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Chairman’s Comments
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 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.
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.
