Farmers Club SPRING/SUMMER 2021 • ISSUE 289
www.thefarmersclub.com
INSIDE Chairman’s Comments p3 Club News p4 Carbon farming p6 Pinnacle Awards p8 Club Committee p10 Award winners p11 Re-Opening p12 Club Events p13 Charitable Trust p14 Organic waste p16 Craig’s Corner p17 Farming figures p18 Club golf p18 Chef’s page p19 Under 30s p20 Club Info p23
INSERTS Annual Report & Accounts
Club set to Re-Open 17 May Full details on p4, 12&13, 17, 24
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Farmers Club Serving the farming industry for 178 years 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL Patron – Her Majesty The Queen
Contents
FRONT COVER Plans are fully in place for Club Re-opening Day on Monday 17 May – Government regulations permitting. Join us in your wonderful home-from-home beside the River Thames 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 Chairman Keith Redpath gives an up-beat review of prospects for the Club, its membership and the wider farming industry
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Club News Gearing up for Club Re-opening Day on Monday 17 May is the priority, but the team has been busy throughout recent months
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Carbon farming Reducing farming’s climate change impacts is a major issue for every sector. CIEL has identified priorities for livestock farmers
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Pinnacle of business management Agriculture students competed for top honours in the 2020 Pinnacle Awards for Farm Business Management
10 Committee expertise Three new members join the Club’s General Committee
11 Award-winning members Celebrating the success of Club members
12 Club Re-Opening Day At last – a chance to get back to your Club
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13 Events programme Club events are firmly on the agenda
14 Charitable Trust Leadership and educator initiatives blossom
16 Member business A novel approach to organic waste disposal
17 Craig’s Corner Member Experience Manager’s top tips
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18 Club Golf Golfing plans for the year ahead
19 Chef ’s fishing Tell us about the one that got away...!
20 Under 30s Cumbrian Belted Galloways cause Instagram stir
22 Club Information and Contacts
02 • The Farmers Club Spring/Summer 2021
Chairman’s Comments • Keith Redpath that require the payment of deposits and incurring expense until we are sure that we will be able to carry out the plans we make. The first organized visit is to the Alice in Wonderland exhibition on 25 June. We have also planned a trip to my home area on 27-29 July, when we hope to visit some innovative farming businesses, a food processing plant, and a few of the local tourist attractions. We are still working on Allan’s visit to Burgundy in France, the dates now confirmed as 13-16 September. Bookings for that trip have been provisionally arranged. Then, on 23 September, we have Chelsea Flower Show to look forward to. Plans are also in place to visit several Agricultural Shows around the country. As you will be aware some shows have been postponed until September, but we intend to fit in as many as possible into our program.
Chairman’s Comments “Commodity prices have remained buoyant following Brexit, with cereals trading at higher levels than they have been for several years.”
“We hope to visit some innovative farming businesses, a food processing plant, and a few of the local tourist attractions.”
I WOULD like to say how grateful I am, and I’m sure I speak for the General Committee too, as well as the team at the Club, for the response we have had from you, our members, in renewing your membership this year. We are humbled by your commitment to the Farmers Club and are so pleased that many of you have booked to come to the Club later in the summer – it will be great to be able to visit London once again. Light at end of tunnel At long last we can see light at the end of the tunnel. We now have some dates to work towards. If the statistics continue to go in the right direction we are preparing to open the Club on Monday 17 May. And then hopefully on Monday 21 June there will be a further loosening of the restrictions that we are currently living under. As we return to the Club could I please ask that we observe the rules, as you never know when an inspector may arrive. A few days ago, I was working in my office when an HSE inspector turned up, totally unannounced, to check if we were complying with the pandemic rules. Thankfully, all was in order. But I didn’t expect an inspection on a farm, one of the easiest environments in which to observe social distancing rules. Event planning With the easing of restrictions, we have started planning some Club events for later in the year in and around London. We are still, however, hesitant about making bookings for visits further afield, and abroad, due to the uncertainty surrounding travel. In addition, we are uncomfortable making commitments
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Buoyant prices In the January issue of this Journal I mentioned how well crops were looking going into the winter. I am glad to be able to report that spring has arrived, and crops are continuing to flourish. Commodity prices have remained buoyant following Brexit, with cereals trading at higher levels than they have been for several years, although we are experiencing increases in the cost of inputs. This, along with the changes in Government support policy from area payments, and the new more environmentally based policy, will be a challenge for many of our businesses. The livestock industry is also seeing a period of strong prices, except for the pig sector, which is still having a difficult time with lower prices being achieved for pig meat. Most unusual year We have lived through one of the most unusual years in my life, when Covid-19 has dominated the lives of people right across the globe. The virus has had a major impact on the world economy and no doubt its effect will be felt for many years to come. Thankfully, agriculture has not been affected as badly as many other sectors. Throughout the pandemic we have managed to supply the food chain, almost uninterrupted. When I go into a supermarket and see the range of food available, which our industry supplies, I feel very proud indeed. We have adapted to the changing purchasing habits of our customers and fed the nation. e-Newsletter Please watch out for Andrei’s weekly news emails so that you can keep up-to-date with all that is happening as we start operating again. I look forward to meeting you either in the Club or at some of the events later in the year.
@thefarmersclub
The Farmers Club Page
www.thefarmersclub.com • 03
Andrei Spence • Club News
Club News
Club re-opening Monday 17 May OUR planned Club Re-Opening Day of Monday 17 May marks perhaps the most significant event for us all in almost 18 months, writes Club Secretary & Chief Executive Andrei Spence. Hopefully, it will be just four weeks short of the Government’s intended abolition of any Covid-related legal restrictions.
On re-opening we will offer ‘All day Dining’ in the Restaurant covering lunch and dinner. It will be akin to the more limited offering we had from July to November last year, but still with plenty of choice and the same exceptional standards of simply cooked seasonal British food!
The growing numbers who have been vaccinated for the first time, probably over 40 million by the time you read this, and the growing evidence of the preventative effects of even a single jab, will hopefully translate into an everincreasing confidence for people to start picking up their lives from where they left them 16 months ago.
Events Planning To mark the Club Re-Opening we intend to hold a series of events, as well as a number of small talks/exhibitions, flower shows and trips beyond London, including the Chairman’s Tour in Kelso and the Scottish borders and the postponed trip to Burgundy.
I think we can still expect some wearing of face coverings, social distancing and changes to the way we deliver services in some situations, but hopefully these will be fewer as time passes.
I am trying to put together a package of visits to agricultural shows, as they confirm they are going ahead, so the Chairman and I are looking forward to meeting as many of you as we can, on your patches, across the country.
From early May the team will return to the Club to embark on deep cleaning and re-instating the Club ready for members returning on May 17. We are already seeing May-September occupancy growing, which is very encouraging. But I will be very careful to monitor levels of business and balance our spending and Club offering accordingly.
Dates and planning are also evolving for the Harvest Service and Dinner and a new style of event in November (details later), and with a bit of luck, the New Years’ Eve Dinner. You will see tentative dates for these on page 13 and more information will have emerged by the time you read this Journal to assist your planning and transport needs.
Booking Club Events As the Club re-opens details of future Club events are being finalised. Please be advised that from now on all Club events must be booked on-line. Go to our website www.thefarmersclub.com and click Events in the panel on the left hand side. This will take you to the Events page where details of each Event will be visible along with a simple and easy-to-use registering process. See page 13 for a taste of potential 2021 Events
04 • The Farmers Club Spring/Summer 2021
Club News • Andrei Spence
Club business continues
Despite the restrictive lockdown the business of running your Club has continued over recent months, including meetings and new appointments. We would have normally welcomed new Chairman Keith Redpath and his wife Grace to the Club to meet the team and tour the premises, including areas few people ever see! That was not to be. But the important business of the Club had to be conducted and Keith chaired the first General Committee meeting of the year in late January on-line. It was preceded by Sub-Committee meetings, the Membership Committee even admitting around a dozen new members. As is normal the Sub-Committee Chairmen changed, this year Chris Riddle, Meurig Raymond and John Hardman lead the Membership, House and MarComms Sub-Committees respectively. A new Chairman of Trustees, Nicki Quayle, took over the reins from Julian Sayers on 1 January 2021. On behalf of the General Committee and the Club, Nicki thanked Julian for his many years of service, and he was invited to become a Club Vice President. His vacancy was taken up by Peter Jinman OBE. During lockdown we deployed a small number of the team to the Club for a day or two per week, for routine maintenance, health and safety checks and small amounts of cleaning, as well as opening post once every few weeks and attending to administrative matters. We continue to use the remote digital architecture to answer the many emails that come in, within very short timescales, as we have since last March.
Club Calendar Diary Dates
See Club website for information about Club events
Anita’s handover As many of you will already know Anita left on maternity leave on Friday 26 February a little earlier than planned, part way through our morning staff meeting. Five hours later she gave birth to a healthy son and both are doing well! We send Anita, Anhil and the newest edition to their family all good wishes. On the same day, Emily O’Brien (right) took over as Administrator dealing with most Club events. I hope many of you will meet Emily over the coming months.
VAT rates I am really pleased the extension of the 5% VAT rate will continue until the end of September and then rise to 12.5% until 31 March 2022 – both rates being significantly lower than the previous 20%. I intend on passing the whole benefit of these low rates to all members as it relates to room bookings, food and non-alcoholic beverage. I hope this will act as an added stimulus to those thinking of coming to London.
AGM calling notice
The Farmers Club
The Farmers Club is to hold its 179th Annual General Meeting in the Farmers Suite at 3 Whitehall Court on Tuesday 6 July 2021 at 12 noon. All Club members are invited to attend.
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2020
AGENDA FOR THE ANNUAL GENERAL Agenda for the One Hundred and Seventy Ninth Annual General Meeting of The Farmers Club to be held in the Farmers Suite of the Farmers Club at 3 Whitehall Court, LONDON, SW1A 2EL on Tuesday 6 July 2021 at 12 noon.
1. MINUTES
To approve the Minutes of the One Hundred and Seventy Eighth Annual General Meeting of the Club.
2. ACCOUNTS
To present the Annual Report and audited Accounts of the Club for the year ended 31 December 2020.
MEETING 2021
3. OFFICERS
(a) To elect the Chairman for 2022. Mr John Lee OBE held office as Vice-Chairman for 2021 and the Officers and Trustees recommend that he takes office as Chairman from 1 January 2022. (b) To elect the Vice-Chairman for 2022. The Officers and Trustees recommend that Mr Meurig Raymond CBE takes office as Vice-Chairman from 1 January 2022. (c) To elect the Honorary Treasurer for 2022. The Officers and Trustees recommend that Mr Christopher Riddle takes office as Honorary Treasurer from 1 January 2022.
4. AUDITORS
To appoint the Auditors for 2022. The Committee recommends that haysmacintyre continue in office.
5. CHANGE TO CLUB RULES
None
6. MOTION BEFORE THE AGM
No motions received.
A B SPENCE Secretary by Order of the Committee April 2021
PAGE ONE
Club finances The early part of the year was dominated by the Club’s closure and the criticality of subscription fees cannot be over-stated. The re-subscription rate has been outstanding, reflecting highly on the loyalty of members to their Club and also an understanding of just how important this was. There have been some extraordinarily generous gestures made by individuals – but it is the combined commitment to the Club by all that has got us off to the best possible start. Set against this is the inevitable consequence of at least the first four and a half months of 2021 passing without the Club being able to open, and therefore generating no revenue. The furlough scheme, grants and deferrals continue to have a huge impact on our ability to maintain the Club, administratively,
economically and with a team who are ready to go when the starting gun is fired. Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget will assist cash flow significantly. Extending the Furlough Scheme is particularly useful, even if tapered in the final three months, when I hope occupancy and dining at the Club will be rising significantly and all our existing staff will be required. Pushing the Business Rates holiday to the end of June, with a 66% discounted rate for a further nine months, is also very important. Together with VAT reductions this will certainly help provide increased stability, as the resurgence of the Club is unlikely to gather huge momentum before the second half of the year, despite bookings for May and June picking up rapidly.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 05
Charles Abel • Climate Change
LIFESTOCK’S
carbon challenge “There is …a lot of rhetoric, emotive language and seemingly contradictory facts on the subject”
THE latest report to examine the livestock sector’s carbon headache is by turns fascinating, scary and sometimes very heavy going. But powerful insights pepper it – essential for any livestock business keen to remain relevant as the world adapts to a lowcarbon future. The take-home message from the national consortium of experts led by Dr Elizabeth Magowan, of Northern Ireland’s Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute is unequivocal – there’s a lot livestock farming can do, but it will struggle hugely to hit net zero. The complex biology makes it tough enough. But inefficiency, slow technological progress, poor knowledge transfer, under-investment and a paucity of reliable data exacerbate the problem. Key drivers The Committee on Climate Change wants agriculture and land-use to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 64% to support the UK’s drive for net zero by 2050. To take its share of the burden livestock farming needs to chop a whopping 18.6Mt CO2-eq from its 2018 baseline emissions.
CIEL Report Consortium Aberystwyth University, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Bangor University, Duchy College, Harper Adams University, University of Leeds (SMART Agri-food Systems), Newcastle University, Queen’s University Belfast (Institute for Global Food Security), Rothamsted Research, Scotland’s Rural College, University of Nottingham, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, University of Edinburgh (Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security), University of Bristol (Bristol Veterinary School) www.cielivestock.co.uk/net-zero-carbon-and-uk-livestock/
06 • The Farmers Club Spring/Summer 2021
Livestock farming has a carbon headache. Charles Abel reviews a key report from the Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock How doable is that? The CIEL report says currently available cost-effective mitigation strategies might cut total agricultural emissions by 7.1Mt CO2-eq by 2035. That’s less than a fifth of what’s needed, leaving 15 years to deliver the remaining 80%! It’s a stark contrast to the NFU’s ambitious 11.5MtCO2-eq reduction by 2035. With almost half of all agricultural emissions coming from ruminant livestock, especially methane, the sector clearly has its work cut out. Efficiency A glimmer of cheer is that carbon output per unit of production is well below many other countries. So, whilst UK dairying has Europe’s third worst total carbon footprint, it ranks sixth best when scaled to yield. It is also argued that carbon footprints should be measured against the nutritional benefit of produce, not just weight. Nutritional density, or digestibility and bioavailability, should be the real bottom lines, something the National Food Strategy is expected to embrace. Shrinking the livestock sector is not an option. Reducing exports of carbon-efficient produce, and importing less carbon-efficient products from overseas, would be counter-productive. That is highlighted by data showing the global average grassland beef system generates 99kgCO2-eq for every 1 kg of meat produced, compared to 48kgCO2-eq in the UK. The figures for lamb (40kg v 37kg), milk (3kg v 2kg), pigs (12kg v 12kg) and poultry (10kg v 10kg) tell a similar story. The best prospect for pursuing net zero seems to be efficiency. Spreading emissions across more output helps. Implementing best practice across
Climate Change • Charles Abel
the lowest performing flocks and herds could bring a 30% carbon improvement to the sector, the report suggests. Which targets are right? The picture is further muddied by GHG accounting systems. Inventory accounting used in net zero targets considers UK emissions only. Life cycle assessment, by contrast, includes emissions associated with inputs from overseas, like imported fertilisers and animal feed. Replacing home grown feedstuffs with imported equivalents would cut the UK’s inventory carbon footprint, but such ‘offshoring’ of higher carbon footprints would hit global emissions, which seems illogical. On-farm actions The report gives helpful insights into opportunities for each livestock sector, with a lot of comparative data for different systems, and a guide to actions that could help most, and at what financial cost, or indeed benefit. On-farm efficiency, using existing technology, can make better use of fertilisers, feeds and manures. But much greater improvements are needed, in animal husbandry, plant and animal breeding, and livestock health, welfare and productivity. The carbon impact of ill-health is also significant. Novel and alternative feeds offer huge potential upsides, especially with lower carbon footprints from feed production and use, and diets and feed ingredients/supplements designed to improve nutrient use, and reduce methane emissions. Better understanding of microbial ecology in ruminants may help cut methane, through microbial manipulation and a reduction of methane-producing archaea (single-cell organisms) by gut microbial programming or dietary supplements. Use of home-grown feeds (especially protein), will reduce reliance on imported soya and the impacts associated with deforestation. Use of co- and by- products in livestock feeds will also help. Better use of nitrogen fertiliser is needed, through new formulations, including environmentally friendly nitric acid production, nitrification inhibitors, and urease inhibitors, coupled with improved timing, application rates, and soil management. Better species mixes in grassland hold promise, such as N-fixing legumes or deep-rooting grassland plants. Smart technology and precision farming opportunities include animal genotyping and phenotyping, greater understanding of the rumen microbiome, precision feeding and precision animal surveillance, land use and manure management, including remote sensing to guide nutrient use. Big picture Carbon capture, collaboration with other sectors and lots of innovation are clearly going to be needed. But net zero isn’t farming’s only challenge and must not impair other sustainability metrics, including food security/quality, nutrient management, animal welfare, biodiversity, the viability of rural communities and farm profitability. Clearly, being well informed will be vital. CIEL’s report helps download it now!
Carbon Cutting From 70+ potential options 24 measures were identified as having the most cost effective mitigation potential, including: • Probiotic feed additives • Spring not autumn manure spreading • Precision farming • Organic N planning • Breeding (animals + plants) • Legume-grass mixes
• Livestock health • Ruminant nutrition • Anaerobic digestion • Preventing + removing soil compaction • Afforestation on agricultural land
Carbon Capture Additional carbon sequestration by farm woodlands and hedgerows and the role of improved soil health both need crediting to the livestock sector. However, their benefits may not be as great as hoped, since new woodland plantings won’t have their greatest impact on carbon removals until post-2050 and many grassland soils are already close to carbon equilibrium. So-called bioenergy-with-carbon-capture-and-storage (BECCS) using biomass production adjacent to domestic power stations could be useful, once the technology is ready and economical, requiring as little as 0.1-0.7ha to remove 1tC-eq/year
Bringing It Together Carbon cutting decisions need support: 1. Emissions reporting to target emission hotspots, produce more effective interventions and recognise beneficial interactions, rather than simply pitting sector against sector 2. Calculation methods to reduce uncertainties, including a better appreciation of methane’s warming effects (evidence suggests it lasts just 12-15 years, unlike carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, which last hundreds of years) 3. W hole-system understanding so other sustainability metrics do not suffer and trade-offs are identified and correctly understood
What Next? • Carbon accounting tools need to be more transparent, more accurate, and more widely used, so farmers can track and reduce on-farm emissions and offsetting The report compares current options, including AgRE Calc, Cool Farm Tool and Farm Carbon Calculator. None is perfect. A lack of granularity and failure to include embedded carbon in inputs is a recurring weakness • Significant investment to develop mitigations and carbon capture, with modelling to test economic and environmental impacts, so informed regional action plans can be developed • Education, knowledge exchange and adoption must accelerate, to fully exploit current, proven approaches, with evidence-based advice. Barriers to adopting new approaches need addressing, with incentives, including financial
www.thefarmersclub.com • 07
Charles Abel • Pinnacle Awards
Pinnacle performers Farm business management skills were to the fore in the 2020 Pinnacle Awards judged via Zoom earlier this Spring. Charles Abel reports
“This year’s three finalists were probably amongst the best we’ve ever had” Prof Bill McKelvey, Chair of Judges
“Now is probably the most exciting time for business management, consultancy and strategic thinking since at least the 1980s” Tony Turner, ADAS
MEETING the needs of the farming industry in a new policy era was a key theme in the 2020 Farmers Club Pinnacle Awards which saw the nation’s top farm business management students fight for top honours. Sponsored by the Cave Foundation and run with consultancy firm ADAS this prestigious competition drew entries from colleges and universities across the United Kingdom. Winner of the competition was Henry Scholefield from the University of Nottingham’s Sutton Bonnington Campus, with Roseanna Linkens of Harper Adams University placed second and Jonathan Bryer of University Centre Somerset’s Bridgwater & Taunton College placed third. The competition aims to champion realistic, real-life projects, and people who are capable of driving rural businesses forwards, noted Prof William McKelvey OBE, chair of the judging panel, which also included ADAS principal business consultant Tony Turner and Farmers Club Journal Editor Charles Abel. Key criteria for the awards are precise project reports, with a succinct explanation of the business case, backed by robust financial analysis, recognising downsides and risks as well as upsides. Strong problem-solving abilities, good presentation skills, agile thinking, and an ability to stand up for ideas under scrutiny are also important.
08 • The Farmers Club Spring/Summer 2021
Competitive entries In a keenly contested competition ADAS drew up a shortlist of 8 finalists from the 16 entries received. Prof McKelvey commended all the entrants: “I know the level of dedication and expertise required to put forward a project, particularly this past year with all the additional difficulties created by the coronavirus lockdown.” Finalists were due to be interviewed in London last April, but the coronavirus lockdown regulations meant face to face interviews became impossible. Instead, three candidates were selected from a shortlist of eight, based on written submissions, who were interviewed remotely earlier this Spring. “The judges were hugely impressed by the vision, content and entrepreneurship of entries and wish all finalists every success in their future careers,” Prof McKelvey noted. As farming faces major changes the judges felt a strong focus on practical core farming was important. “Diversification has its role, but when core business viability is threatened it isn’t always enough. Looking at improving technical ability, as a driver for the future, needs prioritising,” commented Mr Turner. Being able to show knowledge of the wider industry, a capacity for problem solving and an understanding of how projects can be worked up at scale is very important. Finalist reports can be found at: www.thefarmersclub.com/library/pinnacleawards-reports
Pinnacle Awards • Charles Abel
Pinnacle Awards 2020 HENRY SCHOLEFIELD, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonnington Campus Pinnacle Gold, Nickerson Cup, £2000 Tendering for a 5-year Farm Business Tenancy on a 209ha sand-land unit in an NVZ in North Nottinghamshire isn’t for the faint-hearted, especially with just £20,000 personal finance. The fully-costed, very practical proposal included an expanded 8-year arable/roots rotation, DIY horse livery, a new contract grain storage operation and new all-outdoor contract heifer rearing using grass leys under-sown into maize, plus fodder beet and cover crops. Mid-tier Countryside Stewardship would improve natural capital. Mainly used machinery and a new 130hp John Deere 6130R were all priced.
ROSA LINKENS, Harper Adams University Pinnacle Silver, £1000 Jumping on the fast growing wave of insect-based protein for human consumption (entomophagy) demanded rigorous market analysis and technical research. A small batch system using existing farm buildings and labour would produce crickets, for grinding into cricket flour, as an environmentally-friendly alternative to whey protein for fitness enthusiasts. Supplying food manufacturers with such non-meat, low GHG, feed- and water-efficient protein was a further option.
JONATHAN BRYER, Bridgwater & Taunton College, Cannington Campus Pinnacle Bronze, £600 An investment appraisal for a robot milking enterprise on a 247ha Somerset dairy farm looked at adding 120 new milkers, with detailed plans for new buildings, storage for extra silage and slurry, NVZ compliance and the scope to reduce labour requirements. Full costings were provided and practical implications considered, including cow training, health and welfare, technician support, milk yield, price sensitivity and benefit to student education.
Runners-up (all finalists receive one-year free Club membership). Erin Boyle, SRUC Ayr ‘Good to Ewe’ Scottish sheep milk soap will be promoted as a unique, enviro-friendly premium cosmetic to benefit all skin types. On-farm production using lye for saponification would create a distinctive handcrafted product for local sales, either ‘original’ or with added oils. Market research was backed by PEST, SWOT and Porter’s Five Forces analysis to address competitive threats. Brogan Devlin, SRUC Ayr The Happy Panda Company farm diversification aims to grow 1ha of bamboo on a free draining sandy loam farm in suitably mild south-west Scotland to produce eco-friendly locally-sourced drinking straws, pens and garden canes. An existing building would process yields of almost 3t/ha of 10-14mm canes by year three. Market research showed good promotion would be needed. Chloe Michie, SRUC Aberdeen Switching a mixed organic farm near Inverurie from a suckler herd and fat lamb system to producing 160 six-month in-calf organic breeding heifers would improve profits and work/life balance. Using EBVs to select bulls for easy calving and condition monitoring throughout pregnancy would be crucial. SWOT analysis, market research, sensitivity and other options were considered. Oliver Pirie, SRUC Aberdeen Two options were considered to help service debt, lift profits and reduce labour demands on a mixed organic farm. Solar panels to generate saleable renewable energy looked attractive, but faced planning hurdles. Financial scrutiny, with sensitivity analysis, showed a sheep enterprise which rents summer grazing should be replaced with an expanded area of organic feed barley. Frances Thomas, Harper Adams University A diversification plan for a farm in the Brecon Beacons National Park used market research to focus upon a green couplesonly staycation plan, with two bespoke off-grid geodomes providing an eco-friendly back-to-nature experience. ‘Off the Beacon Track’ includes a wood-fired hot-tub and electric buggy for £125 per night, with 65% peak season occupancy, and sensitivity analysis to show viability.
www.thefarmersclub.com • 09
Charles Abel • Committee Members
Expert farming trio Three new committee members bring a wealth of farming experience to the Club ALAN PLUMB, from a Norfolk farming family, has worked as a Chartered Surveyor for 40 years, advising landowners in farm and estate management, agency and valuation, and for the past 20 years rural diversification. Based in Milton, near Banbury, Oxfordshire he is an active member of various professional and charitable organisations including the Entertainment and Leisure Forum, the RNLI and the local Wildlife Trust. He is a Director of Savills, Parish Chair and Joint President of his local cricket club.
“ Looking forward to using the Club even more” Alan Plumb, Oxfordshire
He is married to Fay, an amateur musician and full time director of two small businesses, and has two sons, a daughter and three young grandchildren. He is a keen tennis player, golfer, skier, gardener, walker and country sportsman.
TONY BELL manages the family farm, W J Bell & Co, comprising 660 acres at Thorpefield, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Main crops are wheat, oilseed rape, and maize, with land rented out for potatoes and carrots. The past eight years have seen a move to minimum cultivations, and an interest in direct drilling, which together with cover crops is helping improve soil health.
“ Club is a great location for enjoying leisure time in London with friends” Tony Bell, North Yorkshire
10 • The Farmers Club Spring/Summer 2021
Farming follows a 41-year career with Unilever / BOCM PAULS / ForFarmers, latterly as UK Purchasing Director, responsible for the team carrying out raw material buying, feed formulations and logistics. Tony was a Founder Board Member of the Agricultural Industry Confederation (AIC) and is currently a Non-Executive Director of AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Board and a CLA Northern Committee Member.
At the Club Alan sits on the House Sub-Committee, feeling it was time he gave something back after 30 years as a member. Having moved to a London firm he originally joined the Club at the encouragement of his father, John Plumb, then President of Norfolk NFU and subsequently of the Red Poll Cattle Society and a regular attendee of Club events and lectures. More recently Alan and Fay have enjoyed overnight stays to attend Farmers Club and other London events. They plan to use the Club even more as a London base, in the company of like-minded people with a rural outlook and interests, and hope to see it continue to flourish, innovate and educate, whilst providing enjoyable experiences and encounters.
He has been a member of The Farmers Club for eight years, after being introduced to the benefits while attending business meetings in the premises, organised by AIC, and formerly UKASTA. He feels the great thing about the Club is the ability to use its facilities for work, being a great location to be based during the week, but also a great location for enjoying leisure time in London with friends. He currently sits on the Marketing & Communications Sub-Committee. Tony is married to Hilary, with a daughter Sarah, who is also a member of the Club, and a son Simon, who currently lives in Dubai. His main interest is now farming, plus golf, shooting and cycling.
Committee Members • Charles Abel
“ Enjoying meeting interesting members from farming backgrounds from all over the UK” Anthony Snell, Herefordshire
ANTHONY SNELL is a soft fruit grower from Pencoyd Court Farm and Windmill Hill Fruits Ltd near Hereford, who has twice been awarded UK Soft Fruit Grower of the Year.
obtain tickets for the London Olympics! Privileged to be asked to join the Club’s General Committee he now sits on the Membership Sub-Committee.
The LEAF demonstration farm is involved with the NFU ELMS Net Zero test and trials and was visited by The Farmers Club during its Tour of Herefordshire in 2017.
His love of the Club stems from its wonderful location, and the enjoyment of meeting interesting members from farming backgrounds from all over the UK. The accommodation, Terrace, bar facilities and Restaurant are excellent and well worth visiting and enjoying for work or pleasure, he says.
Anthony is a Director of the co-operative Berry Gardens Ltd, Chairman of NFU West Midlands Horticultural Board (also on National Horticultural Board) and is Herefordshire representative of NFU Mutual, ex-President of the International Blackcurrant Association and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers. He has been a Club Member since 2012 joining when the family was fortunate to
He is interested in national and international travel (post Covid), visits to UK farming businesses, and tennis and golf. He is married to Christine, with two sons, James (an Under 30s Member) and Jonathan.
Club member Mark Dewes of Withybrook near Coventry, Warwickshire, was awarded Arable Adviser of the Year for his work optimising farm returns through an innovative approach, bespoke advice and forward-thinking agronomy. James Small
MEMBERS FEATURE AT
Mark Dewes
Club member James Small of Warren Farm near Bristol, Somerset was a finalist in the Mixed Farmer of The Year Award. He is a fourth-generation partner in a business that includes sustainable lowinput beef and sheep, glamping, hosting weddings and providing film venues in the Mendip Hills.
Farmers Weekly Awards As a new Farmers Club Committee member and finalist in the 2020 Farmers Weekly Awards I was pleased to check through the Club Membership and complement those who were finalists and winners of the 2020 online awards this February, writes Anthony Snell. All finalists had the Farmers Weekly Judges make a thorough three hour visit last August/ September, subject to social distancing and carefully planned COVID-19 measures. The Club Patron Her Majesty the Queen’s eldest son, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, won the Lifetime Achievement Award for decades of commitment to agriculture, the countryside, and the environment. The Duchy of Cornwall Estate passionately supports its many farming tenants and the Prince’s Countryside Fund has provided over £10m to support rural communities over the past 10 years.
The final Club member involved was myself, with my wife Christine, as finalists in the Farmers Weekly Diversification of the Year Award. We grow soft fruit for high end retailers through our cooperative Berry Gardens, as well as conventional and organic blackcurrants. The diversification aspect has been to freeze fruit to manage the supply chain, reduce waste, and offer year-round employment, with the latest success being our online BritishFrozenFruits. Congratulations to all – and good luck to Farmers Club members in the 2021 Awards. It is nice to enter, rewarding to be a finalist, or better still a winner…!
“It is nice to enter, rewarding to be a finalist, or better still a winner…!” “The Club Patron Her Majesty the Queen’s eldest son, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, won the Lifetime Achievement Award for decades of commitment to agriculture, the countryside, and the environment.”
See: www.fwi.co.uk/ms/events/farmersweekly-awards/
www.thefarmersclub.com • 11
Virginia Masser • Club Services
Take a Break at Your Home from Home
Dear Member
Your Club is planning to re-open on 17 May at 3pm so why not take a break at your home from home. - Public transport is clean and stress free - London attractions are re-opening - Your Club is COVID19 safe - The relaxed Summer Dress code will apply from our opening date until the end of August - Bedroom rates are currently more attractive based on the reduction in VAT - Simply cooked, seasonal, quality British food still graces the menu - Food and non-alcoholic drinks are currently cheaper based on the reduction in VAT - We have an interconnecting family bedroom in the Garden Suite - The Farmers Club “Teddy in Town” awaits our younger members to take him out for a treat BEDROOM RESERVATIONS Take that well-earned break away from home. To book your bedroom reservations email Dani at reservations@thefarmersclub.com RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS To come and sample some Simply Cooked, Seasonal Quality British Food, make your Restaurant reservation by emailing Jelle at fandbmanager@thefarmersclub.com HELP TO PLAN YOUR LONDON VISIT Craig, Member Experience Manager, will be happy to help plan your visit to London, email him at memexpmanager@thefarmersclub.com
It’ll be lovely to see you all again!
Chief Executive & General Manager 12 • The Farmers Club Spring/Summer 2021
Club Events • Emily O’Brien
Club Calendar Diary Dates
Dear Member As many of you will know from the Club e-Newsletters and website, we are planning to re-open the Club on Monday 17 May. Therefore, as long as the roadmap goes to plan, we are in the process of organising the following Club events. Dates are subject to change but correct at time of going to press. Anita has now gone on maternity leave and I will be taking care of Club Events in the interim and can be reached via administrator@thefarmersclub.com Further details of events will be sent out in due course and all events must now be booked on-line via our website www.thefarmersclub.com in the Events section. The new Events Module is simple and easy to use. Do not hesitate to get in touch and I’m looking forward to meeting you all soon! Emily O’Brien Interim Club Events Manager
• Friday 25 June Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser. A private talk by Anne Haworth followed by lunch in the Club, the Exhibition at the V&A and dinner back at the Club • Friday 9 July Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2021. Starting with brunch in the Club, the festival and dinner back at the Club (tbc) • Friday 23 July Masterpieces from Buckingham Palace Exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery. Includes a private talk by Anne Haworth followed by lunch, the exhibition and dinner back at the Club • Tuesday 27 – Thursday 29 July Chairman’s Visit to Kelso, Scotland • Sunday 15 August (tbc) Henley Royal Regatta • Monday 13 – Thursday 16 September Burgundy Wine Tour • Thursday 23 September Chelsea Flower Show 2021 • Tuesday 12 October The Harvest Festival in the Club
Chief Executive & General Manager www.thefarmersclub.com • 13
Charles Abel • Charitable Trust
FCCT Educator CARLA COGHLAN SRUC, Craibstone Estate, Aberdeen – looking at how agri-tourism is creating additional income streams and spreading risk on New Zealand farms, whilst helping to bridge the education gap between consumers and producers. Visiting farming organisations and farms in NZ, including sheep, fruit, deer and lavender producers, will reveal useful principles around identifying target audiences, marketing and potential constraints on agri-tourism, with a strong focus on meaningful experiences giving the public experiential “living their life” agri-tourism.
CLAIRE TOOGOOD Harper Adams University, Shropshire – investigating the role of HR principles in attracting and motivating workers from non-agricultural backgrounds, especially after last year’s Pick for Britain initiative foundered. Agriculture requires the right people, including from diverse backgrounds, but needs to do more to facilitate their involvement. Research undertaken at a range of UK education and apprenticeship providers will develop case studies and identify principles to support the teaching and development of effective people management and leadership skills.
DR KATE JOHNSON University Centre Sparsholt, Hampshire – looking at marine herbivorous fish and how their nutrition can be optimised while ecosystem impacts are minimised. Malaysia has invested substantially in novel high quality species and their farming over recent years. Visits would investigate high value species more aligned to UK consumer tastes, such as grouper, sea bass, snapper and giant trevally, plus shrimp farming on a very large scale. The success of sustainability approaches will be considered.
SARAH WHALEY Duchy College, Cornwall – comparing the deployment of agro-ecology principles in the UK with the adoption of more radical syntropic agriculture on a 410ha farm in Bahia state, Brazil, developed by Swiss farmer and researcher Ernst Götsch, and Sitio Semente farm near Brasilia. Syntropic agriculture aims to mimic nature, particularly through bio-dynamic approaches to multi-cropping and targeted crop management during the season. Promoting such ideas would stimulate ‘outside-the-box’ thinking and the merits of collaborative efforts.
TOM FURNESS University Centre Reaseheath, Cheshire – looking to visit centres of expertise to investigate the wide range of low input systems and better understand how simple underlying principles can be adopted in conventional livestock operations to improve sustainability. By visiting a range of farms, estates and research institutes within the UK, and attending formal training and virtual and face-toface conferences, with emphasis on grassland management, the findings would help improve the environmental impact of livestock agriculture.
14 • The Farmers Club Spring/Summer 2021
e
me Far rs Cl
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Awards
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Charitable Trust • Charles Abel
Charitable Trust
Five inspiring individuals will benefit from the Farmers Club Charitable Trust’s 2021 Agricultural Educator Awards. Charles Abel reports FIVE enthusiastic farming educators have been selected to receive special support from the Farmers Club Charitable Trust, undertaking innovative studies in Malaysia, New Zealand, Brazil and the UK. Over the past four decades the Trust has provided over £700,000 of funding to help agricultural educators develop their knowledge and expertise, to support a broad range of UK farming activities.
Windsor Leadership Trust Alumni Forum PROMINENT agricultural leaders were able to meet online in what was the first of a new forum for the FCCT Windsor Leadership Trust alumni. The virtual forum was an outstanding success with the programme focussing on ‘what covid-19 has taught me’ and ‘managing change in my organisation’. This was led by guest speaker Sir Clive Johnstone KBE CB a retired Royal Navy officer who had a naval career spanning nearly 34 years ending as a Vice Admiral, Royal Navy and in command of NATO’s Maritime Forces. The impact of Covid-19 on leaders who were taking part has been significant.
The selection panel, chaired by Quintin McKellar CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire, with Farmers Club Chairman Keith Redpath and FCCT Trustees Meryl Ward and Des Lambert OBE, agreed total funding of £18,000. Full reports of all FCCT projects are available on-line: www.tfcct.co.uk More info from FCCT Ambassador Lisa Turner (ambassador@tfcct.co.uk).
According to one participant it has ‘been a massive wake-up call on how fragile life is and how fragile business is’. Leaders say they are dealing with whole team impact, rather than one or two individuals. The emotional and psychological impact on those leading organisations came through as a particular challenge. The benefits seen by the group moving forward are the ability to share the worry, seek support from each other and utilise the ‘collective leadership wisdom amongst the group’. “The ability to understand the unique issues and challenges facing us, our role in making good decisions at difficult times, and our capacity to demonstrate strong leadership has never been more important,” reflected Nick Green one of the Farmers Club Charitable Trust’s trustees and WLT alumnus himself. “The group’s depth of wisdom, insight and experience, allied to Sir Clive’s address gave us the opportunity to step back, consider our situation and decide what we need to do amongst a group of like-minded and trusted people,” he added. Trust Ambassador Lisa Turner was delighted to have organised the event and is looking forward to supporting the group with further sessions.
Farming brief A YouGov survey of over 22,000-plus in 16 countries shows Britons hold farmers in higher regard than any other country, 47% saying they would be happy if their child became a farmer, compared to a global average of 23%. Covid-19 and Brexit challenges to food supply chains have made people more aware of the UK’s leadership in producing first-class food, with some of the highest environmental and animal welfare standards, the CLA suggests. How a US trade deal could impact UK food and farming is explored in a new AHDB report. It considers methods of production, comparative costs, agricultural policy and insights from businesses already exporting to the US. Standards are unlikely to be an issue, with specific US supply chains already meeting other market needs. Last September saw the first shipments of British beef for 24 years, worth £66m over five years. Rabobank analysts have taken a fascinating look at the potential for an agri commodity ‘supercycle’. With key feed and food prices pulled to 9-month and 7-year highs it ‘dreams’ of surging bull markets. Through clever comparisons with the origins, impacts and management of Biblical scarcity the authors explore key drivers, giving plenty of food for thought. https:// research.rabobank.com/ far/en/sectors/agricommodity-markets/
www.thefarmersclub.com • 15
Charles Abel • Member Business
Farming brief Genome editing could cut cancer-causing compound acrylamide, which forms during bread baking and increases during toasting. A team from Rothamsted Research and Bristol University used CRISPR / Cas9 genome editing to produce wheat low in precursor asparagine. Field trials this autumn, UK Government permitting, would be Europe’s first.
Newly formed Curlew Recovery Partnership unites land managers, farmers, gamekeepers, researchers and policymakers to help one of England’s most iconic species. Eurasian Curlew numbers nearly halved in the past 25 years, prompting HRH The Prince of Wales to reflect how seldom the hauntingly evocative cry of the Curlew is now heard. Defra is giving financial support. Farmgate prices for prime sheep have hit seasonal records, 20% up on a year ago, reports Quality Meat Scotland. Defra stats show January volumes 18% down, possibly caused by slaughter line disruption due to Covid-19 control measures, lower hogg carryover, a global container shortage hitting NZ imports and a bigger December kill to build Easter/Ramadan stock.
Auto-composter launched ORGANIC waste composted in just a week. Too good to be true? Not according to Farmers Club member and past Chairman of the Royal Smithfield Club, William Bedell, who is advocating a novel device to solve organic waste issues and ‘close the loop’ for agriculture/ countryside businesses and the whole food production chain. The rNature machines use three-phase electricity to automatically compost organic/biodegradable waste by grinding, heating and the aerobic action of a natural enzyme. The end result is up to a 90% reduction in volume, leaving a saleable compost residue. The units can automatically compost: • Farm bedding waste • Livestock market waste • Abattoir waste – (Categories 1, 2 & 3) • Poultry processing plant waste • Green waste – garden centres etc • Food waste – supermarkets, restaurants, fast food outlets • Any organic & biodegradable waste Without Government support the units hugely improve a business’s environmental agenda, by almost completely removing its waste disposal carbon footprint, guaranteeing zero requirement for landfill. All the waste is processed on site, the units can stand on their own feet with paybacks from 1-4 years, Mr Bedell explains. “I financially proof tested this technology with the owners of a large livestock abattoir. The results proved
“We believe that we are right on message with the PM’s recent environment announcements” William Bedell
16 • The Farmers Club Spring/Summer 2021
the machine paid for itself in three years, when compared to the abattoir’s annual waste disposal bill for Cat. 1, 2 & 3 waste,” says Mr Bedell, Director of Horse Weigh International Limited. Units have been proven over three years on large poultry farms and hotel/ sport resort complexes in the UAE. “We currently have a roaming demonstrator machine in the UK, aimed at clients with large operations, so we can accurately match capacity to daily organic waste generation.” “This technology will allow our beloved countryside to say good-bye to the large straw based FYM/equine yard heaps, and the possible leakage of effluent into water courses,” he says. Capacities of the custom made units range from 25kg/day to 20,000kg/day, with a fully automatic 18-20 hour cycle, one empty per week, low operating costs and 60-68 decibel noise level. Horse Weigh International Ltd Llandrindod Wells, Wales william@horseweigh.com www.hwiltd.com
Club Services • Craig Barclay-Godfrey
With London slowly waking up and the country poised and ready to throw open its doors to restaurants, hotels, galleries and museums, we are so excited about welcoming you back to the Club. With theatres maybe set to be closed a little longer, I thought I would focus on galleries and museums for that taste of culture we have so missed.
The Postal Museum Wish You Were Here: 151 Years of the British Postcard 17 May 2021 - 2 January 2022 - Adult £16, child £9. (Price includes permanent exhibitions and Mail Rail ride.) Who doesn’t love an iconic British Postcard? With staycations being on the cards for a while, I thought this exhibition seemed appropriate! Themes include; First World War Correspondence, the Great British Seaside through to contemporary art.
The Royal Academy David Hockney: The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020 17 May - 22 August 2021 - £19.00 Aptly named this unique new body of work has been ‘painted’ on his iPad, then printed onto paper, with Hockney overseeing all aspects of production. Hockney, said to be one of the most important British artists of the 20th century, produced all 116 works during lockdown at his home in Normandy.
Victoria & Albert Museum Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser 17 May - 31 December 2021 - £20.00 Travel down the rabbit hole with this immersive, theatrical exhibition of over 300 objects spanning the 158 year history of Lewis Carrols ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ Includes costumes, stage sets and an interactive VR Experience.
Tate Britain Paula Rego 7 July - 24 October 2021– pricing tbc This major solo exhibition, the largest and most comprehensive of Rego’s work to date, features 100 works depicting this artist’s extraordinary life.
50 Earlham St, London The Art of Banksy 20 May - 21 November 2021- £25.80 On display are prints, canvasses, sculptures and limited-edition pieces mainly dated between 1997 and 2008. Well-known works such as ‘Girl with Balloon’, ‘Flower Thrower’ and ‘Rude Copper’ all contribute to the world’s largest collection of privately owned Banksy art.
Craig Barclay-Godfrey Membership Experience Manager
If I can book any of the above or any other aspect of your return to the Club please contact me via memexpmanager@ thefarmersclub.com
www.thefarmersclub.com • 15
Martin Shaw • Club Golf
Farming Figures A look at… the changing face of UK farming … told through statistics
27,000 TB cattle slaughtered in England 2020. TB cases 51% down in 4-year badger cull areas
1,100,000 tonnes Potential wheat demand of Vivergo plant for E10 biofuel, enough for 350,000 cars.
£26.241bn Food trade deficit year to Nov 2020 (+7.5%)
5,000 years
Lifespan of 33% of topsoils at current rates of erosion (50% >1000y, 16% <100y) well above fake claims of 30/60/100 harvests!
£1.3m
Golf Report Details have been circulated to Farmers Club Golf Society members who have been selected, and those who are reserves, for all our team matches due to take place before 22 June.
Covid restrictions on visiting parties.
I hope, but cannot guarantee these events will take place. It all depends on how the individual golf clubs interpret and implement the relaxing of
Martin Shaw Secretary Farmers Club Golf Society martin.edwardswale@ gmail.com
The full list of fixtures planned for 2021 is provided below. Captain Neil Stoddard and I hope to see you soon.
Livestock cost of dog attacks 2020, up 10%+
10,800
Temp staff at ag shows 2019, generating £128.6m income, inc £14.5m for charity
49,000 miles Length of ‘lost paths’ Ramblers charity want restored by Jan 2026 Government cut-off
53,900 acres Lowest ever farmland supply in England last year (-32% of 5y ave). Values +3% on 2019.
5,930 acres Size of fully equipped farm, inc 37 buildings and machinery, purchasable in Zambia for same as an ‘average’ 800 acre UK farm Sources: FW, FG, Oxford Uni, HMRC, ASAO, S&P, KnightFrank
18 • The Farmers Club Spring/Summer 2021
FARMERS CLUB GOLF FIXTURES 2021 APRIL Friday 30
v EPICS @ New Zealand Golf Club
MAY Friday 7 v NFU @ Newbury and Crookham Golf Club Wednesday 12 v BVAGS @ Llanymynech Golf Club Tuesday 18 v New Club @ Luffness New Golf Club Wednesday 19 v HCEG @ Muirfield Golf Club JUNE Sunday 6 Monday 7 Tuesday 22
(Meal with XL Club on Sunday to be arranged) v XL Club @ Rye Golf Club v WRNFU @ Thrybergh (Rotherham) Golf Club
JULY Wednesday 14 Club Championship @ Blackwell Golf Club AUGUST Thursday 26
John Alliston Tankard @ Stratford upon Avon Golf Club
SEPTEMBER Sunday 12 Monday 13
Autumn Meeting @ Pannal Golf Club Autumn Meeting @ Harrogate Golf Club
October Tuesday 5 Thursday 28 Friday 29
Bath Club Cup @ Woking Golf Club Gareth Baird’s Borders Select @ Alwoodley Golf Club Gareth Baird’s Borders Select @ Seaton Carew Club
Head Chef & Director of Food • Paul Hogben
What To Look Forward To...
I caught 4 Pollo
WHAT an incredibly difficult Winter it has been. Lockdown and nowhere to go for all of us in various degrees of restriction across the UK. Well, hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel with the Government announcements and the date we can plan to re-open your Club. When you read this we hopefully will be back in the kitchen organising and preparing the great British produce that you have come to expect from us, ready to be served by Jelle and his team from 17 May (planned opening date correct at time of going to press of course!) So, what have you got to look forward to on the menu? Spring has finally sprung and there is a definite change in the temperature, with blossoms appearing on shrubs and trees. Wild Mushrooms and Wild Garlic is something l love to forage for at this time of year…with, hopefully, some warm days and moist nights to entice them out. Menu highlights will be New Season Lamb, New Potatoes, Asparagus, Dorset Crab and Lobster Salads garnished with Spring Onions all hopefully served on the Terrace with a glass of chilled wine in the sunshine.
Later into Spring the Mackerel, Pollock and Sardines move nearer to our south west coasts where, hopefully, our inshore fleets can bring in the big catches that will satisfy our demand for fresh British produce at the Club. I’m really looking forward to being able to get out into the Channel for some wreck and drift fishing with my pals in my spare time. Supporting our own industries is very important to us in the kitchen and at the Club, so wherever possible we will continue to support small businesses throughout the British Isles, only looking further afield for a small number of necessary items when supply is short, or for some last minute reason nonexistent. We are all so looking forward to welcoming you all back into the Club and can’t wait to start cooking for you and your families so hurry up and book your rooms, tables and let’s have a great Spring and Summer!!! Enjoy! Chef
ck this size - abou
t 14lb!
“Supporting our own industries is very important to us in the kitchen and at the Club.” “I’m really looking forward to being able to get out into the Channel for some wreck and drift fishing with my pals in my spare time!”
www.thefarmersclub.com • 19
Eleanor Kay, Chairman; Alice Hind, Vice Chairman • Under 30s
Chairman’s Jottings
AS I write the garden is once again filled with the noise of squabbling blackbirds, providing a welcome reminder Spring is here. Usually this passes me by, but these small signs of Spring now remind me that the next steps on the roadmap out of lockdown loom ever closer, along with the reopening of The Farmers Club. The Under 30s will continue with online events until dinners of more than 40 people are possible. We hope that may be as soon as 25 June. In the meantime we will continue to host online events and make plans for in person events as soon as possible. The first event we hold will be similar to our February New Members Weekend, which usually kickstarts our year and is a great way for members old and new to network and enjoy London. After a year of false starts I am finally able to make fixed plans for speakers and farm walks – I can’t wait to share more details of these events as they get closer. New members and prospective members are welcome at all events. But for those who joined in the past 18 months I am conscious you’ve yet to fully experience what excellent opportunities being a Farmers Club member can bring. I especially look forward to welcoming you to the Club and seeing you at any of the agricultural shows that go ahead this year. Please visit our “The Farmers Club U30s” Facebook page to keep up to date I look forward to seeing you all soon.
Oxford Learning THE past year has been the most surreal for a generation. Perhaps, even more so for myself. In April 2020, I switched from farm worker to business partner, setting up a new farming enterprise, with my brother. The intervening months have been an education, to say the least. There is always something new to learn and the programme for the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) illustrates this perfectly: From trade agreements to climate change; dairy farming to strawberry growing – it’s amazing how wide and diverse agriculture is, both as a subject and an industry. 2021 marked the 75th anniversary of the conference, a milestone honoured by a special address from HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne. Unlike previous years, this could not be delivered at the University’s Examinations Schools. The online platform REMO was a fantastic substitute. The ability to network and interact with other delegates, both during and between presentations, was firstclass. The addition of a mobile app only enhanced the experience. There were many highlights, but for me, the science lecture, delivered by Professor Tim Benton, stood out, explaining how eating habits and diets needed to adjust, to combat climate change.
Contact Eleanor for more information: Eleanor Kay UK Agricultural Specialist, London Under 30s Chairman 2020/21 07964 909108 • eleanorkay@live.co.uk
20 • The Farmers Club Spring/Summer 2021
I would like to thank the Farmers Club for giving me the opportunity to attend. The knowledge and contacts I gained will be invaluable. I would encourage fellow Under 30s to apply for the Scholarship. Andrew Court Under 30s member
2021
Under 30s Calendar MAY New Member Weekend* JUNE Dinner at the Club* JULY Cocktail Evening* AUGUST Dinner at the Club* SEPTEMBER Farm Walk* OCTOBER Dinner at the Club* NOVEMBER Farm Walk* DECEMBER Festive Dinner at the Club* * Dates to be confirmed depending on Covid situation
Under 30s • Eleanor Kay, Chairman; Alice Hind, Vice Chairman
Cattle meet Instagram
DAY to day I am a Global Pharmaceutical Supply Manager. I’ve met people from many different backgrounds and it’s always a shock when people learn of my farming background and instantly ask questions about farming, some from positive curiosity, others sparked by propaganda seen online. Knowing exactly where your food comes from, appreciating the circle of life, and from a career perspective learning how a business works, is something we often take for granted. I saw an opportunity to bridge the gap in the general public’s perception of British Farming. ‘Castle Belties’ was born; an Instagram page sharing our Belted Galloway Herd and the practices we use to produce prime beef. Initially the idea was to share how we farm and our herd. After researching heritage, native breeds and changing consumer attitudes, it was evident there is a market for quality meat purchased directly from the farmer. Our direct supply model provides 100% traceability, low food miles and gives moral confidence, supported by our social media, showing the care and respect we show our animals; a key influence in today’s consumer purchasing decision. We offer grass-fed beef hampers, containing a variety of cuts and joints, all of which is 21-day matured from prime cattle, along with information about our business and production methods. We’re now four months into our diversification and have been blown away by the interest received, from our following on Instagram to how quickly our monthly ‘beef drops’ sell out. This has been boosted by the pandemic as people understand the importance of supporting local, trying new things and new ways of shopping. Nothing makes us prouder than receiving good feedback and seeing pictures of meals made with our beef. Recently we’ve been involved with a local youth charity educating children from disadvantaged backgrounds about where their food comes from, with a chance to win a roasting joint for their family on Mother’s Day. Seeing photos of the children that won was definitely the highlight of my Castle Belties journey so far. Looking to the future we’re excited to expand our customers base due to our recently launched nationwide delivery service, as well as exploring direct supply to the hospitality sector. It’s been a huge learning curve for us all. I’ve loved being able to be ‘Corporate Connie’ and ‘Castle Belties Connie’ at the same time, although it does have its time challenges! Connie Wainwright Under 30s Member www.castlebelties.com @castlebelties
www.thefarmersclub.com • 21
The Farmers Club • Club Information
Club Information 020 7930 3557 • www.thefarmersclub.com @thefarmersclub The Farmers Club Page
Office Holders
Patron – Her Majesty The Queen HONORARY VICE PRESIDENTS Barclay Forrest OBE, Sir Mark Hudson KCVO, Peter Jackson CBE, Mrs Susan Kilpatrick OBE, Roddy Loder-Symonds, John Parker, Norman Shaw CBE THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB 2021 VICE PRESIDENTS Paul Heygate, Julian Sayers PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN Keith Redpath TRUSTEES Nicki Quayle (Chairman), Tim Bennett, Peter Jinman OBE, Jimmy McLean VICE-CHAIRMAN John Lee OBE DL HONORARY TREASURER Richard Maunder IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN Allan Stevenson CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND SECRETARY Andrei Spence CLUB CHAPLAIN The Reverend Dr Sam Wells COMMITTEE Elected 2018 to serve from 2019 to 2021 inclusive: Fiona Fell, Meurig Raymond CBE DL, John Hardman, Andrew Brown JP (re-elected) Elected 2019 to serve from 2020 to 2022 inclusive: Sue Bullock, Sarah Cowlrick, Kevin Beaty (re-elected), John Lee OBE DL (re-elected), Karen Mercer (re-elected), Christopher Riddle (re-elected) Elected 2020 to serve from 2021 to 2023 inclusive: Alan Plumb, Anthony Snell, Tony Bell, Ian Bell OBE (re-elected) Co-opted: Eleanor Kay (Chairman Under 30s), Alice Hind (Vice Chairman Under 30s) THE FARMERS CLUB CHARITABLE TRUST TRUSTEES Stephen Fletcher (Chairman), Vic Croxson DL, Meryl Ward MBE, Des Lambert OBE, Nick Green, James Squier, The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Club (ex officio). Patron Mrs Stella Muddiman
NEXT ISSUE The next issue of the Farmers Club Journal, due with members later this Summer, will report on Club activities, plans for the rest of the year, the role of environmental goods in planning applications and a new Charitable Trust report.
22 • The Farmers Club Spring/Summer 2021
TEDDY IN TOWN The Farmers Club “Teddy in Town” awaits our younger members to take him out for the day on an adventure around town. All you need to do is collect him from Reception, take a picture of him during your outing, post it on your social media profile with the tags #thefarmersclub + @thefarmersclub and email it to: ITmanager@thefarmersclub.com
Membership Bubbles Extended! This wonderful opportunity to share your Membership of the Farmers Club with friends and family has been extended. • Includes use of the Club, excluding Club Events • Now valid until 30 September 2021 • Subject to availability • Bedrooms at Reciprocal rates • Food & Drink at Reciprocal rates • “Friends of” rates in Conference & Banqueting If you are interested please contact Mark, Membership Secretary, in the first instance via: membership@thefarmersclub.com to create your bubble. Chief Executive & General Manager
Fascinating Club history Ideal for evening reading, as a gift, or a fine addition to the family bookcase – this wonderful history tracing the Club’s 175 years is available now. The Farmers Club 1842-2017 uses original research and previous histories to provide a delightful insight into a unique organisation, which has done so much to create friendships, memories and business progress throughout the farming industry. Available at Reception (£25) or use the online order form: www.thefarmersclub.com/ news/New-Club-History-Book
Club Information • The Farmers Club Deaths It is with regret that we announce the death of the following members: Mr R Baker-White Kent Mrs E Coad Wiltshire Mr A Collier Oxfordshire Mr J Edwards Dorset Mr H Harper Hampshire Mr I Harrison Cheshire Mrs J Innes Essex Mr J Longhurst Sussex Mr I McLaren Perthshire Mr M Roberts Suffolk Mr P Talbot Norfolk Mr S Wickham Kent Mr B Williams London New Members The following were elected: UK Members Mr P Cliff Mr J Ekin Mr O Fursdon Mr R Hall Mr J McCabe Mr H Ogilvie Mrs K Righton Under 30s Mr M Findlay Mr E Franklin Mr W Franklin Miss C Hepper Miss E Whitcombe
Yorkshire Cheshire Devon Devon Kent Suffolk Gloucestershire Wiltshire Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Lancashire Hampshire
Storage Of
SHOTGUNS Members are reminded that the Club does not hold a license for the storage of shotguns.
Security Of
PERSONAL ITEMS Please do not leave valuables in the bedrooms, cloakrooms or luggage room at the Club. The Club will not accept responsibility for any loss.
Dear Member
DRESS CODE UPON RE-OPENING ON 17 MAY THE DRESS CODE WILL BE SMART CASUAL - UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST Following announcements made in the e-newsletters, dress code in the Club has been modified to reflect the unusual circumstances surrounding Club operations and to effect a more comfortable atmosphere in the Club. Until the end of August 2021, members are permitted to wear smart casual clothing in any of the Club’s rooms at any time of the day or night.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES No electronic devices can be used in the hallways, Bar, Lounge or Restaurant, unless for the purpose of quiet reading. No calls can be received or made in these areas. Calls can be taken on the Terrace. THE SHAW ROOM can be used for meetings of up to three people. Electronic devices may be used but must be set to silent and vibrate. No calls can be received or made in this area.
Phone Calls Members are advised that using mobile calling platforms such as Skype, What’sApp, Google Hangouts etc can facilitate mobile phone calls (over the Club’s wi-fi) in areas of the Club where mobile phone calls are permitted, including in the Business Suite.
To keep you up to date with what is happening in your Club we are sending you the following communications in addition to your Journal. 1) The Chief Executive Newsletter from the General Office email address, on a Friday. Providing general news about your Club. 2) The latest Club “need to know,” “offer” or “benefit to you” from the General Manager email address, once a week. Some may feel you are getting bombarded with communication but it is our way of keeping you as up to date as we can, as fast as we can. So, please take a quick look before you press the delete button, otherwise you may miss something of great value!
Club Contacts THE FARMERS CLUB
Serving the farming industry for 178 years 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL
Chairman 2021: Keith Redpath
Chief Executive and Secretary: Andrei Spence
Club Email: generaloffice@thefarmersclub.com Reception reception@thefarmersclub.com Bedroom Reservations reservations@thefarmersclub.com Restaurant Reservations Option 3 restaurant@thefarmersclub.com Conference & Banqueting Sales Manager Liza Keoshgerian direct line: 020 7925 7100 functions@thefarmersclub.com Interim Club Events Manager Emily O’Brien administrator@thefarmersclub.com General Manager Virginia Masser direct line 020 7930 3751 generalmanager@thefarmersclub.com Head Chef & Director of Food Paul Hogben direct line: 020 7925 7103 chef@thefarmersclub.com Interim Financial Controller Simon Fredericks financialcontroller@thefarmersclub.com Membership Mark Fairbairn direct line: 020 7925 7102 membership@thefarmersclub.com PA to Secretary Claire White direct line: 020 7930 3751 generaloffice@thefarmersclub.com Bedrooms ext: 3+ [two digit room number] eg. ext 301 for Room1 Whitehall Court Porters 020 7930 3160 Fax 020 7839 7864 Website: www.thefarmersclub.com @thefarmersclub The Farmers Club Page THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Editor and Advertisement Manager: Charles Abel 07795 420692 E-mail: editor@thefarmersclub.com Designed and produced by: Ingenious, www.ingeniousdesign.co.uk No film or film processing chemicals were used. Printed on Lumi Silk which is ISO 14001 certified manufacturer. FSC® Mix Credit. Elemental chlorine free (ECF) fibre sourced from well managed forests
Thank you Virginia & Andrei
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Re-Scheduling Your Special Occasion this year? 2020…the year of cancelled special occasions, family get-togethers, functions and events. A missed Birthday, Anniversary, Prize-Giving, Wedding, Graduation, Christening, whatever the occasion… your Club is the perfect place.
Contact Liza our Conference & Banqueting Sales Manager via functions@thefarmersclub.com to check function room availability. Contact Dani in Reservations to check bedroom availability via reservations@thefarmersclub.com
2021... the year to celebrate!
