Winter 2009

Uppingham again ready to host only fatstock show in a town centre Article and more pictures on page 15

Don’t forget to order your Club Christmas Cards Order form on page 22 of the Autumn Journal

INSIDE… • Annual Report and Accounts • Application form for Burns Night Supper Friday 22 January Please note your individual Club membership number, printed on your Journal envelope.

You will need it to access the members’ section of the Club website at www.thefarmersclub.com

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CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS • John Reynolds

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS • John Reynolds

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

contents

Patron – Her Majesty The Queen

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Chairman’s Comments John Reynolds stresses the need to ask political hopefuls what they will do for farming if elected and using the language of the victor rather than the victim.

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Climate Change Agenda Dr John Gilliland explains why it’s essential for the agrifood and land-based sectors to engage with the climate change agenda.

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150 Years of RABI Press Officer Nicholas Bond tells how, since 1860, RABI has grown, along with industry needs, to become and remain farming’s national charity.

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Improve Your Farm Shop Jonathan Winchester tells how a farm shop can benefit from a visit by an ‘anonymous shopper’, who will report on its strengths and weaknesses.

Farming industry strong enough to speak language of the victor rather than victim Over the past year, the Club has experienced quite a few changes. Some were forced on us – when the Club computer crashed, for example – and we had to take the plunge and install a completely new database. It was a tough period, but gradually the new system has risen from the ashes of the old one and we are on our way.

10 Oxford Farming Conference Press Officer Jane Craigie gives a taster of what’s in store at the 2010 OFC, which has as its theme feeding 9 billion with minimal environmental impact.

12 Alnwick Garden Visit Journal Editor Don Gomery reports in words and pictures on the Club visit to breathtaking beautiful Alnwick Garden, Northumberland.

14 World Commodity Markets Jonathan Raymond appraises world agricultural commodity markets, concluding that the rollercoaster ride of speculators is set to continue 15 Uppingham Fatstock Show Janet Reynolds writes with pride and nostalgia about her local Fatstock Show, the only event of its kind still to be staged in the centre of a British town.

16 CAAV Centenary Year Secretary Jeremy Moody explains the 100 years of hard work that have gone into ensuring that Britain’s agricultural valuers remain masters of their trade.

18 Big Dividends from Biodiversity Jane Craigie reports on a Yorkshire arable unit which has coupled highly-productive farming with rich biodiversity to give benefits all round.

20 Under 30s 21 Whitehall Court Ramblings

WE’VE just had our house repainted. It was a chilly and inconvenient affair, with all the windows and doors open and men coming in and out with ladders and brushes. Now it’s finished, we’re pleased with the result; even if it does look practically the same as before.

I have to admit, when it comes to the four walls that surround me, I’m rather disinclined to make bold alterations – although when it comes to life in general, I see myself as a bit of an evangelist for change.

Like most things, it probably stems from my childhood. I was born at the beginning of the War, and grew up in a sea of nostalgia. My family longed for life to resume its previous pattern and talked endlessly of a past when life was predictable and unthreatening. However, if you have never known something, it’s hard to see it as a safe haven, and I think that’s why I developed the habit of looking forward rather than looking back.

22 Information and Diary Dates 24 Back Cover A reminder to order Club Christmas cards.

FRONT COVER Uppingham Fatstock Show is the only such event still staged in a British town centre. Pictures courtesy of Rutland and Stamford Mercury.

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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Numerous changes My father was also a bit of an advocate for change. He was one of the first butchers to acquire a cold store - a big, mysterious room at the back of the shop, with a massive door that shut with a ‘clunk’. For a little boy, it was rather the stuff of nightmares, but to our business it was a gamble that paid off. I’m sure it was Dad’s willingness to trust in innovation that helped me to see change could be an opportunity and not a threat.

Of course, we could not have done it without your support. In the summer, as you know, the Club Secretary wrote to you all, requesting an update of your details. It brought in a massive response. Over three quarters of you responded (and the replies are still coming in) which was a real boost for those working on the project. To feel you have support at a time of change is vital and I know the Club staff really felt the membership had rallied behind them.

Other changes, such as redecoration of the Dining Room, were things we chose to undertake to help improve our revenue stream. The Committee sought the advice of interior design experts, explaining that we wanted furniture which would take into account the comfort of those with limited movement and a colour scheme that would be both relaxed and tasteful.

From comments made, we have achieved most of this. However, to those members who are not entirely happy with the result, I would just ask that you are kindly in your disapproval. If the curtains and table decorations do not appeal, I can assure you they were not chosen specifically to offend you, but because it was felt they would have general appeal. Sometimes change requires us to make allowances …

Probably the first time many of you saw the new dining room was at our Harvest Festival celebrations, when more than a hundred members and their guests enjoyed an excellent buffet spread. The whole event had a really joyful feel and I think everyone who attended came away feeling they had taken part in something which really epitomises what the Club is all about.

The service was held, as always, at St Martin-in-the-Fields and this year our Club Chaplain, Revd Nick Holtam, gave the

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009 • www.thefarmersclub.com

However, we are well placed to support informed discussion. On the whole, our membership is still drawn from those who farm, or are part of the agricultural supply chain, and we also attract scientists and the members of the clergy into our midst.

The Club - and by this I mean the membership, and not the building itself - is an ideal forum for the farming debate.

Signing off…

Celebrating harvest and the gifts of God More than 100 members and their guests attended the Club Harvest Festival Service at St Martin-in-theFields, Trafalgar Square, in October, where the Vicar - Club Chaplain the Revd Nicholas Holtam - was officiant and delivered a most powerful and thought-provoking sermon. Nick (right) was assisted by the Revd Jane Baxter, Priest in Charge of St John the Evangelist, Caldecott, Rutland, and Club Committee member the Revd Gordon Gatward, Director of the Arthur Rank Centre.

address. Nick is a good friend to the Club and we have particularly valued his help during this past year. He was a great support during Alfonso’s illness and we have much for which to thank him.

Rural citizenship One of the things Nick spoke of was our response to the challenges of farming in the 21st century. As part of this, he mentioned our need to reaffirm our role in the democratic process of our country - our “citizenship”, as he called it. This struck a chord with me as I’m sure we all, from time to time, feel disillusioned and cynical with politicians and the political process.

It’s hard to avoid the current situation and, unless you’ve been locked in a barn for the past six months (and, yes, I appreciate farming can sometimes feel like that!), you will know we are nearing a general election. Whichever party attains power, we are going to experience some fundamental changes.

Now, as I’ve mentioned before, the prospect of change can be both exciting and daunting and it really is time to start thinking, as Nick says, about our role as citizens and the fact that having a say is important. As NFU President Peter Kendall points out in the document ‘Why Farming

Matters More Than Ever’, farmers can take ownership of the problems they face.

The electorate, as a whole, is also recognising the decisive role the agricultural industry will play in some really important issues… food and energy security, the health of our children, environmental stewardship and the provision of fulfilling and rewarding employment.

Challenge politicians Certainly now is the time to challenge our political hopefuls and to question them about what they will do for the farming family if they are elected. We are one of the few strong sectors of the economy and we deserve greater consideration as policies are formulated and budgeted.

Let me give you a couple of examples. Over the next few years, the Government will be debating the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, European agriculture ministers will be starting to put together new arrangements for the dairy industry and civil servants will be getting together to decide how much of the budget should be spent on rural development.

The Farmers Club has always been proud of its apolitical stance, leaving politics to the NFU, the CLA and other such bodies.

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009

As the end of the page appears and I draw my last Chairman’s Comments to a close, it’s important to mention that the Club is about to experience another change when I hand over the Chairmanship to Nicki Quayle.

I wish Nicki and her husband, David, a happy and fulfilling year. Nicki is very experienced in Club matters and totally committed to the service of the members, so you are in good hands. She will be flying the flag for the Club at the LAMMA Machinery Show, in Newark on 20-21 January, so please try to get there to support her.

I, myself, have many people to thank: my wife, Janet, who has been by my side throughout the year; my Vice Chairman and the Committee, who have given me their good will; the Secretariat, who have ensured things ran smoothly; the Club staff, in particular those who have provided me with a clean room, a welcome sandwich, or glass of wine; the members who have ‘turned up’, written to me, or just assured me of their loyalty; and finally those who gave me the odd squeeze of the shoulder, or a kindly word, when I needed it most.

As I take my place on the ‘back benches’, I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a fruitful and happy new year. My new year’s resolution will be to heed the words of David Yelland.

In January, at the Oxford Conference, he reminded us that the farming industry must use the language of the victor, rather than the victim, and urged us to take control of our own destiny, saying, “Yours is a task that is entirely achievable and, in so many ways, it is in the interests of the country that you succeed.”

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CLIMATE CHANGE • Dr John Gilliland

CLIMATE CHANGE • Dr John Gilliland

Why the UK’s agrifood and land-based sectors need to engage with the climate change agenda out from the equator, pushing temperate crops ever further towards the Poles.

OVER the past four years, I have been privileged to Chair England’s Rural Climate Change Forum. Facilitated by Defra, it was set up at the request of the sectors’ key stakeholders, to look at three vital issues • First, to examine the evidence base and highlight the knowledge gaps around both the mitigation of green house gases (GHG) and the adaptation of the sectors to the changing climate.

• Second, to make recommendations on how the sectors could accelerate their engagement in tackling this unprecedented agenda.

• Third, to communicate both with the sectors and with Government on why this agenda is so important and the possible directions and solutions at which we should be looking.

So why should we engage?

In the words of outgoing EU Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel, speaking in Salzburg last May: “When it comes to food production and climate change, we are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. But we are not forced to accept starvation or ecological disaster. We must find a way both to feed ourselves and start to bring climate change under control.”

So how do we do it?

We do it by quantifying the problem; by interrogating the evidence and filling the knowledge gaps; by creating an economic and policy climate around the challenge, and by communicating the issues and solutions in an open and transparent manner, which ultimately allows the sectors to engage and deliver on the solutions.

When interrogated the MACC Curve gives some very helpful pointers. First, there are already many options available, although not well communicated, which will deliver real GHG mitigation at a negative cost.

In other words, if carried out, these options would give the sectors a real improvement in financial margin. For example, better timing of fertilisers, especially when the ground is dry; using genetics to get better live weight gain or milk yield.

More potent

Second, there are mitigation options which, when used, have a marginal cost to the sector, but could bring wider benefits, such as anaerobic digestion, which would warrant policy support.

Initially, our sectors were set aside, as people mainly focused on CO2. Only 1% of the UK’s CO2 emissions come from the agriculture, forestry and land management (AFLM) sector. But when people started to look at the other GHGs, especially methane (23 times more potent than CO2) and nitrous oxide (296 times more potent than CO2), did the spotlight come on us.

The second reason - and its connection to climate change may come as a surprise to many - is food and water security. This is a massive issue and one now really challenging the world’s leaders and their advisers.

The AFLM sector is responsible for 37% of the UK’s methane emissions and 67% of the UK’s nitrous oxide emissions. When compared back to the CO2 equivalent, 7% of the UK’s total GHGs come from this sector.

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For our sectors, the Committee commissioned the Scottish Agriculture College (SAC) to work out what mitigation options did the AFLM Sector have and how much per tonne of CO2 equivalent would it cost. As a consequence, SAC came up with a tool, summarising the economics around the main mitigation options, called the Marginal Abatement Cost Curve or, more frequently, the MACC Curve.

The problem is now clear. On top of the natural climatic rhythms of this planet, the way we, as humans, carry out our daily lives is accelerating our global temperature rise. Every sector has come under the microscope.

Well, the most obvious and, for me, the most selfish reason is that, as a farmer, I, and the 100,000 other farmers in the UK, are at the front line of the consequences of our changing climate. Whether it is more droughts or floods; or new pests or diseases, we in the agrifood and land-based sectors will be the first to have to find the solutions for these new challenges.

By 2050, we expect the world’s population to climb another 3 billion to 9 billion, yet we know that our global surface temperature will rise in the order of 2C to 4C above pre industrial levels, depending on which scenario we end up following. On top of that, it is estimated that for every 1C rise in global temperature, global grain yield potential drops approximately by 10%, as aridity moves

remit is to examine the evidence and make recommendations on how these targets will be achieved. Chaired by Lord Adair Turner, it commissioned detailed economic analysis to find out what would be the most economically feasible way to achieve this.

In November 2008, the UK gave Royal Ascent to the UK Climate Change Act, setting a legally binding target of 80% reduction in the UK’s total GHGs emissions by 2050, against a 1990 baseline.

Intermediate targets of 34% by 2022 - or 42% by 2022, if international agreement is reached in Copenhagen - were also set.

Included in the Act was the setting up of the UK Climate Change Committee, whose

Third, there are some mitigation options which are clearly not economically viable today, such as nitrogen inhibitors in both soils and animals. However, if further R&D was commissioned in these areas, they could be really useful technologies in the medium term.

until 2017. This is in complete contrast to what is being asked for in other sectors, such as energy production where, by 2020, 40% must be carbon zero.

sector at your peril. The key tool to allow this to occur is the ‘Carbon Calculator’ There are many out there, but they fall into two types.

In the intervening period, the Government have asked the AFLM sector to bring forward a voluntary plan on how it would deliver what are seen to be the ‘win wins’ by early next spring.

The first type is used to calculate emissions and offsets within a rural business, to standards laid down in Tier One of the National Inventory of GHG emissions. The second type is used to calculate an individual product’s life cycle carbon footprint.

But Government aren’t the only people looking to drive this agenda. Coming from Northern Ireland, where food production is so vital to the overall economy, I have been party to considerable debates between retailers and the food processing industry.

Retailers clearly see this agenda as one they want to drive, each one having a slightly different angle. Some believe that consumers are asking for it; others believe it will help them reposition their image in the market place; some believe that they will be able to use this agenda to differentiate between suppliers; others believe that it will improve farmers’ margins and, therefore, they ultimately might be able to take less for the product.

Whatever the reason, apart from the discount retailers, every food retailer working into the UK now has a clear policy in this area. I caution our food sector to just look at what such initiatives have achieved in the white goods sector and suggest that you ignore what is happening in the retail

Since then, and with the aim of bringing some intellectual rigour to these calculators, Defra has funded the British Standards Institute (BSI) to bring out a “Publicly Audited Standard” for carbon calculators. A year ago, BSI launched PAS 2050, a standard for all carbon calculators which must be used when calculators are resulting in a carbon label being put onto a product to be sold in the UK.

Considerable gaps I have been supportive of the development of these tools, but only when it is explained to all that they have limitations, as our knowledge today in GHG emissions from our sectors still has considerable gaps.

They are very good tools to point the direction of travel, but the prescriptive use of these are premature, until our evidence gaps are far better filled, and I appeal to everyone that expectations need to be managed carefully.

Ideally, for me, I would like to see a hybrid of these two calculators, as the product or PAS 2050 calculator currently does not allow for recognition of the many on-farm offsets or carbon sinks, which are our natural asset and which differentiate our sectors from those in the wider economy.

These offsets will also be needed in future to offset emissions, particularly from ruminant livestock, whose rumens, being a natural biological system, just have no hope of reducing their emissions by 80%.

My ultimate concern is that, in the next 50 years, our sectors will have a massive job to do in both feeding the world and reducing the impacts of climate change. We can only do this in partnership… partnership with our consumers, partnership with Government and, most importantly, partnership with the environment in we live.

There are so many opportunities for perverse outcomes if we go forward in ignorance of the evidence base.

Government does recognise the ultimate perverse outcome, where, as a consequence of new policies, UK farming is exported, while UK citizens continue to merrily consume and accelerate the carbon leakage out of the UK. But we in these two sectors need to realise also that Government will not sit idly by, if we in the industry aren’t prepared to help ourselves and deliver on the ‘win wins’.

Lastly, there are still some real gaps in our evidence base which must be filled if these sectors are to engage properly. Examples such as the variability in nitrous oxide emissions from soils; methane emissions from ruminants; and measuring/sensor technologies needed to verify with integrity what is actually being emitted.

As a consequence, in July, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan. In it was a realism of the challenges in these sectors, with a mandatory annual target of 9% reduction not being asked for

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009 • www.thefarmersclub.com

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009

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RABI ANNIVERSARY • Nicholas Bond

RABI ANNIVERSARY • Nicholas Bond

Commemorating 150 years of RABI support for the farming community its workforce and farmers were being forced to leave the land.

John Mechi was horrified to find that there was no one to whom they could turn in time of trouble. So he set about soliciting support for a charity to help farmers in distress and, by the end of 1859, had the support of “700 Noblemen, Gentlemen, Farmers, Implement Makers and others”.

Institution born d Nicholas Bon IN 2010 we will be celebrating the enthusiasm and drive of a Victorian farmer who, 150 years ago, was responsible for establishing the charity which saved hundreds of elderly farmers and their families from destitution and currently provides support for some 1,500 retired and disabled members of the farming community.

Like the industry it serves, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) has changed dramatically over the past few decades, helping thousands of working farming families through national disasters, such as BSE and foot-and-mouth disease, as well as individual difficulties ranging from accidents or illness to coping with old age in a rural community.

Declining fortunes

Thus, in May 1860, the Agricultural Benevolent Institution was established, under the presidency of the Duke of Richmond. The trustees were Mr. Alderman Mechi, the Duke of Rutland and Earl Howe, while the 35 vice-presidents included two dukes, seven earls, a viscount, nine lords, five knights and five members of parliament… a reflection of the importance of agriculture 150 years ago. Within three years, with the patronage of Queen Victoria, Royal had been added to its name.

The objective of the institution was straightforward – “… to secure a home for, or pension to, the bona fide farmer, or widow of a farmer, and to maintain and educate the orphan children of farmers.”

Qualification for assistance was less simple and the selection of beneficiaries for a pension - £26 per annum for single men, £20 for single women and £40 for married couples - was by election, with every donor and subscriber having a number of votes according to the amount they had given.

Elections were held at the annual general meeting each year, and the number of suitable candidates, each recommended by two persons of standing in the community, always considerably exceeded the number of pensions available.

Growing demand In 1935, in the midst of the Depression, there were more than 400 candidates for 150 new pensions, with the Institution then maintaining over 1,000 pensioners at an annual cost of £32,000. In its first 75 years, RABI paid out nearly £1.25 million to almost 7,000 beneficiaries.

The level of the grant paid, £26 a year, and its restriction to retired farmers and their families remained unchanged for 100 years.

However, the rapidly changing industrial and social structure of Britain between the wars, together with the advances in agriculture and the introduction of the welfare state, resulted in changes to the way RABI operated. Increased reserves made it possible to provide support for all those who qualified for help, without the lottery of having to depend on votes at the AGM. Initially the founding of the welfare state led to a significant decline in the number of beneficiaries, down from 950 in 1963 to 610 in 1973. Some even predicted that RABI’s days were numbered.

However, rapid inflation in the 70s and 80s savagely eroded many people’s savings

In the first half of the 19th century farming prospered, with the Napoleonic Wars ensuring that food commanded high prices.

It was at this time that John Joseph Mechi, who had made his fortune in the City of London, moved to Tiptree Hall, Essex, to become a gentleman farmer and, in 1877, chairman of The Farmers Club.

RABI expanded its aid to cover retired farm managers and their families. However, it was not until 1999, after prolonged deliberation by the Charity Commission and the approval of the Privy Council, that RABI was able to extend its charter to include farm workers.

Emergency help In 1998 there was a total staff of eleven. The next few years, however, were to see dramatic changes. With farm incomes hit by the BSE crisis, RABI was receiving a growing number of calls for help from working farmers. The high level of requests for assistance led to the setting up of an emergency fund and a separate helpline number, enabling the RABI welfare staff to handle calls effectively and respond quickly, providing cash within 24 hours on more than one occasion, to those in need.

In its first year the RABI helpline received more than 400 calls and over £1,700 was distributed to help more than 150 families.

It became abundantly clear that many farming families had difficulty understanding to which state benefits they were entitled and, as a result, were not receiving their entitlement.

Regional support Help was clearly required and RABI appointed a team of part-time regional welfare officers to provide coverage across England and Wales. With their understanding of the benefit regulations they were able to help farming families in a very practical way, assisting many callers through a crisis without the necessity of recourse to a RABI grant.

However, by the middle of the century, following the repeal of the Corn Laws, the arrival of cheap grain imports from North America and the development of refrigerated ships bringing meat from the southern hemisphere, there was a sharp decline in the fortunes of British farmers.

At the same time the Industrial Revolution was denuding the countryside of much of 6

and, coupled with increasing standards of living, led to a resurgence of applications for help. In the 10 years from 1980 the number of beneficiaries rose by 36%, back to the 900s.

In 1999 the level of RABI support reached new heights, with more than £1.4 million paid out in grants. While the bulk was in the form of regular assistance to some 1,400 retired or disabled beneficiaries, nearly THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009 • www.thefarmersclub.com

£200,000 was distributed in one-off payments to more than 170 working farming families.

At the beginning of 2000, to co-ordinate the work of the various farming support organisations, RABI invited the Rural Stress Information Network, Farm Crisis Network and the Agricultural Chaplain’s Association to join it in a one-stop Farming Help stand at that year’s Royal Show. With the support of the Rural Stress Action Plan, set up by the then Minister of Agriculture, Nick Brown, Farming Help was born.

Just when things seemed to be improving, the country was hit by the 2001 foot-andmouth epidemic and RABI was inundated.

During the year RABI handled a total of 25,969 helpline calls and almost £9million was sent out in nine months to more than 8,000 farming families.

Today’s callers The vast majority of RABI’s support still goes to helping long-term beneficiaries. In 2008, £1,595,732 was paid out to 1,503 retired and disabled beneficiaries; £287,758 to 184 working farming families, either to relieve severe hardship or through the Gateway Project (a scheme to help supplement farming income from outside sources); and regional welfare officers recovered over £135,000 in lump sum payments and more than £465,000 in ongoing state benefits and other statutory grants on behalf of beneficiaries.

To enable people to live in their own homes as long as is practicable, RABI assistance is tailored to meet individual needs and can include the provision of a home help, ‘lifeline’ rental, and necessary household items.

Help is also available towards the purchase of equipment to help disabled beneficiaries both in and out of the home. For those requiring residential care or sheltered accommodation, RABI can make up the shortfall in home fees and has two excellent homes of its own, in Suffolk and Somerset.

As well as maintaining its commitment to long-term beneficiaries, which can be for as long as 30 years, RABI has to be able to respond to individual crises and major

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009

Year of celebrations To mark RABI’s 150 years of service to the farming industry, a wide variety of national and local events will be taking place across England and Wales during 2010.

Services will be held in cathedrals and churches throughout the year.

Foremost will be a Thanksgiving Service in Westminster Abbey in February, a Harvest Festival Service in Ripon Cathedral in October, and a Carol Service in Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire, in December. There will also be services in Brecon, Bury St. Edmunds, Canterbury, Chelmsford, Chester, Chichester, Exeter, Lincoln, Oxford, Rochester, St Asaph, Truro and Worcester cathedrals.

Sporting interests are catered for by a RABI Charity Race Day in April at Ludlow Race Course; in July there will be an opportunity to join the 150strong RABI team in the 2010 London 10k run; and in September to take part in the RABI Dorset Challenge, a team event comprising running, cycling and kayaking in the beautiful grounds of Sherborne Castle Estate.

In addition to the annual national Welly Week, there will be the first RABI national Cream Tea event.

Full information about these and the numerous regional and local events being planned is available on www.rabi.org.uk or from the RABI fundraising, marketing and communications department on 01865 724931.

disasters, such as flooding or outbreaks of animal disease. This would not be possible without the continued support of volunteers and donors who last year raised nearly £1million, half of the total spent on beneficiaries.

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SHOPPER ANONYMOUS • Jonathan Winchester

SHOPPER ANONYMOUS • Jonathan Winchester

Get the very best from your farm shop by arranging a ‘mystery shopper’ visit using the company’s mystery shopping techniques.

Also high on the list of positives for farm shop owners is the third-party endorsement which Shopper Anonymous can bring to a business, unbiased by being close to farm shop operations on a day-today basis as, invariably, are most of their owners and managers.

Shopper Anonymous started in Australia, where it operated successfully over a 10-year period, and has been operating within the UK for the past four years.

Jonathan Winchester, Managing Director of Shopper Anonymous

THERE ARE more than 3,000 farm shops in the UK. In the current economic climate, good customer care and service at these important home-produced-farm-food retail outlets can ultimately represent the difference between profit and loss.

Shopper Anonymous – of which I’m Managing Director – is committed to improving every aspect of the customer service experience with the emphasis on developing the skills of your staff and employees. Our team of professionally recruited and trained mystery shoppers visits farm shops and then produces action-orientated and customer-focussed client reports.

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the majority of customers leaving within five years.

It is also a fact that 14% of customers who stop using farm shops and other retail outlets do so as they are unable to find what they wish to buy and because the prices are too high.

Our work has also identified that the body language of staff serving customers in farm shops is vital. Indeed, it comes out very high, with an 80% rating for importance. It is far more important, for example, than either what staff say or how they say it.

My company has undertaken well in excess of 120,000 individual mystery shopping visits to a wide cross section of different firms, with a high percentage of those visits and our turnover coming from within the farm shop sector.

Feedback following an anonymous team visit and report has been described as “the breakfast of champions”. Shopper Anonymous studies have shown that written surveys are weakest for effective feedback, followed by phone surveys, with mystery shopping coming out top.

We have carried out detailed market research over the past few years on what makes a successful and profitable farm and retail shop. For example, we know that 65% of consumers who stop using retail business outlets, such as farm shops, do so because of poor service, which results in

We know that Shopper Anonymous programmes really do work for farm shops, because company focus groups measure and evaluate work undertaken for our clients. A high 80% of those participating say farm shop turnover and profitability have both increased after

The latest and most important development for my company is franchising the business on a county level.

During the past year, two successful franchises have been set up in Kent and Surrey, and the intention is to go country wide with a total of 28 similar franchises during the next few years.

The benefits to clients of this approach are many, and include the ability to provide farm shops with a very personal and local service, tailored to the specific requirements of the customer from a business operating in the immediate grass roots locality of the farm shop’s marketing area.

Shopper Anonymous franchisees have already demonstrated to clients that understanding and knowing the specific business infrastructure of their particular counties provides invaluable market intelligence for farm shop owners to materially help them run their own particular enterprises that much more effectively and profitably.

Some typical entries from a Shopper Anonymous report, here identified as Any Farm Shop, will help to put into context some of the key factors described in this article.

The executive summary of Any Farm Shop revealed good results under The Experience of Finding the Shop (80%); Outside the Shop (100%); Shopfloor

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009 • www.thefarmersclub.com

Experience (94%); Deli Experience (94%); Butcher Experience (100%) which all scored well. However, there was obviously considerable room for improvement with the Checkout Experience at only 39% and for Team Observations at a hardly convincing 50%.

The Butcher Experience scored well on both product knowledge and in people terms. A good example of the latter was an affirmative answer to the mystery shopper question of whether, at the end of discussions, did the staff member thank you and/or offer a farewell?

The Shopper Anonymous Mystery Shopper’s overall impressions of this shop were generally very positive, with service at specialist counters being the most positive aspect during her visit. She felt staff on these counters showed good product knowledge, with special praise given to the delicious roast beef purchased.

In all key sections of the mystery shop, some 21 different areas of the business are examined anonymously through a series of very specific questions based on the Shopper Anonymous ‘customer’ being able to focus on every part of the experience with the client’s employee in making farm shop purchases.

The farm shop was easy to find with a clean car park and the entrance very obvious. However, there were no direction signs from the main road. Externally, this particular farm shop scored well, being clean and well presented.

Sadly, in this ` dummy run’ exercise, the farm shop Check Out Experience was poor. It was busy, with queues lasting up to four minutes, and not helped by an abrupt, young female staff member who did not make conversation, didn’t thank the Shopper Anonymous employee for her custom, and generally disappointed our shopper as the service she experienced at checkout did not reflect the excellence she received in other parts of the shop.

Positive body language (good posture, eye contact and a smile) was shown by a “tall young man with short brown hair and dark-framed glasses”, who pointed out one specific potato variety for roasting when asked the best potato for this purpose.

Conversely, this staff member did not really attempt to build rapport with the mystery shopper.

The Shopfloor Experience section of the mystery shop is an integral and vital part of the overall farm shop exercise from a customer perspective.

The ‘mystery shopper’ scored this particular farm shop well on two key performance indicators: Presentation (91%) and Customer Service (76%), but low on Sales Skills (33%). It is this last discipline that Shopper Anonymous would address in undertaking future training and mentoring programmes with the client.

The Deli Experience was good, with a younger female staff member who was welcoming, polite and enthusiastic, while showing good knowledge of the various types of pies available from the counter.

As a team, Any Farm Shop finished in the middle of the pack. While well presented and dressed, nobody appeared to be wearing a name badge, and our mystery shopper was not acknowledged as she made her way round the shop. She noticed, too, that some staff lacked the key ingredient of enthusiasm while others, particularly on specialist counters, had this most important of attributes in profusion.

This has been a Snapshot Report about Any Farm Shop, Anywhere in the UK. It highlights typical areas within, possibly, your farm shop which are your strengths while also showing you where you are not so good and have considerable room for improvement. The reports act as a working benchmark document against which practical Shopper Anonymous staff training programmes can be structured, implemented and then analysed.

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In essence, our reports allow you to set staff goals, reward employees and produce really measurable incentive schemes. In tandem with Shopper Anonymous, the farm shop bar can continually be raised so that your particular business can regularly improve in seeking ultimate outstanding customer service.

We can also mystery shop your competitors, providing feedback to you about the type and quality of customer service offered to their customers.

One-to-one mentoring is another service from Shopper Anonymous. We might spend a half-day every month with the owner of a farm shop visiting other farm shops, challenging conventional practices within the sector. Together, we will set achievable and measurable monthly objectives and targets to drive the business to greater profitability.

Once the initial few mystery visits have been made to a particular farm shop, on site staff training sessions are a natural progression. We can successfully manage, and have done, farm shop training days structured for five and up to 100 employees.

Shopper Anonymous would be pleased to offer a free mystery shopper half-hour visit, worth up to £110, to any farm shop owner and Farmers Club member who has read this article. The only proviso is that you will allow us to visit your farm shop and meet you personally to present the findings of the mystery shop.

To register your interest please go to our website www.shopperanonymous.co.uk and click on ‘Free Mystery Shop’ on our Home Page.

I end with the letters PMMFS: Please Make Me Feel Special. This must be the key objective for all farm shop staff in dealing with customers.

9

OXFORD FARMING CONFERENCE • Jane Craigie

OXFORD FARMING CONFERENCE • Jane Craigie

OFC will tackle how to feed 9 billion with minimal environmental impact AGRICULTURE faces a huge challenge which affects every country and every race… how can we feed 9 billion people by 2050 with less land, less water, less oil and greater climatic extremes? Despite the complexity of the issues and the challenges facing farmers, this is the topic that will be debated at the 2010 Oxford Farming Conference (OFC).

Bookings are now being taken for the Conference, which will be held at the Oxford University Examinations Schools from the 4 - 6 January. The Conference theme, Rising to the Challenge, will explore how British farmers can respond to this immense agricultural challenge while still running viable and future-proof businesses.

The opening morning will set a hard-hitting tone for the rest of the Conference, with Hilary Benn MP joined by his Shadow counterpart Nick Herbert MP and Barbara Stocking, Chief Executive of Oxfam GB. “Inviting an NGO to the stage is a response to delegate feedback last year,” says OFC 2010 Chairman Heather Peck. “Oxfam’s messages will make a very pertinent and valuable addition to this huge area of debate.”

Oxford has an established reputation for probing content and attracting high-calibre speakers. 2010 is no exception.

Political analysis will continue on the first day with Dr Cees Veerman, the highly respected former Dutch Minister for Agriculture and Professor at the Wageningen and Tilburg Universities in the Netherlands. Dr Veerman is also Chair of the board that supervises climate change research at Amsterdam, Utrecht and Wageningen University. He will be discussing the European perspective for agriculture.

Next to speak will Globalisation Editor of will update delegates climate 18 months recession.

be John Parker, The Economist, who on the economic into the global

The Conference will also debate how businesses manage risk in the context of increased production, consumer and Stan McCarth environmental y (Kerry Fo ods speakin g this year) demands.

Three speakers will pick up this session: Stan McCarthy, Chief Executive of Kerry Foods, in the context of managing a world-class food business built from strong cooperative roots; David Brownhill, a dynamic arable farmer from Australia, on managing his business in harsh antipodean climes; and Professor Patrick Wall, who will discuss the safety and supply challenges facing the food and farming sector today and in the future.

More research

Hilary Benn MP

The panel, 2009 10

Following the success of the ‘Perceptions of Farmers’ research undertaken for the 2009 Conference, further work has been commissioned for 2010. “BBSRC and Volac have kindly sponsored two examinations aimed at determining where agricultural scientific research should be focused for the future, which is a key part of how we tackle the challenge of feeding 9 billion people,” explains OFC Council member Cedric Porter.

“We’ve commissioned the IGD to find out what research the food chain would like to see in the future and have primed Precision Prospecting to survey farmers to understand where they would like to see research funding to support their businesses,” he adds.

The research will be presented in a sciencefocused session on the morning of 6 January and includes a paper from Professor John Beddington, the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, and Dr Andrew West, CEO of the innovative New Zealand research business, AgResearch.

“We also have two excellent farmer speakers who will describe how science is at the core of their businesses,” adds Cedric Porter. “Adrian Ivory is a young beef farmer from the Borders who has environmental care as a key part of his farming strategy.

“The other speaker is Fiona Lamotte, Managing Director of Scotherbs, the biggest supplier of herbs to retailers and restaurants in the UK. Her production systems are very reliant on covered crop production, and she has just completed a Nuffield Scholarship to study how the seasonality of covered crops might be extended in the UK, with a strong emphasis on environmental considerations.”

Next generation The final session on 6 January will probe the thorny subject of succession planning and passing the business baton to farming’s next generation. For many farm businesses this is a difficult area to get right, but one that is often pivotal to the future of the business.

The session brings together farmers and succession experts to discuss how the next generation can be integrated into businesses to enable them to develop and contribute while ensuring continued growth and business development.

Speakers include Grant Gordon, Director General of the Institute of Family Business; Dr Matt Lobley, from the Centre for Rural Policy Research at Exeter University; and the Mercer family, farmers who have successfully managed integrating and inspiring the next generation into their business.

Retirement age In similar vein, the Oxford Union Debate will be held on 5 January and it is likely to be very controversial, proposing the motion: “This House believes that all farmers should retire at 60”

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Two barristers, Andrew Densham, Chairman of RABI, and Joanne Moss, of Falcon Chambers, will partner two Young Farmer (NFYFC) debaters, Douglas Jackson, the NFYFC Agriculture and Rural Affairs Chairman, and Katherine Sealy, the South West NFYFC NFU Representative, to tackle this inflammatory motion.

“We’re really encouraging delegates to get involved and to prepare to have their say in the debate,” says Heather Peck. “The Oxford Union Debate is famous for being a vibrant and fun occasion, which raises and tackles some often difficult and controversial issues.”

Social side “The social and networking dimension is a core part of the Oxford experience, and I’d encourage those who are coming to the Conference for the first part to take part in the whole event,” suggests Heather.

“Delegates include farmers, and people from the food chain and the farming trade, ranging in age from 18 through to those of more mature years!

“The Pre-Conference Dinner on the evening of the 4 January is a great occasion to kick off the two days. We start with a champagne reception followed by a four-course dinner in the grand Oxford University Examination MP Vince Cable speaker) Schools, er nn (after di GELL AN with what should be VE DA Picture by a rousing after-dinner speech from Vince Cable MP. “Dinner on the second evening is in the Christ Church College dining hall, famously used as Hogwart’s Hall in the Harry Potter films.”

2011 Chairman Oxford Farming Conference Chairman for 2011 is Christine Tacon, Managing Director of The Co-operative Farms, which she joined in September 2000 from a background in marketing fast-moving-consumer-goods, having started her career in engineering.

Christine was awarded a CBE for services to agriculture in 2004. She is married, with two children and lives in Macclesfield, on the edge of the Peak District.

On the evening of 6 January the Oxtail Club Dinner will be held once again at Worcester College, when those attending will celebrate its 30th Anniversary. “It dates back to a heavy fall of snow preventing a number of delegates from returning home after the Conference,” Heather Peck explains. “Not wanting to waste the opportunity for further debate, those stranded held a dinner at Worcester College, at which they were served oxtail, hence the name Oxtail Club.”

The Dinner has become a valued part of the Oxford experience, because it allows for some valuable post-conference analysis and suggestions for the following year.

“We’re also very pleased to welcome an additional attraction being put on by Natural England and the Environment Agency. Their Forum will be held at 5.15pm on Monday 4 January prior to the Pre-Conference Dinner and they are encouraging delegates to join them for refreshments and to hear how their partnership is working with farmers to benefit both farmers and the environment,” says Mrs Peck.

• For more details of the 2010 Oxford Farming Conference contact Liz Kerrigan on 01932 589804 or email ofc@farming.co.uk

Above: Christ Church Hall Right: Networking at the OFC

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009

OFC

2010 programme The Oxford Farming Conference 2010 is themed Rising to the Challenge: Feed the world, Protect the environment, Survive and thrive.

The Conference starts with the OFC AGM in the Oxford University Examination Schools at 3pm on Monday 4 January, with registration opening at 4pm. The Environment Agency and Natural England will host a Forum at 5.15pm on the same afternoon, with the Pre-Conference Dinner Champagne Reception starting at 6.30pm, followed by the Dinner at which Vince Cable MP will speak.

Tuesday 5 January starts with a political and economic session including speakers: Hilary Benn MP, Nick Herbert MP, Barbara Stocking (CEO of Oxfam GB), Cees Veerman (former Dutch Minister of Agriculture) and John Parker of The Economist. The afternoon session will focus on Managing Risk, at which speakers include David Brownhill, a highly efficient farmer from Australia, Stan McCarthy, Chief Executive of Kerry Foods, and Professor Patrick Wall from the School of Public Health and Population Science at University College, Dublin.

The Oxford Union Debate on the evening of 5 January will debate the motion “This House believes that all farmers should retire at 60”. The debate will be followed by dinner at Christ Church College.

Wednesday 6 January starts with a research-based science session* which includes a paper from Professor John Beddington, and is followed by an afternoon focus on succession planning in farm businesses.

• For full programme details, evening function details and accommodation options go to the OFC website www.ofc.org.uk where booking forms can also be obtained.

11

THE ALNWICK GARDEN • Don Gomery

THE ALNWICK GARDEN • Don Gomery

Top of Cascade

Glorious Club visit to ‘living landscape’ formed by creation of Alnwick Garden IN BREATHTAKINGLY wonderful weather for a mid September day, 39 Club members and their guests visited The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland, described in a circulated leaflet as “the most exciting contemporary garden on earth”. None could, or would wish to, argue, instead adding a plethora of complimentary adjectives of their own.

Most of the visiting Club members gathered in the lovely market town of Alnwick - reminiscent of what towns across the country were like before they became swamped with multiples - the evening before our scheduled visit, ready for a 10am start the next day, Thursday 17 September.

River View

Coffee in t

he Pavilion

Room

All were at The Garden for its 10am opening, nipping in and out of its wrought iron gates to gaze in wonder, from afar, at the Grand Water Cascade displayed ahead of us, but not venturing any further for fear of missing the scheduled meeting over coffee in the Pavilion Room, in the Visitor Centre, just outside the gates, for a welcome from Club Chairman John Reynolds and an introductory talk by Deputy Head Gardener Derek Guthrie.

Trevor told us how The Garden, as it now is, had been the vision of the current Duchess of Northumberland, who wanted to create an attractive visitor feature within what, historically, had been a parkland garden, created by the 1st Duke of Northumberland in 1750, who employed locally-born Capability Brown – the most celebrated gardener of the day – to landscape the parkland adjoining the

grounds of his Alnwick Castle, home of the Percy family now for 700 years.

It was the Duchess, we learned, who selected and headed the Belgian father-andson design team of Jacques and Peter Wirtz, which started the immense task of creating The Alnwick Garden only nine years ago. Leading British architect Sir Michael Hopkins was chosen to design The Pavilion and Visitor Centre.

na In the Or

mental G

arden

The master plan behind the design of the garden was “to create a fascinating combination of quiet and busy spaces, with the gentle and introspective Rose Garden feeling far removed from the children playing in the water jets of the Grand Cascade”.

On tour

Garden group

12

nne Taylo

r

Ricinus com

The Tree House

This has, most certainly, been achieved, as witnessed by the 2 million visitors – many returning repeatedly – since Alnwick Garden was opened. Small wonder.

Adjectives become almost superfluous in describing the magnificence, mystery and beauty of the project.

After our introductory talk, the Club group was split into smaller sections for a guided tour led by garden volunteers.

Water feature

Ornamental Garden

On entering The Garden, from the Visitor Centre, the first and most stunning sight to meet the eye is the Grand Cascade, which runs down the main north-south axis, forming the centerpiece of the entire garden. Constructed in a series of 21 weirs, some 7,260 gallons of water per minute tumble down it at peak flow.

Deputy Head Gardner Derek Guthrie

Every half hour, the Grand Cascade erupts in a display sequence during which three large central jets reach a height of 6 metres, 40 smaller jets shoot 4 metres into the air, 80 side jets form parabolas of water to the centre, and four jumping jets fire streams of water over the terrace (frequently soaking the unwary) into a lower basin.

Climax of the computer-controlled display is a mass eruption of shooting jets and fountains.

Visitor Centre

Water

ide A Group Gu

sculpture

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munis

This has to be seen to be believed. But it was only the beginning of a 90-minute guided tour filled with beauty and surprise, taking in rose, ornamental, bamboo and water sculpture gardens, as well as a cherry orchard and woodland walk, all backed by detailed descriptions from our guides.

A delicious buffet lunch followed in the Pavilion Room, after which members were free to explore at their will, some revisiting the specialist gardens seen earlier; those not included on their tour (such as, in your Editor’s case, the intriguing Poison Garden); the mind-boggling 600 sq ft gigantic Tree House, with its complex of turret cottages linked by suspended walkways; or Alnwick Castle itself. Many took in several of these additional attractions, most ending up to browse and buy in the Gift Shop, followed by afternoon tea before departure.

The pictures on these pages are little more than a ‘taster’ of a glorious Club day – in every respect of the word – at The Alnwick Garden. For more information call 01665 511359, email info@alnwickgarden.com or visit www.alnwickgarden.com Better still, go and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

13

COMMODITY MARKETS • Jonathan Raymond

UPPINGHAM FATSTOCK SHOW • Janet Reynolds

The rise of speculation and volatility

in agricultural commodity markets GLOBAL financial markets have endured a rollercoaster ride of late, not least the commodity markets.

To illustrate, oil has gone from $25 a barrel in 2000 to $147 in 2008, before falling to $35 in early-2009 and back to the current $72, while gold has risen to more than $1,050 a troy ounce from $280 at the turn of the century.

market – both positive and negative – and will place a number of trades accordingly.

Agricultural commodities (coffee, cocoa, livestock, soybeans, corn, wheat, rapeseed and the like) have been similarly influenced as the factors affecting supply and demand have interacted to cause violent swings in prices… much to the bewilderment of many primary producers, whose livelihoods depend on the market price. Do ‘speculators’ deserve any blame for this volatility?

The second group are long-term investors, such as pension funds, insurance companies, charities and individuals. The rise in commodity prices during 2007 and 2008 prompted huge investor interest in agricultural commodities as an asset, as demand-side factors, such as the rise of China and India, coupled with supply-side pressures, brought on seemingly by global warming and the natural limits of a finite land mass, created ideal conditions for such investors to believe that food was the ‘next big thing’.

There are two distinct kinds of speculator.

First are the traders who look for anomalies or momentum in a market and attempt to profit from these trends over a short period of time. Second are those who believe in the ‘story’ and commit a portion of their portfolio to the asset.

The former can be summed up by the aggressive, day-trading ‘hedge funds’ which are out to make a quick profit. They look to pounce on any momentum in a

The managers are often ruthless and, where a trade goes against them, will quickly cut their losses and move on to the next prey. Such traders were very much behind the ascent of oil to its heady heights, as well as the heavy falls in share prices of the banks during the midst of the credit crunch.

There was much talk during late 2007 and early 2008 of hedge fund activity in the soft commodity markets attempting to profit from the stratospheric rise in prices, and they were surely a factor in the increased volatility.

Many column inches were filled by the ‘rise of soft commodities’ and numerous funds were launched to cash in on the trend.

While many invested at precisely the wrong time, virtually all asset managers now invest a proportion of their funds under management in ‘alternative investments’, including hedge funds, property and

commodities, alongside the more traditional asset classes of equities, bonds and cash, in order to increase potential returns and, more importantly, decrease the volatility of those returns.

To cater for this exposure, index funds, or ‘Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)’ have emerged to provide investors with the ability to buy a security the value of which will move in line directly with that of the underlying commodity.

For instance, a number of wheat ETFs are listed on the London Stock Exchange and can be bought and sold just like buying or selling shares in a company. When an investor buys these units, the ETF manager uses this capital to buy contracts in the futures market.

As the price of wheat changes, the manager amends the price of the ETF accordingly, to reflect the ‘net asset value’ of the Fund.

Market imperfections can cause divergence in performance of the underlying commodity and the ETF but, in the main, this development has provided investors with an easy, cost-efficient manner of tracking a commodity without having to store hundreds of tonnes of wheat or oilseed rape!

The sheer volume of capital that is tied up in such instruments is mind-boggling.

While industry-wide data is difficult to ascertain, one of the larger providers alone has more than $1bn in assets under management across its range of soft commodity ETFs. It follows that a lot of the daily trading volume in the various futures markets is generated by ETF managers, causing potentially higher levels of volatility.

Uppingham again ready to host the only fatstock show in a town centre IF YOU go down to the town today … you’ll be sure of a big surprise!

amount of support from the general public.”

Well, certainly, those visiting the small market town of Uppingham, Rutland, on Wednesday 25 November will see something unique.

The show appreciates the backing of the Town Council, which allows it to start setting up the stalls earlier in the week.

Trucks and lorries assemble outside the town and the animals are brought in together, to be unloaded and settled before it is fully light. The day starts at 9.30, with judging commencing at 10.00.

The pretty market square will have been transformed into the only fatstock show still to be held in the centre of a town.

This year will be the 103rd event, although tradition believes something along the same lines has being going on for centuries.

The first recorded show was in 1889 and, since then, nothing except war and the occasional outbreak of disease have stood in its way. It’s a tradition Uppingham is proud of and it looks set to enjoy as much support this year as ever.

Club member Andrew Brown, a local farmer, has taken the role of chief cattle steward in the past and he and fellow member Charlie Mason are staunch supporters and committee members.

“Here, in Uppingham, we’ve managed to preserve the tradition of the Christmas Fatstock Show,” says Charlie. “It’s probably due to the fact that the show is not tied to a particular auctioneer, or commercial market.

“We’ve developed good relations with the town over the years and have a terrific

Presentations are made at noon and the show has attracted many dignitaries over the years. Lord Sam Vesty, Professor Richard Penny and Alistair Leake have all presented prizes, while last year it was the Club’s own Baroness Byford.

“We’re very proud to be able to attract the support of some very influential people,” says Charlie. “It means a great deal to the farming community in Rutland that these folk give up their time to come and support this traditional event.”

Most of the livestock, which includes cattle, pigs and sheep, come from the parish of Uppingham, but other exhibiters come from as far a field as Derby, Spalding, or Milton Keynes. There are prizes for all the classes. The cattle are only judged, but the sheep and pigs are also sold and buyers compete for the Best of the Show

which takes pride of place for the festivities. It’s always up and decorated ready for the show, so Christmas starts early in Uppingham.

“Well before the all-day drinking laws came into being, “says Charlie, “the laws allowed pubs to remain open in Uppingham during the Fatstock Show. All the builders took the day off to enjoy the extended opening hours, and I don’t think much work got done at all!”

The show also sends out invitations to all the local nursery and primary schools and, for the children of the area, a visit to the show is a real treat. Each year, between 300 and 500 children and their teachers come along to see the animals and to talk to the farmers.

Uppingham Fatstock Show has proved that where there’s a will there’s a way. Over the years, it has refused to be defeated by the difficulties of health and safety, and continues, to this day, to bring the countryside into the town.

It’s a great event, which has every chance of continuing for many more years to come.

In exchange for the use of the market square, the Fatstock Show Committee presents the town with a Christmas tree,

It is by no means coincident that the rise in prices of soft commodities sucked in a lot of speculative money which further boosted prices beyond their fundamental values and, as prices began to fall, much of this money simultaneously headed for the exits causing a precipitous decline. However, the evolution of commodities as an asset class for investors and the nature of hedge fund activity firmly leads me to the conclusion that the rollercoaster ride is set to continue.

• Jonathan Raymond is an Investment Assistant at Vestra Wealth LLP and a Farmers Club member.

He can be contacted by emailing jonathan.raymond@vestrawealth.com 14

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15

CAAV CENTENARY • Jeremy Moody

CAAV CENTENARY • Jeremy Moody

Club member Jeremy Moody is Secretary of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), which is celebrating its centenary year. Here, he gives a history of the organisation ands tells how it has grown to become the vital body it is today.

Celebrating a century of ensuring British agricultural valuers are second to none agricultural valuers’ associations. The oldest one currently in existence, Suffolk, dates back to 1847.

The active stance of the 1908-1916 Liberal Government on tenancy, fiscal and other matters led the local valuers’ associations to want a national voice to engage with government and encourage the development of more scientific and uniform approaches to end-of-tenancy valuation.

The CAAV was formed in June 1910 as an umbrella body for these local associations.

CAAV Secretary and article author Jeremy Moody

AS THE Central Association of Agricultural Valuers celebrates its centenary year, it may have occurred to Farmers Club members that there has been something of a run of such landmark occasions recently, the NFU, the CLA and BASC all having marked their 100 years over the past year or so. This, of course, points to the significant rural turmoil in the early 1900s, which led to the foundation of a number of national bodies to provide a voice on different aspects of rural matters.

The agricultural valuer is a uniquely British phenomenon, developing from our landlord-tenant system. Following enclosures, as much as 90 per cent of England was farmed on tenancies, which were often set up on insecure terms.

Local custom and then the law developed arrangements to compensate the tenant for his investment in the landlord’s land, especially where this would benefit a subsequent occupier. These were the origins of what became known as tenant right.

From the late 18th century, skilled farmers and, increasingly, professionals emerged to undertake the valuations to assess compensation and to settle disputes.

These valuers increasingly met together to discuss mutual problems in local 16

Having been Secretary and Adviser to the CAAV for the past 15 years, I believe that the issues which led to the founding of the organisation are just as relevant for our members today. Our national voice and the opportunity to engage with the government is at the heart of what we do, which is to represent, brief and qualify our members.

The main difference one hundred years on is that we are involved in a very much wider range of issues, from planning and development work to environmental land management, never mind the myriad taxes introduced since 1910.

The outward face of the CAAV represents its members’ interests to the government through a plethora of agencies, departments and bodies, including Defra, the Welsh Assembly Government, the Treasury, the Environment Agency, Natural England, HMRC and the Rural Payments Agency.

One of the messages we strive to get across to these government bodies is that we are not a lobby group: our interest is in seeing that, whatever policy is chosen, it is defined clearly and implemented in as practical a way as possible in order that our members can give clear and certain advice to their clients. This impartial stance is important as we have members who act for charities, financial institutions, government bodies, utilities companies and local authorities, as well as for individual farmers, landowners and rural businesses.

The breadth of issues facing the modern agricultural valuer is greater than ever before, ranging from subsidies to planning policy, from tenancy law to renewable

energy and from property taxation to environmental stewardship. Valuation remains a core part of the work of many members, but this, too, has changed over the past century.

Above: The CAAV stand at the Game Fair

With their origins in tenant right valuation, it was a short step for the early agricultural valuers to diversify into the valuation of land and property for sales and purchases, but also for more technical matters such as the assessment of compensation for the compulsory acquisition of land - for railways and roads - and valuations for taxation purposes.

Left: CAAV Centenary President Mark Webb

Today our members prepare valuations for a range of different purposes, including accounting, business re-structuring and bank lending. The assets they value can include those which would not normally be sold in the open market, such as a secure tenancy, or an income stream from a wind turbine. These present technical challenges and we issue technical guidance to assist members.

other and to our farming clients,” he says.

“But this year we have organised a series of events which give us a chance to talk directly to people who may know less about us.

One of the key challenges facing us today is how to keep the growing membership of the CAAV up to date on the many and varied issues we face. Information technology has made a huge difference to the way we communicate with our members and our website (www.caav.org.uk) provides the opportunity for us to update them constantly with a wide range of material.

“We were very pleased to have a stand at the CLA Game Fair for the first time, for example, as we could meet people whose interest in the countryside is not necessarily linked to farming. Over the three days we talked to a wide variety of people, some of whom might, as a result, one day use the services of an agricultural valuer, or consider a career in our profession.”

We try to ensure that it is a ‘one-stop shop’ for their professional needs and we are now moving to a two-way flow of information with a Discussion Forum which allows members to share experiences and raise queries with discussion between themselves.

Old friends are not forgotten in the centenary year, however, and events are taking place all over the country for members, including a Past Presidents’ dinner at The Farmers Club. The Club plays quite an important role in the life of the CAAV; as well as a significant overlap in membership (including former Club Chairman Julian Sayers), the Club frequently hosts meetings of the organisation’s technical committees.

The CAAV is honoured that HRH The Prince of Wales agreed to be Patron of our centenary, and we are taking the opportunity afforded by the celebrations to take our message to a wider audience. Our centenary President is Mark Webb, an agricultural valuer from Wiltshire and a Club member, who is keen to reach further afield during our centenary year.

“We are a fairly small organisation and we’ve always been good at talking to each

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Our technical committees give members from all parts of the country an opportunity to be involved in specific areas of work. For example, the Grants and Regulations Committee deals with Single Payment issues, agri-environment schemes and regulations such as the Nitrates Directive.

Members provide feedback as to how things are working on the ground, which is invaluable to my team when we are taking these issues back to Government. This committee is supported by Alice RussellHare, formerly a practising agricultural valuer and another Club member, who leads on Single Payment Scheme and agrienvironment issues.

“The Single Payment Scheme has provided a significant amount of work for us since its introduction in 2005 and we’ve worked very hard with the Rural Payments Agency to try to iron out some of the problems with its delivery,” she explains. “We estimate that our members are dealing with at least 13,500 claims, so the RPA take us seriously because we can provide it with evidence of what’s really happening on farms.”

That practical approach is ably demonstrated by Kate Russell (another Club member), who was a practising agricultural valuer for 15 years before joining me last year.

Our practical understanding of the issues is a huge help in a wide range of topics, whether we are discussing the implications of coastal access for business with Defra, or considering the consequences of the latest case law on Inheritance Tax reliefs with HM Revenue and Customs. Our ability to explain the likely implications for real farming businesses is a huge asset.

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I believe that our pragmatic approach at a policy level, combined with enormous support from grassroots members in 27 local associations across England and Wales, makes CAAV a respected voice in the world of agricultural politics.

But what will we face in the next 100 years?

We see two main themes emerging for CAAV and its members: The first is the increasing importance of the management of land and water supplies in a world with a growing population and finite resources. Pressures for competing uses of land are likely to increase and agricultural valuers in the rest of the 21st century will be called upon to help their clients find ways to balance them.

Second, the apparently ceaseless appetite of governments of all hues for increased regulation means that our members have a greater need than ever for information which keeps them and their clients up to date while giving advice which takes account of the realities of the commercial world. We anticipate that CAAV will be kept busy in its second century, representing and briefing its members and qualifying future generations of agricultural valuers to meet these challenges.

• For more information about the CAAV call Kate Russell on 01594 832979, email kate@caav.org.uk or visit www.caav.org.uk 17

BIODIVERSITY • Jane Craigie

BIODIVERSITY • Jane Craigie

Rich biodiversity pays big dividends

all round on Yorkshire arable farm THE POLITICAL idyll of the perfect farming system is one where highly productive, environmentally sound agriculture sits comfortably alongside rich biodiversity. It is this quest which probably explains why the Hinchliffe’s farm at Rawcliffe Bridge, East Yorkshire, has attracted visits from hundreds of people with a stake in UK farming over the past five years.

At first glance the 350-acre farm looks like the efficient, productive arable unit that it is. But when you take a moment to look and listen, what is fascinating about this place is that you enter a vibrant world of diverse bird, insect and plant life; a balance between intensive farming and highly effective wildlife management.

The Hinchliffe’s farm has a wheat-based rotation, with much of the wheat grown under contract for the highly demanding seed market. Most of the soil is known as ‘warp land’, created by the intentional flooding of the adjacent Dutch River between 1820 and 1850. The result is a highly fertile alluvial plain extending to depths of 10-18 inches; perfect for growing some of the best quality wheat in the UK. It is because of its production potential that the farm is used for extensive fungicide, seed treatment and wheat variety trials (averaging 24 varieties every year) in a joint venture between BASF and leading plant breeders.

“We work with the family to run our near-market research trials and demonstration plots within what is a highlygeared arable production environment,” James Hinchliffe who farms at Rawcliffe Bridge and Graham Hartwell from BASF

says Graham Hartwell, Environmental Stewardship Manager at BASF.

Extended relationship The working relationship between BASF and the Hinchliffes has extended over 10 years to incorporate the sensitive creation of wildlife habitats on the farm. Independent annual counts of birds (conducted to RSPB and British Trust for Ornithology standards), bats, wild plant species, moths and butterflies have also been undertaken to gauge the effectiveness of the measures.

“The focus has been on enhancing the wildlife features on the farm using simple techniques, farm labour and standard farm equipment. Essentially, we have worked with James Hinchliffe to establish yearround food supplies for birds, as well as roosting/nesting sites. James has planted and encouraged plant species which have, in turn, attracted amphibians and insects, particularly those species fed to fledglings during the nesting season.”

Nearly every field on the farm has a ditch around one side, which provides good wildlife corridors, and the annual dredging and cutting is delayed until October on a rotational rather than annual basis to encourage the tussocky grasses favoured by voles.

Mr Hinchliffe has also planted seven acres of native broad-leaved trees and berrybearing shrubs with Corsican pine, alongside a 100-year-old oak wood. To extend the wildlife corridors further, six metre set-aside margins have been planted.

• The feeding of ‘tail corn’ or screenings harvested from the headlands in the yard and on farm tracks over the winter; • Putting up 30 nest boxes in 2003 for holenesting birds such as tits and tree sparrows. By 2006, a total of 80 nesting boxes significantly boosted blue tit, great tit and tree sparrow numbers, the latter having also started re-colonising the farm woodland;

The results showed some marked differences in the lifespan of individual plant species, an important consideration given the costs associated with establishing field margins and cover crops.

Mr Hartwell says that the aim is to have some feed and cover value from crops over the different seasons, to add in flowering species to encourage insects on which birds can feed and then putting mixes together to attract particular species.

“These counts have been very valuable in planning what needs to be done next to encourage target species to the farm,” says Mr Hartwell.

The simple approaches implemented from the early years have been adopted by many of the visiting farmers. These include:

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Choosing the right wild flower of game cover mix can encourage a wealth of insect life

“The trials involved more than 30 individual wild bird crops established on eight different drilling dates,” Mr Hartwell explains. “The study was all about what food can be provided in the different seasons and how best to establish these crops by studying seed rates, drilling dates and herbicide interaction; the latter because herbicides are often needed to control unwanted weeds during establishment.”

Combining at Rawcliffe Bridge, near Goole, in East Yorkshire, the first partnered farm, set up in 2002

“For example, finches, in particular, like the seed from chicory, while the crop also encourages many insects on which birds feed. “The three things we are looking to get out of a crop such as chicory are the structure to allow birds to perch, general cover in which they can hide, and seed to provide food in the difficult winter months, known as the ‘Hungry Gap,” he adds.

“Teasel was also found to be good for encouraging birds such as finches.

However, we’ve discovered that teasel

works better in mixtures, as on its own it lets in a lot of invasive weeds.”

The work conducted allowed Limagrain to develop a mixture of vetch, triticale, Phacelia, fodder radish and linseed, which is now marketed as Magnet and, unlike most wild bird mixtures, can be sown in the autumn.

Mr Hartwell says that “the benefit of sowing a mix such as Magnet in the autumn is that it gets established in better soil conditions in October and then, when spring comes, which is when the breeding cycle for birds is starting, there is already an established habitat with flowers to encourage insects for feeding fledglings and to provide a very useful area to attract and encourage bees.”

Invaluable communication A big part of the work undertaken at the farm has been the ‘outreach’ to local schools and to the general public, as well as to show key influencers to agriculture what is possible.

“Rawcliffe Bridge has been invaluable to communicate how intensive farming can also achieve great strides in encouraging biodiversity,” explains Mr Hartwell. “We had more than 650 visitors to the farm in both 2007 and 2008, including Defra, Natural England, Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD), National Association of British and Irish Millers (NABIM), the

RSPB, Voluntary Initiative (VI), the NFU, the Game and Wildlife Conservancy Trust, major UK supermarkets and international visitors from Ireland, Sweden, Denmark and the Baltic States.

“The Hinchliffes have also opened their farm gates to show a diverse range of people just how much can be done on one farm using normal farm equipment, sensitive farming practices and a passion to see the countryside buzzing with biodiversity. Managed right, Britain’s farms are a far cry from the sterile environs depicted by agriculture’s critics; you just have to come to Rawcliffe Bridge to see what’s possible.”

The Rawcliffe Bridge site has been so successful at marrying intensive arable farming with biodiversity that the concept has been extended by BASF to another site, William and Andrew Pitts’ Grange Farm, near Kettering, in the spring of this year.

Below: Wild flowers in bloom at William and Andrew Pitts’ Grange Farm, near Northampton. The farm is the second site partnered by BASF aimed at demonstrating how farmland biodiversity can sit comfortably with commercial-scale arable production.

• Putting up two barn owl nesting boxes at the edge of established woodland and along hunting flight lines; • Winter corn feeders placed adjacent to woodland; • No use of summer insecticides for aphid control in winter wheat for the past 12 years; • Direct cutting of oilseed rape instead of swathing, which delays disturbing the field for 10-14 days giving the resident reed buntings time to fledge their last brood of young; • Ditch and dyke management to encourage water voles to re-colonise.

Feeding patterns In addition to wheat agronomy trials, BASF has also been working with Limagrain UK on the farm to better understand wild bird feeding patterns and preferences. Their extensive work over the past four years has enabled Limagrain to develop new wild bird mixes, which are now commercially available and particularly valuable for establishing field margins.

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009 • www.thefarmersclub.com

Biodiversity Statistics Rawcliffe Bridge is a 350-acre intensive arable farm near Goole, East Yorkshire.

Since the biodiversity work was started

by James Hinchliffe, in conjunction with BASF, in 2002, the practices have achieved: • 103 bird species, above average for a lowland farm and including 57 species on the list for conservation concern;

• Grey partridge numbers are seven times the UK lowland average;

• Successful breeding between 2004-2008 for kestrels, tawny owls and little owls;

• Tree sparrow numbers increased from six to 38 pairs between 2003-2008 following the introduction of ‘bed and breakfast’ nest boxes and feeding stations;

• 154 plant species on field boundaries;

• 25 skylark territories, nearly twice the UK average lowland density;

• Meadow pipit territories around the field boundaries are more than three times the UK lowland average;

• Corn bunting numbers are 1.5 times the UK lowland average;

• Yellow wagtail territories are 13 times the UK lowland average;

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009

• 165 species of moths, 22 species of butterflies, eight species of dragonflies and two species of bats identified to date; • 56 species of water plants surveyed, including five rare species; • Good water quality evidenced by common stonewort, dragonflies, damselflies and sticklebacks.

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U30S • Luke Paterson, Chairman; Gemma Partridge, Vice Chairman; MaryAnne Salisbury, Secretary

Chairman’s Jottings do to engage with the public in a positive light and more frequently than, perhaps, we already do. Special thanks to Ian and Gilly for inspiring a first-class debate out of those gathered, and thanks to all those who supported the evening.

On the first weekend in October, a group of 20 U30s – coming from as far away as Yorkshire - stayed in Corfe Castle, Dorset.

The visit was meticulously planned by Patrick Durnford and centred around the Lulworth Estate. There will be a full write up on this visit in the New Year Journal.

OVER in the east the dry spell has finally been broken, allowing us to breathe a sigh of relief and start or continue drilling under much more favourable conditions.

September saw 27 members gather in London for dinner with Ian Piggott and his wife Gilly. We debated what we could

By the time this issue hits your door mat, we will be only be a matter of days away from hosting the first Saturday dinner in the Club, at which Guy Smith has kindly agreed to speak. I know that Guy doesn’t like to ‘work’ at weekends, so many thanks to him for bending his rules on our behalf.

We hope the Saturday slot proves to be a success, especially with members from further afield. Holding the event on a Saturday should, we trust, mean no time required off work as well as reduced travelling costs.

If you would like to attend, please ask, and we will endeavour to accommodate you and your guests. Please contact MaryAnne on 020 7930 3751 or me on 07775 618 297 to book a place.

An important early date for your 2010 diary is the New Members’ Dinner and Winter Event over the weekend of Friday 29 to Sunday 31 January. The New Members’ Dinner – and you don’t have to be one to come along – will be held in the Club on the Friday evening, while on the Saturday we are hoping to attend the Cirque du Soleil-Varkai, with dinner that evening at a venue yet to be decided somewhere in London.

Luke Paterson

Ian farms 1,700 acres of arable land near Harpenden, Hertfordshire, with his Canadian wife Gillian. He is the pioneering founder of Open Farm Sunday, an event at which some 200,000-plus members of the public from across the country visit one of 400 farms on a specific Sunday in June in an attempt to reunite people with the countryside and the provenance of their food.

Ian’s speech after the dinner focussed on the need for farmers to connect with the public, particularly children, many of whom grow up with no understanding of where the food on their plate comes from. Being concerned that farmers and consumers rarely interact, Ian hopes that opening up farms for visits will go some 20

Club can’t please everyone all of the time… but tries hard to do so WELL, little had I anticipated the various reactions to the dining-room redecoration.

Most people, I should say, have been very positive, but clearly there are some who have found the change difficult to accept.

Naturally, I listen, and will try to the best of my ability to adapt the decor to the various tastes of our members. But maybe I should reiterate why the change has been made.

Quite simply, the dining-room has been losing very significant sums of money for far too long, and this is a position that cannot be sustained. My approach has been to look at both ends of this particular problem.

way towards encouraging support from the public.

Concern was also aired about the shortage of good agricultural staff coming into the industry, as well as the little that appears to be done to promote a career in agriculture to those from outside the industry. Despite offering good earning opportunities and benefits’ packages, agricultural careers are rarely mentioned in schools, as they are widely perceived to involve hard labour and long hours.

Ian bravely finished by allowing an open discussion on ways to encourage the public to glean a better understanding of food sourcing and ways to encourage new entrants into agriculture. Mixed opinions were voiced, although the general feeling was that the industry needs to address these issues as it cannot continue to struggle on with an ever-decreasing skills and labour base.

From left: Ian and G iggott with EdwarildlyRPey nolds

•

Friday 29 - Sunday 31 January New Members’ Dinner and Winter Event The Farmers Club

Edward Tabnor THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009 • www.thefarmersclub.com

Of course, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, but the early signs are encouraging and I’m optimistic that we can begin to turn this around.

choir was simply quite outstanding. Our picture shows Club Chairman John Reynolds and Deputy Chairman Nicki Quayle with the baskets of produce they took to the altar for blessing.

After the Service, the Chairman welcomed our guests to the Club, key among whom were five Masters of Livery Companies.

Naturally, it would be remiss of me not to say how delighted everyone was to welcome Jeremy Courtney and his wife Anne to the Club, on the very same day that he had been installed as Master of the Worshipful Company of Farmers (see picture on this page).

MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS Members will be aware that subscriptions for those who are 65 years old and have been members for 20 years or more have been entitled to a 50% reduction in their annual fees. However, at the June 2009 General Committee Meeting it was decided that this reduction would be 30% from 1 January 2010.

But - and this is very important – this is not retrospective. Thus, if you currently benefit from the 50% reduction, this will not change.

New Master of the Farmers Company East Sussex farmer and businessman Jeremy Courtney (centre below) is the new Master of the Worshipful Company of Farmers. He was installed immediately following the Company Harvest Thanksgiving at the parish church of St Bartholomew the Great, near Smithfield Market, in early October, later hosting a Livery Lunch at nearby Haberdashers’ Hall and attending the Club Harvest Festival and Supper. Follett Balch (left) and Peter Faulkner were installed as Senior and Junior Wardens respectively.

We all enjoyed a wonderful buffet produced by our Head Chef, Jeff Plant, and his staff (the beef and gammon were exceptional).

With more than 100 people in the Club, there was a fantastic atmosphere which I hope we can repeat next year.

Future Events Saturday 28 November Dinner with Guy Smith The Farmers Club

Firstly, I have endeavoured to improve the decor of the dining-room, which had become very tired, in order to make it a more welcoming place for a greater proportion of our members. Secondly, through employing a new Head Chef and Deputy, as well as changing a number of our suppliers, we have made a marked improvement in the quality of food which has, to date, been widely applauded. Indeed, I have many comments to effect of “that is the best steak I’ve ever had”.

Wonderful evening at Club Harvest Festival CAN I say how wonderful it was to see so many of our members at our Harvest Festival Service in St Martin-in-the-Fields in October. The Revd Nick Holtam, the Club’s Chaplain, delivered a wonderful sermon with great power and conviction, while the

Essential for food producers to stay in contact with consumers A WELL ATTENDED Under Thirties reception and dinner was held at the Club on 18 September, when the guest speaker was Nuffield Scholar and former NFU Farming Champion of the Year Ian Piggott.

RAMBLINGS • Stephen Skinner

Credit card details THOSE who have looked at the website recently, or tried to book a room at the Club of late, will have noticed that we are now asking for your credit/debit card details as confirmation of your booking.

I appreciate that some will say that this makes us even more like a hotel, but the process should be quick and, hopefully, painless, as well as making members’ lives simpler in the long run.

The reason for this is, quite simply, that many of our members are not paying their bills on leaving the Club, as required by the Club’s rules, leaving us with a large number of unpaid invoices. Naturally, this very quickly becomes a cash-flow issue for ourselves.

What I can say, of course, is that no transactions on member’s cards will be undertaken until after the member’s visit.

Moreover, details of member’s cards will be retained only if specifically authorised in writing by the member.

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009

Ramblings continued on p22…

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RAMBLINGS

THE FARMERS CLUB

Club Information & Diary Dates The Secretariat 020 7930 3751

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

Diary Dates 2009-2010

…Ramblings continued from p21.

Successful visit to London 2012 Livestock Event Olympics I THINK it safe to say that The Farmers Club visit to the RABDF Dairy and Livestock Event at Stoneleigh in September was quite a success, and I should like to thank Nick Everington and his team for all the support they gave us.

The event is very well organised and wonderfully supported, and we were fortunate to be placed with our rather smart display board in a prime position.

While it was certainly not warm standing by the entrance to the hall, we could not have been better placed, judging by the degree of interest shown in what the Club has to offer.

In total, we handed out some 100 application forms to potential new members (I should say we spoke at length to every individual before handing out a form), and even if this only brings in, shall we say, 5% or 10%, I believe it was money well spent.

What added much to our stand, though, was the presence at various times of the Chairman, John Reynolds, the Vice Chairman, Nicki Quayle, as well as James Cross and Richard Holland, who all added much and for that I am very grateful.

Finally, I must thank Mark Fairbairn, our Membership Secretary, who not only organised our presence there, but also struggled manfully into and out of London with our display board and all the associated paraphernalia. We are fortunate to have the quality and commitment of staff such as Mark.

Huge response from members CAN I take this opportunity to thank the many thousands of you who have responded to my letter about changes at the Club and asking individuals to share their contact details with other Club members. Indeed, as I write this, we have had more than 4,500 replies.

The responses will make a real difference to the way we can communicate with our members.

Can I also congratulate Mrs Dalton in Gloucestershire, who was the lucky winner of the case of House Claret.

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Patron – Her Majesty The Queen

You will remember that the General Committee set up a sub-group led by James Cross to establish how the Club could best meet members’ needs during the forthcoming Olympics and Paralympics in 2012. In particular, the group was asked to agree some guidelines on how members might apply for rooms, plus any conditions that attach to this.

Club Information 020 7930 3751

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

We now understand that tickets for both of these events will be going on sale in 2011 (no specific date yet), and it is our intention to publish details shortly before this. The current plan is to operate two room application windows.

Members are requested to advise their guests of the following:

There will be a premium on guests’ rooms which is greater than the current premium because of the anticipated demand.

We do intend to make the meeting rooms available for letting at more commercial rates during this period. If you should know of groups or individuals who would like to take advantage of this opportunity, do please let us know.

Could I remind you that, from 2010 onwards, there will be no summer closure.

St.Andrew’s Day Lunch at the Royal Overseas League, Edinburgh Monday 30 November Application form was in the Harvest Journal

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

Dress Code

The charge for members will be based on the prevailing Farmers Club rate; although there will be some extra charge due to the additional services that we intend to provide during this period. This will be made clear when the application window is open, but, as an example of the extra services, we anticipate opening the restaurant earlier in the morning and closing later at night; providing additional reception services; and potentially, other services as requested by yourselves.

THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB FOR 2009 PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN John Reynolds TRUSTEES Mark Hudson (Chairman), Barclay Forrest OBE Mrs Susan Kilpatrick OBE, Norman Shaw CBE

The following has been agreed.

The first will be for members only (therefore, no guests of members beyond partners), and will be limited to a total of four nights during the complete Olympic/Paralympic period of Friday 27 July to Sunday 9 September 2012. The second period of potential booking will start immediately after this, during which members can apply for further rooms as well as guest rooms. The principle behind this is to provide as many members as possible with the opportunity to stay at the Club during this unique experience.

These dates are reviewed for every Journal. Please read them on each occasion, as they are sometimes revised and additional dates included.

Details of events circulated in the previous issues are available from the Secretariat at the telephone number shown above.

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

Oxford Farming Conference Monday 4 – Wednesday 6 January 2010 (Visit www.ofc.org.uk for more information)

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LAMMA Show, Newark Wednesday 20 & Thursday 21 January

New Year’s Eve Supper Party Thursday 31 December Application form was in the Autumn Journal

• There is a Club jacket and a selection of ties at Reception which may be borrowed in an emergency.

Concert at St.Martin-in-the-Fields Saturday 20 March Application in New Year Journal

FULL

• Ladies should be dressed conventionally.

Trousers are permitted but not casual slacks, jeans or trainers during the week.

Annual General Meeting Wednesday 9 December at 12 noon in the Club

St. George’s Day Lunch at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon Friday 23 April Application Form in the New Year Journal

• Children should conform with the above guidelines.

• Members must advise their guests of the dress regulations.

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 House Manager for details.

TV

Reciprocal Clubs

The television is situated in the Muddiman Suite lounge on the fourth floor. This room is also used as a meeting room, so please check it is available for general use with Reception before entering the lounge.

UK

Envelopes Sponsorship The Farmers Club would like to thank Agrovista UK for its generous sponsorship of the Journal envelopes. Agrovista is the leading researchbased agronomy advice and product supply company providing solutions for arable, fruit & vegetable growers throughout the UK. For more information about the company, go to www.agrovista.co.uk.

Royal Overseas League, Edinburgh OVERSEAS The Western Australian Club, Perth, Australia (Bedrooms not reciprocated) Queensland Club, Brisbane, Australia Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland (Bedrooms not reciprocated) The Muthaiga Country Club, Nairobi, Kenya

THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009 • www.thefarmersclub.com

Elected 2005 Charles Notcutt OBE Elected 2006 Stewart Houston CBE (Chairman House Sub-Committee), Meurig Raymond MBE Elected 2007 Tim Bennett, Mrs Anne Chamberlain, James Cross Richard Harrison, Campbell Tweed OBE Mrs Teresa Wickham (Chairman Journal & Communications Sub-Committee) Elected 2008 The Reverend Dr Gordon Gatward OBE Jimmy McLean (Chairman Membership SubCommittee), David Richardson OBE, John Wilson

Co-opted Luke Paterson (Chairman Under 30s) Gemma Partridge (Vice-Chairman Under 30s) THE FARMERS CLUB CHARITABLE TRUST TRUSTEES John Kerr MBE JP DL (Chairman), James Cross Stephen Fletcher, Vic Croxson DL Mrs Stella Muddiman JP, The Chairman and Immediate Past Chairman of the Club (ex officio)

The Christchurch Club, Christchurch, New Zealand

CLUB CLOSURES 2009/10 Tuesday 22 December – no afternoon, bar or dinner 3.00pm Wednesday 23 December to 3.00pm Monday 4 January 2010

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

The Harare Club, Harare, Zimbabwe

Business Suite This facility is situated on the Club floor in the old House Manager’s office and gives members an opportunity to use a laptop, the Club PCs or their mobile phones in a tailor made environment. The use of a laptop is therefore no longer allowed in the public rooms and must now be restricted to only the Business Suite.

Elected 2004 Ian Lindsay, Mrs Jill Willows

Chief Executive and Secretary Air Commodore Stephen Skinner

Parking

Mobile Phones, Briefcases and Business Meetings

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN Julian Sayers

Elected 2009 Richard Butler, John Stones

• Smart casual dress may be worn from 6pm Friday to midnight Sunday, smart clean jeans and trainers permitted.

The Club has no private parking at Whitehall Court and metered parking in the immediate area is extremely limited. The nearest public car park, open 24 hours a day, is situated in Spring Gardens off Cockspur Street, approximately 5 minutes walk from the Club.

Telephone: 0800 243 348. The Congestion Charge can be paid at this car park.

HONORARY TREASURER Paul Heygate

COMMITTEE

Burns Supper at the Club Friday 22 January Application form in this journal

Wine Tasting and Dinner at the Club Friday 4 December Application form was in the Autumn Journal

• Gentlemen must wear formal jackets and ties on weekdays. Polo-neck jerseys, jeans and trainers are not acceptable.

VICE-CHAIRMAN Mrs Nicki Quayle

The Canterbury Club, Christchurch, New Zealand (Bedrooms not reciprocated) Members wishing to visit any of the above Clubs must obtain an introductory card. To see their contact details including website address, go to www.thefarmersclub.com and click on links at the foot of the home page.

www.thefarmersclub.com • THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Winter 2009

E-mails secretariat@thefarmersclub.com accounts@thefarmersclub.com membership@thefarmersclub.com functions@thefarmersclub.com meetings@thefarmersclub.com reception@thefarmersclub.com u30s@thefarmersclub.com Website www.thefarmersclub.com THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Editor and Advertisement Manager Don Gomery 01892 610628 Email: don.gomery@btinternet.com Printed by Pureprint Group, Brambleside, Bellbrook Park 23 Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 1PL Tel: 01825 768811