Winter2012

WINTER JOURNAL 2012 • ISSUE 241

www.thefarmersclub.com

Farmers Club INSIDE Forestry prospects p7 Precision farming p8 Harvest Festival p10 Carbon credits p12 DairyPro p14 Farm art p16 NFYFC leader p19

BOOKING FORM Carmen opera p22 Manet exhibition p22

Biofuels entrepreneur Generating energy from recycled foodstuffs p4

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

FRONT COVER Energy recycling enthusiast Robert Brocklesby inspired the Farmers Club group as it visited his Yorkshire facility, p4 (Pic: Charles Abel)

Contents

Disclaimer: The articles published in The Farmers Club Journal do not necessarily reflect the views of The Farmers Club. No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in the magazine can be accepted by the publisher. Advertisements are included in good faith’. All rights reserved.

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Chairman’s Comments Reflections on the past year

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Yorkshire tour Food processing, food recycling, bioenergy and family business principles were the focus as members met beside the Humber

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Forestr y focus Timber prospects are better than for many years

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Precision principles Making the most of modern technology demands the right attitude to processing the plethora of data on offer

10 Har vest festival Saint Martin’s church decorations look magnificent

11 Buckingham Palace Diamond exhibition dazzles double Club tour

12 Carbon trading California experience suggests farmers can benefit as global industry grapples with its climate change credentials

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14 Cattle welfare Time to garner better livestock disease data

15 Letters to the Editor Thoughts on farmland management

16 Livestock art Sheeted Somersets capture imagination at farm gallery

17 Pin-feather painting

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Painting with the wing-tip feathers of gamebirds demands skill, precision and no small amount of determination

19 Under 30s New Young Farmers leader enthuses about the opportunities on offer and launches new Rural Road Safety Campaign

20 Club News & Calendar Latest developments and details of upcoming events

22 Club Information and Contacts

02 • The Farmers Club Winter Journal 2012

Chairman’s Comments • Paul Heygate

Chairman’s Comments We are looking at ways to improve these facilities, always remembering the wonderful culture that exists, which has led to our success.

IN my last Chairman’s Comments in the Harvest Journal, written near the end of August, I made reference to a difficult harvest for cereal growers, both in quality and yield. Perhaps, with hindsight, this was an understatement. The comments as I write today in mid-October are of the worst harvest in 50 years for some, and that the farming industry in general has had a very difficult 12 months, which will affect the cost of food to the general public.

I also pointed out how important the decisions we were making then would be for our businesses in 12 months time, and longer.

I believe the farming industry has always looked medium and long term, and that view is certainly taken very much at the Farmers Club.

As this is my last Chairman’s Comments, it gives me an opportunity to look back over the past year, and look forward to the future.

We have continued with our policy of both taking the Club out of London as well as organising events based around the Club premises. We had a very successful two days at the Livestock Event at Birmingham and this was followed by a two day visit to Yorkshire, with the focus on family businesses and food waste.

More is said about these visits in this Journal (pages 4-6). Suffice to say we were all amazed at how much food waste there is, and what eventually happens to it. I am greatly indebted to all the family businesses who agreed to welcome us, and particularly to Tim Rymer, who hosted us for our final visit, and gave us such an interesting and very personal view of his business.

I hope I have gone some way in achieving my aim of showing members more about what happens to our farm products when they leave our farms, some of the products that are made

from them, and finally how cereals, food waste and other farm products are now playing an important role in the production of energy in the form of fuel and power. The two visits to the ABF/Weston Family plants at Wissington (British Sugar) and Hull (Vivergo) are prime examples of this aim, and an indication in part of the future.

At the end of September we entertained over 150 people over two days at the Club, prior to visiting the Diamond Exhibition at Buckingham Palace. What a wonderful visit and our congratulations go to MaryAnne and all at the Club for such foresight and organisation. This was followed some five days later by 100 people attending our Harvest Festival at St Martin-inthe-Fields. The new rector Revd Dr Sam Wells, with his assistant and choir, gave us a service to remember, and we were joined by many Masters of City Livery Companies, who all marvelled at such a wonderful evening.

As I look back over the past nine months, which is not always a good thing to do, I realise how much support I have received from so many. We have taken the Club to many parts of the country, and met many people. We have held numerous events at the Club, which have been very well supported. We have had the excitement of the possibility of expanding the Club, and the disappointment of not achieving our goal. We have the legacy of all the background work that went into investigating this opportunity, which will stand us well for the future. We have a membership that is holding, and fully supporting all of our actions, and we have a Club that is financially sound, and continually improving its facilities.

This all looks good. But we must look to our future as well. Every Chairman during their year looks to bring new ideas as to how we can improve our offering, and we are always looking for suggestions.

We still have a number of events in the calendar for this year, and these are centred on the Club. When we have over 100 people in our dining rooms and meeting rooms the Club has a wonderful feeling and the staff enjoy looking after us. We are looking at ways to improve these facilities, always remembering the wonderful culture that exists, which has led to our success.

Finally, I would like to thank Stephen Skinner and all the staff at the Club for making my year both enjoyable and memorable. My first Chairman’s report made reference to the comment of ‘welcome home Mr Heygate’ when I first walked into the Club at the beginning of January. During my year so many other members have made reference to the Club being their second home. It is, and has been, a great privilege to be Chairman, and I thank everyone for giving me the honour.

Paul Heygate

www.thefarmersclub.com • 03

Charles Abel • Yorks Tour

Yorks innovation East Yorkshire proved to be a fascinating destination for the Farmers Club autumn tour. Charles Abel reports Fuel from food waste – Robert Brocklesby explains to a captivated Farmers Club audience

WHEN Club Chairman Paul Heygate said East Yorkshire would offer an inspirational insight into some of the fascinating new directions for the food and farming industry few could have imagined just how fascinating these ventures might be.

From innovative food recycling at Robert Brocklesby and GWE Biogas, to state of the art food processing at William Jackson Food, by way of bioenergy production at Vivergo and the latest farm business management thinking at JSR Farms, East Yorks proved to be a hot-bed of innovation.

Just east of Hull Vivergo’s spectacular £350m bioethanol plant was just weeks away from embarking upon its annual conversion of 1.1m tonnes of UK wheat into 420 million litres of bioethanol for road fuel and 500,000t of protein animal feed .

To put that in context the EU will need around 40 Vivergo-sized facilities to meet forecast ethanol demand by 2020. Once fully operational it will be the UK’s largest tip point for wheat and largest supplier of protein animal feed and bioethanol.

“We really haven’t had any investment of this scale in agriculture for years,” enthused agricultural manager David Maxwell. Alongside eight vast tanks, each capable of fermenting 5,500t of wheat/yeast mix to produce ethanol, three vast dryers will dry the resulting dark distillers grains from 60-70% moisture to 10% for pelleting into animal feed.

Two mobile cranes were still working amidst the 25 acres of shiny steel, but Mr Maxwell insisted

04 • The Farmers Club Winter Journal 2012

commissioning issues had been resolved and intake would start in late 2012.

Significantly the plant is primarily designed to process wheat, with 11 roller mills delivering the most efficient processing. Ensus’s off-the-shelf facility, which potentially could use other feedstocks, such as maize, uses more energy-hungry hammer mills.

This matters when the goal is least cost production. “This means that when Vivergo plant starts it will have every opportunity to keep running, which is important for livestock farmers looking for a consistent supply of quality animal feed,” said Mr Maxwell.

The gap between wheat, ethanol and animal feed values is the key. Indeed, depending on feed and ethanol prices, overall margins can look better with wheat at £200/t than at £120/t.

“We’ll always be in the market for wheat, including multi-year contracts. Once we start processing we’re not expecting to stop.”

Brocklesby biofuels Entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in East Yorks, as evidenced by Robert Brocklesby, who has built a £30m group of businesses extracting vegetable oils from food waste to create environmentally-friendly biodiesel.

Anything from pork pies to mayonnaise and frying oil to packed milk is processed. It may be past its useby date, off-spec, mislabelled, at the end of its use in food manufacturing – whatever the reason for its rejection from the food industry it is an opportunity to harvest energy rather further burden landfill, Mr Brocklesby explained.

Shredding the packaging is the start of the process, be that plastic bottles, glass jars or cardboard cartons. Mayonnaise is 79% oil, for example, once removed from its jar.

Chemical processes then purify the assorted oils before blending into a raw material for biodiesel production. Solids left after oil extraction go for

Yorks Tour • Charles Abel

anaerobic digestion to create biogas.

Food waste supplies are only set to rise, he believes. “It is almost a cardinal sin, but waste is generated at significant volumes, so we will continue to grow that business.”

But nothing is taken for nothing. “We pay. It creates a customer relationship, which is important to us. Consistency of supply is essential.”

He lamented government policies changing so often, hampering investment decisions. In a recent joint venture with the UK’s largest supplier of road fuels, he has invested in a plant to pre-process industrial and recovered waste oils ahead of biodiesel production. “It’s effectively a refinery, toll processing what they want.” Full payback on his investment is expected within two years. “Five to seven years would be too long given the current market and politics,” he explained.

His goal is a group turnover of £100m. “We’re quietly getting on with it, beneath most people’s radar.”

Aunt Bessie’s best Producing over 20m Yorkshire Puddings a week is no mean feat. Producing a whole range of other food products, many with market leading positions, demonstrates an uncanny ability to spot and meet customer demand.

That is exactly what a 161-year-old East Yorkshire business has achieved and a careful eye on corporate and family governance has been as much a key to its success as commercial excellence, Chairman of the William Jackson Food Group, Nicholas Oughtred told The Farmers Club group.

A formal written constitution agreed by the shareholders and understood by the Board was an essential part of building long-term success. It sets out clear boundaries between the family and the business so all know where responsibility sits. For example the Board is there to do what is in the best interest of the business and it is prescribed that it will comprise more non family directors than family directors. Family members wishing to work in the business need to have had at least five years relevant external experience.

Talent external to the family has played major roles in leading the business and that remained a key ingredient in the success of the business today.

The rise of the Aunt Bessie’s business from being a supplier of frozen Yorkshire Puddings to Butlins to a £200m brand was an example of the process of enterprise, adaptation and reinvention that has been such a feature of the company’s history.

Yorkshire Pudding success is all about working with suppliers to source consistent raw materials which in turn make the production process much more straightforward. Much of the wheat which goes to produce the flour for Aunt Bessie’s products is sourced and milled in East Yorkshire. A grower group, based on a cost of production pricing model, is under development in an effort to reduce volatility.

Driffield, which received substantial Defra and DECC funding to demonstrate best practice.

The original primary aim was to create digestate as a nutrient source for farmland, and five years later the AD unit is converting 800t of food waste from retailers and manufacturers each week into electricity and fertiliser.

Much of the raw material comes from the food industry, ranging from tankers of off-spec lemonade, wash water and pea juice, that would have been injected into farmland previously, to pallet-loads of mis-packed foodstuffs. It all gets mixed into a “soup of the day” to feed the digester. There is no municipal waste, no manures and no energy crops.

The resulting biogas, which comprises 60% methane, is burnt in three huge 1250hp 16-cylinder engines, generating 1MW/hour of electricity each for the national grid 24/7. The engines run for 8000 hours a year. Maintenance is not cheap, spark plugs costing £400 each, for example.

The process also creates 40,000t of digestate, with a nutrient content similar to pig slurry. Solids are separated and the liquid applied through dribble bars as a spring nitrogen replacement. Having a good land bank is vital.

But without the government’s guaranteed 20 year feed in tariff payment of 9.9p/unit the enterprise Continued overleaf

Vivergo’s vast new bioethanol facility could have operated profitably on spot prices for every day for the past two years, said David Maxwell

GWE Biogas Another family business reaping rewards from the conversion of food waste into energy is GWE Biogas Ltd’s anaerobic digestion facility at Kirkburn outside

Constant innovation to meet consumer needs is essential, said William Jackson Food Group chairman Nicholas Oughtred

www.thefarmersclub.com • 05

Charles Abel • Yorks Tour

GWE Biogas converts food waste to electricity and liquid crop food, explained Tim Megginson

Yorks innovation continued

would be unviable. “Even with half that amount we would still not be viable and so in a way we’re even more subsidy dependent than farming. But we are producing electricity 24/7 and keeping waste out of landfill,” Mr Megginson said.

Digestate spreading is a big issue. “It’s not odourless,” he admits. “But the smell is directly related to how well it is processed. We aim for minimal odour, because once you’ve had an issue in the neighbourhood, the perception stays forever.”

JSR Farms As one of the UK’s foremost family-owned farming businesses, JSR Farms operates across 3600ha from its Driffield base, with a turnover of £35m, employing 150 people and including operations in China and Canada. It is a business built on pigs, peas, potatoes and people – and the people are increasingly important, stressed chairman Tim Rymer.

In what he describes as a benign autocracy nonexecutive directors provide fresh perspectives to the family board members, challenge assumptions and oversee corporate governance, in a bid to ensure staff have the best chance of contributing to the future of the business.

“Our strategic goals need to connect to the people we employ, ensuring they have the ability to deliver.” A new whistleblower programme, providing a confidential contact for any grievances within the business, is a case in point. It has already resolved several issues, ensuring hurdles to progress, perceived or actual, are addressed.

A customer process manager, responsible for ensuring excellence is delivered to customers, is another new step. “Bad processes defeat good people. We need to ensure that happens as little as possible.”

A people balance sheet is being developed, to sit alongside financial, livestock and equipment balance sheets. “We want to increase the net worth of the team in technical and leadership skills,” Mr Rymer said.

Combined with a 90-day goals review system, structured career development, with mentoring for key staff, 360-degree appraisal of managers to

06 • The Farmers Club Winter Journal 2012

Pigs can fly… to China, and need an increasingly skilled workforce to get the most from them once there, noted JSR’s Tim Rymer

ensure they align with wanted behaviours, and a new training manager role, the net effect has been very beneficial.

People power will count in China too. “The investments being made there are unbelievable,” noted Mr Rymer. “They’re going from an industry dominated by back-yard pigs to one with 50,000-sow operations producing a million pigs a year, in just ten years. It took the UK 100.”

JSR has been keenly involved in genetic sales to China, which already produces half the world’s pigs, chartering jumbo jets at £250,000 a time to ship 750 breeding animals east.

“But whilst they’ve got the money, they don’t always have the expertise. Our biggest challenge is to move our business from product focussed to services focussed. That’s not in our psyche, intellectual capital.

But it’s the future, to manage breeding programmes and contract units.”

JSR hopes to achieve Investor in People Gold status in December.

Cranswick-based butcher James White entertains Club members with his knife skills at JSR’s Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School (www.yorkshirewoldscookeryschool.co.uk), which includes bed & breakfast accommodation and conference facilities

MORE INFORMATION www.vivergofuels.com www.brocklesby.org www.wjfg.co.uk

www.gwebiogas.co.uk www.jsrfarms.co.uk

Forestry • Nicholas Halsey

PUBLICATION in July 2012 of the Independent Panel on Forestry report, following the uproar last year over the possible disposal of Forestry Commission Woodlands in England, has at last put the forest industry in the limelight. The focus comes as the economic prospects for UK timber look better than they have for years.

For farmers the prospect of bringing back undermanaged woodlands as income streams, or of turning marginal and under-productive areas of land into new woodlands, now looks like sound financial sense.

This summer marked a year since the launch of both the Forestry Commission’s Woodland Implementation Plan and the Woodfuel and Woodland Improvement Grant (WIG) which makes £10m available directly towards woodland infrastructure and development costs over a three-year period.

We are also beginning to see a sustained and growing demand for woodfuel, driven in part by the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (£860m to help achieve its EU targets) and the subsequent commitment to biomass, for example a £700m biomass development at Drax Power Station. There is too the growing popularity in domestic markets for biomass boilers and woodburning stoves, of which a reported 480,000 have been installed over recent seasons.

There is a general feeling amongst RFS members and others I talk to that the welcome rise in prices for woodfuel are here to stay – so perhaps forestry will finally find itself on the positive end of bucking an economic trend!

Part of that optimism is down to the commitments in the Forestry Commission Woodland Implementation Plan, encouraging activities to help more privately owned woodlands into active management, and helping develop sustainability.

We are now seeing a developing market for thinning, which previously had either no or few markets. There is the real prospect that demand for woodfuel will soon outstrip supply. This is leading to knock on price rises across the timber chain, with wood which might otherwise have gone for saw logs going to woodfuel, impacting on prices and availability of higher quality saw logs.

Bringing woodland back into management, and planting successful new woodlands, is something which takes time, planning, skills and knowledge.

But there is plenty of that to share around in the industry. The RFS enables and encourages, through its Divisional meetings, the sharing of best practice.

Woodland can also be used to build Carbon Credits, a newly emerging market. As a voluntary UK standard, the Woodland Carbon Code ensures ‘carbon forestry’ projects deliver the benefits they claim. In the year it has been in force, the 63 registered projects are expected to remove more than 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Of course there are challenges in planting and managing woodlands, and no cast iron guarantees of a golden return; none more so than the challenges posed by the emergence of new pests and diseases.

News that 36,000 larch trees are to be felled in the

Forestry in focus Count the opportunities for farm woodlands, says Nicholas Halsey, Farmers Club member and President of the Royal Forestry Society Forest of Dean, for instance, sent a shiver of fear through all foresters!

Forest Research is leading the way in trying to find effective controls to prevent new pests and diseases from entering the country, and effectively and swiftly eradicating and controlling them when discovered.

Returning to a more positive topic, the Forestry Commission has revealed that the UK’s private-sector forests have an opportunity to increase softwood timber production over the next 25 years. Extensive planting of new conifer forests in 1960-1999 means most conifers growing today are 21-60 years old and approaching commercial harvesting over the next 25 years.

The opportunities therefore are real. Spread the word!

Excellence in management makes the difference between a successful woodland and one that is not. It is something which I and the RFS believe in passionately and is a constant theme in our field meetings and our Excellence in Forestry Awards.

Indeed, it is notable that this year’s RFS Small Woodlands Excellence Award was won by Bill Sowerby’s farm woodland in Cornwall, having garnered much praise from judges.

Economic prospects for woodland and forestry look better than for years, says Nicholas Halsey, president of the Royal Forestry Society • An article examining Ash Dieback disease is scheduled for the next issue of Farmers Club Journal

MORE INFORMATION • Royal Forestry Society: www.rfs.org.uk • Woodland Improvement Grant and Carbon Credits: www.forestry.gov.uk and follow search links • Carbon credits: www.forestcarbon.co.uk/

www.thefarmersclub.com • 07

Charles Abel • Precision farming

Precision progress Precision farming can boost yields, lift profits and protect the environment, as Charles Abel finds out

LEWIS McKerrow is a self-confessed precision farming enthusiast. From variable rate inputs to targeted soil sampling and sophisticated analysis of yield maps, he believes the technology is bringing a fresh focus to crop management.

“We’ve come a long way in the past two or three years, with more systems talking to each other properly now and more specialists on hand to deal with any potential incompatibilities,” he says.

The demand to adjust rates of increasingly costly fertilisers has been a big driver, added to which is the inexorable rise of precision farming-capable equipment arriving on-farm to replace older kit. From yield-mapping combines to variable rate spreaders, and GPS light bars to aid machinery guidance to variable rate drills, farmers and contractors are increasingly able to exploit precision farming.

08 • The Farmers Club Winter Journal 2012

“We spend a lot of time on varieties and fungicides to get a 0.1t/ha yield response, but by pulling up the performance of poorer areas precision farming can improve the whole field average, which gives us much more to gain. “We’ve not fully mastered it yet, but the potential for yield gains is there.”

With a background in agricultural contracting Mr McKerrow joined farm input and advice company Agrovista in 2008, and soon became head of its Precision Services business.

He commends the growth in GPS soil sampling.

But it is not just a way of saving money on inputs, he notes. “Soils are a farm’s biggest asset after all.”

Initially, the focus is on balancing pH, phosphate and potash across the field, often varying rates between large blocks.

The next logical step is to invest in equipment to allow variable applications. Variable-rate spreaders allow nutrient rates to be tailored more precisely across the field. Yield maps add a further dimension, providing valuable data to help target field investigations and drive agronomy decisions. “If yield is varying from maybe 5t/acre to 2.5t/acre within a field, that is going to be removing differing amounts of nutrient. By taking account of nutrient off-take, as well as soil supply, we can aim to raise the overall performance of the field,” he says.

More precise nutrient applications protect the environment too, ensuring excess nutrient is not applied to high index parts of a field, potentially causing pollution. That would be particularly useful if phosphate vulnerable zones were introduced.

Accurate sampling, to ensure application decisions are based on valid data, is clearly critical. “The level of sampling needs to reflect the suspected variability in the field, and it makes sense to log the location of the sampling, so it can be returned to after four or five years of variable applications to see if it has made the desired effect,” he notes.

Caution But he offers some warnings. He is wary of using satellite imagery, mainly because image resolution

Precision farming • Charles Abel

can be lower than that of other technologies.

“The number of pixels (data points) per field is just not enough, particularly when headlands have to be excluded incase the hedgerow distorts the data.

It is just leaving too little data per field.”

Data collected from implement-mounted sensors a few metres above the crop, rather than a camera on a satellite miles above, make more sense, he argues. “It is real-time too, so gives you data you can take account of right away, rather than waiting for processing and analysis elsewhere.” Images can help determine soil characteristics, crop density and crop health.

“Crop sensor competition is hotting up now, with several new competitors entering the market, so we can expect to see costs becoming less prohibitive.”

Varying seed rates also needs caution because decisions about where to raise or lower the rate need making with care, and not as a knee-jerk reaction to the previous season. Soil types can perform differently in wet or dry seasons so its hard to make a decision 6 months prior to the growing season. “If an area of the field is notoriously poor for establishment, adjusting seed rate there can make sense, but varying rate according to a yield map does not make sense until you know what the cause of the yield variation was.”

That is where data analysis comes in. As more data accumulates, from soil conductivity scans, yield maps, biomass scans, soil sampling and the like, sophisticated analysis will increasingly be able to prescribe a seed rate plan that will move crop establishment to the next level, he says.

What next?

But all that data can risk data overload and needs strategies to ensure answers can be teased out.

Web-based software to help farmers manage their data more effectively is already on its way. He urges growers to get started with precision farming, so they are laying down a bank of data that can be mined and interpreted in future.

Another novel concept is flying unmanned “drone” aircraft over crops to take very high-resolution images to aid agronomy decisions. “It is in the early stages, but it is providing some quite stunning images.”

Mr McKerrow expects sprayers to be routinely patch spraying chemicals onto specific parts of fields in future, directly injecting extra ingredients into the spray mix according to pre-prepared maps, or even on-the-move sensing, although the response time for that presents some significant challenges.

Patch spraying could be particularly useful for treating discrete areas of the field with herbicides for blackgrass and sterile brome control, for example, and growth regulators according to crop need, or even fungicides where the crop is thicker.

Clearly, interpreting the wealth of data means extra work for specialists like Mr McKerrow. But he insists he is not just talking up his book. “It’s going to take quite a bit of expertise to actually make use of this data and turn it into something useful. As a new generation of technology reaches the farm gate, a new generation of agronomists must take up the mantle to provide the best technical advice to growers.”

(Above) So much more than colours on a screen – precision farming technology can make a big impact on modern farms, but only if interpreted correctly, with the right background technical knowledge (Left) Using expertise established in the hugely variable soils of north east Scotland Agrovista’s Lewis McKerrow is helping farmers across the UK reap the benefits of the latest technology

www.thefarmersclub.com • 09

Autumn Events

Harvest Festival Altar flower display by Fiona Willets

FARMING put on a wonderful display in central London as The Farmers Club staged its annual Harvest Festival at St Martin-in-the-Fields just off Trafalgar Square on Tuesday 2nd October.

Inside the church looked a picture, decorated with fresh British flowers, fruit and vegetables, bags of flour and sugar, specially baked loaves, and pew ends bearing sheaves of wheat.

The displays were masterminded again by Lorna Richardson with an army of helpers, including her daughter Fiona Willets, the creative genius behind the beautiful flower arrangements at the main altar, son Andrew, Nicki Quayle (Union flag display), Teresa Wickham and Lauren from the Club secretariat.

Many thanks to the many Club members who donated produce, which was donated to The Connection at St Martin’s and the charity FareShare.

The Connection helps over 200 homeless people in

10 • The Farmers Club Winter Journal 2012

Central London every day, providing a day and night centre, outreach for rough sleepers, skills training, activity programmes and specialist support for complex needs (www.connection-atstmartins.org.uk).

For FareShare the focus is surplus ‘Fit for purpose’ product from the food and drink industry (see p10+11, FCJ 236). In 2011/12 the food it redistributed contributed to more than 8.6 million meals for disadvantaged people, typically supplying 36,500 people a day. FareShare’s message: ‘No Good Food Should Be Wasted’ (www.fareshare.org.uk).

The service was led by Revd Dr Sam Wells, assisted

by Revd Dr Gordon Gatward, with glorious singing from the church choir, including John Rutter’s arrangement of All things bright and beautiful.

After the service Club members enjoyed a buffet supper of fine British food at Whitehall Court.

Paul Heygate takes the wheel of a 47hp Massey Ferguson 1547 compact tractor provided by AGCO, flanked by Revd Dr Sam Wells (left) and the Club’s Revd Dr Gordon Gatward.

Autumn Events

Diamonds sparkle Sue and Richard Butler, Chris Findley and Paddy Lynam

Impressive Buckingham Palace - State Dining Room and White Drawing Room (Pics: John Freeman & Derry Moore)

Denis Chamberlain, Caroline and Richard Holland, Peter and Ann Jackson

Prime Warden of the Fishmongers’ Company Lord Phillimore and Lady Phillimore

Master of The Worshipful Company of Farriers Major General Sir Evelyn WebbCarter and Lady Webb-Carter

Nikki Quayle with Union flag display

THE Farmers Club Royal Day Out on Friday 28th September had been much anticipated and did not disappoint. It was a fine sunny morning for everyone to travel from all directions to the Club, where welcome coffee or tea, delicious pastries and cakes on arrival enabled members to meet and chat, at the same time as raising funds for MacMillan Cancer Support. The MacMillan Nurses do such vital and wonderful work supporting cancer patients, their families and carers.

A superb lamb lunch and apple dessert followed, so sincere thanks to all the catering and serving staff at the Club who looked after us so well.

Onwards then to Buckingham Palace. Our individual and easy to use cassette and ear phone sets guided us through each state room, giving us detailed information about furniture, furnishings and so many absolutely beautiful works of art.

In this the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year the highlight of the tour for all must have been the diamond jewellery exhibition in a darkened room, which made the display all the more spectacular.

From there we proceeded through the incredible Ballroom, with its amazing organ, where we were able to sit and reflect on what we had already seen. The very grand Dining Room and State Rooms followed, all overlooking the palace Gardens, where waterfowl were seen swimming on the flooded lawns – even Buckingham Palace did not escape the summer’s torrential rain!

Having returned our headsets a welcome cup of tea in the garden marquee was enjoyed before leisurely walking through the gardens to the exit. The leaves on the trees were just starting to show their autumn colours, and combined with hydrangeas and pink Japanese anemonies made for a very pretty view. There was certainly a great contrast between the tranquillity of the Palace Gardens and the hustle and bustle of London just over the walls.

I would like to sincerely thank Stephen, MaryAnne and all who made the arrangements. It was such a special, memorable day, and we felt very privileged to have had the opportunity through The Farmers Club to visit Buckingham Palace.

• Sue Butler

www.thefarmersclub.com • 11

Dominic Moran • Farmers Club Charitable Trust

Emissions trading: could farms profit?

Farming could profit from efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, Farmers Club Charitable Trust beneficiary Dominic Moran reports

Professor Dominic Moran, SAC Edinburgh visited California to investigate the scope for farmers to benefit from carbon trading

Carbon dioxide emissions (million tonnes/year) China USA EU India Japan Canada S Korea Australia

7707 5425 3896 1591 1098 541 528 418

Source: Stockholm Environment Institute, US Energy Information Administration, FT Group

12 • The Farmers Club Winter Journal 2012

EMISSIONS TRADING • Agriculture is largely exempted from formal emissions controls, but national and international policy will eventually create a market opportunity for emissions credits from agriculture.

• The California cap and trade system for controlling emissions allows agricultural offsets to count as certified reductions that can be purchased by regulated industries.

• As emissions policy becomes more binding, agricultural emissions are likely to come under increased scrutiny. Voluntary offsetting or even more structured emissions trading are a real prospect for EU agriculture.

Farmers Club Charitable Trust • Dominic Moran

LARGELY incontrovertible scientific evidence links atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations with global climatic variability. So can farming profit from the increasingly urgent need to cut emissions?

Agriculture is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for approximately 9% of total UK emissions, mostly as carbon dioxide from the conversion of land to cropping, nitrous oxide from the application of fertiliser and manure to soils, and methane from enteric fermentation in ruminant digestion.

Agriculture is a GHG sink too, with sufficient carbon dioxide sequestered by crop and grassland to offset agricultural emissions. What’s more low cost mitigation opportunities are available in terms of managing animal productivity, manure management, use of nitrogen fertiliser and energy use in buildings and machinery The aim of my Charitable Trust bursary was to investigate how trading in emission reduction credits could create opportunities to earn revenues, with a specific eye to looking for lessons from the California emissions cap and trade system.

Although some of the cheapest or most costeffective reductions are available in agriculture, emissions are difficult to monitor and regulate accurately. This is because the industry is so diverse and emissions depend on management decisions across a myriad of small producers.

Agriculture has been slow and somewhat reluctant to engage in emissions accounting and responsibility; seeing it as a threat not an opportunity.

Citing food security and economic conditions, industry bodies in many countries have lobbied successfully to remain outside formal targets. So governments have developed largely voluntary approaches for the co-management of agricultural emissions, including better emissions inventories, onfarm advice, and research.

This is the UK approach, so far. If it doesn’t work a more draconian alternative might mean mandatory emissions cuts, or enforced emissions trading.

Emissions trading is well-established in the European Union under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), requiring industries to audit their own emissions and submit a claim for corresponding permits to allow continued emissions.

The sum total of permits claimed and then allocated is the so-called cap on the system. Permit holders can sit on them as a cost of doing business, or, if it turns out to be cheaper for them to reduce their emissions, they can sell their permits to industries finding it more difficult to cut emissions.

Figure 1 shows how schemes have emerged in different countries, each with different rules about how permits are allocated and which industries are included, and whether non-regulated industries are allowed to sell cheap offsets into the scheme.

A recently announced pilot in seven provinces in China could signal a major turning-point in global emissions management.

In Europe agriculture is not part of ETS. It is perceived to be difficult to control, consisting of many small and medium sized producers, making it costly to police.

Profit potential But outside the scheme there is a growing voluntary credit and offset market, which in theory is open to anyone who can offer valid emissions reductions to anyone who wants to buy them.

The sticking point is what constitutes a valid reduction, leaving farmers unwilling to undertake actions that may be overtaken by mandatory requirements.

This is essentially retarding the emergence of a credit market in the EU. But one is developing in the US and in California in particular.

California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32) adopted a cap-and-trade regulation covering major sources of GHG emissions such as refineries, power plants and transport fuels.

Although it excludes agriculture the potential for low-cost mitigation options outside the scheme to be certified and sold into it is spurring a vibrant market for offset identification, certification and management.

Climate Action Reserve (CAR) in Los Angeles is a pioneer offset registry. Its protocols set high standards for quantifying and verifying GHG emissions reductions, to create credits as certified tradable commodities.

Protocols are developed through a rigorous, transparent process involving industry, government, academia, the public and environmental bodies.

Standards have been set for anaerobic digestion and forestry, for example. Protocols for nitrogen management are also being developed.

CAR stresses the need for measures to be applicable at scale. It is also keen to develop protocols that deliver other environmental benefits too.

What is clear is that the cap and trade regulation can spur a whole industry around the monitoring and verification of emissions reductions and associated technologies. Later in my US trip I visited farmers who had invested in anaerobic digestion as a result of contacts from intermediaries seeking to share the profits from credit transactions.

The offset market thus represents a business opportunity that is currently under-developed in the UK. Current voluntary emissions policy does not provide a market stimulus. Indeed, a combination of policy uncertainties (the future of the CAP and emissions control policy), are slowing investment in mitigation measures.

If the problem of rising emissions is as serious as predicted by climate scientists, the policy framework addressing agriculture’s contribution is likely to come under scrutiny. Long term scenarios including emissions offsetting or even trading would be a good bet.

Contact info: Professor Dominic Moran SAC, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG dominic.moran@sac.ac.uk 0131 535 4128 / 07825 820628

www.thefarmersclub.com • 13

Charles Abel • Livestock 2012

Cattle health data quest CATTLE health finally has an umbrella organisation striving to improve co-ordination between industry and government bodies across all Britain.

The Cattle Health and Welfare Group’s first annual report, launched at Livestock 2012, applauded progress in some areas, but criticised an on-going failure to collect adequate data on the extent, severity and regional spread of diseases in both dairy and beef cattle.

“Data remains the main hurdle to us moving forward as quickly as we’d like,” said CHAWG chairman Tim Brigstocke. “There are large gaps and there is considerably more information available for dairy cattle than for beef herds.”

Data needs harvesting from the Cattle Tracing System of the British Cattle Movement Service, the National Fallen Stock Company, and the abattoir information collected by the Food Standards Agency. Without those insights the industry would be hindered in its efforts to address the challenges, or recognise successes.

The report welcomed progress in Johne’s disease, mastitis, herd planning and breeding goals, which have seen tangible improvement. But youngstock mortality and dairy cattle lameness needed further work.

CHAWG secretary Brian Lindsay, who addressed the Farmers Club in 2011, urged the industry to respond. “The report is a starting point, a framework. We hope it will stimulate contributions.”

Fodder

Could farmers cut soaring concentrate costs by embracing sprouted grain feeding systems? The economics have never looked better, said Liam McGreevy of Coventry-based Fodder Solutions. In an on-farm evaluation organic dairy farmer Alan Campbell, of Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, used a self-contained, plug-in-and-go unit to replace 3kg of concentrate feed per day with a 7kg mat of more digestible fresh forage containing readily available sugars and proteins, with no downturn in productivity.

Each mat is grown from 1kg of dry barley grain in an optimised environment, with automated irrigation, artificial light and climate control, but no growing medium. Costs are currently 33% less than the equivalent concentrate, giving a typical unit payback period of two to three years. www.foddersolutions.co.uk

• www.chawg.org.uk • The Livestock 2013 event is scheduled to move to new dates of 3 and 4 July at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham (www.livestockevent.co.uk).

Truth from the mouths of babes – spotted at Livestock 2012

Dairy professionals recognised 2013 Chairman Stewart Houston DAIRY farmers and herdsmen can now show their

commitment to ongoing training and development through DairyPro, an on-line register of professional progress.

Designed to appeal to progressive farmers wanting to develop their staff, farmers keen to update their own skills and herdsmen eager to demonstrate professionalism, continual professional development points can be secured from a wide range of participating events, meetings, seminars and training courses, all detailed on the DairyPro website (www.dairypro.co.uk).

“It provides a personal development record, which we know a lot of people are keen to have, to show professionalism to buyers and potential employers,” said David Cotton, chairman of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers and DairyPro’s steering group.

With nothing similar in other countries Britain

14 • The Farmers Club Winter Journal 2012

developed the scheme from scratch, including a pilot in Cumbria, with funding from DairyCo and Residual Milk Marketing Board funds. It is possible Northern Ireland may join too.

Developed along similar lines to the National Register of Sprayer Operators (NRoSO) and the Fertiliser Advisers Certification and Training Scheme (FACTS), it is managed by BASIS. Relevant points gathered under NRoSO and FACTS feed to DairyPro automatically.

Dairy production, health and welfare, business management, nutrition, grassland management, personal development, legislation and environmental issue are all covered. Membership, which costs £20 a year and is free to students, is already exceeding expectations, noted Helen Brookes of DairyCo. • www.dairypro.co.uk

Feedback

Letters to the editor Letters to the Editor can be e-mailed to editor@thefarmersclub.com or posted to Editor, The Farmers Club, 3, Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

Peter Clery has always been a man worth listening to over the major part of my farming career spanning 60-plus years.

I would take issue with you when you write under his photograph that his comments are ‘controversial.’

Nowadays, when anyone speaks clear, concise, and factual information it is often described as controversial.

Sort of political correctness perhaps?

I refer in particular to the second paragraph of the second column (FCJ 240, p10) which bears quoting in full again: “He is scathing about campaigns to ‘save the English countryside.’”

The countryside is already looked after, and in the main cherished, by landowners and farmers, he says. That is in spite of, not because of, the interference from self-serving bureaucrats from DEFRA, Natural England, English Heritage, and the like.

Neither does he think that British birds benefit from the near £110million spent annually by the RSPB. Nothing has been better said within the pages of the Farmers Club Journal for years and years.

Jim Pitts Northants

First of all congratulations on the current edition of the Farmers Club Journal. The article by Phil Stocker (FCJ 240, p4) is one of the best I have read for a long time. I have been past chairman (now vice-president) of the National Sheep Association and our Club membership may be rather light on sheep farmers, so the article was needed.

Fortunately, Prince Charles is heading up the Campaign for Wool.

This is helpful.

May I suggest (if not done already), that a few complimentary copies of the Journal go to a select number of campaigning bodies / quangos and other charities – who, so often, are woefully ignorant about farming and land management. Herewith a suggested list: CPRE, RSPB, Woodland Trust, The Wildlife Trusts, Soil Association, Friends of the Earth, World Wildlife Fund.

It is vital that environmental groups in particular relate to the realities of modern farming. My involvement with several conservation bodies suggests there is gross ignorance and tunnel vision.

Keith McDougall Wells-next-the Sea, Norfolk

Copies of the Journal are sent to a number of industry organisations and the suggestion of sending them to more is to be considered by the Journal Committee – Editor

VIEWPOINT Responding to Phil Stocker’s article on sustainable sheep production (FCJ 240, p4) British beauty entrepreneur, broadcaster, author and West Country organic farmer Liz Earle explains why pasture-fed is best.

RIGHT now, farming relies too much on nonrenewable external factors, such as agrochemicals and fertilisers, often used to grow grain crops, which are then fed very inefficiently to animals.

I believe the best options for our health as well as for our planet are red meats and dairy products from mainly grass and forage-fed ruminant animals, such as cows and sheep.

Some may criticise ruminants due to methane emissions, but they are the only way of converting the clover and grass from the fertility-building phase of the rotation into products we can eat and the soil carbon sequestration resulting from rotational farming more than offsets the methane emissions from these animals.

Research indicates pasture-fed meat and milk is also healthier as it contains higher levels of beneficial unsaturated fats, notably Omega-3s.

But can such products command a premium?

From personal experience I know that if we tell consumers about these issues they will pay a bit more for higher quality produce that brings such a wide range of benefits.

To achieve true food security we need to derive as much as possible from all our key staple foods, including grass-fed meat and extensively managed chickens and pigs (both foraging omnivores – a classic case for the return of feeding a more varied diet that includes recycled kitchen waste) from as near as possible to where we live.

Getting the message across to government and consumers that cheap imports are simply a shortterm sticking plaster and not the solution is crucial.

Let’s make the public aware of the considerable benefits both environmentally and nutritionally from eating truly healthy meat.

The food and wellbeing TV series I am working on for 2013 will inform viewers where their food comes from and how it is produced and highlights the importance of pasture-fed food production.

Knowledge is power and if consumers know how to make the most informed choices they will be empowered to help support their farming producers.

• Liz Earle is co-founder of Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare, a company with over 500 staff and a multi-million pound turnover in over 100 countries. She is an ambassador for the Sustainable Food Trust.

www.thefarmersclub.com • 15

Farm Art

Sheeted Somersets

A group of Sheeted Somersets by Shiels

1000gns bull Comet painted by Weaver

John Stanley - renowned for his award winning Blackbrook Longhorns

A PICTURE of a now extinct breed of West Country cattle, painted more than 200 years ago and found a year ago in an art gallery in the United States, was the centre-piece of a unique art exhibition held this autumn on the Leicestershire farm of club members, John and Pat Stanley.

The picture – depicting a group of Sheeted Somersetshire Cattle, a breed that looks to have “dairy type” about it but is marked as a red version of the Belted Galloway – was signed and dated by the artist William Shiels in 1808. It is in oil on a 46 x 68 inch canvas.

John and Pat, better known in the cattle show rings of the UK for their successful showing of the Blackbrook herd of Longhorn Cattle, started their art collection around twenty years ago.

“We bought one or two pictures of Longhorn Cattle and that got us going,” says John. “We soon had a range of pictures all over the house and have been exhibiting and trading in paintings for the past seven or eight years.”

The Stanleys spotted the Sheeted Somerset painting when researching sales in the United States, immediately recognising it for one of the most famous in the pantheon of 19th Century animal paintings.

“Somerset Sheeted Cattle were associated with Broadlands House in Hampshire and with the Mountbatten family - arriving there around 1736.

They became extinct in the early 20th Century.

Ironically, given today’s issues, it is thought the breed was finally wiped out by tuberculosis,” explained John.

These animals were considered to be the ‘Super Models’ of their time - outstanding examples of what was considered the height of beauty. For the most part that meant the fatter the better.

“You can imagine the breeders of the time wanting to immortalise their finest stock. And, although to our eye they look miss-shapen and far too deep on rather thin legs, this was much nearer the conformation that was sought after by farmers of the day.”

Alongside the Sheeted Somerset Cattle, the Blackbrook exhibition featured some other notable works. Prime exhibit, in more ways than one, was a naive depiction of a Durham shorthorn heifer circa 1840. The beast weighed 82 stone, and yielded 13 stones of tallow.

Another subject attracting attention was Comet, an oil-on-canvas, 28 x 36 inches, signed and dated by one of the most celebrated artists of the genre, Thomas Weaver, in 1811.Comet was one of the most famous bulls of the 19th century being the first to take 1,000 gns at auction.

Supplies are still available of the Farmers Club Christmas card, featuring this striking winter scene of a beautifully camouflaged woodcock settling down for the night among some fallen leaves, taken from an original watercolour by Colin Woolf. The card is printed with the greeting “With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year”. Packs of 10 cards can be bought at Reception or ordered from the Secretariat (see p15 of Autumn Journal for order form). The price per pack is £8.50 including VAT and postage (UK only) for up to 5 packs (50 cards). A supplement will be charged on orders of 6 packs or more to cover the cost of additional postage. Members are requested, if possible, to collect their cards in person from Reception. Profits from card sales will support the R.A.B.I. of England, Wales and N. Ireland and the R.S.A.B.I. of Scotland.

16 • The Farmers Club Winter Journal 2012

Farm Art

Pin-feather challenge THIS year’s Farmers Club Christmas card was painted by wildlife artist Colin Woolf who adds a fascinating twist to his magnificent images of British gamebirds – special works are completed using a pin-feather from the species represented.

This small feather is located on the leading edge of a bird’s wing, with just two such feathers per bird, one on each wing. Many game shooters and gamekeepers collect them - and it was from a gamekeeper, 20 years ago, that Colin first learned about the art of pin-feather painting.

Presented with a handful of pin-feathers, he was issued with a friendly challenge: “Why don’t you try painting with these?�

Pin-feather painting is not a new development.

Although its history is poorly documented, the technique has long been used by artists and craftsmen for achieving fine lines, and Victorian miniaturists are reputed to have used the feathers to paint portraits on ivory.

Already a professional wildlife artist, Colin was used to creating paintings with a sable brush, but was not expecting the difficulty pin-feathers presented. With seemingly impossible waterproof properties, they had a tendency to shed filaments while wearing down at the tip.

(Main pictures) Pin feather painting presents a unique challenge (Inset) Professional wildlife artist Colin Woolf

Detailed plumage He persevered, progressing from sepia studies to full colour images, and taking the art of woodcock pin-feather painting to new heights in his quest to achieve detailed plumage, beautiful woodland landscapes and softly graduating skies.

He explains: “From a collection of thousands of feathers, sometimes only one or two are suitable to paint with.� Colin only ever uses one pin-feather for each painting, inserting the feather into the watercolour paper beneath the image once it is complete.

His latest self-imposed challenge is to use ‘unknown’ pin-feathers from game birds such as grey partridge, black grouse, capercaillie and ptarmigan, with no guarantee that any feather will lend itself for use as a brush.

Having completed the first painting of red grouse, ptarmigan, black grouse and capercaillie around a central woodcock, Colin is now embarking on a second picture featuring snipe, teal, pheasant and grey partridge - again, with a woodcock in the centre. So far, grey partridge and the ptarmigan feathers have proved most difficult, being particularly soft and flexible.

A book about woodcock and pin-feather painting is planned, including many of Colin’s paintings and a close look at these elusive birds. • www.wildart.co.uk

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Free advice always available.

Courteous and friendly service.

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www.thefarmersclub.com • 17

Rhydian Scurlock-Jones, Chairman; Jeremy Dyas, Vice Chairman; MaryAnne Salisbury, Secretary • U30s

U30s Chairman’s Jottings THE September dinner was a huge success thanks to Meurig Raymond, NFU Deputy President, providing us with a really engaging talk, covering his farming background, his role within the NFU and the critical talks on the future of the dairy industry. It was a great opportunity for our members to be able to ask questions and learn from an industry leader.

It’s encouraging that we have always succeeded in attracting / persuading high calibre speakers to share their knowledge and experience with us. I was keen to ensure we had Welsh lamb on the menu and the head chef did an excellent job.

Our attendance over the past year at events at The Royal Agricultural College and Harper Adams University College has added to the interest we have been getting from potential new members.

I’m delighted that our membership this year has increased to a higher level than for a number of years. I would be delighted to receive more enquiries and to invite potential new members to our new members dinner in February next year.

In October we hosted the Inter-Club, which is an organisation made up of a number of under 30s groups of various London Clubs. We organise an annual event on the theme of ‘producers’ and showcase what our industry and club has to offer.

This is a great event and we always receive complements on the quality of catering available at the Club. The Inter-Club rivalry is always entertaining and we do enjoy showing a few people how to do things properly.

Unfortunately, due to the late harvest our Autumn Farm Walk has had to be cancelled. We are now looking forward to Christine Tacon CBE joining us as our guest speaker at the Club on Friday 16th November.

contact Rhydian for more information Rhydian Scurlock-Jones 07807 999177 rsjones@savills.com

18 • The Farmers Club Winter Journal 2012

Economic and technical briefings, plus in-field equipment demos, featured at Massey Ferguson’s Beauvais event

French lessons for UK 500 ON 28th and 29th August 2012 members of The Farmers Club were invited by Massey Ferguson to their ‘Vision of the Future Event’ held at La Salle Beauvais, France’s premier agricultural college and a stone’s throw from Massey Ferguson’s headquarters.

We were joined by approximately 500 potential customers from the UK and Ireland.

As guests of Massey Ferguson we were given the ‘5 star’ treatment, kicking off with a private chartered flight from Harrods’ private terminal, avoiding the usual agony of dealing with airport terminals. On arrival it was a short bus ride to the college where we were quickly acquainted with a glass (or two) of beer before dinner.

The revelries continued back at the hotel where the hotel barmen were kept particularly busy.

The following morning was classroom based, where we received technical updates on commodity trading, genetics and most notably the proposed changes to the Common Agricultural Policy. Given our foreign surroundings, it was most poignant to note the disparity in payments that persist between the member states.

From a British perspective, it came as some relief to hear that any changes

could see some of the disparities reduced in our favour.

The morning session was followed by a field-based display of the full Massey Ferguson range of machinery, old and new. This included a working demonstration of the newly released combine and baler range, and the opportunity to test-drive the firm’s new line of tractors. Of particular interest was the comparison of fuel consumption of two identical tractors but with differing tyre pressures. That evening we were again treated to an excellent dinner, accompanied by live music.

The trip provided an excellent opportunity to meet up with new and old members of the Farmers Club and to meet others in the industry from all corners of the UK and Ireland, including a number from Scotland who had endured gruelling journeys to make it to Luton. Special thanks must be given to Massey Ferguson’s staff for looking after us so well and affording us the opportunity to have a short break from the nightmare harvest of 2012.

• Will Benbow Under 30s Committee Member

U30s • Rhydian Scurlock-Jones, Chairman; Jeremy Dyas, Vice Chairman; MaryAnne Salisbury, Secretary

YFC role offers so much

YFC Rural Road Safety Campaign is a key initiative

Raising YFC’s profile

Under 30s member Milly Wastie explains how she became 2013 National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs chairman and her drive to improve road safety YOU don’t have to be a farmer to be a young farmer!

I grew up in rural Oxfordshire and whilst my parents don’t farm, my grandparents were involved with agriculture and horticulture, famous for the Wastie’s English apple varieties and long gone orchards. So country life is truly in my blood.

From my early teens I became involved with the Young Farmers organisation, initially joining Witney YFC junior club and never looking back since, which has been thirteen years now.

Young Farmers really does offer the most diverse and exciting opportunities. From public speaking to floristry competitions, to travelling around the world and charity fundraising – if you throw yourself in the opportunities for personal development are endless.

Most of my friendship circles around the country are connected to the federation and I can honestly say if it wasn’t for all of the experiences I have had, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

I became East Midlands Regional Manager for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution four years ago. After interview I was told I got the job because of my YFC and fundraising background, my ability to speak in public, my can-do attitude and my passion for British agriculture. I thoroughly enjoy representing such a wonderful organisation. Knowing the difference the charity makes to people’s lives really motivates me to put in my all – flitting from one NFU meeting, to an agricultural show, then onto a young farmers presentation all in the same day.

And that’s the beauty of my job. I can fit my YFC commitments around the work with RABI, as the two organisations are very closely aligned, not only for fundraising and marketing purposes, but for potential referrals too.

I have held many positions in my time within Young Farmers, as club secretary and chairman at Witney YFC, to Northamptonshire County chair, East Midlands area chairman, and more recently at the top of the YFC ladder as Agriculture and Rural Affairs chairman in 2010, and two years as vice-chairman of council.

Looking forward to my year as national chairman there are a few things I’d like to achieve, to ensure I develop our 23,000 members and leave a legacy for future generations in British agriculture.

My biggest crusade, which is very close to my heart, is the launch of a rural road safety campaign I instigated. Losing a YFC friend in a car accident when I was chairman of my club really had a huge impact on me and my club’s members. Attending a funeral of somebody your own age is chilling. The memories are etched in my mind. You have your whole life ahead of you at 18, so to know it could have been prevented is heart-breaking.

The main objective of the campaign is to educate and train YFC members on the risks and hazards of driving on rural roads. Together with various stakeholders including Brake, NFU Mutual, the emergency services, local road safety partnerships and skid pan training centres we will deliver training and awareness and hopefully change our members’ attitudes to keep them safe.

It’s hard to pick just one or two highlights of my YFC career so far. From representing England on the European rally in Sweden and Switzerland to winning the Oxford Farming Conference union debate, in a Union Jack dress, as well as meeting my partner Andrew, the opportunities have been life changing. I hope you will continue to support me as I start a new chapter as NFYFC chairman.

• Milly Wastie Tel: 01788 823739 Mob: 07525 323450 www.twitter.com/millywastie

www.thefarmersclub.com • 19

Stephen Skinner • Club News

Club News Horse Guard Avenue latest I REGRET to inform members that the opportunity to buy One Horse Guards Avenue has gone altogether. We were outbid, by some margin, by someone else.

As you might expect, I am deeply disappointed that this once in a lifetime (if not longer), opportunity has gone and I know that a lot of you will be saddened too. However, we tried our best, and in the end, even in my wildest fantasies, we could not have offered what was ultimately paid.

So, time to re-group, and re-assess where we go from here. With the direction of the General Committee, I am working on a Plan B with the intent to best develop the space we

currently have.

We still need to increase the number of bedrooms we have; we need to improve the percentage of en-suite facilities we have – where we can; we need to improve our meeting rooms, Reception and ladies and gentlemen’s toilets; and, if at all possible, develop the dining room/Eastwood Room/lounge areas so we can improve the flow of people for functions and increase the space we currently have. All easier said than done!

We are talking to architects and Westminster City Council Planning Department to explore the art of the possible. I shall keep you informed.

New event for January

New chef has Michelin background WE have a new Head Chef! Mr Raffi Hazmi has a hugely impressive CV, from Michelin starred experience to gastro pubs to highly successful restaurants in Australia. He is delivering some excellent results already. Unsolicited compliments are beginning to be sent in which is a wonderful experience. Why not come and experience what only the lucky few have so far! Do book in advance if you can though. Space is becoming limited.

Cakes command a premium A VERY great thank you to all of you who helped us raise £521.95 at our Macmillan Coffee Morning on Friday 28 September.

This was the largest sum we have raised in the past four years and for those of us who have had dealings with Macmillan, we know what a wonderful organisation and really good cause this money is going too.

A special thank you must go to the members of staff who did so much to make it the success it has become. Lauren Wade, my PA, who does the bulk of the organising along with John Pombo’s wife, Greg Barthelmy’s mum and MaryAnne Salisbury’s daughter who produced some amazing cakes. Thank you to one and all.

Bedroom improvements

A new addition to the Club Calendar for 2013 is a visit to the Pre-Raphaelites Exhibition at Tate Britain on Friday 11 January, preceded by a three-course luncheon at the Club.

Combining rebellion, beauty, scientific precision and imaginative grandeur, the Pre-Raphaelites constitute Britain’s first modern art movement. This exhibition brings together over 150 works in different media, including painting, sculpture, photography and the applied arts, revealing the Pre-Raphaelites to be advanced in their approach to every genre.

The schedule is lunch at the Club from 1:45pm followed by a visit to the exhibition at 4:15pm. Tickets are priced at £50.00, including, lunch with wine and entry to the exhibition.

To book your place visit the booking area of the Club website at www.thefarmersclub.com or contact events organiser MaryAnne Salisbury (events@thefarmersclub.com) 020 7930 3751.

Past Chairman AFTER a long battle with illness past chairman (1987), Mr David R Powell has died. His funeral at St Peter's Church, Bridge, Canterbury on Thursday 1st November was attended by Club Secretary Stephen Skinner. We hope to be able to publish a full obituary in the New Year issue of the Journal.

20 • The Farmers Club Winter Journal 2012

CLUB CLOSURE Noon Friday 21 December to 3.00pm Wednesday 2 January 2013 Members may book a bedroom to stay when the Club is closed on the understanding that it is on a room only basis as no other facilities are available.

OUR most ambitious bedroom renovation programme has been completed. Rooms 3, 4 and 5 have been given a total facelift and en-suite facilities, while Rooms 1a and 2 have been given something of a makeover too!

Creating new bathrooms from where there were none before is no mean feat and, to date, I am extremely pleased with the results. I hope members are too.

At this point my praise for the efforts of Angela Gaughan our Housekeeper, Greg Barthelmy, our Maintenance Engineer, and ‘Teddy’ Ramdeen cannot be high enough.

They have given vast amounts of their own time, imagination and not inconsiderable skills to deliver the bedrooms to, what I believe, is a very high standard. We are incredibly lucky to have people as committed as Greg, Angela and Teddy working for us.

Club News • Stephen Skinner

Club Calendar Diary Dates Please check the dates carefully as they are sometimes changed and new dates added for each issue. Details of Club events circulated in the previous issues are available ON-LINE AT www.thefarmersclub.com or by phoning the Secretariat (020 7930 3751).

Sir David Naish’s services to the Club as a Vice President were recognised at the luncheon following the Finance and General Purposes Committee Meeting on Wednesday 3rd October. Club Chairman Paul Heygate presented Sir David with an engraved tankard to mark the end of his seven year term.

Farming Event 2014 PLANS to bring a farming event to London, championed by Farmers Club member Guy Smith, are refocusing on a new venue and a new date after the Royal Parks announced it could no longer provide a venue.

Originally set to take place in Hyde Park in late September 2013 the organisers of the Festival of Food and Farming in London have pledged the event will still take place in the city, but will probably now be in 2014. A number of alternative venues are being considered, including Clapham Common, and the Olympic Park. Plans are also afoot to co-host an indoor food and countryside event next August.

© WH CHOW / Shutterstock.com

DECEMBER

New Years Eve Dinner at the Club – FULL Monday 31st

JANUARY 2013 Oxford Farming Conference (Not a Club event) Wednesday 2nd – Friday 4th (See www.ofc.org.uk for information)

PreRaphaelites Exhibition, Tate Britain Friday 11th Lunch at 1:45pm, exhibition at 4:15pm (see p20/21) Oxford in January

LAMMA Show Wednesday 16th – Thursday 17th Newark, Notts

FEBRUARY Club Dinner with Guest Chef Friday 15th Details to be confirmed

OBITUARY MICHAEL Foreman, a past master of the Worshipful Company of Farmers and longtime member of the Farmers Club, has died aged 81. A Man of Kent and a man of Headcorn all his life, he was born there in April 1931 and after National Service with 1st Batallion Parachute Regiment attended Wye College and the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester.

He subsequently returned to the family agricultural merchanting business started by his great grand-father in 1873. When the business was sold in 1990 he was chairman and managing director.

From 1992-1998 he was Honorary Finance Director of the Kent County Agricultural Society and from 1999-2005 was its Honorary Director. He was Master of the Worshipful Company of Farmers in 1994/95. He leaves a widow Susan, a son and daughter, and five grandchildren.

Friday 7th

New Year in London

• www.farminginthepark.co.uk.

Man of Kent

Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall – FULL

Carmen at the Albert Hall

City Food Lecture at the Guildhall (Not a Club event)

Monday 25th Speaker: Paul Bulcke, CEO Nestle

MARCH Carmen at the Royal Albert Hall Friday 1st Booking form on p22 Manet at the RA

Manet Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts Friday 8th Booking form on p22

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

www.thefarmersclub.com • 21

The Farmers Club • Club Information

Club Information 020 7930 3751 • www.thefarmersclub.com Winter Events Office Holders Patron – Her Majesty The Queen HONORARY VICE PRESIDENT Sir David Naish DL VICE PRESIDENTS Mark Hudson, Peter Jackson CBE, Roddy Loder-Symonds, John Parker, Norman Shaw CBE THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB 2012 PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN Paul Heygate TRUSTEES Barclay Forrest OBE (Chairman), Mrs Susan Kilpatrick OBE, Mrs Nicki Quayle, Julian Sayers VICE-CHAIRMAN Stewart Houston CBE

The very essence of Spain is evoked in this acclaimed in-the-round production of the world’s most popular opera. A powerful tale of lust, superstition and murder, told through Bizet’s rich and timeless score, contains some of opera’s finest arias and best-loved music. Following highly acclaimed seasons in 2002, 2005 and 2009 Carmen is at the Royal Albert Hall for a limited season of just 14 performances.

The Royal Academy of Arts presents the first major exhibition in the UK to showcase Édouard Manet’s portraiture, examining the relationship between Manet’s portrait painting and his scenes of modern life.. ‘Manet: Portraying Life’ will include over 50 paintings spanning the career of this archetypal modern artist together with a selection of pastels and contemporary photographs.

Approximate timings: 5.30pm Supper at the Club 7.30pm Carmen 10.30pm Return to the Club (Coach transfer included)

Approximate timings: 12 noon Lunch at Club 2-2.30pm Visit Manet Exhibition at RAA

HONORARY TREASURER Richard Butler IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN Richard Holland CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND SECRETARY Stephen Skinner DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE/SECRETARY Robert Buckolt COMMITTEE Elected 2007: Tim Bennett (Chairman House Sub-Committee), Mrs Anne Chamberlain (Chairman Journal & Communications Sub-Committee), James Cross, Richard Harrison, Campbell Tweed OBE (Chairman Membership Sub-Committee) Elected 2008: The Reverend Dr Gordon Gatward OBE, Jimmy McLean, David Richardson OBE, John Wilson Elected 2009: John Stones Elected 2010: David Leaver, Martin Taylor Elected 2011: Andrew Brown, Micheal Summers Elected 2012: Mrs Ionwen Lewis, Charles Notcutt OBE Co-opted: Rhydian Scurlock-Jones (Chairman Under 30s), Jeremy Dyas (Vice Chairman Under 30s) THE FARMERS CLUB CHARITABLE TRUST TRUSTEES John Kerr MBE JP DL (Chairman), James Cross, Vic Croxson DL, Stephen Fletcher, Mrs Stella Muddiman JP, The Chairman and Immediate Past Chairman of the Club (ex officio)

You can either apply on line at www.thefarmersclub.com or complete and return the booking form below.

Please complete in CAPITALS WITH FIRST NAME and return to MaryAnne Salisbury, Events Manager, The Farmers Club, 3 Whitehall Court, LONDON, SW1A 2EL. Tel: 020-7930 3751 Fax: 020-7839 7864 Email: events@thefarmersclub.com Member Address Post Code Tel

Email

Club Event

Date

Price

Carmen at the Royal Albert Hall

Friday 1 March

£130.00

Manet Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.

Friday 8 March

£ 50.00

No. of places

Total cost

…..

£ ………

(Max 3 guests)

…..

(Max 3 guests)

Name of Guest(s) and event to be attended : Event Event Event Event Event Event Event

NEXT ISSUE Watch out for your New Year issue of the Farmers Club Journal, due out in mid-January, packed full of content including a profile of Stewart Houston our chairman for 2013 (pictured), key economic pointers for the year ahead, a fascinating insight into food exports, and a report on John Gummer’s address to the Farmers Club’s House of Lords luncheon.

22 • The Farmers Club Winter Journal 2012

Event Event Payment by Debit or Credit Card (Only Visa, Mastercard or Maestro ) or by CHEQUE payable ‘The Farmers Club’.

Type of card

Card No.

Start Date

Expiry Date

Security No. (last 3 digits)

Card Holder’s Name

!

Amount to be charged £

Signature

£ ………

Club Information • The Farmers Club

Further information is available on The Farmers Club Website www.thefarmersclub.com Obituaries It is with regret that we announce the death of the following members: Mr R Cawthorne Mr G Doubleday Mr B Emery Mr G Fisher Mr M Foreman Mr M Malden Mr D Powell Mrs V Stokes Mr G Tarlton Lord J Wise

Devon Kent Hampshire Cheshire Kent Devon Kent Leicestershire Gloucestershire Norfolk

New Members The following were elected: UK Members Mr I Acheson Mr J Beck Lady E Chanter Mrs K Clark Mr A Duffield Mr J Fuller Mr D Fuller Mr R Gough Mr D Harrison Mr G Jones Mr D Marsden Mr D Masters Mr G Matthews

Devon Cheshire Somerset Suffolk Norfolk Norfolk Kent Worcestershire Yorkshire Warwickshire Yorkshire Kent Cornwall

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

Mr R Middleditch Mr J O'Halloran Mr J Paybody Mr J Savory Mr C Seligman Dr M Smyth Mr J Summers Mr S Thomas Mr L Thompson Coon Mr R Youngman Overseas Mr P Wiles Under 30s Miss S Aylward Miss E Bilson Mr C Black Miss C Cherrington Mr T David Miss E Davies Mr C Ford Miss F Friend Mr A Greenwell Mr O Humphrey Miss V Kiddy Mr D Kirby Mr G Matts Mr M Nixon Mr J Rowe Miss G Simmonds Miss R Winter Whitehall Court Mr J Lidster Forty Club Mr R Hartley

Suffolk Derbyshire Northamptonshire Norfolk Hampshire Dumfriesshire Gloucestershire Cumberland Herefordshire Devon

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

Portugal Kent Northamptonshire Gloucestershire London Hampshire Pembrokeshire Essex Kent Suffolk Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire Northamptonshire Denmark Oxfordshire Gloucestershire Cambridgeshire

Chairman 2012: Paul Heygate

Essex Warwickshire Chief Executive and Secretary: Air Commodore Stephen Skinner

Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club, Dublin, Ireland The Muthaiga Country Club, Nairobi, Kenya The Harare Club, Harare, Zimbabwe The Christchurch Club, Christchurch, New Zealand (Closed due to earthquake damage) The Canterbury Cl ub, Christchurch, New Zealand Members wishing to visit any of the above Clubs must obtain an introductory card from the Secretariat.

2013 Subscriptions The Committee has decided that the rates of subscription due on 01 January 2013 will be as follows:

Annual Subscriptions Town Single £353.00 Town Family £386.00 Country Single £252.00 Country Family £285.00 Under 30 (26-29) Single £129.00 Family £143.00 Under 30 (18-25) Single £84.00 Family £95.00 Overseas Single £252.00 Overseas Family £285.00

Club Contacts

Associate – Whitehall Court Single £353.00 Family £386.00 Associate – Forty Club Town Single £353.00 Town Family £386.00 Country Single £252.00 Country Family £285.00 Entrance Fees £275.00 for all categories except Under 30s

Life Membership Age Amount 31 – 36 £7350 36 – 41 £6740 41 – 46 £6120 46 – 51 £5410 51 – 56 £4850 56 – 61 £4190 61 – 66 £3370 66 – 71 £2550 Over 71 £1840

Bedroom & Dining Room Reservations: 020-7930 3557 Private Function & Meeting Room Reservations: 020-7925 7100 Accounts: 020-7925 7101 Membership: 020-7925 7102 Secretariat: 020-7930 3751 Personal calls for members only: 020-7930 4730 Fax: 020-7839 7864 E-mails secretariat@thefarmersclub.com accounts@thefarmersclub.com membership@thefarmersclub.com functions@thefarmersclub.com meetings@thefarmersclub.com events@thefarmersclub.com reservations@thefarmersclub.com reception@thefarmersclub.com u30s@thefarmersclub.com Website: www.thefarmersclub.com THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Editor and Advertisement Manager: Charles Abel 07795 420692 E-mail: editor@thefarmersclub.com Designed and produced by: Ingenious, www.ingeniousdesign.co.uk The printing inks are made using vegetable based oils.

No film or film processing chemicals were used.

Printed on Lumi Silk which is ISO 14001 certified manufacturer.

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

Members who have completed Direct Debit Mandates need take no action.

www.thefarmersclub.com • 23

Farmers Club

Events

Bordeaux Wine Tour Tuesday 21st to Friday 24th May Guided tour to leading vineyards and food producers in Western France

PreRaphaelites Exhibition, Tate Britain

Visit to Windsor Great Park

Friday 11th January Lunch at 1:45pm, exhibition at 4:15pm (see p20)

An opportunity to enjoy the 1000 acres of woodland, lakes and gardens, preceded by dinner at the Club the night before

Carmen at the Royal Albert Hall

Visit to Dumfries Farm in Ayrshire and SAC

Friday 1st March

Tuesday 18th & Wednesday 19th June

A musical spectacular as the world’s most popular opera is staged “in the round” at the glorious Albert Hall, preceded by supper at the Club, with coach transfer included

Friday 31st May

A fascinating insight into the latest investment in farming by a major retailer

Manet Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts

Harvest Festival Service

Friday 8th March

Wonderful service with the choir at St Martin-in-the-Fields followed by Buffet Supper at the Club

Lunch at the Club followed by a visit to the first major exhibition in the UK to showcase Edouard Manet’s portraiture

Tuesady 8th October

St. George’s Day Lunch at Butchers Hall

Visit to Piedmont Region of Italy

Tuesday 23rd April

October

The Club’s annual event to mark the national day of England

Details to be confirmed

Visit to Leckford Estate in Hampshire Saturday 4th May A rare opportunity to visit this impressive farming estate, preceded by dinner at the Club the night before

Application forms included in this and future Journals