vale of Lanherne, St. Mawgan, Cornwall (From an Original Chromacolour on Canvas by Dick Twinney) www.theartofdicktwinney
Honorary Treasurer Richard Butler was re-elected as Honorary Treasurer. Proposing his election Julian Sayers said the continuity that would provide was a great asset. He noted that The Club’s finances were in very good heart and paid tribute to Richard’s involvement in the farm at home and as a director for a number of years of the very successful multi-million pound business of NFU Mutual. Jimmy McLean seconded the nomination.
Auditors THE CHAIRMAN and Committee recommended that haysmacintyre continue in office, which was seconded by Susan Kilpatrick and agreed unanimously.
Any Other Business Mark Hudson informed the AGM that the Trustees had appointed Norman Shaw as a new Vice President. Mr Shaw was a great Chairman and a great servant to the agricultural industry, both in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who virtually single-handedly saved the Oxford Farming Conference and served as an excellent Farmers Club Trustee until resigning last year. Denis Chamberlain, who continues as Captain of Golf, reported that the Club won its first game of the season, but had gone somewhat downhill from there. He hoped for better things in the second half of the season. The new organising committee, consisting of the Captain, Vice Captain and immediate Past Captain, along with Martin Taylor, was working well. The next Captain of golf, starting next year, will be Norman Bagley. Teresa Wickham noted that next year is the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and on 3rd June a large flotilla was planned for the River Thames. Some members of the Farmers Club with boats may wish to participate. The Chairman thanked committee members, trustees, office holders and staff, saying the Club was very busy. A number of weekend events had been introduced, which were proving very popular, the last two attracting over 60 people each into the Club on a Saturday evening.
THIS year’s Farmers Club Christmas Card features a winter scene beside the River Manahyl in the Vale of Lanherne near St Mawgan in Cornwall, captured by artist Dick Twinney. The card, which measures 178 x 127mm (7" x 5"), 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 £8.50 including VAT and postage (UK only) for up to 5 packs (50 cards). A supplement will be charged on 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 as it enables the Club to make a larger donation to the chosen charities.
Christmas Card Order Form To: The Secretary, The Farmers Club, 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL. I would like to order ……… packs of Christmas Cards (£ 8.50 per pack of 10). I will collect the cards from Reception on …………… (approx. date if known). Payment can either be made by cheque, payable to The Farmers Club, or by Visa, Mastercard or Maestro card. I enclose a cheque for £ ………… (Add £2.00 postage for orders of 60 + cards). PLEASE COMPLETE IN BLOCK CAPITALS with FIRST NAME Member Card Holder’s Name Card No Start Date
Expiry Date
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Post Code Tel (Home) Email
www.thefarmersclub.com • 15
Charles Abel • Farming Views
Farming Views Farming Figures
17,000 Seeds from a single poppy plant – all viable for 40 years plus
£6,156
Average value of English farmland per acre Apr-Jun 2011 – a new record
50%
Decline in bee numbers over past 20 years
210,000 YouTube viewings of farmer-friendly Yeo Valley promo video in first 48 hours. Now over 1.8m. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOHAUvbuV4o
2.2 million
3-D target hunting attracted archery sharp-shooters
Canine friends of every type were on display in the working dogs arena
Game Fair SUPER summer weather greeted visitors to the CLA Game Fair at Blenheim in Oxfordshire, where all that’s best about rural pursuits was celebrated through live demonstrations, opportunities to have a go and a wallet-sapping 1000 trade stands. At the heart of the event was the keynote debate – Big Society in the Countryside: Reality or Rhetoric – which brought enthusiastic sparring between Defra secretary Caroline Spelman, former Daily Telegraph editor Max Hastings, CLA president William Worsley and former RSPB conservation director Dr Mark Avery. Countryside people have practised “Big Society” for centuries, and far
more so than city-dwellers, noted Mr Worsley. So it was important the Government’s new initiative does not hinder the good work already going on. “We need to make sure the Localism Bill currently going through Parliament does not stifle good will and we need to make sure it is not a vehicle for loud-mouthed Nimbys.” A near record attendance of 148,500 visitors attended the 700 acre event. For Farmers Club members there was the added appeal of an early evening reception in the President’s enclosure within the CLA village. Next year’s event is at Belvoir Castle, Leics on 20-22 July.
Tonnes of top soil lost from UK farmland each year
e371bn
Frozen CAP budget proposed for 2014-2020, with e281bn for direct payment and e89.9bn rural development
77% Proportion of cheeses with labels showing origin of milk or place of manufacture
16 • The Farmers Club Autumn Journal 2011
Gunmakers Row saw brisk trade
Polo action as Europe challenges Australia
Farming Views • Charles Abel
Super consistent flour power Magnificent Steppe Eagle was one of many raptors on display
Clay shooting gave novices and experts scope to test guns
Blenheim’s River Glyme offered excellent fishing
WITH 50 years in the milling and baking industry who better to speak at the Farmers Club Breakfast seminar at the Cereals 2011 event in Lincolnshire than Farmers Club vice-chairman Paul Heygate? Addressing an audience in the main Arable Conference marquee on the Thursday morning, with fresh coffee and hot bacon rolls to prepare show-goers for a busy day ahead, Mr Heygate, who is joint chairman of leading flour miller and baker Heygates, stressed the importance of consistency. Reproducibility of the final bakery product is the name of the game, he explained. “Think of the requirements of a commercial sandwich maker, for example. They want a loaf that is absolutely consistent and uniform, so they can produce a consistent product for the end consumer. The same is true for fast-foods, where burger buns must conform to very tight specifications indeed. “When a modern bakery is producing 9000 loaves or up to 60,000 buns an hour, every hour of the day, every day of the week, it requires very, very consistent flour quality going into it. That is why we are working very, very closely with farmers and the trade to ensure they can provide us with that.” Heygates, which operates three flour mills and its own two million loaves/week Fine Lady bakery at Banbury in Oxon, mills 8000t of almost exclusively English wheat a week. To secure the right supplies it is increasingly looking to two- and three-year buy-back contracts, noted chief wheat buyer George Mason. “We’re more than happy to tie-in supply for as long as we can.” Food price inflation and pressure on household budgets meant bread consumption was slightly down, noted Mr Heygate. But more significantly there was a trend for consumers to trade down a brand in their purchasing decisions
Something to smile about – consistent grain for consistent flour is what keeps Heygate’s Paul Heygate and Gerald Mason happy
www.thefarmersclub.com • 17
Patrick Durnford, Chairman; Rhydian Scurlock-Jones, Vice Chairman; MaryAnne Salisbury, Secretary • U30s
U30s
British Produce Inter Club Younger Members Event
Chairman’s Jottings WITH harvest now all but complete, many people reading this article may be snatching a few moments of recuperation after the last of the crops have been brought in, or a breather during an otherwise frantic autumn cultivations and drilling campaign. Whatever the case, I do hope that you are having, or have had, a successful and satisfactory summer. As reported in more detail across the page, we recently held a ‘British produce’ themed evening at the Club. There are probably few subjects closer to the hearts of many of our membership. As such, It was a great delight to be able to hold this event and very positive that it was so well supported. Not only was it a privilege to showcase some wonderful food and drink, the venue and atmosphere of the Club provides a superb setting in which to do it. It was lovely to see so many Under 30s and senior Club members at the CLA Game Fair at Blenheim Palace. Oxfordshire will also be playing host to the Autumn Farm Walk, which is to be held from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 October, based at the River Hotel in Oxford. The weekend will include two farm walks in the area, exploration of the historic city of Oxford and of course dining and nightlife. Another date for the diary is the Autumn Dining Evening on Friday 9 September, when the after dinner speaker will be David Speller, 2009 Poultry Farmer of the Year. Guests are very welcome at both events. On behalf of the Under 30s Committee, I wish you a very enjoyable autumn.
contact Patrick for more information Patrick Durnford patrick.durnford @bidwells.co.uk 07967 822892
18 • The Farmers Club Autumn Journal 2011
Sipsmith Gin – produced close to the Club. www.sipsmith.com
ON FRIDAY 10 June the Farmers Club Under Thirties proudly hosted the ‘Inter-Club Younger Members Group’ for a British Produce themed dinner. We were delighted to welcome 44 people to the Club for what was a most enjoyable and tremendously fun occasion. The Inter-Club group is founded on a reciprocal arrangement whereby members of a number of other London Clubs come together for events which are held in turn at the respective premises. Founded in 2005 with the aim of ensuring that younger members get the very most from their club membership, the Inter-Club Group has grown quickly to incorporate 18 different Clubs (see panel). The evening started with a gin and tonic reception that was kindly sponsored by the Sipsmith distillery. The award winning Sipsmith gin is crafted with absolute attention to quality not far from the Club. The copper still used for the distillation process, named Prudence, was the first to launch in London for nearly 200 years. The Spirits are made in genuinely small batches - never more than 500 bottles at a time, often considerably less - using the finest English barley spirit with 10 carefully selected botanicals, and blended with the exceptionally
pure water of Lydwell spring, one of the sources of the River Thames. The result is an interpretation of the classic London Dry style that nods to its heritage and is described as a particularly dry gin with a wonderful burst of juniper and a zesty, citrus freshness – or put another way, floral, summer meadow notes, followed by mellow rounded juniper and zesty, citrus freshness. It exemplifies the artisanal passion held by its creators and was the perfect way to start off proceedings. As always our Chef for the evening and Kitchen staff did a marvellous job in presenting a tremendous feast, a highlight of which was the ‘Galloway’ roast beef as the main course, which was ‘second to none’ and testament to the sterling work that must have gone into the rearing of the animal and preparation of the dish. Seasonal summer fruits provided a refreshing pudding. Inter-Club events are always well attended and it is a great way to meet new people and learn a little of the Clubs and their eccentricities! To get involved in the Inter-Club Group you must be a member of one of the participating clubs and be under the age of 35. No additional subscription is required. I would like to thank all those involved with making the evening so successful.
Inter-Club Group CLUBS participating in the Inter-Club Group are the: Army & Navy, Caledonian, Carlton, City University, Farmers, Hurlingham, Lansdowne, National Liberal, Oxford and Cambridge, Reform, Royal Automobile, Royal OverSeas League, Savage, Savile and Travellers Clubs. The number continues to grow year on year. See www.inter-club.co.uk
U30s • Patrick Durnford, Chairman; Rhydian Scurlock-Jones, Vice Chairman; MaryAnne Salisbury, Secretary
Surrender & Re-grant: Have you assessed your potential tax liability?
(Top) Optimising tenancy arrangements needs extra care (Above) Under 30s member Fiona Norman
THE TERM succession planning is often used in the context of the transfer of tenancy rights from one generation to another. Traditionally this has remained distinct from the equivalent inheritance or tax planning often undertaken by landlords wishing to transfer assets to future generations. Following the 2006 Tenancy Reform Industry Group (TRIG) reforms, these distinctions have become less marked, as landlords have sought to take advantage of preferential changes to inheritance tax agricultural property relief (APR) rules, and in doing so may have looked to renegotiate with tenants to mutual advantage. The TRIG reforms mean a tenant can now surrender their AHA tenancy in exchange for a new tenancy, whilst retaining the same security. This is advantageous for a landlord, as any tenancy of agricultural property granted after 1 September 1995 attracts 100% relief from inheritance tax, rather than 50% relief for tenancies granted before 1995. As a consequence, many landlords have entered into discussions with their tenants with a view to surrendering the existing tenancy arrangements and re-granting a new tenancy on similar terms. Indeed, because of this potential benefit many landlords in arms length arrangements, have offered incentives to tenants to co-operate, including cash payments, transfers of property and often longer term guaranteed Farm Business Tenancies (FBTs) to secure long term succession when this may have been in doubt under the 1986 Act succession provisions. To many, such arrangements can appear attractive, with some tenants thinking they are receiving something for nothing and equally landlords feeling they are benefiting from favourable capital taxation status. However, both parties should be aware and conscious of certain tax pitfalls and only proceed with caution. For example, tenants may be liable for stamp duty land tax (SDLT) on the grant of the new tenancy. This is most likely to arise where there is a consideration in favour of the tenant, a variation in
terms, or if the existing AHA tenancy is being replaced by an FBT. Furthermore, capital gains tax (CGT) can present a more significant problem for either party; the tenant may be considered to have made a disposal if he/she surrenders the tenancy, or any part, regardless of receiving a consideration, and the landlord may be considered to have made a disposal if he has transferred an asset or has granted an interest greater than existing. It may be possible in most cases for tenants to seek an indemnity from the landlord as to any tax consequences, particularly if the value is significant. But such indemnities may not be offered or forthcoming. HMRC may only now be waking up to these potential issues and is likely to be more alert to the arrangements that lay behind any transactions when faced with claims for 100% relief on a newly surrendered and re-granted tenancy. So, great care is needed to plan any arrangement as efficiently as possible. This does not mean to say that there is no scope for co-operative planning - indeed there are alternative methods of creating a new tenancy, which qualify for both 100% APR for inheritance tax, whilst retaining the tenant’s security, but do not require a surrender and re-grant. These include the service of a notice to quit, immediately followed by the grant of a new tenancy, or the grant of a head lease to the tenant. Neither involves a surrender, so therefore there is no disposal which could create a CGT liability. Whilst the use of surrender and re-grant can bring significant IHT tax savings in the right circumstances, the parties involved need to be fully aware of the potential complexities. • Fiona Norman Under Thirties Member and chartered rural surveyor with Bidwells 01865 797033 fiona.norman@bidwells.co.uk
www.thefarmersclub.com • 19
Stephen Skinner • Ramblings
Ramblings
WiFi working well
Show Season takes Club across the UK WE ARE just through what is unquestionably the busiest time of the year for the Chairman and Secretary – that is to say, show time. We have, since the last edition of the Journal, attended the Royal Cornwall, Cereals, the Royal Highland, the Great Yorkshire, the Royal Welsh and the CLA Game Fair along with a visit to Stowell Park. On top of these, we have been running a number of very successful events from the Club. Firstly, I should say how much the Chairman and my staff and I appreciate
the enormous support you the members have given us through attending so many of these events. Practically every one of the shows and events has been well attended and the feedback I have received has been positive. Thank you. I should also like to thank the Chief Executives and their staff of all the shows we attended. Without exception, they go out of their way to welcome and to help us which goes to make the events easy to run and enjoyable too.
Farmers Club Honorary Chaplain the Revd Nick Holtam of St Martin-inthe-Fields was ordained and consecrated as the 78th Bishop of Salisbury at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on Friday 22 July. See his interview with Bill Bryson at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=-7a8DFt0Zbw
A fine Summer Outing was enjoyed by Club members in early July, including a river tour to the Thames Barrier, followed by supper at the Club and then the musical Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre on Northumberland Avenue.
20 • The Farmers Club Autumn Journal 2011
AS mentioned in the Harvest edition of the Journal, WiFi is now available throughout the Club and I am delighted to say the feedback has been very positive. While this is provided free to members staying in the Club, we do of course have to cover our costs, and thus the General Committee has agreed to raise the price of each bedroom by £1 with immediate effect.
Farmers Club leadership course launched A leadership development initiative taken by The Farmers Club Charitable Trust has created much interest. Due to the considerable generosity of Mrs Stella Muddiman, a panel of judges is soon to select four candidates to attend the Windsor Leadership Programme at Windsor Castle. The candidates have been personally nominated by the NFU, CLA, TFA, Royal Agricultural College and the Duchy College Rural Business School and we are delighted with the very high quality of each of the applicants. The reasoning behind establishing a presence on this programme is that while there are many different leadership/management courses for those within the agricultural sector, they are almost all attended by those from within the industry. By attending the Windsor programme, individuals will be exposed to among the very brightest and best within other sectors – both public and non-public, and be able to both listen to the thoughts and ideas of others, while at the same time, talk about farming and its associated issues. As one who attended this programme some time ago, I can but expound its virtues and benefits in the longer term. I will write again on this subject in future Ramblings.
Ramblings • Stephen Skinner
Wool Week: 5th – 11th September TWELVE months ago two flocks of sheep were herded through Saville Row, London, the home of the highest quality wool cloth used in tailoring. Since then the Campaign for Wool, initiated by HRH Prince Charles, has taken the wonderful message of wool to 165 million people. The five year campaign, which celebrates Wool Week from 5th – 11th September and is supported by 120 companies, has already staged events attracting thousands of consumers, provided in-store displays, email campaigns, an online auction and involved numerous fashion and interior designers. At the same time the price of wool has nearly trebled. And while many producers will still say the price paid for a fleece still does not
cover the cost of shearing, any rise goes straight to the bottom line, since shearing is a necessity. Funded by most of the wool producing countries the campaign’s plans for 2011 are bigger still. In October sheep will be seen in downtown Tokyo; Wool Modern will be hosted in Berlin; Madrid will come alive with The Avenue of Wool; and Wool Modern will be staged at La Galleria, Pall Mall, London from 7th to 29th September. All this will coincide with well known stores promoting wool based products, ably backed by The British Wool Marketing Board. Wool: natural, sustainable, warm, cool and comfortable, technical and versatile. It is durable, carbon efficient and non allergic. 'Live Naturally...Choose Wool'. www.campaignforwool.org
Historic land ownership HOW long has your farm been in your family? Can you trace its ownership back to the dissolution of the monasteries, or further still? If so, Club member Peter Clery would very much like to hear from you. “The story of land ownership in England from Saxon times, through 1066, and right up to the current day is the subject of a new book I am working on charting the major changes over the past 1000 years,” he says. The book, with the indicative title of One Thousand Years of English Land is planned for publication in spring 2012. It was intended for the millennium, but as Peter admits, he was sidetracked by biofuels and other matters. Pinpointing just how much land the monasteries owned has been a particular challenge. Academics theorised that it could have been anything from 10% to 30% of all English farmland. To get a more accurate fix Mr Clery employed a number of students to translate all 2018 tenancy agreements held by the Abbot of Glastonbury in 1515, 20 years before the monasteries were dissolved. “We managed to trace every land holding, bar a few manors which we were able to impute, and came up with a figure of 130,000 acres held by Glastonbury, the largest of the monasteries. Given that the records
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show Glastonbury, with a wide spread of soil types and locations, represented 3% of England’s total monastic landed wealth, we can say with some confidence that a total of 4 million acres (16%) of English farmland were held by the monasteries before Henry VIII grabbed the lot.” Now Mr Clery wants to find landholdings with the longest record of unbroken ownership through nearly 1000 years. “I am sure that somewhere in England people can trace their family’s ownership of land right back to 1066. If so I would very much like to hear their story.” If you can help, contact Peter on 01406 350848 (clery@curlew.fsworld.co.uk). His earlier book on Glastonbury Abbey Estates (£9.99 + p&p) is also available through the above contacts.
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www.thefarmersclub.com • 21
The Farmers Club • Club Information
Club Information 020 7930 3751 DIARY DATES Please check the dates carefully as they are sometimes changed and new dates added for each issue. Details of Club events circulated in the previous issues are available from the Secretariat at the telephone number shown above. SEPTEMBER
NOVEMBER
Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning at the Club
The Lord Mayor’s Show –
Friday 30th
Not a Club organised event
Saturday 12th
DECEMBER
Royal Day Out – FULL
Carols by Candlelight at St. Martin-in-the-Fields
Friday 30th
OCTOBER
Saturday 10 December (Note change of date from Friday 9 December) See below for application form
Har vest Festival Ser vice at St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Buffet Supper at the Club – SUPPER FULL
JANUARY 2012
Tuesday 11th at 5pm Preacher: The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt. Revd. Michael Langrish
Oxford Farming Conference
!
CAROLS BY CANDELIGHT AT ST.MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER 2011 The cost of £75.00 per person includes dinner with wine, coffee and mince pies and a ticket to the concert at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Places will be on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Tickets will be distributed on the day. A cheque or debit/credit card details must accompany your application. Members requiring accommodation should contact reservations on 020 7930 3557 or email reservations@thefarmersclub.com quoting ‘Christmas Carol Concert’.
Please complete in CAPITALS WITH FIRST NAME and return to MaryAnne Salisbury, Events Manager, The Farmers Club, 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL Tel: 020-7930 3751 Email: events@thefarmersclub.com
I would like to reserve ................ places @ £75.00 per person. (Maximum 4 places per member). Any special dietary requirements Please make a cheque payable to The Farmers Club or alternatively you may pay by Visa, Mastercard or Maestro card. Card Holder’s Name Card No. Start Date
Expiry Date
Signature
Security No.
Member Guests Address
Post Code Telephone Number Email
22 • The Farmers Club Autumn Journal 2011
Tuesday 3 – Thursday 5 January (See www.ofc.org.uk for more information)
CAROLS BY CANDELIGHT AT ST.MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER 2011 The Chairman, Mr Richard Holland invites Club members and their guests to join him for a dinner at the Club followed by Carols by Candlelight at St-Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square. Outline Programme 5.45pm – Dinner at the Club 7.10pm – Depart for the short walk to St. Martin-in-the-Fields 7.30pm – Carols by Candlelight concert with Vivamus, a small London-based chamber choir. Conductor - Rufus Frowde
Club Information • The Farmers Club
Further information is available on The Farmers Club Website www.thefarmersclub.com Obituaries It is with regret that we announce the death of the following members: E Griffiths B Mackie A Scruby J Locke S Lewis W Humphreys S Taylor H Schulman
Cardiganshire Aberdeenshire Nottinghamshire Devon Dorset Oxfordshire Cambridgeshire Norfolk
New Members No new members were elected Dress Code Members are requested to advise their guests of the following: • Gentlemen must wear formal jackets and ties on weekdays. Polo-neck jerseys, jeans and trainers are not acceptable. • There is a Club jacket and a selection of ties at Reception which may be borrowed in an emergency. • Ladies should be dressed conventionally. Trousers are permitted but not casual slacks, jeans or trainers during the week. • Smart casual dress may be worn from 6pm Friday to midnight Sunday, with smart clean jeans and trainers permitted. • Children should conform with the above guidelines. • Members must advise their guests of the dress regulations. Business Suite This is situated on the Club floor and gives Members an opportunity to use a laptop or a Club PC in a tailor made environment. The use of a laptop therefore is no longer allowed in the public rooms and is restricted to the Business Suite only. Parking The Club has no private parking at Whitehall Court and metered parking in the immediate area is extremely limited. The nearest public car park, open 24 hours a day, is situated in Spring Gardens off Cockspur Street, approximately 5 minutes walk from the Club. Reciprocal Clubs UK Royal Overseas League, Edinburgh The New Club, Edinburgh OVERSEAS The Western Australian Club, Perth, Australia (Bedrooms not reciprocated) Queensland Club, Brisbane, Australia Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland (Bedrooms not reciprocated) Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club, Dublin, Ireland
Telephone: 0800 243 348. The Congestion Charge can be paid at this car park. For more information on parking, visit www.westminster.gov.uk/services/ transportandstreets/parking.
THE FARMERS CLUB Over 160 years of service to farming 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL
Mobile Phones, Briefcases and Business Meetings Mobile phones must not be used in the Public Rooms. Briefcases should be left in the Cloakrooms and Business meetings must be conducted in a private room. Members should speak with the Meetings Manager for details. Television There are no TVs in the Club bedrooms however there is a television available in the Muddiman Suite lounge on the fourth floor which on occasion is also used as a Meeting Room. Members should therefore check with Reception that it is available for general use before entering the lounge. Storage of Shotguns Members are reminded that the Club does not hold a licence for the secure storage of shotguns. There are however a number of “Registered Firearm Dealers” in London who offer this service. Details are available from Reception. Security in the Bedrooms and Cloakrooms Please do not leave wallets, money, cheque books or any valuables in the bedrooms or in briefcases in Club cloakrooms. The Club cannot accept responsibility for any loss and so do please be as security aware as possible. Reception has a small security safe to deposit valuables. Envelope Sponsorship The Farmers Club would like to thank Agrovista for there continued sponsorship of the Journal envelopes. They are the leading authority on all aspects of crop management advice, with many years of experience backed up with the most advanced and comprehensive range of Agronomy trials in Great Britain. For more information visit - www.agrovista.co.uk
Patron – Her Majesty The Queen VICE PRESIDENTS Peter Jackson CBE, Roddy Loder-Symonds, Sir David Naish DL, John Parker, Norman Shaw CBE THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB FOR 2011 PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN Richard Holland TRUSTEES Mark Hudson (Chairman), Barclay Forrest OBE Mrs Susan Kilpatrick OBE, Julian Sayers VICE-CHAIRMAN Paul Heygate HONORARY TREASURER Richard Butler IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN Mrs Nicki Quayle COMMITTEE Elected 2006: Stewart Houston CBE, Meurig Raymond MBE Elected 2007: Tim Bennett (Chairman House Sub-Committee) Mrs Anne Chamberlain (Chairman Journal & Communications Sub-Committee), James Cross, Richard Harrison, Campbell Tweed OBE (Chairman Membership Sub-Committee) Elected 2008: The Reverend Dr Gordon Gatward OBE, Jimmy McLean, David Richardson OBE, John Wilson Elected 2009: John Stones Elected 2010: David Leaver, Martin Taylor Elected 2011: Andrew Brown, Micheal Summers Co-opted: Patrick Durnford (Chairman Under 30s) Rhydian Scurlock-Jones (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 Deputy Secretary: Robert Buckolt Bedroom & Dining Room Reservations: 020-7930 3557 Private Function & Meeting Room Reservations: 020-7925 7100 Accounts: 020-7925 7101 Membership: 020-7925 7102 Secretariat: 020-7930 3751 Personal calls for members only: 020-7930 4730
CLUB CLOSURE Noon Fri 23 December to 3.00pm Tues 3 January 2012
The Muthaiga Country Club, Nairobi, Kenya The Harare Club, Harare, Zimbabwe The Christchurch Club, Christchurch, New Zealand (Closed due to earthquake damage) The Canterbury Club, Christchurch, New Zealand (Closed due to earthquake damage) Members wishing to visit any of the above Clubs must obtain an introductory card from the Secretariat.
Fax: 020-7839 7864 E-mails secretariat@thefarmersclub.com accounts@thefarmersclub.com membership@thefarmersclub.com functions@thefarmersclub.com meetings@thefarmersclub.com reservations@thefarmersclub.com reception@thefarmersclub.com u30s@thefarmersclub.com Website: www.thefarmersclub.com THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Editor and Advertisement Manager: Charles Abel, 07795 420692 Email: editor@thefarmersclub.com Designed by: Ingenious, 01323 729515 Website: www.ingeniousdesign.co.uk Printed by: Pureprint Group, Brambleside, Bellbrook Park Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 1PL, 01825 768811
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THE FARMERS CLUB
Christmas Card 2011 Members are invited to order this year’s Farmers Club Christmas Card, featuring this striking winter scene beside the River Manahyl in the Vale of Lanherne near St Mawgan in Cornwall, captured by artist Dick Twinney. 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 15. 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.
24 • The Farmers Club Autumn Journal 2011