LEAF Out & About

With lockdown easing, it has been an absolute joy to be out and about again over the last few weeks, talking to members face to face, catching up with Demonstration Farmers and friends across the industry. The LEAF flags could be seen flying high at Groundswell and Cereals after such a long hiatus. Here’s a round up…

Groundswell Agriculture 2021

The highlight of the event was LEAF’s panel discussion on Wednesday evening, exploring our 30-year journey developing and demonstrating Integrated Farm Management and how this aligns with regenerative agriculture. Our CEO, Caroline Drummond, spoke alongside LEAF Demonstration Farmer Ian Waller, Alastair Leake from GWCT, Resilient and Ready project farmer Andy Bason and LEAF Marque Assurance Manager, Jenny Clark, on our ambitions over the next 10 years. The wealth of experience, drive for continuous improvement and consideration of future opportunities covered in this discussion highlights just how valuable the work of LEAF farmers is in demonstrating and developing IFM as we embark on a new era for agriculture outside the EU as well as in tackling the climate crisis. We were also delighted to unveil our new video powerfully illustrating IFM as a successful regeneration approach. If you haven’t already seen it, do take a look and huge thanks to all the farmers who were involved in its creation – we hope you are as proud of it as we are!

Watch the 'IFM supports Regenerative Agriculture' video here:

Cereals

Following on from an invigorating and inspiring few days at Groundswell, LEAF travelled to Lincoln for the Cereals Event. A big thank you to AHDB for hosting us in their Collaborators tent, alongside Nuffield Scholars and Agricology.

The two-day event began with a panel discussion on the triple bottom line, chaired by Caroline Drummond, explored the importance of learning from best practice, through demonstration and knowledge exchange. Our biggest take away from the session was that “positive people make things happen” … Our network of Demonstration Farmers, Innovation Centresand LEAF Members are all working towards making positive change happen - for farming, food systems, and the planet.

So many of you dropped in to see us and it was great to speak to many interested parties about the LEAF Sustainable Farming Review, our online self-assessment management tool. Integrated Pest Management was certainly a hot topic over the two days, with many conversations taking place both formally and informally. See our article on AHDBs resources available to support the implementation of IPM as part of an IFM system and do take a look at our technical handbook – Simply Sustainable Integrated Pest Management.

Farmer Time Drinks Receptions

Another highlight of the last few weeks has been meeting up with many farmers involved in Farmer Time. We held two drinks receptions – the first at Cereals, kindly sponsored by Strutt and Parker and also at The Great Yorkshire Show, with thanks to Future Farmers of Yorkshire. They gave us a great opportunity to hear their experiences of their classroom link ups and their enthusiasm for Farmer Time was truly inspiring!

LEAF Open Farm Sunday 2021

Finally, farmers and industry organisations came together on the 27th June for LEAF Open Farm Sunday. Over 100 farms welcomed thousands of people onto farms for socially distanced walks and talks and we were delighted to welcome Defra Farming Minister, Victoria Prentis who toured LEAF Marque certified Rectory Farm in Oxfordshire with Imogen Stanley.

Watch the LOFS21 highlights video here!

It has been a brilliant few months with such a tangible, optimistic buzz in the air. Technology, innovation, collaboration at its very best and made extra special by being able to catch up with new and old friends in person.

Photo: Kypie Farm for LOFS