9 minute read
ANITA HEAD
CONSUMERS ARE ILL-ADVISED
It seems the children have only been back at school a few days and now the Easter holidays are upon us. My workload has increased back up to full capacity with the dreaded school run and trying to cram a week’s worth of work into a day.
I feel incredibly privileged to have spent the past year at home with all four children. When they all disappeared off to school aged fi ve, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would have the opportunity of home schooling and enjoying their company. I am very aware that we have lost some friends and family close to our hearts throughout this pandemic and our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Silaging will soon be upon us and turnout is imminent. Lambing time has now arrived and they seem to be appearing thick and fast. So far it would seem trouble free, but who knows what will be lurking behind closed doors! Having the cows calve all year round doesn’t seem a formidable task, but lambing sheep all at once seems like a never-ending task.
Modern farming is a complex, unpredictable and individual business. Farmers must meet the changing needs of our planet and the expectations of regulators, consumers, food processors and retailers alike. Farmers are coming under increased pressures from climate change, soil erosion and biodiversity loss and from consumers’ changing tastes in food and the way in which it is produced.
Plant-based food is becoming more popular, but consumers are ill advised as to the sustainability of this food. Dairy farmers are being told to reduce the amount of palm oil and soya used in feed, due to claims of deforestation, but palm oil is used in the production of pizza, cake, chocolate, biscuits, margarine, cosmetics, soap, shampoo, cleaning products etc. Half of all products sold in a supermarket contain palm oil.
It would appear that the more you eco-logicise the planet the less food you grow, the more houses you build the less land you farm, and the greener the energy you produce the less food you grow. We must fi nd a middle way in which we can be environmentally friendly and continue with the original purpose of agriculture...to produce food and feed a nation. This now appears to be becoming increasingly unbalanced.
As demand rises, global milk production is increasing and the UK dairy industry is having to manage that rising demand. Plant-based milk alternatives have become very popular in the UK over the past decade, although milk drinkers are a very loyal bunch, judging by a recent report. It reveals that 87% of dairy customers still drink cow’s milk, while 94% buy cheese and 78% yoghurt or crème fraiche. The growth in volume poses challenges for suppliers and producers alike. Their margins are squeezed to the limit by powerful customers like supermarkets, who use dairy products as a loss leader to entice the general public into their stores. In 1995 there were 35,741 dairy farmers in the UK, in 2019 there were 12,209, with a further reduction of 400 in 2020. This is a 67% reduction. If farmers keep leaving the industry at this speed, by 2030 we won’t have any dairy farmers in the UK.
DID YOU KNOW?
• That 70% more food will be needed to feed a growing population by 2050. • That 80% of food produced in the developing world is produced by smallholders. • That 700% higher crop yields are produced in
North America than in sub-Saharan Africa. • That 180,000 people leave rural communities every day to live in cities. • That only 12% of the world’s land can be used for farming. • That 70% of the world’s water is used for farming. • That farming generates 12% of greenhouse emissions every year.
We have to fi nd a balance in food production. If we continue along this trajectory we run the risk of having lots of wild fl owers, bugs and badgers but no food. A dilemma I don’t wish to have.
ANITA HEAD
Farmer
TUCKWELLS ACQUIRES BURDEN BROS AGRI LTD
East of England John Deere dealer P Tuckwell Ltd has completed the acquisition of Burden Bros Agri Ltd. The agreement between owners James Tuckwell and Dale Burden will see all employees and the three existing branch locations at Stockbury and Ivychurch in Kent and Framfi eld in East Sussex retained.
The acquisition of Burden Bros Agri Ltd, which was founded in 2007 to take on the John Deere agricultural franchise for north Kent, has the support and approval of John Deere Ltd and does not involve any other businesses in the BB⁴ group of companies.
Subsequent expansion of Burden Bros Agri Ltd saw the business take on additional territory in East Sussex, parts of Surrey and the remainder of Kent. The John Deere Turf franchise was added following the acquisition of the Godfreys business for the area.
Tuckwells was established in 1954, became John Deere dealers in 1965 and now operates from seven locations across Suff olk, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, employing more than 200 people. The business also runs Tuckwell Farms, a 1,500 acre working farm in Suff olk.
“Dale and his team have built a strong agricultural and turf business throughout the South East of England since the company began in 2007,” said James Tuckwell. “We are excited to be given this opportunity to expand our business and to build on their success. We welcome the Burden Bros Agri team to the Tuckwell family and look forward to working together with them and their customers.”
Dale Burden said he was “confi dent that the business is in safe hands and is well placed to continue its development and growth”.
MAJOR EVENTS POSTPONED
The National Sheep Association (NSA) has made “the diffi cult and disappointing decision” to postpone its major regional events for 2021.
NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker said the “ongoing risk and uncertainty surrounding large events” had led to the “diffi cult, but we consider responsible” decision to postpone them. The move follows the cancellation of all the association’s 2020 events, including the fl agship NSA Sheep Event planned for last July. The NSA still plans to hold fi ve annual ram sales in 2021, including Eastern Region sales in August and September.
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Establishing a better way
…for 40 years
1981-2021
AGRICULTURAL
APPRENTICESHIPS
Plumpton College offers a wide range of career and personal development opportunities in agriculture and farming; whether you’re a recent school leaver, a career changer, or employed in the sector.
Sitting alongside their popular accredited
In the first of a new series in which South East Farmer hears from students at Plumpton College, we find out more about what it’s like to study there.
industry courses, Plumpton College has a selection of agricultural apprenticeship programmes, including Stockperson and Crop Technician. Apprenticeships are an ideal way for employees to gain industry qualifications while gaining the most up-to-date and relevant skills and knowledge, all of which can be applied immediately in their job role. This style of learning suits many people, having the advantage of being delivered alongside their full time job.
Given the ever-increasing average age of farmers, there is a need to develop and support the next generation of farm owners. Plumpton College is looking to build a community of farms across the South East that are interested in employing an apprentice to support the need for future agricultural employees to enter the industry.
Leighton Snelgrove successfully achieved his Level 3 agriculture apprenticeship at Plumpton College in 2019. Here he talks about the benefits the programme offered him and his employer.
> Leighton Snelgrove
“I really enjoyed my apprenticeship. It worked well for me and suited how I like to learn, as well as enabling me to have an income while I studied. I had a supportive employer who took an active role in ensuring that I had the opportunity to develop my skills. This was something that not only benefited me professionally but also them, as I was able to take on more responsibilities as I progressed through my apprenticeship.
“Looking back, the apprenticeship gave me the confidence to further my career and I’m now assistant farm manager at Black Ven Farm, suppliers of top quality meat for the Waitrose Dutchy Organic line. I also own my own flock of sheep and herd of cattle and sell my own lamb and beef meat boxes via my Boringwheel Mill Farm Meat Boxes page on Facebook.
“I completed my apprenticeship studies alongside my full-time job. I was spending four days on the farm and one day a week at Plumpton developing my practical understanding and testing my theorical knowledge. My apprenticeship programme manager would visit me regularly in the work place to check everything was running smoothly, and liaised with my employer to ensure that I was developing my skills and knowledge.
“If you’re thinking of taking up an apprenticeship, I would suggest approaching your local farms directly and setting up trial days to make sure that you can work well with your potential employer. As with any form of employment, you’ll need to have a strong work ethic, be reliable and be good at building relationships.”
HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN APPRENTICESHIPS WITH PLUMPTON COLLEGE
There are many advantages of apprenticeships for employers. It’s a costeffective way of providing a workforce with up to date skills and knowledge to improve productivity, but also to fill specific skills gaps now or in the future.
With financial incentives of up to £3,000 available to employers who recruit a new apprentice, this is an ideal time to explore how apprenticeships can play a key role in supporting and growing your business. For further information contact the Plumpton College Business Services team on 01273 892073 or email business@plumpton.ac.uk. Further information can be found at www.plumpton.ac.uk/business-services/apprenticeships-for-employers/
If you are looking to undertake an apprenticeship but have not yet found an employer, Plumpton College can help you in your search. The free Apprenticeship Talent Bank service will provide you with hints and tips on searching for the right opportunity as well as alerting you to suitable apprenticeship vacancies.
