Spring2013

SPRING 2013 • ISSUE 243

www.thefarmersclub.com

Farmers Club INSIDE Cross compliance p4 Dairy challenge p6 Pasture-led farming p9 CAP reform p10 Exporting success p12 Farm mediation p14 Ash dieback p17

BOOKING FORMS Leckford Estate visit Windsor Great Park St.George's Day lunch, Ulster Show dinner, Suffolk Show reception & Royal Highland Show dinner

Boosting Dairy Plugging 1.5p/litre black hole legacy of 2012 p6

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

FRONT COVER Plugging the 1.5p/litre black hole in dairy budgets after last year’s miserable weather is a priority for producers in 2013.

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 Time to implement Plan B

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Cross compliance Coping with an RPA visit is daunting. Throw in EC assessors and it becomes the stuff of nightmares. Here’s a survival guide.

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Dair y forage challenge Diabolical weather in 2012 has put a 1.5p/litre black hole in milk producers’ budgets. Strategic thinking can help.

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Horsegate plus Senior speakers address The Club

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Pasture led farming Making the most of grass-only production systems

10 CAP reform battleground Environmental payments or a more holistic policy to safeguard food, farming, environment and rural areas – which CAP suits?

12 Exports accelerate Food and drink exports are worth £12bn and counting...

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14 Resolving farming dispute When a farming problem refuses to be resolved litigation can seem the solution. But mediation can be more effective

16 World class tennis Club visit to Masters Tennis in London’s Royal Albert Hall

17 Ash dieback – a personal view How one Nottinghamshire nursery has been hit

18 Under 30s

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Under 30s chairman looks forward to a promising year

19 University challenge Under 30s author considers the role of Universities in farming

20 Club News and Calendar Details of upcoming events

22 Club Information and Contacts

02 • The Farmers Club Spring Journal 2013

Chairman’s Comments • Stewart Houston

With the option of buying “next door” now firmly out of the way, we are quickly pressing ahead with Plan B. This could realise a few more bedrooms and make much better use of our current space (my pet hate is the current luggage room arrangement).

Coupled with the work involved with the above, the April General Committee Meeting is going to be quite a busy and decision-oriented affair.

Thank you to all of you who appreciated the opening up of the January Committee Lunch to all members and the inclusion of a speaker in the form of Lord Rooker who chairs the Food Standards Agency. It was quite timely as "horsemeatgate" broke that week.

Chairman’s Comments “Plan B could realise a few more bedrooms and make much better use of our current space”

CAN I start by thanking you for all the kind messages of support Janet and I have received, although the Lady Member who said she was going to pin up the front page of the New Year Journal on her bedroom wall might have been stretching things a bit too far!

With the first General Committee meeting under my belt we can now see the work streams for the rest of 2013 and beyond. The exceptional response to the survey of our membership will be analysed and shared with you in future Journals. In the meantime the three sub-committees of the General Committee, namely the Journal & Communications Committee, Membership Committee and House Committee, will combine the results of the survey with an analysis of bedroom use to come up with some options to improve the running of the Club, making it even more attractive for members.

Following the success of this open invitation for all members to join the Committee Lunch we will be doing the same again for the Lunch following our July Committee Meeting and AGM. I am busy organising a top notch speaker for that occasion.

One of the great things about The Club is the way good things come out of some of the ad hoc meetings that can arise with other members. Ian Bell of the Addington Trust came across to talk to me at breakfast recently, ostensibly about the state of the pig industry for a report he is preparing on wider agriculture. He went on to explain how the Trust quietly works away helping farming folk who've got into a bit of a muddle and how the Trust works with RABI and the Farm Crisis Network.

To be honest I was a bit cross with myself that I did not know enough about the way these wonderful organisations work together for the benefit of farming. I determined that we will make it the subject of an article in a future Journal. I am also hoping the Journal will also focus on the work of the sub-committees and provide some staff profiles to help improve awareness amongst our membership of what makes The Club tick so smoothly.

I look forward to meeting more members at the various Club functions we have organised over the coming months and to sharing with you our plans for the future of The Club.

Stewart Houston

Members of the Farmers Club team gather in the Cumber Room with 2013 chairman Stewart Houston

www.thefarmersclub.com • 03

Charles Mayson • Farm Management

CXCS team keeps on top of cross compliance rule changes and updates.

Compliant, but cross? Don’t be!

Meeting cross-compliance requirements can seem onerous. It need not be, explains Charles Mayson, a Club member and managing director of Cross Compliance Solutions

“If I can't believe some of the details, then I'm going to start doubting all of them”.

LAST November mixed farmer Mark Green received the phone call every farmer dreads.

He was due a cross compliance inspection, not just by officials from the Rural Payments Agency, who administer the inspection regime in the UK, but by inspectors from the European Commission too.

The inspection involved four European inspectors, each from a different European country, plus three home-grown RPA officers. Naturally the Green organisation was ready to face such a posse of officials. Having been a client of Cross Compliance Solutions for many years he had three of our staff on hand, his land agent and his agronomist.

Mark runs Ditton Farm at St Owen's Cross near Hereford with his parents Frank and Joan Green.

It's a very complex and efficient operation, including combinable crops, potatoes, poultry and fruit.

Our team had thoroughly overhauled everything.

Nothing was left to chance. The file was in order, since it is checked twice a year anyway, but it had complete X-ray treatment just to make sure.

04 • The Farmers Club Spring Journal 2013

Farm Management • Charles Mayson

It was interesting to see the process the inspectors pursued: Three fields were selected at random for physical examination and were measured – they had to be a minimum of 20ha, and the inspectors calculated the area with their portable satellite kit. Once done the office work started, and farm records were examined. Close attention was paid to application dates of nitrogen fertiliser and Mark was asked how much fertiliser he could apply in a day.

This was to test the integrity of the dates supplied.

The inspectors also wished to see the bank statement that showed the Single Farm Payment receipt. It was abundantly clear that not only was the farmer and his records up for inspection – so was the RPA’s system of paying out the SFP. The inspectors had 180 farms to do, in 27 countries. It seemed to us that a perfect set of records was a good insurance policy. A lot of records weren't asked for, but those that were came in for detailed scrutiny. Things like footpaths are involved, fertiliser practices are examined, including quantities, dates and rates. Similarly manures must be stored appropriately and accounted for, not just spread around to get rid of them.

One remark sums up the thrust of the whole operation: "If I can't believe some of the details, then I'm going to start doubting all of them".

This sobering comment tempered our triumph somewhat. We had passed, Mark had passed, the team done good – but is there a set of records in the country that couldn't be faulted? Makes you wonder!

The inspection took a while, but the Greens emerged unscathed. Not everyone is so fortunate.

An increasing number of court cases illustrates what happens to farmers who are not compliant, with payments, and in some cases livelihoods severely threatened.

Our team at Cross Compliance Solutions finds the whole process, which is constantly being updated, difficult to keep abreast of, so how farmers are expected to get their forms 100% correct as well as their day to day tasks is a tall order. But the fact is that everyone who claims a Single Farm Payment must be ready for an inspection at any time with only 48 hours notice.

Maintaining correct paperwork is vital. Farmers who conduct themselves properly in the field and the farmyard will fail inspections if they have no proper records. All too often we discover there is lots of information on the farm. Farmers have diligently done their best to comply with the paperwork, done what they can, and then fail their inspection.

We discovered a case recently where the lack of NVZ records led directly to a deduction from the Single Farm Payment. It wasn’t because there was no paper; the records just weren’t in a good enough shape to inspect. When we were handed the job (a month too late) we discovered good calculations of

Smiles all round as Hereford farmer Mark Green (right) and Andrew Peebles of Cross Compliance Solutions reflect on surviving the visit every farmer dreads – from the cross-compliance inspectors.

CROSS COMPLIANCE Cross Compliance regulations linked to the Single Farm Payment require farmers to conform to "good agricultural practice". Penalties for failing to do so can range from a 5% deduction for a minor breach, such as failure to maintain simple records or NVZ calculations. Loss of the entire SFP is rare, but that sanction is real. Gross, repeated failures, especially where widespread pollution has occurred, involve loss of SFP and Environment Agency investigation costs, which can dwarf the SFP deduction. So far CXCS has helped about 150 clients, saving an estimated £250,000 (150 x £30,000 average SFP x 5% minor breach deduction.) With SFPs being by far the most stable income item on the farm balance sheet, and often amounting to the net profit for the entire farming operation, even a delay in payment, whilst a breach is disputed, can hit cashflow hard.

manures that simply didn’t see the light of day when the Environment Agency wanted them.

Was it a communication problem? Did the farm fully understand what was wanted? We’re not sure.

What we are sure about is the drill the inspectors use. They want certain items, in a certain order, done to a standard. Understanding that is the key to success. We call it “dinner on a plate” for inspectors.

Serve up an accurate report, prepared the way they like it, and you can say “Bon Appetit!”

The days when farm production was encouraged and paid for by Europe are long gone. Public money is now seen as providing a public benefit. The perception is that the nation has enough to eat, so let's care for the environment we all depend on instead. It's a hard argument to reject, even if the hoops that have to be jumped through can leave compliant farmers feeling "cross". With forethought, though, even that frustration can be overcome.

Charles Mayson – Farmers Club member and managing director of Cross Compliance Solutions

www.thefarmersclub.com • 05

Adrian Matthews • Dairy Farming

Managing Dairy Herds Dairy farmers typically face a 1.5p/litre black hole as a legacy of 2012’s dismal weather. Adrian Matthews of Bidwells considers remedial action

ONE of the big headaches for dairy farmers in 2013 will be coping with the residual impact of 2012. The wet and cloudy summer and autumn meant less forage was produced than planned, with some maize unharvested. The feed quality of what was produced is generally lower than expected and combined with the miserable weather cow performance has suffered, typically cutting milk output per cow compared with previous years.

To combat these effects some farmers have tried to purchase alternative feeds. However, the cost of

06 • The Farmers Club Spring Journal 2013

buying in is higher than a year ago and stocks of available fodder are low.

Typically the effect of lower yields and higher concentrate prices equate to around 1.5p per litre, or £15,000 per million litres. Dairy managers clearly need to plan ways to reduce or mitigate these factors.

In recent years herds have increasingly adopted low-cost grass based systems. This may not work for every farm, but one basic factor of such systems will

Plugging the 1.5p/litre black hole legacy of last year’s miserable conditions is a dairy farming priority

Dairy Farming • Adrian Matthews

be relevant for most; better grassland management and improved yield from home grown forage.

Bidwells has been helping Peter White, who farms at Whitey Top Farm near Salisbury with his wife Julie and daughter Hannah, with forward planning. Unable to harvest all their maize, due to waterlogged fields, maize yield is 450 tonnes lower than budgeted. Replacing this was going to cost around £15,000, or £100 per cow.

Rather than accept that as an inevitable cost of the season, a full review of the options available was undertaken to identify the best route to deal with the shortfall. Inevitably the resulting plan required a multiple approach and was a combination of increasing home-grown fodder, reducing demand and buying in some maize to maintain the balance within the diet.

demand. There was an opportunity to bring forward culling of a few cows, which were already identified for culling. However, it was calculated that reducing the herd in the short term would have a longer term detrimental effect on the total farm performance.

So a plan was agreed with the bank manager for additional support to allow Peter to purchase the additional forage needed.

It is hoped that the weather in 2013 will be better than 2012. Even if it is, there will be significant challenges for all dairy businesses to at least maintain output and profit. By taking action early and working with their business advisors, Peter, Julie and Hannah identified the areas where the greatest pressure will occur and agreed a plan to manage these.

Adrian Matthews of Bidwells – adrian.matthews@bidwells.co.uk

Total forage stocks were assessed at the start of the winter, so a plan could be based on what was available. There was clearly insufficient fodder for the whole herd for the usual winter requirement.

Changes were needed.

Whitey Top farm is on free draining chalk, which allowed Peter to establish a crop of kale for winterfeeding. Another field will be sown to rye for an early spring feed.

The herd is split into high and low yielding groups, so the high yielding group is being given access to the best quality feed and its intake is being carefully managed. Conversely, the lower yielding group, with a lower feed demand, is being given access to the kale, reducing its silage requirement, so releasing more to the higher yielding group.

The rye crop will allow earlier grazing, again targeted at the low group. It will be important to manage this in conjunction with the grazing grass to optimise intake and yield from grazed forage.

Clearly there will not be any forage stocks carried forward to provide a summer buffer, so grass management will be even more important in 2013.

Maximising the first cut silage area will be important, so careful management of the grazing area will be key. Bidwells has helped Peter produce a plan showing target yield from grass, area of grazing required per day and therefore total grazing area required. This has allowed Peter to identify the area he can set aside for grass silage. Of course, this is dependent on the season being in line with a normal year, not a repeat of 2012!

Even with the changes to the forage regime there was still a potential shortfall. Having identified this early Peter was able to locate alternative stocks and agree a strategy to bring this in throughout the winter, allowing him to maintain a consistent ration throughout the winter period.

One possibility open to the business was to reduce the herd size to reduce winter forage

Cows at Whitey Top are benefiting from a revised forage strategy

OXFORD FARMING CONFERENCE Bovine TB has cost UK taxpayers £500m and would rise to £1bn over the coming decade if left unchecked, a figure unacceptable to tax payers, Defra Secretary Owen Paterson said at this year’s Oxford Farming Conference. “Research has clearly demonstrated that the culling of badgers can lead to a reduction in the disease in cattle.” Experience from other countries showed the value of controlling wildlife vectors. In NZ, for example, TB cases had fallen from 1700 in the mid-1990s to fewer than 100 in 2011, thanks to rigorous biosecurity, strict cattle movement controls and proactive wildlife management. Similar results had been achieved in Ireland, Australia and the USA. The pilot badger cull would go ahead this summer, he stressed.

• More from Oxford on p10 www.thefarmersclub.com • 07

David Richardson • Winter Speakers

FSA shies away from horse-play Lord Rooker of the Food Standards Agency and Defra Minister David Heath addressed The Club in January. David Richardson reports

Food Standards Agency chairman Lord Geoff Rooker.

THE day after it was reported that horse meat had been found in beef burgers the chairman of the Food Standards Agency, Lord Geoff Rooker, addressed some fifty Club members after they had lunched in the restaurant and the Eastwood Room. For the record the main course was delicious cuts of pork that had been prepared from scratch by the Club chef and had never been near a horse.

But inevitably members were anxious to know the role of the Food Standards Agency in monitoring the authenticity of products.

Why, for instance, had the Irish food standards office identified the problem while the one based in Britain had not?

Lord Rooker explained that the FSA is mainly concerned with food safety (which was not an issue in this case, as horse meat is not a health risk) and there is no national programme to test for authenticity of meat. Moreover, the Irish had discovered the horse meat by accident, while checking for something else.

By the time members read this in the Journal the horse meat scandal will be old news (hopefully). But a number of those present expressed their disgust that the reputation of good home produced meat would be tainted by association with supermarkets and their suppliers who behaved unacceptably. They should be targeted by the FSA, some thought, for it was already clear that the scandal would run and run.

Lord Rooker, who, after three and a half years as FSA Chairman was about to stand down, explained that the Agency’s remit from government, of which it is an apolitical department, whose hearings are totally open and transparent, was food safety. It has a budget of £120million, of which £25million is spent on research. It deals with about thirty food-related incidents per week and works closely with Local Authority Health departments.

The FSA also has a role in promoting good diets, advocating smaller portions and educating children. He noted that this country’s lowest income groups had the biggest problems with food safety, because they had to seek out the cheapest. This was one of the reasons, he thought, why horse meat (which is cheap) had found its way into burgers. “But I have to say I’ve seen a lot worse things going into burgers,” he added.

08 • The Farmers Club Spring Journal 2013

Digging for survival David Heath - Minister of State for Agriculture and Food at Defra.

DAVID Heath the Lib Dem MP for Somerset and Frome was appointed Minister of State for Agriculture and Food at Defra on 4 Sept 2102 to work in Coalition alongside Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson, Conservative MP for North Shropshire.

Since then, by his own admission, he has been getting to know our industry and meeting its movers and shakers, one of whom is Club Chairman and pig sector advocate Stewart Houston. Asked by Stewart if he would like to meet the Club Committee, Mr Heath enthusiastically accepted and in January he joined the officers and Committee for dinner.

Disclosing that he was the first Liberal Agriculture Minister since 1915 when Auberon Herbert (later Lord Lucas) held the post for only one year he expressed the hope that he might last a little longer.

But in the short time he had so far been at Defra he had become optimistic for the future. He believed, for instance, that the milk price crisis was moving in the right direction.

He thought our industry was correcting some of the things we have not done well in the past – in particular by trying to attract bright young people to go into farming and ancillary activities.

He was even optimistic that the reform of the CAP would eventually be favourable to the UK and that in turn would stimulate the rural economy. His priorities were rural broadband, increasing food exports and substituting food imports by domestic production. And it can all be achieved by sustainable methods. On that he was adamant.

Years ago, he said, we used to speak of digging for victory.

We may soon be speaking of digging for survival and he hoped Farmers Club members would be at the forefront of producing what would be needed. Tell me what it is you need to achieve that objective and I will do my best to deliver, he concluded.

Pasture Farming • Sara Gregson

Producing more from pasture Social entrepreneur and long-standing Farmers Club member Dr John Meadley chairs the newly formed Pasture-Fed Livestock Association. Sara Gregson finds out more IN November 2009 I met by chance some farmers who were raising their ruminant livestock exclusively on pasture. This idea intrigued me, seeming to offer a way of profitably producing high quality food, while returning good things to the environment, rather than creating more problems for it.

Fed on grass and grass alone – the basis of the Pastoral brand identity.

improve water infiltration and promote good soil structure. Importantly, they accumulate soil organic matter, sequester carbon and control weeds within a grass-arable rotation.

From this emerged the idea of developing a clear identity for wholly pasture-fed produce, differentiating it from meat from animals spending only part of their time at grass, yet often marketed as ‘grass-fed’.

Pasture is also a cheaper source of feed. In terms of energy-adjusted dry matter, Ireland’s Moorepark gives the relative costs of production for pasture, conserved forage and grain as 1: 2.5: 4. Relying on grass and pasture also means feed costs are more predictable and immune from volatile grain and fossil fuel markets.

This resulted in the birth of the PASTORAL ‘pasture fed for life’ brand and trademark. This required formal production standards that define the use of the mark, which in turn had to be corporately owned.

We have some high profile support. Recently Lord Plumb wrote saying: “I have started a small herd of Longhorns with a view to relying on pasture-feeding.

Grain feeding this year is uneconomic and I am sure on our pastures there is food a-plenty”.

So began the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PFLA) as a community interest company (CIC). A CIC is a new type of company designed for social enterprises that want to use their profits and assets for the public good. CICs have the flexibility and certainty of a company, plus special features that ensure they work for the benefit of the community.

Profitable and sustainable

Supporting the PASTORAL brand is the Pasture Tracks traceability system. Each animal of an approved supplier has a unique number on a web-managed database. When slaughtered, the number remains with the carcass and a QR barcode can be found on each retail pack of meat. This allows the consumer, either by using a smart phone or by typing the number into the PFLA website, to immediately see information about the animal and the farm where it was raised.

To see how this works type the number AA-000-064 into the Pastoral Number box on the home page of the PFLA website – www.pasturefed.org, and read how the livestock at Horton Grounds in the Cotswolds is managed.

Sixty-eight per cent of UK farmland is pasture, much of it under-utilised. It offers a natural feeding regime producing meat and milk with lower saturated fats and other health-giving benefits.

Pastures with herbs and clovers can reduce significantly the requirement for artificial fertilisers,

FINISHING cattle solely on pasture is feasible and profitable. PFLA members are typically achieving live-weight gains of 1.1-1.5kg/day and earning premium grades within commercial time scales.

The PFLA website will shortly have an economic ‘what-if’ calculator for farmers thinking of converting to wholly pasture-fed.

PFLA membership costs £50/year, or £15/year for friends. Essentially the PFLA is giving pasture-fed farmers a voice. There are regular meetings and a vibrant Google-group. In future we will provide technical help to members and other farmers keen to kick the ‘feeding cereals’ habit. A joint initiative with the British Grassland Society is under discussion.

PASTORAL produce can be purchased in box schemes, farm shops and local butchers at a growing number of locations, including the Sheepdrove shops in London, Bristol and online. The National Trust, with its 160,000ha (395,000 acres) of pasture, was an early member and is encouraging its tenants to join individually. Our aim is to have 500 members within two years.

John Meadley, chairman of the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association

There is much promise in pasture, alone or within a mixed farming system. From our small pilot trials we believe there is significant latent demand for this kind of meat, even more so in the wake of the ‘horseburger’ scandal.

www.thefarmersclub.com • 09

Charles Abel • Oxford Conference

Paterson versus McGuinness 2013 will see a new Common Agricultural Policy agreed. At the year’s agenda-setting Oxford Farming Conference the challenge negotiators face was all too evident WHAT should the Common Agricultural Policy do?

Should it distribute environmental payments, or under-pin food production, rural communities and regional development too?

The contrast could not have been greater.

On the one hand, cash-strapped Defra Secretary Owen Paterson told the influential Oxford audience environmental payments lay at the heart of CAP reform and the rest could be left to market forces.

In direct opposition Mairead McGuinness, a centreright Fine Gael MEP from East Ireland, and member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, saw a far deeper role for the CAP. Budget pressures meant arguments over a fairer distribution of limited funds were dominating the debate, she said. Attempts to refocus support on payments for so-called public goods were muddying the waters. Instead negotiators needed to focus on the true purpose of the CAP, she insisted, namely to increase agricultural productivity, develop rural communities and balance progress across the EU. Mr Paterson had different ideas. Despite 2012’s problems, which the NFU says created a £1.2bn black hole in UK farm budgets, there was much to be positive about, he insisted. The industry adds £90bn to the economy and enhances the country’s most valuable habitats and landscapes. Farming shows how the economy can be grown and the environment protected at the same time, he said.

“Those twin objectives, alongside protecting animal and plant health, are what drive Defra.”

Mairead McGuiness – backing a wider CAP role.

10 • The Farmers Club Spring Journal 2013

To help maintain advances in productivity £410m/year was being invested in food and farming R&D. £530m by 2015 for super-fast rural broadband was a further key rural investment. So too was £2.3bn on flood prevention over four years.

Oxford Conference • Charles Abel

Greater effort was needed to address the food trade balance, he added. Annual exports topped £18bn in 2011, but the UK was only 78% selfsufficient in indigenous foods. Public support for UK farming needed converting into buying decisions, he said. The £1.2bn deficit in dairy products, caused by ice cream and yoghurt imports, needed tackling.

Fruit and veg faced similar problems.

GM Agenda GM was on his agenda too. With 16m farmers in 29 countries growing GM products on 160m hectares it needed considering, with a balanced view of benefits and risks. “We’re holding back our farmers and we’re getting further and further behind. But we also owe a duty to the public to reassure them that it is a safe and beneficial innovation. This is not a frightening, spooky new technology.”

So what of CAP reform? Pillar one direct payments would continue for the next CAP round, running until 2020, Mr Paterson admitted. But their days were numbered. “Down the road it is inevitable that public benefits will be concentrated on environmental payments. Given European austerity the public will not want to pay for food twice. But they will want to pay for environmental benefits.”

A Natural Capital Committee, chaired by Prof Dieter Helm, would place a better value on ecosystem benefits, he said. That could lead to a credits system and an offsetting approach as used in planning.

He reiterated his belief in a more flexible CAP, to allow for regional differences, including within member states, as in the UK. He saw the CAP morphing into an environmental policy, which would allow Member states to support farmers in their own appropriate way.

Prince Charles, by video, echoed the need to recognise the value of farming’s role in caring for the countryside. “The very idea of a viable countryside without farming is as ridiculous as a railway system without a train,” he said. BBC Countryfile presenter Tom Heap was less charitable. “Why does farming need to be valued,” he asked. “To justify its £3.44bn of support?”

One and Two. She stressed the vulnerability of the livestock sector, putting it as starkly as “do we want a livestock sector in some parts of the EU.”

Owen Paterson – public doesn’t want to pay for food twice.

With that in mind was it justifiable to give the same level of payment to each hectare regardless of the farming system, especially when labour needs varied so widely, she asked. Variable flat rate payments were an option.

But Mr Paterson insisted that member states calling for extra funding would be resisted. “The UK is borrowing £400,000 a minute, and as long as that is going on extra support is not going to happen.”

But the marketplace was failing to pay farmers a fair price for food, with farmers as price takers and relatively powerless in the supply chain, Mrs McGuinness continued. Legislation to ensure farmers received a fairer price from the food chain was probably needed, she said.

Budget constraints CLEARLY, budget constraints would influence the shape of the new CAP, Mairead McGuinness acknowledged, with new member states wanting more direct payments for their farmers, who currently receive well below the EU average.

Contrary to Mr Paterson’s view that Pillar One would continue to dwindle, and Pillar Two would become greener, Mrs McGuinness saw the reformed CAP continuing as a predominantly agricultural policy.

She warned that deep cuts to Pillar One could impact production. “It’s easy to slaughter a herd of cattle, much harder to rebuild it.”

Territorial balance remained a key issue, with measures to support farming in remote and difficult regions very much needed, through both Pillar

Indeed, more not less regulation could protect farmers in other ways too. Previous food crises and the financial sector’s collapse showed the massive cost of failed deregulation. Better regulation was the key. Animal welfare legislation was an example.

Whilst the legislation was excellent, it was not always implemented in all member states.

With 7000 amendments to CAP reform tabled by MEPs she warned against trying to second-guess the outcome. But she believed an agreement would be in place by the end of Eire’s presidency of the European Parliament in June. It will be interesting to see which Oxford speaker’s view prevails.

• Oxford 2013 videos and papers: www.ofc.org.uk www.thefarmersclub.com • 11

Charles Abel • Food Exports

Gunning for greater exports In the first part of a two-part series examining efforts to boost the £12bn-plus food exports sector we consider work undertaken by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Above: Potatoes are just one of the UK farming sector’s export success stories.

Above right: Keeping overseas buyers enthusiastic, even when the weather hits supplies, is essential.

AS globalisation makes the world ever smaller UK agriculture is reaping rewards from new export markets. With food and non-alcoholic drink the country’s fourth best export sector, earning £12.15 billion a year, farmers have a key role to play.

Exports to Europe may have cooled over recent months, with the slightly stronger value of the pound to the Euro a contributing factor.

But exchange rate fluctuations have reduced the value of Sterling on world currency markets. So, although a falling Euro is not ideal for UK exports to Europe, a weaker pound on world markets gives home producers an opportunity to recover ground by finding new opportunities in non-EU markets.

Encouraged by this the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) beef and lamb division attended recent trade fairs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and led a trade mission to Canada,

12 • The Farmers Club Spring Journal 2013

while its cereals team attended major exhibitions in Abu Dhabi and Morocco.

As AHDB/EBLEX sector director Nick Allen reports: “Focusing on opening additional global markets has helped push up beef exports outside the EU by 150% and sheep meat exports by 193% in the past two years.”

By securing inter-governmental export certification and forging links between food producers/processors, governments, importers and markets, the farmerfunded levy board is supporting the export drive.

“There’s no short-cut to building networks, no substitute for painstakingly growing partnerships and markets over time, both in and outside the EU,” says Peter Hardwick, head of trade development for AHDB’s beef and lamb and pig divisions.

“As we help prepare, open and maintain new world markets, we promote the quality and safety of

Food Exports • Charles Abel

UK produce. Our programme of inward/outward missions, appearances at international trade shows and involvement in top level market access negotiations is building the vital platform our farm businesses need.”

The rewards could be huge. There will be more than 2bn middle class households in Asia by 2020, for example, with more than 1bn in China and India alone. This has already become a wealthy, aspirational world market 25 times the size of the entire UK population – with consumers increasingly demanding good quality, value-added Western produce on a massive scale.

Something to smile about for Defra Secretary of State Owen Paterson… British food and drink exports.

Recent export wins include: • Pig meat Exports of UK pig meat went up from £244m in 2010 to £272m in 2011, with non-EU markets claiming 27% of the total overseas market for home produced pork – a 50% rise on the previous year. Of the 144,000 tonnes of pig meat leaving UK shores in 2011, more than 31,700 went to Germany, the biggest importer of UK pork. But more than 30,000 tonnes was bound for Hong Kong and China, a rise of around 7% on the previous year.

• Beef and lamb Exports of home produced beef and lamb continue to rise with more than 50 new, non-EU export markets being opened to UK suppliers since August 2010, bringing a 22% increase in exports in 2011 alone. This earned the UK economy £2.3 billion, more than double the sales seen in 2006, the year post-BSE beef exports resumed.

With exports up 11% and imports down 13%, the UK became a net exporter of sheep meat in 2011, a rare occurrence over the past 50 years. It was a transition that earned the UK economy an extra £57.7m during 2009-2011, with non-EU exports rising 132%.

The UK is the largest sheep meat producer in the EU and, after New Zealand and Australia, the third largest in the world. Lamb exports account for 37% of UK production, at 100,000 tonnes a year.

Opening up of the Russian market has been the most recent ‘big win’, with consignments due to start in February.

• Potatoes British seed potatoes are grown in 50 countries worldwide, and are now the EU’s leading source of seed potatoes to Egypt. Despite difficult weather British seed potato exports to non-EU countries went up to an all-time high of £31m in 2011/12.

AHDB’s potato team is developing valuable contacts made by AHDB while brokering UK pig exports into China. “It’s still early days but there’s genuine long term potential for UK growers to

secure some major export contracts in what is now the second largest economy in the world,” said Rob Burns, Potato Council’s head of seed and export.

• Cereals Exports of UK cereals and oilseed earned the UK economy £750m in 2010/11. Although the wet 2012 harvest hit quality and yield, the more typical quality of our milling wheat continues to be recognised by bread and biscuit makers around the world. Exports were up nearly 10% in 2010/11, to 2.65m tonnes, equivalent to 16% of the home harvest and earning the UK economy £483m.

HGCA Export Manager Sarah Mann

“Our system of quality testing and independent, authoritative ukp and uks classifications make it easier for foreign importers to identify, have confidence in and ultimately buy UK wheat,” says the AHDB’s HGCA export manager Sarah Mann.

“But with no excess milling wheat available for export from the 2012 harvest, the challenge has switched to keeping export contacts briefed and onside, so we don’t lose them to competitors for any longer than necessary.”

Third Country possibilities

Rob Burns, Head of Seed & Export at the Potato Council

MEANWHILE, AHDB’s work with Australian authorities over recent years to agree health certificates came to completion in the New Year, setting up exports of high value British pork down under: “Australian retailers are attracted to the high welfare standards of our pork, something they can’t source locally,” says Mr Hardwick.

“They want to be able to offer more expensive cuts, the best quality back bacon and belly pork that comes from pigs reared predominantly outdoors, in humane conditions. Orders are already in place and we look forward to helping British pig farmers grow this exciting new market.”

• See the Summer edition of Farmers Club Journal for three powerful case studies

Peter Hardwick – AHDB Head of Trade Development

www.thefarmersclub.com • 13

Jane Cooksey & David Hooper • Meditation

Can mediation help farmers?

Stuck in a dispute with no sign of resolution?

Maybe it’s time to call in mediators.

David Hooper and Jane Cooksey explain the benefits

LIFE can seem a relentless list of troubles. Usually we cope: tackle one thing at a time, write a list of pros and cons, make a gut decision, sleep on it or ask a friend. Sometimes we have a row and clear the air.

But sometimes we put our boot deeper in the mud.

It can become impossible to deal with the other person and difficult to handle our own reaction to the situation.

Once we find we can’t talk to the other party, we start to justify our position and look for anything that supports us, whilst dismissing facts that don’t fit our view. We become more alienated and start to believe they are not just wrong, but deliberately malicious.

This trouble can worsen as we start the road to litigation and suck in family, friends, colleagues and even friends in the pub to agree with us.

What can the law do in this circumstance?

A GOOD solicitor will give useful legal and practical advice about the strengths and weaknesses of the case, and your chances of winning, as well as considering the risks and uncertainties of litigation.

Legal advice is essential in many situations that can be mediated and useful during mediation. But in a legal solution the judge imposes a decision and often one or both sides can’t accept it, so the dispute continues.

14 • The Farmers Club Spring Journal 2013

So what can mediation do for you?

WHATEVER the problem you are trying to resolve – an ambiguous will leaving things in an unmanageable mess; a dispute with a dealer over a tractor that just won’t stop breaking down; a boundary with a difficult neighbour – mediation can enable you to focus upon what you need to ensure that the business survives, that costs are controlled and that the family doesn’t fall out irrevocably.

A good mediator can help you explore and investigate your interests and develop how these are expressed to your opponent in a way they can understand. Likewise you may well find yourself understanding what the other side is seeking in a new way.

Knowledge gained in the safe environment of mediation is invaluable in working towards a mutually acceptable solution. Mediation enhances the chances of the other people hearing you and empowers you to be heard. You get your day in court.

What is the resolution you need?

THE huge advantage that mediation has over legal process is that it is not limited to what a judge can decide. You bring any issues you wish to the table and open up whatever ideas you have so you can choose what happens.

Meditation • Jane Cooksey & David Hooper

“I love the point in the mediation process when it dawns on a party that they really can sort this out and get rid of it in order to move on.”

Some examples of matters we have helped resolve:

1. Disputed shared access between two farms The legal issue was a dispute over the use and maintenance of a shared access over one farmer’s land. The non-owning party had developed his adjacent farm and substantially increased lorry traffic, so equally splitting the costs of maintenance was resented by the farmer who owned the access. Both parties vented their frustrations about a lot of other irritations during the mediation, including failure to maintain hedges, flooding from blocked ditches and other issues that illustrated a serious breakdown in communication between the parties. Gradually, during the process of mediation, a solution emerged that involved exchanging two parcels of land, planting trees for screening and a new maintenance agreement. After years of fighting and litigation the parties were facilitated to find practical solutions beyond the legal issues that could work to their mutual benefit. In settling the dispute, they shook hands for the first time in five years.

Jane Cooksey

2. Boundary dispute In an apparently unsolvable boundary dispute between farmers the process of mediation opened up one farmer’s access difficulty from his entrance.

He could not see traffic coming sufficiently safely.

The other agreed to cut back the hedge he owned and although this was nothing to do with the dispute, once it was solved, the rest fell gradually into place. Sometimes something unexpected unlocks a dispute.

3. Contested will A farmer died having changed his long standing will (which left the family farm to his son) to a new one giving the farm to his daughter. There was plenty of legal argument. As the interests of each party unfolded during the mediation, all sorts of possible solutions emerged, as the mediators encouraged the parties to focus on the problem rather than each other. Ultimately, the son got the farm and the running of it and the daughter received the increased income she needed, so the testator’s wishes were probably met and both siblings left the mediation with a sense of relief and the hope of restoring good relations.

What’s so good about mediation?

IT’S voluntary and flexible, to suit you. Mediators are highly skilled in dealing with emotive problems and stressful circumstances. Sometimes rage, grief and a host of other emotions need to be expressed (either without the other party or to them). Mediators work for both sides equally (they are impartial), have no interest in the outcome (neutral) and are independent (no one tells them what to do).

The entire process is confidential; nothing said or done can be used against you later, which means you can talk freely and suggest solutions as you wish.

Your legal rights change if, and only if, you sign a Settlement Agreement as a result of the mediation.

David Hooper specialises in farming and property dispute resolution and mediates regularly throughout England and Wales.

It is rare for a mediation solution to fail, because you and your opponent choose it. This means both parties intend to make it work to end the conflict.

So, next time you find you have put your foot too far into the mire with another, consider mediation to get you both out of it speedily, quickly and with grace.

• More information: Berkeley Square Mediation, www.berkeleysquaremediation.com

www.thefarmersclub.com • 15

Club Event

Farming Views Farming Figures £1.5 million Value of environmental benefits from agriculture

19.5% Share of adults who visit farmland in a typical week Farmers Club visit to the Royal Albert Hall provided a fine opportunity to see world class tennis up close.

4,000

Farm shops in UK, 600 PYOs, 850 farmer’s markets and 80 Community Supported Agriculture projects

£86.2bn

Agri-food sector’s contribution to UK economy, of which farming contributed £7.1bn (2010)

1 in 4 Share of UK population regularly watching or listening to a farming-themed TV/radio programme

£2.5bn

Spending on ethical food from UK sources (2.6% of total food spending, up 160% in 10 years)

6.1%

Food, feed and drink share of all UK exports

1.42bn Visits to English countryside by adults per year

1.2-4% Rise in happiness of people living on farmland compared with those in a town Source: “Farming’s Value to Society”, The Oxford Farming Conference

16 • The Farmers Club Spring Journal 2013

Masters Tennis at Albert Hall FEW would pass up the opportunity to see world tennis stars compete in London. So it was a large group of Farmers Club members and their guests that 2012 Club Chairman Paul Heygate and his wife, Sally, warmly welcomed to what proved to be a friendly and excellent evening of supper at The Club and tennis entertainment at the Albert Hall.

The programme involved John McEnroe playing singles against Guy Forget (French Davis Cup), an exciting match delivering the best of McEnroe drama and skill teased out by Forget.

After the interval Tim Henman, Fabrice Santoro and colleagues entertained us to a doubles display of hilarious serve and volley. How did the umpires keep score?

The event was meticulously co-ordinated by Events Organiser MaryAnne Salisbury and courteously guided by Deputy Secretary Robert Buckolt. Several members chose to stay at The Club overnight making for an excellent London excursion.

MaryAnne had arranged court-side seats offering the best vantage point for viewing and amusement. For our return to The Club the coach driver chose a route through Knightsbridge to wow us with the Christmas lights… a bonus treat!

Dining room staff provided silver service for our delicious supper which we enjoyed seated together in the Eastwood Room. This informal gathering was much appreciated, enabling us to greet one another and chat at leisure in comfort, before embarking on the coach to the Albert Hall.

On behalf of the group thank you to Paul and Sally, MaryAnne and Robert for a most successful evening.

For some this was a first experience of a Club event. For everyone it was an evening that was greatly enjoyed.

• Marjorie Talbot

Ash Dieback

Ash

Ash Die Back disease was profiled in the New Year edition of Farmers Club Journal. It prompted Club member Zoe Battiscombe-Scott to write this piece THERE is always a tension living with someone who works on the land. As a former Londoner, I have spent the 24 years of my marriage to Christopher learning to be sensitive to the weather. I appear to be an expert, to my city dwelling friends, on over-watering trees and how to manage a tree nursery on the sandy land that is our home in North Nottinghamshire.

My husband took over Green Mile Trees, a successful tree nursery near Retford, from his late father. He raises 70,000 field grown trees over 70 acres, plus a splendid plantation of container-grown stock, including topiary and hedging. Christopher's trees are mature and large, starting around 4m, providing instant landscape for parkland, properties, business parks and public locations.

All the vagaries of the weather are put up with, and the recession too, which has had a ten times greater impact. But Christopher has kept the business efficient and lean. He was even daring to glimpse the light at the end of tunnel. That was until the fateful day when, quite suddenly, Chalara fraxinea hit the headlines.

Latin, the spoken and written language of nurserymen, was quite suddenly leading the national TV news. Christopher sat, stunned, in front of the BBC News to learn he was banned from selling or transporting these trees for the foreseeable future.

Every year he expects to sell about 1000 Ash trees and he has five years supply. As Christopher explains: “Whilst a movement ban had become necessary, we had received no information on the disease from Defra until their announcements through the mass media.”

In a moment £50,000-worth of sales were wiped away. Not just this year, but £50,000 this year and the next, and the next. and the next, and the next.

To add insult to injury, Defra had only recently visited and given a clean bill of health to each and every one of his 5000 native English Ash trees.

To say Christopher was furious is an understatement. The Government told him about Chalara fraxinea via the 6 O’ Clock News! It was tree

growers, in 2009 after a trip to Scandinavia, who first told Government about Ash Die Back. But DEFRA wouldn't listen. It was the Horticultural Trade Association which asked the government to increase biosecurity. Government did nothing.

When Foot and Mouth disease hit, the public understood how very dramatically this awful disease would affect farmers, their families, communities and other businesses. The case for compensation was recognised. When it comes to trees that adorn urban streets, schools, supermarket entrances, parks and heathland, the public, journalists and politicians seem less clear.

Ash dieback disease restrictions hit the Green Mile Trees nursery of Farmers Club member Christopher BattiscombeScott hard – despite Defra giving all 5000 ash trees a clean bill of health just days before.

But believe me a £50,000 drop in profits for this year and five successive years is devastating for even an efficient business. The horticulture lobby may be smaller and less powerful, but Government needs to compensate and take on board our expertise, not ignore us.

At Christmas, my husband usually takes our children to select a pine tree to decorate at home.

This year, Christopher insisted we use one of his 5000 redundant Ash trees. We had fun spraying it gold and there was a lot of laughter. But it was a black gallows humour.

For me, the worst moment came when Defra apparently started to manipulate the media using the phrase: “Ash Die Back blew in from Europe”.

How disappointing that no journalist challenged this garbage. The disease did not "blow in". It arrived in this country because of poor biosecurity.

The idea that Ash Die Back can “blow” across an ocean allows Government to justify its decision not to pay compensation. Yet in reality it was Government's failure to listen to tree growers which led to this disease arriving in Britain.

Christopher concludes: “When the summer comes, the devastation of Ash trees will be more apparent and may mirror that of Dutch Elm. Where a disease is known to exist in trees abroad, the Government must heed expert advice to ban imports.

More stringent biosecurity and inspections would protect British businesses and British plant life.”

www.thefarmersclub.com • 17

Jeremy Dyas, Chairman; Beth Hockham, Vice Chairman • U30s

U30s Chairman’s Jottings I FEEL very honoured and look forward to being the under 30s Chairman in 2013. My predecessor Rhydian Scurlock-Jones has worked hard and his achievement of reaching a record number of over 300 Under 30s members is a great credit to him.

I now intend to build on this progress and I am pleased that Beth Hockham has been elected Vice Chairman of the Under 30s branch of the Farmers Club. Beth works for rural land agents Fowler Fortescue based near Salisbury. Together I am hopeful that we can continue to progress the Under 30s along the right track.

After graduating from Harper Adams in 2006 I joined my father in the family farm partnership and became responsible for the arable crops.

Joining the Farmers Club in 2006 I was elected on to the committee in 2009. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a keen under 30s member.

It will be a sad day when I reach 30!

We have a busy and hopefully fruitful year planned: The Spring Dining evening is the first event at The Club on Friday 5th April following the new member’s event. A Spring Farm walk is to be held in May in the Gloucestershire / Cotswold area, the exact date and venue are to be confirmed. The farm walks are always very interesting and great fun and I would urge any under 30s members who have not previously attended one to come along!

Whether you have been a member for some time, or have only just joined, I look forward to welcoming you to the other Under 30s events we have planned over the coming 12 months.

Please do feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

contact Jeremy for more information Jeremy Dyas 07877 615444 jezzajones@hotmail.co.uk

18 • The Farmers Club Spring Journal 2013

New members made welcome THE New Member’s Weekend held on 8th-10th February saw a record attendance with 52 people seated in the Eastwood Room for dinner on the Friday. It was excellent to see so many new faces as well as familiar ones.

After the main course the gentlemen were asked to move down three tables which is always a good way to meet and introduce yourself to others. Following the dinner everyone seemed in very high spirits and we continued chatting in the bar before heading to the usual nightspot Opal, which was excellent fun with such a great crowd of people.

Saturday morning saw the election of four under 30s Committee members: Jake Pickering, John Jaques, Mary Bell and Kathryn Mitchell. Sadly past under 30s chairman Luke Paterson retired from the committee due to advancing years.

After the Annual General Meeting we gathered for lunch at The Club which was a good chance to chat to anyone that you had not already met.

In the afternoon we headed to the Novello theatre to see Mama Mia which was an entertaining show, very lively and upbeat and did the fantastic songs justice. As a big Abba fan I very much enjoyed it. Some under 30s

members were even spotted standing up dancing and singing along!

In the evening we headed down to Battersea to Bunga Bunga, a lively Italian bar and pizzeria, which also hosts live entertainment and karaoke.

We were privileged to eat dinner in our own private room called the Eurovision room, which was fascinating, with themed décor of various paintings of music artists and instruments on display. There was also the appropriate genre of cheesy Eurovision song entries being played in the background!! Both the food and company were excellent. We stayed partying well into the small hours and it was a great high to end such an enjoyable weekend on.

I would like to thank both MaryAnne Salisbury and Rhydian Scurlock Jones for their impeccable organisation of this highly successful and fun event.

Our next Under 30s Event will be the Spring Dining Evening held on Friday 5th April. I do hope you can come along.

• Jeremy Dyas Under 30s Chairman 07877 615444 jezzajones@hotmail.co.uk

U30s • Jeremy Dyas, Chairman; Beth Hockham, Vice Chairman

A statement I often hear from the more senior members of the farming fraternity is that they never went to university and their farms are doing just fine; they tell me agriculture can only be learnt by long days grafting in wellies. Indeed my own Grandfather’s most advanced formal education was Sunday school, and I would argue he has been of great service to both his own farm and other areas of the food chain.

Universities have a powerful role to play as food and farming career opportunities start expanding, says Under 30s member Jake Pickering.

I believe the role of universities in the modern day becomes clearer when you take into account the fundamental change that has gradually taken place over the past 50 years. Agriculture has changed from being an art to a science. Whilst the industry needs to hold on to the artistic skills of the past; to be competitive on a global market it needs to continue embracing, developing and most importantly teaching the science of the future.

Unlike 10 years ago when the wheat price was £75 a tonne, commodity prices have risen and are showing signs of staying strong as global demand continues to rise. This has resulted in degrees in agriculture becoming popular and dare I say ‘sexy’.

At the RAC student numbers have grown by 25% over the past four years, capped only by government quotas; in fact more young people are choosing to study agriculture at postgraduate level in the UK than any other subject.

University Challenge How do universities help farming? Under 30s member Jake Pickering examines the issues

“To be competitive on a global market farming needs to continue embracing, developing and most importantly teaching the science of the future.”

UNIVERSITY has given me friends in all corners of the globe, an increased alcohol tolerance and the opportunity to refine some awesome dance moves.

But has three years studying agriculture made me a farmer? In short, no.

With leading agricultural Colleges making the contentious name change to Universities, there has never been a better time to ask the question 'What purpose do universities actually serve within the agricultural industry?’

As I near the end of my degree at the ‘Royal Agricultural College’ (Correct at time of going to press), I look back on the three years with the fondest of memories. Without a doubt coming to university has developed me as a person and given me skills and attributes that I simply did not have before I loaded my life into my pick-up and whistled my way to Cirencester.

Moreover, with global sustainability in food, water and the environment becoming increasingly important issues, a degree in agriculture makes students incredibly employable. Students aren’t just becoming farmers. From the retail sector to politics, employers are crying out for graduates who understand the challenges and opportunities that agriculture is faced with over the coming decades.

The figures speak for themselves; over 94% of RAC graduates are in work or further education within six months of graduating.

I understand the emotive arguments expressed by alumnus of the RAC opposed to the imminent name change. However, the way I see it is that the art teaching Colleges of the past, are becoming the science teaching Universities of the future.

So a degree in agriculture will not make you a farmer, although it will give you the scientific and social skills to enter the big wide world and begin a life of learning.

I'll finish with an amusing conversation I recently overheard in the College bar after a particularly rough game of rugby: Rugby player: ‘I have just been to the college nurse because when I touch my head it hurts, when I touch my shoulder it hurts and when I touch my knee it hurts.’

Concerned friend: ‘What did the nurse say was wrong with you?’

Rugby player: ‘She said I have broken my finger.’

www.thefarmersclub.com • 19

Stephen Skinner • Club News

Club dress code clarified

Club News Survey points way for Club development THE response to the comprehensive survey into what members want from The Farmers Club was absolutely firstclass. With very nearly 1500 responses (on-line and posted) the Committee have some exceptionally useful feedback on which to base any changes for the future.

The company which ran the survey for us is now compiling the feedback into an easily comprehensible format.

But having seen the early results there are a number of clear messages.

Firstly, in the main, members are very happy with their Club. Yes, of course, there are areas where we need to improve/develop. But the level of overall satisfaction was high. Secondly, the availability of bedrooms is a concern, be it the actual numbers

available or our booking process. We are working on increasing the number of bedrooms but as you will be aware, this is not an easy process. We will do what we can.

There are a number of ‘urban myths’ surrounding the booking process, for example, mass bookings and cancellations, which are untrue.

However, we will, in concert with the House Committee, look at the process once more.

The next phase in the Survey is, once we have the results, to have the House, Journal and Membership Committees, under the umbrella of the General Committee, establish a longterm, coherent plan of action for the future. We will also feed the results back to you too as soon as we can.

THE recent survey of members, and a couple of discussions in the Club with members, has made me aware that there is some confusion over the current dress rules.

For men, during the week, it is formal jacket and tie. Polo or T-shirts, jeans and trainers are not acceptable.

For emergency use, we hold a number of jackets and ties at Reception for members or guests. Ladies are asked to be dressed conventionally. Trousers are permitted but jeans or trainers are not permitted during the week.

From Friday at 6pm until midnight on Sunday, we move to Smart Casual.

I know one person’s smart casual can be very different from another’s, but we do allow smart jeans, trainers and polo shirts.

The reason the House Committee decided on these changes, which were introduced some three years ago, is that families were being put off using the Club at the weekend. Occupancy figures at the weekend seem to show that this relaxation in the rules is having an impact.

However, if you do arrive at breakfast over a weekend with torn jeans, a scruffy old t-shirt, and no shoes, as one member did a while back, expect to be asked to go and change by the staff! Clearly you won’t like that and my staff hate doing it – understandably. Hopefully it will be unnecessary.

On-line bookings Club’s Plan B aims to create more bedrooms.

Accommodation availability WHILE we are still trying to increase the availability of bedrooms for members, we have now produced a list of hotels that are within a 15-minute walk of the Club that we think are of reasonable value and our members should like – if we are full!

Should you call or email and we are full,

and you don’t want to go on the waiting list, which I would always recommend, we can send you the list, preferably by email.

Should there be any questions on this do please speak with our Head Receptionist Marlene Abrahams on 020 7930 3557 (Option 2).

20 • The Farmers Club Spring Journal 2013

LITTLE by little members are getting the idea that they can book events on-line. Please do so if you can. Once you have the hang of it it is so much easier, and it helps us too! If you are having trouble, do give either our Membership Secretary Mark Fairbairn a call on 020 7925 7102 or, our Accommodation Manager Hamid Khaldi on 020 7930 3557 (Option 3).

Staff fund

Accommodation advice – head receptionist Marlene Abrahams

CAN I thank all the members who so generously contributed to our staff fund, which is distributed to our staff over the Christmas period. Last year we collected a total of £47,813 of which the bulk is distributed in time for Christmas and the remainder early in the New Year. Thank you.

Club News • Stephen Skinner

Catering progress I AM delighted to say that for what I think is almost the first time ever the Club has made a surplus in its catering operation for the final quarter of 2012.

This covers meetings, functions and of course the dining-room too.

While the real test of success will be during the quiet months of January, February and March, we have arrived at this point through having taken on a consultant who has shown himself to be of enormous value and through the hard work, commitment and willingness to change of our staff.

This has not been easy, but had to be done, and I know there is still a long way to go. But we are going in the right direction. Incidentally, this has not been by merely increasing the cost of things. We haven’t! It has come through better control of costs and greater use of our staff rather than agency staff.

What’s more, there is a new Breakfast Menu! Not only the traditional items that we have always had, but also such things as Kedgeree and Egg Royal! Do give it a try.

Club Calendar Diary Dates Please check the dates carefully as they are sometimes changed and new dates added for each issue. The majority of club events can be booked up to two months in advance via the Club website, visit www.thefarmersclub.com

APRIL St. George’s Day Lunch at Butchers Hall Tuesday 23rd Booking form in this issue

MAY St George’s Day Lunch

Friday 3rd Booking form in this issue

Balmoral Show Dinner, Ulster Tuesday 14th Booking form in this issue

Bordeaux Wine Tour FULL Tuesday 21st to Friday 24th Leckford Estate, Hampshire

RABI Amateur Golf Challenge GOLFERS are invited to participate in the annual fundraising event for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution on Friday 7 June at Henlle Park Golf Club, Oswestry (www.henllegolf.co.uk) . Teams of four will compete over 18 holes at this award winning course set in beautiful undulating Georgian parkland. The entry fee is £150 per team which includes coffee and bacon roll on arrival, on-course refreshments and a two-course meal after the round. Lots of prizes to be won. To enter a team e-mail: erys.hughes@rabi.org.uk

Visit to the Leckford Estate, Hampshire

Suffolk Show Drinks reception Wednesday 29th Booking form in this issue

Visit to Windsor Great Park Friday 31st Application form enclosed

JUNE Windsor Great Park

Visit to Ayrshire and RHS Dinner Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th Apply for RHS Dinner on enclosed Spring Events form; Ayrshire visit details to follow by e-mail

JULY Great Yorkshire Show (event tbc) Monday 8th Dumfries Farm and SAC

Annual General Meeting, Whitehall Court Friday 12th

CLA Game Fair Drinks Reception, Ragley Hall, Warwickshire

CLUB CLOSURE 5pm Thursday 28th March to 8am Tuesday 2nd April Members may book a bedroom to stay when the Club is closed on the understanding that it is on a room only basis as no other facilities are available.

Saturday 20th

Royal Welsh Show (event tbc) Sunday 21st Game Fair reception

www.thefarmersclub.com • 21

The Farmers Club • Club Information

Club Information 020 7930 3751 • www.thefarmersclub.com Notice of the Annual General Meeting

Office Holders Patron – Her Majesty The Queen HONORARY VICE PRESIDENTS Peter Jackson CBE, Sir David Naish DL VICE PRESIDENTS Mark Hudson, Roddy Loder-Symonds, John Parker, Norman Shaw CBE THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB 2013 PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN Stewart Houston CBE TRUSTEES Barclay Forrest OBE (Chairman), Mrs Susan Kilpatrick OBE, Mrs Nicki Quayle, Julian Sayers VICE-CHAIRMAN Jimmy McLean HONORARY TREASURER Richard Butler IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN Paul Heygate CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND SECRETARY Air Commodore Stephen Skinner

NOTICE is hereby given that the One Hundred and Seventy First Annual General Meeting of The Farmers Club will be held at 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL on Friday 12 July 2013 at 12 noon.

AGENDA 1. Minutes To approve the Minutes of the One Hundred and Seventieth 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 2012.

3. Officers To elect the following Officers of the Club for 2014: the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Honorary Treasurer.

4. Auditors To appoint the Auditors for 2014. The Committee recommends that Haysmacintyre continues in office.

CLUB CHAPLAIN The Reverend Sam Wells

S N SKINNER Secretary

by Order of the Committee March 2013

COMMITTEE Elected 2008: The Reverend Dr Gordon Gatward OBE, David Richardson OBE (Chairman – Journal and Communications Sub-Committee), John Wilson Elected 2009: John Stones

2013 GOLF DIARY

Elected 2011: Andrew Brown, Micheal Summers (Chairman – Membership Sub-Committee) Elected 2012: Mrs Ionwen Lewis, Charles Notcutt OBE (Chairman – House Sub-Committee)

Date

Match/Competition

Co-opted: Jeremy Dyas (Chairman Under 30s), Beth Hockham (Vice Chairman Under 30s)

Wednesday 24th April

v N.F.U., Royal Winchester GC, Hampshire

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)

Friday 3rd May Thursday 23rd May Friday 31st May

v East India Club, New Zealand GC, Woking, Surrey v British Veterinary Association GS, Saltford GC, Bristol v Farmer members of HCEG, Muirfield

Friday 7th June Monday 17th June

v WCF, Badgemore Park, Henley on Thames, Oxon v The Forty Club, Royal St. George’s, Sandwich, Kent

Thursday 4th July

Club Golf Championships, Blackwell GC, nr. Bromsgrove, Worcs

Thursday 26th & Friday 27th September

Mixed Autumn Meeting Frilford Heath GC, Abingdon, Oxon

Tuesday 8th October

Bath Club Cup, Woking GC, Surrey

Thursday 31st October Friday 1st November

v HCEG, Muirfield (2 day meeting) Ganton GC, Scarborough Seaton Carew GC, Hartlepool

Elected 2013: Lindsay Hargreaves, Tim Harvey, Nick Helme, George Jessel DL, Peter Jinman OBE, Mrs Jo Turnbull

NEXT ISSUE Watch out for your Summer issue of the Farmers Club Journal, due out in mid-May, packed full of content including successful food export case studies, a new approach to soils and successful applicants for support from the Farmers Club Charitable Trust.

22 • The Farmers Club Spring Journal 2013

If you would like further information about the matches and competitions, kindly email secretariat@thefarmersclub.com

Club Information • The Farmers Club

Further information is available on The Farmers Club Website www.thefarmersclub.com Honours and Awards The Chairman and Members of the Club congratulate the following members who received an award in the New Year Honours List: Mr Stephen Visscher CBE Wiltshire Obituaries It is with regret that we announce the death of the following members: Mr R Croydon Kent Sir C Spedding Berkshire Mr D Bickford-Smith Norfolk Mr C Cooper Kent Mr P Gooderham Suffolk Mr J Padfield Sussex New Members The following were elected: UK Members Mr M Butler Mr J Doswell Mr I Gardner Mr E Greaves Mr E Magiera Mr G Moreton Lt Col A Noble Mr N Rainsley Mr A Robertson Mr L Stacey Mr J Tweddle Mr M Walton Mr A Watson LVO Mr M Williams Overseas Mr J Williams Under 30s Mr J Gurney Mr T Hannam Mr J Marriage Mr I Matts Miss F Thieblot

Wiltshire Herefordshire Suffolk Oxfordshire London Huntingdonshire Suffolk Norfolk Sussex Buckinghamshire Durham Surrey Gloucestershire Essex Germany Buckinghamshire Dorset Essex Northamptonshire Switzerland

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.

Reciprocal Clubs UK City Livery Club, London (No bedrooms) Royal Overseas League, Edinburgh The New Club, Edinburgh Royal Scots Club, Edinburgh OVERSEAS The Western Australian Club, Perth, Australia (Bedrooms not reciprocated) Queensland Club, Brisbane, Australia The Australian Club, Melbourne, Australia Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland (Bedrooms not reciprocated)

• 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, smart clean jeans and trainers permitted.

• Children should conform with the above guidelines.

• Members must advise their guests of the dress regulations.

Business Suite The Business Suite is situated on the upper ground floor and gives Members the opportunity to use the Club PC or their laptop/tablet pc in a tailor made environment as they are not permitted in the public rooms. Wi fi is also available in all bedrooms and meeting rooms.

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 (Sat Nav Post Code SW1A 2TS), approximately 5 minutes walk from the Club. 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.

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 in the Muddiman Suite lounge on the fourth floor which is also used as a Meeting Room on occasion. Members should therefore check its availability with Reception 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.

Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club, Dublin, Ireland The Muthaiga Country Club, Nairobi, Kenya The Harare Club, Harare, Zimbabwe The Christchurch Club, Christchurch, New Zealand (Temporarily relocated to The George Hotel ) The Canterbury Club, Christchurch, New Zealand Members wishing to use any of the above Clubs should obtain an introductory card prior to their visit, available from the Secretariat.

Club Contacts THE FARMERS CLUB Over 160 years of service to farming 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL

Chairman 2013: Stewart Houston

Chief Executive and Secretary: Air Commodore Stephen Skinner 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 Fax: 020-7839 7864 E-mails: secretariat@thefarmersclub.com accounts@thefarmersclub.com membership@thefarmersclub.com functions@thefarmersclub.com meetings@thefarmersclub.com events@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 E-mail: editor@thefarmersclub.com Designed and produced by: Ingenious, www.ingeniousdesign.co.uk The printing inks are made using vegetable based oils.

No film or film processing chemicals were used.

Printed on Lumi Silk which is ISO 14001 certified manufacturer.

FSC Mixed Credit. Elemental chlorine free (ECF) fibre sourced from well managed forests.

www.thefarmersclub.com • 23

Under 30s Calendar of Events 2013

Friday 6th September Dining Evening at the Club

The Under 30s Committee aims to encourage and organise fun and engaging events throughout the year for all eligible members. Under 30s membership comprises farmers and those involved in ancillary professions. Events range from Club dinners in London with engaging guest speakers to farm walk weekends around the country offering a chance to learn and socialise with like minded young members. Events are subsidised by the Club to encourage affordability for younger members. Under 30s members may also attend senior Club events at a discount of 25% and inter-club events organised by the U30s committees of other London Clubs.

Friday 11th-13th October Autumn Farm Walk

For further details visit the Under 30s website area: www.thefarmersclub-u30s.com

Friday 22nd November Autumn Dining Evening

Or e-mail: u30s@thefarmersclub.com

Friday 5th April Spring Dining Evening at the Club Friday 17th-19th May Spring Farm walk – Glos/Cotswolds Thursday 27 June Pimms and Supper at the Club