#STUDENTFARMER - September 2017

THE TECHNOLOGY EDITION

SEPTEMBER 2017

GAME OF DRONES HOW TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING THE FUTURE OF BRITISH FARMING

LONDON CALLING

WE GO BEHIND THE SCENES AT WESTMINSTER

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NFU INDUSTRY PROGRAMMES HOW THE NFU CAN HELP YOU TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP

SHOOTING FOR GLORY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH RIO 2016 MEDALLIST ED LING

21/09/2017 10:16:31

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24 Published by: NFU, Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, CV8 2TZ

Filled with words by: Huw Hopkins, Jo Travis, Alex Lacey, Ruth Mason, Georgie Gater-Moore and Orla McIlduff

Designed by: John Cottle

To advertise contact: Alan Brown on alan.brown@nfu.org.uk

Contact:

05 FARMER VS MACHINES 08 HANDS-FREE HECTARE 10 TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE 12 MICRO-FARMING 15 KEEP YOUR GADGETS SAFE FORREST CHUMP 18 BEE APPRENTICE 21 FARMERS IN THE CAPITAL PAGE 50 25 YFC AT THE ROYAL WELSH 26 MIND THE GAP YEAR 30 RURAL SPORT: CLAY SHOOTING 32 TAKING OVER THE FAMILY FARM 34 MISS MUM’S COOKING? 38 LORD MAYOR’S SHOW REPS 41 #NEXTGEN 42 NFU INDUSTRY PROGRAMMES 45 NON-AG AG DEGREES 48 YOUNG FARMER OPPORTUNITIES

POSTER!

SPACE INVADERS Welcome to the new academic year! Whether you’re a fresher who has left home for the first time, or a returning student, we’re going to kick it off with a crisp new issue of #StudentFarmer – the Game Of Drones technology edition.

We’re looking to the future, even if the front cover is inspired by a game that was released in 1978.

We’ve gone all high tech here at the #SF offices. The front section is dedicated to the ultimate showdown of farmer vs machine – who will prevail? In fact, people and technology probably need each other in equal measure to secure the future of the industry, so the more you learn about these new machines now, the better. We cover new tech, how to protect it, autonomous tractors, robotic milking and more.

Elsewhere in the mag, Orla McIlduff visited that there London with a group of student farmers to find out how and why a bunch of people in a busy city make laws that affect rural communities. They visited the Houses of Parliament and met with the NFU’s Westminster team – on page 21 you can read about how a group of tweed-clad farmers fared on a hot summer’s day in the nation’s capital.

We also have advice on graduate trainee opportunities, NFU industry programmes and advice for students everywhere.

Email: studentfarmer@nfu.org.uk Facebook.com/StudentFarmer

Huw Hopkins

Twitter: @studentfarmer

Editor, #studentfarmer

Instagram: @studentfarmer

@NFUHuw

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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05/09/2017 14:05:24

WILTSHIRE COLLEGE LACKHAM

0 0 16 S E R C A APPLY NOW APPRENTICESHIPS | FULL TIME | PART TIME | UNIVERSITY LEVEL WiltshireCollege

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PRESENTS

the fight of a generation!

HI-TECH ROBOT MILKING GPS

LOW-TECH PEOPLE POWER YOU September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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05/09/2017 14:58:46

Advertising feature

E

aston and Otley College has campuses based in Norfolk and Suffolk but attracts students from across the country. Courses range from level one options all the way through to degrees. After a busy 2016/17 for farming students, the college looks back at the year.

2016 began with an influx of livestock as 400 sheep joined both campus farms and ended with a fashion shoot with a lifestyle magazine where farming students got to use the college as a temporary catwalk.

In between this, students saw the facilities at the Otley campus improve and welcomed the arrival of some Red Poll cattle.

Enrichment sessions for students to

Andrew Vernon and Ray Bowler

compliment lectures included visits to county shows as well as opportunities to travel to the Czech Republic and Paris.

Farm manager, Andrew Vernon has been in post for around 18 months and here he reflects on what it’s like to study farming at Easton and Otley College. He said, “We try and create an interesting programme of study and there are many good things going on. The industry is crying out for people at every level and we don’t ever have a problem finding students jobs – we’d also like to encourage more to progress onto our expanding higher education programme at the college”.

“We are showing commitment to farming via investment and we are gradually expanding the farms at both campuses. From our point of view, the farm needs to be a glowing example of

what agriculture is all about. Next year we will be establishing a new calf rearing unit in Norfolk and more work will take place in Suffolk as part of an ongoing process”.

“Overall I think that the college is becoming recognised for farming and great progress is being made very quickly”.

“The highlight for me this year was the fact that we went to a college challenge farming competition at the Smithfield Festival in Peterborough and our students came second against 28 other teams.

This proved to me that we can cut it at a national level”.

“All in all we’ve had some brilliant students in the last couple of years.

I know from my experience that they will become the farming leaders of the future”. Long may this continue….”

Fashion photo shoot

Two agricultural students who took part in the fashion shoot on behalf of Easton and Otley took a break from ‘modelling’ and answered some questions about themselves and the college – this is what they had to say: Catherine Palmer is a level three agricultural student from North London studying at Easton and Otley College.

Tom Martin is a level three agricultural student from Downham Market studying at Easton and Otley College.

When were you happiest?

I was happiest when I came here to live in the countryside.

I’m keen to stay.

What is the best thing about the college?

The livestock – I’ve always wanted to work with livestock Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

I wouldn’t invite anyone famous, just my family.

Sum up yourself in 3 words or more

When are you happiest?

When I’m with my friends having a good time What is the best thing about the college?

It’s great fun to be around like minded people you get on with Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

David Beckham and Nelson Mandela Sum yourself up in a few words…

I’d say I’m confident, outgoing and hard working What is the best thing about the course?

Working with people who like farming What is your favourite hobby?

Football – I play a lot of football at home

Do you have a favourite film?

Not really, I don’t watch much television What is the best thing about the course?

The practical sessions

What is your favourite hobby outside of the college?

Clay pigeon shooting Describe the college in three words or more It’s dedicated to the students and it’s a nice friendly place to study Where will you be in ten years from now?

I’m aiming to be a manager of a farm in Norfolk

What is your favourite film?

Warhorse Sum up the college in a few words It’s a safe environment, you feel at home – it’s just a nice place to be Where will you be in ten years from now?

Hopefully running my own business living the life of a farmer

www.eastonotley.ac.uk

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RISE OF THE ROBOTS Whether or not you welcome the rise of our robot overlords, there is no doubting that mechanisation is becoming a fact of life in the farmyard. Jo Travis looks at some of the latest innovations.

Smell detectors AI Lasers An organic egg farm has been using lasers as a biosecurity measure in the 2016 avian influenza outbreak. Orchard Eggs in West Sussex has been taking advantage of the latest laser technology to protect their birds.

The automated lasers are an innovative way of discouraging wild birds from coming near hen houses, without harming them, the hens or their surroundings.

The system was developed by the Dutch company Bird Control Group in cooperation with the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands. The laser is silent and shows effectiveness of 90 to 100% in bird dispersal at farms.

Dan England, director of family-owned UK firm PestFix, which distributes the lasers, said: “The APHA protocol allowed free-range birds outdoors, if they can be kept segregated from wild birds. With this rule, the laser technology for bird dispersal comes into its own. Because they are domesticated, the hens are unaffected by the laser.” ➜ A video of the technology can be found at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ8Aq6hCZOE

Robotic milking The University Of Nottingham Farm produces more than two million litres of milk for Tesco under an Arla contract with its indoor-housed Holstein herd of around 200 cows, which uses homebred replacements. The farm has four Lely ‘Astronaut’ robotic milkers, which allow the cows free access to milking. One of the projects that students have to undertake as part of their degree is to compare this system with a conventional one at a neighbouring farm.

The Astronaut has been designed to enable the cow to get in and out of the robot to speed up milking, record indicators – mastitis, fat and protein content and lactose – and to monitor each cow’s state of health while being less stressful for them.

Over the past three years, RoboScientific has worked with several broiler producers to develop an early detection system for screening poultry flocks for campylobacter infections. The intention has been to give the earliest possible indication of infection with the minimum workload at an affordable cost.

It works by sampling the odours or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) given off by the birds. The birds emit a family of VOCs that form a distinctive “odour fingerprint”. Any change to their body chemistry caused by disease will cause a change in that odour fingerprint.

RoboScientific has developed equipment to give quick and inexpensive screening of humans for TB and other diseases that has been adapted for agri-tech applications.

The VOCs are collected in an adsorbent pad in a battery powered automatic sampler and each day this pad is removed, bagged and tested.

This new technology is applicable to the rearing of all livestock and the company has projects planned to test variants of the system on pigs.

Sensors can be fitted that can also detect E-coli, salmonella and a number of gastro, respiratory and other diseases.

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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LOOK MUM, NO HANDS The mission: To be the first in the world to plant, tend and harvest a crop remotely.

The rules: No touching. Nope.

Not even once. Back away from the field!

The investigator: Georgie Gater-Moore

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ome people say there are fewer farmers coming up through the ranks these days because us young’uns refuse to get our hands dirty. While that isn’t true, farmers of the future have been finding ways to avoid getting too muddy if we don’t have to, thanks to new technology available.

Arguably the techiest of the tech in the agriculture world at the moment is the Hands Free Hectare Project, being undertaken at Harper Adams University

by Kit Franklin and his team. As well as being entirely untouched by human hands, the project is also feet free, and nobody has stood on the field since pre-emergence spraying to prevent competition from weeds. Kit and his team are pioneering the first crop to be grown completely autonomously with the use of various technologies to drill, spray, monitor and harvest an entire hectare of spring barley.

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HAU grad Martin Abell, engineer Jonathan Gill and project lead Kit Franklin The project uses an Iseki compact tractor and a SimTech Aitchison drill, designed for use in vineyards. Using kit that is essentially just smaller versions of what farmers would have was important, as the team wanted to ensure the project could provide realistic opportunities for the industry. The tractor works on a GPS signal and moves between pre-set markers in the field, while instructions are inputted to control the machinery on the back, such as lifting the drill at

the end of rows. The tractor is also fitted with lasers to stop it driving into anything – you know, just in case it all goes horribly wrong!

Clive Blacker, head of project sponsor Precision Decisions, said autosteer technology is the most popular among farmers, but variable rate fertiliser applicators are becoming more popular: “The idea of variable rate applications takes longer to get used to, and they supply farmers with data that they have

#STUDENTFARMER / September 2017

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Activity was monitored remotely from November 2016 to September 2017 to work with, which some aren’t keen on. But it all depends on the farmer and the farm.”

Drilling took an incredible six hours, but Kit believes that autonomous farming is the future for UK agriculture: “The project shows that it is possible to farm with autonomous systems right now, and I believe that in time they will improve and become a common sight.”

Sustainability, precision, and improved soil health and condition are just some of the benefits that autonomous farming could bring to UK agriculture, according to Kit. Clive said: “The project will help us to understand and qualify the challenges that farmers might face in understanding and using this sort of

precision technology. It will also help us to show the opportunities and potential for robotics within agriculture, however further investigation and investment will be needed.”

Here at #SF, we imagine that growing a crop without actually setting foot in the field is pretty tricky, that’s probably why no one has done it before. But Kit said: “The fine tuning of the machines has been the biggest challenge. We are pushing the machines to the limits, but this does leave room for improvement in the future.”

When it comes to young farmers, Kit advises the next generation to embrace change. He said: “Just look at how mechanisation has changed agriculture

The tractors and tools used were smaller than most standard machinery for easier remote handling

in the last 100 years thanks to farmers being willing to adapt, this has driven up yields and productivity.”

Could the future of farming rely less on tractor drivers and more on tractor controllers? Only time will tell…

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AUTONOMOUS: Able to work independently, like a tractor that can drive itself PRECISION AGRICULTURE: Observation and monitoring of a field to respond to variability AUTOSTEER: Automated steering of tractors, helping to reduce overlap, time and labour VARIABLE RATE: Technology that measures crop fertiliser requirements and adapts the output of the machine throughout the field

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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TOMORROW’S WORLD The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that 60% more food per year will be required by 2050. Our generation will be tasked with producing more than ever before, and that means we need to get clever, fast. Increasing yields while taking care of the environment, minimising impact but maximising productivity – it’s a big ask. Some of the exciting, game-changing technologies below might revolutionise the way we farm and make agriculture future-proof...

3D printing Technology currently in development at the University of Glasgow would allow a small silicone vessel to act as a sort of mini chemical manufacturing plant. The vessel would be produced by a 3D printer, with instructions provided through an app. The chemical reactants would be treated as inks, so they would be printed into the vessel by the printer, where they would react to produce new chemical compounds. Specific chemicals in exact quantities could be produced on demand, all over the world.

Remote sensing Using sensors positioned across the landscape, along with drone and satellite monitoring, farmers can make management decisions based on data about soil types, land coverage, the water table, ecosystems, pests, disease, weather and resource use. The sensors could link with an app on a smartphone or tablet offering recommendations and alerts, for example the need for irrigation or crop protection.

In the future, this could lead to automated decision-making, where an on-farm robot could zap weeds with a laser as soon as they appear.

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Aquaponics This combines hydroponics – where plants are grown in water without soil – with fish farming. The fish are kept in tanks and the fish excrement goes into the water, making it rich in nutrients, which is pumped straight to the roots of the plants through a biofilter to turn ammonia into the nitrates the plants need. The nutrients are then taken out of the water by the plants, the purified water is pumped back to the fish and the cycle continues. This super-efficient way of producing fish and vegetables is also usually a vertical system, so it maximises available land.

Genome editing A new technology called CRISPR could make genome editing affordable for crops and livestock, helping disease resistance and immunity in plants and animals and improving resilience to weather, among many possibilities.

A strand of RNA acts like a sat nav to find and lock on to a gene of interest, and enzymes cut out the DNA. The genome then repairs itself or a new gene is inserted into the space.

#STUDENTFARMER / September 2017

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05/09/2017 11:39:58

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SHAKING UP PROTEIN Young people are embracing micro-farming - not just with little pigs

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he UK seems to be standing still while the rest of the world is embracing the use of insect protein in animal feed, but young, innovative farmers are looking at this industry area as one that can, and has to, grow.

The winner of the Royal Agricultural University’s Grand Idea Award this year was based around the use of insect farming: BiJimini, the brainchild of Luke Craven and Adam Gray, uses cricket flour in an energy efficient alternative protein source that can be used in baking.

Luke conceived the concept in his first year. He explained: “One of my first bits of coursework was about finding a sustainable protein source. We need it because by 2050, the global population will have doubled. Traditional animals and forms of protein will not be available because we’ll be building houses on farms. And global warming will make some animals and crops harder to grow, which will make prices higher.”

However, the process of getting through the Grand Idea scheme was not easy: “The first stage was a Dragon’s Den style presentation to lecturers, in order to receive £250 towards your product.

The second stage was presenting to the main person putting up the money and a few others for £1,000. The final stage was presenting to five entrepreneurs with £10,000 up for grabs.”

These prizes kickstarted the BiJimini business, which sold its first batches of the flour-cricket protein mix at Countryfile Live. Luke said: “We’re using insects that we breed and grow. We then blend the livestock with organic flour from Shipton Mill. Flour doesn’t contain the same nutritional value, so, the insect powder makes a high-in-protein product. You can use it to make toad in the hole, or pancakes that are high in protein – just swap out your flour for it in everyday baking.”

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BiJimini rents a unit on an organic farm in Crudwell, where around 40,000 crickets were used the first 175 batches.

The company is still in its infancy, so it isn’t planning too far ahead yet, but the team has discussed creating protein powders for fitness enthusiasts or selling insects to the animal feed industries.

There are a few hurdles to overcome, especially within the EU – where you can only use certain parts of insects in the production process, because it views insects for the production of food, feed or other purposes as a farmed animal. But the EU is softening its approach through research. The commercial potential of insects as animal feed offers high protein levels, which vary between 55% and 75%, and high digestibility levels of around 85%, according to Christophe Derrien from the Copa-Cogeca Working Party IPIFF. But he said in a presentation: “The EU insect production sector has a few hundred jobs today, with

the potential to increase up to a few thousand by 2025.”

With Brexit looming, Britain may soon be able to capitalise on insect farming.

And with more research being done by the European Food Safety Authority into the subject, things might still change at an EU level. The USA has made it easy to import and sell its produce because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) views insects as exotic food.

Even if we are standing still at the moment, expect the UK to begin to catch up soon around insect farming – and BiJimini will be leading the way.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? ➜ Find out more about Bijimini at www.bijimini.com.

Micro farming is the future, and you could be a big part of it. Other insect companies in the UK include Edible Bug Farm in Birmingham, Cornish Edible Insects in Cornwall, Jiminy’s Cricket Farm in London and Grub Kitchen in Pembrokeshire.

#STUDENTFARMER / September 2017

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05/09/2017 14:46:20

www.aber.ac.uk

Open Days for 2017 • Saturday 16th September • Saturday 14th October • Saturday 11th November

We are the largest and best resourced landbased university department in the UK Best range of Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards of any university in the UK We offer a wide range of Agricultural courses Foundation Degree and Honours Degree Our Agriculture scheme achieved 92% overall student satisfaction and 94% of students were satisfied with the teaching on their course (NSS 2016)

Contact: ibers-admissions@aber.ac.uk

01970 621904/986

Future Agriculturalists?

310717 - 21841

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We’re tackling tomorrow’s challenges today.

Are you in?

98% of Harper Adams University graduates secure a job within 6 months of leaving - in industries including agriculture and food production, veterinary and animal sciences, land management, engineering and business. Recent course additions include geography, zoology and biology.

2017 Undergraduate open days: — Saturday 14th October — Saturday 18th November

What Advantage do they have over other graduates? Plenty – including access to our extensive network of industry contacts, mandatory one-year work placement, outstanding student support and a community that nurtures some of the happiest students in the country.

2017 Postgraduate open days:

— Saturday 16th December — Friday 24th November

Whether you are a college student seeking a university place for 2018 onwards, or a university students considering taking a Masters degree to advance your career, contact or visit us to find out more.

2018 Postgraduate open days: — Friday 26th January

harper.ac.uk/advantage 01952 815 000

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KEEP YOUR TECH SAFE FROM THIEVES

Technology in agriculture is big business. Whether it’s precision farming with a yield-mapping combine or downloading an app for nutrient management advice, it’s fair to say that technology is an important component of how we farm in 2017.

But what if access to our tech was taken away suddenly? Could we easily return to how we used to farm? Absolutely not, I hear you cry. In that case, let’s start safeguarding against that possibility. Here, we tell you about the latest offerings in keeping your technology burglar-proof on farm.

TRACKER Tracking equipment that will you notify you when vehicles or machinery leave the farm (even with the ignition off), and helps recover stolen items quicker, can’t be a bad thing.

The full package can get you tracking ability and free recovery across Europe, and uses a combination of GPS, phone signal technology and VHF tracking, which means the tracking signals won’t be disrupted through buildings.

Even more impressive, stolen vehicles fitted with TRACKER technology can alert other passing vehicles fitted with the same technology, allowing its location to be pinpointed and sent to HQ. TRACKER can also be used to measure running hours, monitor user activity and plan services. Prices for the full package start at £385, but NFU members can save up to £125 and get a 12.5% discount on your NFU Mutual tractor insurance when fitted with a TRACKER product.

Arenamate™ Quad Safe With quads being the most targeted item on farms across the country, a simple and quick way to protect them and ensure they’ll be there in the morning sounds like a dream come true.

Introducing the Quad Safe. Simply drive your quad into the steel framework, and watch how the sturdy structure provides the ideal thief deterrent. In addition to the high quality and tough steel used in the structure, there are two heavy duty security locks to make sure that no one can get anywhere near your quad.

Currently the Quad Safe is being sold at £332 excluding VAT, however, this price includes delivery, set up and demo on farm.

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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05/09/2017 13:34:45

Datatag An insurer-approved theft deterrent, Datatag works with the Construction Equipment Security and Registration (CESAR) scheme to mark your agricultural vehicles and property with a range to industry standard identification methods.

The combination of identifying methods include two tamper-proof plates: one that carries your details in an electronic chip, a transponder with unique code that cannot be altered or deleted, microdot identification; and a solution to mark your vehicle with DNA linked to your information. The variety of methods ensure your vehicle can be identified in the event of theft and act as a deterrent to stop theft in the first case. NFU members can also receive up to 25% off Datatag products.

SmartWater SmartWater is a traceable liquid, which can be applied to most items (including vehicles and stones) and can be part of a system designed to spray intruders, making the item and thief identifiable for up to five years.

The water based solution will be created with a unique data set that relates to your specific information and can be used to aid conviction of criminals in court. The fluid is clear, virtually impossible to remove and can only be seen under UV light.

SmartWater also makes a fluid suitable for use on materials that reach high temperatures, such as catalytic converters, and have a range designed for use on stone, in response to increased stone thefts throughout towns and rural areas. As well as being a tool to aid conviction, SmartWater supply stickers and signs with each purchase that act as a deterrent for thieves.

Vehicle security packs start at ÂŁ24.98 per year, and small stone security packs (suitable for marking up to 50 metres of stone) start at ÂŁ132 per year.

Simply dab your precious items with SmartWater to prove ownership

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#STUDENTFARMER / September 2017

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05/09/2017 13:35:04

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#STUDENTFARMER / September 2017

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RebecCa MarshalL is the UK’s first beE farming graduate. Alex Lacey gets the buzZ from the queEn of the beehive.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, REBECCA. I’ve grown up on a bee farm my whole life: my father set up the commercial bee farm the year I was born, in 1989.

I came into the business just under 10 years ago at the age of 19. I’m now in my third year as joint director in the family business. I mainly focus on queen rearing and consultancy in bee farming after qualifying from the bee farming apprenticeship.

A BEE FARMING APPRENTICESHIP? TELL US MORE! I was asked if I would consider being the first person to try the BFA and Rowse Apprenticeship Scheme and I thought it would be silly not to take up such an opportunity. I’d already been working in the industry for nearly seven years at this point, and I thought it could only benefit me more in my career.

DO YOU FEEL THE COURSE HAS GIVEN YOU MORE INSIGHT INTO THE INDUSTRY? It has definitely deepened my knowledge in honey bees and all aspects of the industry, rather than just sticking to what I already knew. Bee farming is a very diverse industry as there are so many aspects and products you can do things with – honey, wax, propolis, pollen, bees, and different equipment too.

All about Rebecca • I’m the first bee farming apprentice in the UK • I can tell the difference between female worker bees, male drone bees, hornets and wasps by the sound of their ‘buzz’ • I’ve learned to sit by a hive and catch drones (male bees) in my hand, mid-flight • I’ve been stung more than 400 times during my career!

• I’m the youngest commercial queen rearer of Buckfast bees ( a manmade strain) in the country

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST ATTRACTION IN BEEKEEPING? The lifestyle, 100%. Bee farming commercially isn’t just a job, it is a lifestyle choice, especially when you focus heavily on the queen rearing side and honey trading as we do.

We run it so that we work intensely from April through until October then we have four months of the ‘off season’ where we relax, work part-time and set things up for the following year. This lifestyle has released so much opportunity for me – like being able to go to New Zealand and Australia for work experiences, for example.

WOW – WHAT DID YOU GET UP TO OUT THERE? In New Zealand, I worked with NZ Honey Co and Alpine Honey Co on the South Island. I studied manuka honey production and reared thousands of queens for them. It was a fascinating experience and a stunning place to work!

I also learned about farming pollen and royal jelly there.

Australia was very different in all regions – in West Australia, I learned about the Jarrah trees and Jarrah honey production; in South Australia, I learned about all the eucalyptus and orange blossom/almond pollination; in Sydney, I solely did urban bee farming around the city on roof tops.

They were all very different experiences and I learned an awful lot while I was there.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU? At the moment, I’m doing various consultancy work, PR for honey and bee companies and also running courses for beginners to help them start up. I’m still really enjoying working with my father doing the honey production and queen rearing side too.

AND WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? I’m very into cooking and baking with honey and I hope to write a recipe book one day. I really want to educate people so they can see how much you can do with this wonderful natural product.

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT YOUR FAMILY’S BUSINESS? I’ve watched my father work so hard to get the business where it is. He was told by several people that he was mad to set up a bee farm – that it would never go anywhere. He’s now the chairman of the British Bee Farming Association. He has been very successful doing what he loves.

I find that pretty special!

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO ANYONE CONSIDERING A CAREER WORKING WITH BEES? DO IT! It’s a great career choice for our generation if you love nature and love to be outdoors. We need more young people to get involved in commercial bee farming and to spread the word on how important honey bees are to so many other industries.

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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05/09/2017 11:43:26

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THE COUNTRY COMES TO TOWN Love it or hate it, Brexit is coming our way and it’s going to have an impact on the way we farm. While we’re busy working hard in the countryside, it’s easy to feEl disconNected from what’s happening inside the M25. To bridge this gap, we took seven student and young farmer NFU members down to the big smoke of London for a day. Orla McIldufF telL us how it went.

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f the UK’s political landscape was really ‘strong and stable’, most of us could get on with our farming and not pay attention to the goings-on in Westminster. But unfortunately that’s not the case, and in the last 18 months we’ve had a ground-breaking referendum and a new minority government to contend with.

There is so much at stake for the agricultural sector while these Brexit negotiations are ongoing. We need to be as loud as possible, and ensure that farming is at the front and centre of politicians’ minds. But if you don’t know how bills are passed and laws are made, how can you help shape them?

This is precisely why we ended up battling through rush-hour commuters on a stifling hot July day in central London. Not our natural habitat, to say the least, but getting off the farm and into the minds of politicians was what this trip was all about, and we certainly stood out - due to the copious amounts of tweed we were wearing.

First stop: The Palace of Westminster.

Well, there’s nothing like jumping in at the deep end, eh?

There’s no denying that that the grandeur of the House of Lords is a world away from milking cattle at 6am, but entering the Chamber of Commons, which we’ve seen on the television, makes it all the more real that this is where decisions about our future will be made. Our dedicated

guide answered all our questions about how it all works: the House of Commons passes laws and the House of Lords double-checks them – ensuring they’re not utterly ridiculous.

Lord Henry Plumb, a former NFU President, is a member of the latter House and was our trip sponsor.

He said: “Too many people criticise members of Parliament and the House of Lords without knowing the facts. To educate the public is the only way to change this attitude, we must listen and learn in a democratic society to those who are elected to serve. Young farmers have a lot to offer.”

Being ushered out of the Chamber of Commons “because Prime Minister’s Questions were about to start” was quite cool to be honest. We had plenty

of questions we’d have loved to ask Mrs May, but unfortunately none of us on the trip was an MP (not yet, that is). So we saved them for someone equally in the know – turn over to find out more.

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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05/09/2017 11:44:08

WILL JAMES I farm at home near Abergavenny.

I came along because it gives me a chance to learn about the laws which dictate how my farm is run.

HENRY SWEETING I study agri-business management at Newcastle University, but at home I live on an arable farm that my father manages alongside his brothers. I’d like to go home and work there permanently, but it’s important that I get some experience first.

As a student I don’t have much of a voice and agriculture is a volatile industry, so it’s important to get involved where you can. I find it frustrating when MPs speak on my behalf but have no clue what it’s like down on the ground on a farm.

I feel like they should have a maximum term of 10 years in position so that new people with fresh ideas represent the constituency after a certain amount of time.

CHARLOTTE MARTINSON I’ve just finished my first year studying rural enterprise and land management at Harper Adams University. I’m studying rural law quite a lot, which is apt for where we are today. I wanted to find out a bit more about where laws originate from, but also I’m not particularly politically minded so it makes sense for me to get more of an understanding of where and how bills are passed. It’ll be interesting to see how smaller farms fare postBrexit, as there is a chance they may be outpriced by more commercial farms.

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KATIE GIBSON I’ve come along from Oxfordshire, and I’ve just graduated with a degree in rural land management from the Royal Agricultural University. I’m interested in forging a career writing about issues that matter to farmers and people who are interested in the countryside. Farmers are really worried about seasonal workers, so I think it’s really important that the NFU liaises with MPs on this matter.

#STUDENTFARMER / September 2017

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EMILY LOOK Recently the NFU helped my family arrange a day for their local MP to visit the dairy farm so they could discuss issues such as TB. I think it’s important for MPs to visit the farms in their constituencies, especially new MPs, so they understand the issues facing farmers.

ALICE SINGLETON I’m from a beef farm, and we’ve just diversified into gin distilling.

We work grain to glass, growing the barley for alcohol and bottling and labelling too. Succession is a massive issue and I’d really like to see MPs and government start to tackle this problem and find a way to improve access to land for younger farmers. I believe Brexit will be a positive thing.

We’ve got to move with the times and embrace change. Hopefully, the new agricultural policy will help younger farmers with their career prospects – collaborating with older farmers to ensure we’ve got a positive, forward-moving industry.

LIZZIE BRASS I’m an apprentice on my family's laying farm. I think farming will get a lot more intensive, with more reliance on technology – not to replace good stockmanship, but with more precision farming and innovation. I’d like to see government really listen to the industry when making policies. It’s good to have a mediator like the NFU between the two parties.

ROCKY’S ROAD TO WESTMINSTER

The travelling farmers sat down with the NFU’s external affairs manager, Rocky Lorusso, in the shadow of the Houses of Parliament. Many farmers’ businesses depend upon the Brexit negotiations, especially in relation to labour availability, trade deals and the new domestic agricultural policy. The student farmers quizzed Rocky about what agricultural buzz words to listen out for when talking heads are discussing Brexit on the TV, and how the NFU works in Westminster. #SF: WAS THE EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TEAM SET UP FOR BREXIT? The team was restructured a while ago and we moved away from being a more old-fashioned government lobbying team to being a broader external affairs team. We’re not just behind our desks or going into Parliament for meetings, we’re getting out and about, meeting NFU staff and members. #SF: DO YOU WORK ALONGSIDE OTHER LOBBYING GROUPS? It’s increasingly important to do so right now. One of the organisations that we work most closely with at the moment is the Food and Drink Federation. We’re going to be doing joint events at the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat party conferences with them this autumn.

Politicians don’t always like talking to lots of lobbying groups, they prefer to have everyone in a room together instead of attending lots of meetings. #SF: WHAT DOES CONSERVATIVE SUPPORT OF THE DEMOCRATIC UNIONISTS MEAN FOR FARMERS? The Ulster Farmers’ Union was already a busy team, and even more so now. We’ve been on the phone to them far more regularly than before and we’ll go over and support them whenever they need it. We’re already doing more work with this government than the last to make contact with Northern Irish and Scottish MPs. While previously the NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the UFU all worked together while avoiding treading on each other’s toes, we can see the benefit with this new parliament of co-ordinating approaches. #SF: DO POLITICIANS TAKE FARMING AS SERIOUSLY AS THEY SHOULD? We have a good number of MPs in rural constituencies that care about farming, and they speak up for us and our members. There are others, however,

who don’t have big rural constituencies, and they are the people who we have to work hardest to engage with. We need to show them that even though they might not have any farmers in their constituency, farming has huge benefits to their constituents. I used to work with an MP who was vegetarian and popular in the farming sector, particularly as a lot his constituency was uplands. It doesn’t matter if you are an MP who is vegetarian or vegan if you are interested in the issues that matter to your constituents. #SF: WHAT CAN FARMERS DO TO PREPARE FOR CHANGES IN BPS AND OTHER AREAS FOLLOWING BREXIT? I think people need to stop comparing the UK to New Zealand. It’s been said that when subsidies were cut there farming became more efficient and there were mergers. There is something in that, but it’s generational.

Realistically, that won’t happen in the next two-to-five years. I suspect farmers are already planning ahead, and I know that a lot of diversification has already taken place on UK farms, which is working reasonably well. There are other opportunities such as renewable energy, facilities and land permitting. I think the pressures of living in post-Brexit UK and perhaps having a more restricted access to labour might force the issue and it might force the education system to also change a bit.

The way to sell working in this sector to young people is to have young people like you guys who are really engaged involved with the NFU and other organisations. You really are the sector's best advocates.

Brexit could make the industry more vulnerable in the short term but in the longer term there are lots of opportunities. Once the new domestic agricultural policy settles down and once the sector adjusts to the new subsidies system, I do think there is a bright future ahead.

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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YFC TUG OF WAR CHAMPIONS Men’s – Llysyfran Women’s – Hermon Juniors – Llanrwst

he Royal Welsh Show attracted 250,000 visitors over four days from 24-28 July. The centrepiece for NFU Cymru was the Rugby 7s tournament and the Tug of War organised by the Young Farmers Club.

The first round of rugby matches took place on Monday afternoon, followed by the semi-finals on Tuesday. By Wednesday, large crowds descended upon the cattle ring to watch the final two Young Farmers Club teams clash.

Camarthenshire and Brecknock played a tense match that ended with NFY Cymru Deputy President John Davies presenting the winning trophies to Camarthenshire.

The Tug of War competition took place during lunchtime on the Wednesday, just as the rain stopped and the sun came out, drawing in a huge crowd of people. The atmosphere was electric and after an exciting battle, Pembrokeshire YFC took the winning title for the girls and boys teams, with Eryri YFC triumphing in the junior competition. All winning teams were presented with individual trophies by NFU Cymru President Stephen James.

NFU Cymru Director John Mercer said: “Congratulations to all teams who took part throughout the week, the standard of competition was outstanding.

Sponsorship of the YFC Rugby 7s and Tug of War was the perfect opportunity for NFU Cymru to build on its strong relationship with the movement and to engage with the next generation of farmers at such a popular event.”

As sponsors, NFU Cymru was invested in the outcome of the competitions, and hosted a drinks reception for family and friends of the athletes in the YFC Centre.

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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05/09/2017 11:45:25

MIND THE GAP YEAR NFU chief food chain adviser Ruth Mason went acrosS the pond to examine the difFerences between the British and US food and farming systems

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was lucky to be selected for the US Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Programme on food and agriculture. The programme is paid for by the US state and involves traveling for three weeks with a delegation of Europeans to gain an understanding of how US food and agriculture works and the diversity it includes. I visited Washington DC and a small town called Syracuse, attending 24 meetings with a range of stakeholders from across the political spectrum.

There is an intrinsic link in the US between food and agriculture policy.

Two-thirds of the US agriculture budget is spent on food support programmes which specifically look to purchase US-produced food. This, along with national nutritional recommendations, is all overseen and managed by the United States Department of Agriculture. This link between food and agriculture seems a huge difference compared to the UK. At all of the meetings we attended, trade and the use of genetically modified (GMO) products were strong features.

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There has been a clear signal that the US wishes to increase production and expand its export opportunities, and that it believes trade barriers should be based on scientific facts and evidence.

All the representatives we have met from government, representative bodies, farmers and NGOs have seen agriculture as an international trade opportunity for their country.

GMO technology is widely accepted in the US and is widespread across a range of food, ethanol and animal feed

products. However, there is an increased movement from US customers to buy organic. These products are available in supermarkets, restaurants and farmers’ markets, all of which are seeing an increase in sales and interest from customers. This appears to link strongly with a desire to improve nutrition and diets, but it’s clear that food and agricultural policy has to be made handin-hand. The NFU is calling for this in the UK following Brexit, so, who knows, we might all be on to something?

BE PART OF IT! Educational and cultural affairs exchange programmes have run since 1940 in the US, and have been part of the Department of State for more than 50 years.

Different programmes are set up throughout the year, so check the website regularly if you are interested in visiting the USA. Funding is set up to encourage learning across different sectors for a variety of countries. ➜ To find out more, visit www.exchanges.state.gov or search for the International Visitors Leadership Programme.

#STUDENTFARMER / September 2017

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Student Farmer Advert.indd 1

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SHOOTING FOR GLORY Olympic sucCesS awaits: sign up to the right sports society this term and Huw Hopkins believes you could be on the path to greatnesS – with clay shooting a perfect example

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ou’ll find a host of activities that appeal to the athletically gifted among us on the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) website.

From the traditional sports like football, to the more intriguing such as ultimate frisbee, it seems like there is something for everyone. BUCS also caters for more rural crowds like with sports like equestrian and orienteering, but the glamour sport has to be clay pigeon shooting.

One of the major events in the clay shooting calendar takes place in the first term. The Clay Pigeon Shooting Championship is at West Midlands Shooting Ground on the first weekend in December.

Most teams tend to be made up of people who have shot before, but many will be trying out the sport for the first time, and your university society will have members who are able to help with safety, training and getting you ready for the big day.

Many agricultural students will be aware of the benefits that shotgun shooting brings such as pest control, and visiting a local clay shoot won’t be a completely new experience for most. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t untapped potential among the nation’s future farmers.

And if it’s sporting glory you desire, don’t be fooled by the sport’s relatively low profile, because clay shooting can take you to the highest of heights.

Take Ed Ling, for example: He is an Olympic medallist, a world-record holder, one half of perhaps the most successful husband-wife shooting duo in the sport’s history (alongside Abbey) who have just celebrated the birth of their first child – no doubt a future clay shooting champion – and Ed’s young brother is becoming the brightest young spark in the sport.

The coolest thing about all this, though, is that Ed is just like you or me. His family grew up on a Somerset farm that boasts 50,000 free-range chickens, arable land and plenty of cattle. He spends his days waking up early, mucking out crap and feeding chickens, but there are benefits to living 30

on a farm for an ambitious athlete. Ed has had an Olympic Trap layout set up, built to specification with high-end Promatic clay launchers. During periods where life on farm gets too busy to travel the world to different competitions, he and his family train on site.

#STUDENTFARMER / September 2017

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Choosing a discipline Clay shooting is like athletics. It is made up of disciplines in different ones. For example, those who do well in 100m sprint might differ from the top 5,000m runners.

Ed and his wife Abbey celebrating his Rio 2016 medal in the grain store

In ABT (Automatic Ball Trap) you shoot five targets flying away from you at five difference locations.

Olympic medallist Ed Ling on…

DTL (Down The Line) is similar to ABT, but instead of one clay broken counting for one point, it will either count for three points if you hit it with your first shot, or two points if you hit it with the second.

...Getting into the sport

COMPAK is set up like a Trap layout but clays fly in different directions from various locations.

You need plenty of space for ENGLISH SPORTING as it is meant to simulate birds and their flight paths in real situations.

FITASC Sporting is similar to English but has a wider international appeal.

HÉLICE targets have wings. When you hit the target, the clay will pop out and you only get points if the clay and the wings land within the circular layout.

SKEET is laid out in a semi-circle with a trap on each side. They throw targets that cross each other and you have to shoot them from seven locations around the semi-circle.

OLYMPIC TRAP is considered the most difficult discipline. It has five pads in a line and you shoot five clays on each stand that are flying away from you randomly at incredibly high speeds. ➜ Check out www.cpsa.co.uk or read Clay Shooting magazine for more information.

I started when I was 12 or 13 and got into it through my dad. We started shooting clays from a manual trap in the back of the yard and from there I went to small, straw-bale English Sporting shoots and quickly progressed to shoot the British All Round Championship. From there, I shot the ABT Championship, where I met the England team manager and I managed to make the team that year.

I quickly got into big competitions. Dad always said it’s best to start off in the deep end and learn how to compete once the safety and gun handling aspect is up to scratch. I started with an airgun from a young age and dad pushed me onto the clays as soon as I’ve been able to handle a shotgun really.

...Farming I’ve always been on the farm. I wanted to help with anything I could do, from mucking out cattle to helping on the back of the tractor with my dad in field when I was too young to drive. There was never any question that that’s what I wanted to do when I was growing up.

We’re fortunate enough that I live on a family farm so I could get away from it whenever I needed to if a competition clashed with work. When I’m home I’m working to make sure I get all the jobs done before I get away.

We’re all actively involved in the farm. We’ve got 50,000 free-range hens and a lot of egg production – my sister does a lot on that side of things. I’m usually on the arable and the cattle and the sheep with my dad.

I’d always planned to come back for the harvest after the Rio Olympics. Harvest is always a fun time and I didn’t want to be missing it in Rio de Janeiro.

...Rio 2016 and competing My work depends on the international calendar because there are competitions from the end of March right up until the end of September.

I’ve always wanted an Olympic medal. I’m a competitive person and when I’m out there I want to win it, but at the same time I’m very laid back about it as well. Athens was my first Olympics – once I got out there I saw what it was all about with the atmosphere. I didn’t try out for Beijing but I wanted to get to London, because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent your country at your home Olympics. I was the first person to qualify in Britain for Rio, and the first to ever win a medal in the Olympic Trap World Championship.

I know if I shoot to my full ability I can win any event. I’ve won the European Universal Trench Championship with a world record 200ex-200. I’ve shot several 124ex-125 in Olympic Trap so I know I can come away with a medal. But like any sport, you can’t guarantee on hitting form when you want to.

When I came away with the medal last year, it made it all worth it. All the sacrifices you make are rewarding. We just came back from the Universal Trench Trap European Championship: I won that with 199 and Abbey won the Lades with 193, my brother got Runner Up in the Juniors and my dad won gold in the Veterans team competition.

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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05/09/2017 11:47:14

HANDING OVER THE REINS Preparing to wrestle the keys to the tractor away from your parents?

Jo Travis went to see how the generation game is played.

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t was when Robin and Chris Milton were at an agricultural show when Robin knew his son had really become ‘the farmer’. “I nudged Buster [Chris] and said, ‘that’s a nice bit of kit, should we get it?’ and he turned around and said, ‘do we really need it, Dad?’ He wouldn’t have thought twice about it if it had been my money, but now that he’s in charge…”

Succession planning is often quite a thorny issue in the farming community, but the Miltons of Devon have embraced it. NFU Uplands Forum chairman Robin looked around and saw too many farmers clinging onto the chequebook well past retirement age, leaving generations who never get the chance to make their mark on the business. When his son asked to return to the family farm after college and a

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few months travelling, Robin decided that things were going to be different for them. He made Buster the senior partner at the age of 23.

The Miltons have been on Exmoor for 14 generations, and Buster is the eighth to farm at the site in High Barton, but it wasn’t always a foregone conclusion that he would join the family business. Buster said: “I hated the outdoors, I didn’t like the cold, and I didn’t envisage myself becoming a farmer.”

However, the lure of the big kit eventually won him over. While studying agricultural engineering at Lackam Farm, Wiltshire College, he went

to work as a contractor on an arable farm. He was offered a job there after graduation and Buster had a big decision to make.

Buster said: “Dad didn’t force me to come home, he wanted me to work for others and I think it benefited me.

You have to get up in the mornings, whereas working for yourself you, might say ‘I’m not getting up’.”

“I got a bit bored driving tractors constantly day in, day out, year in,

#STUDENTFARMER / September 2017

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“Just because it is what your dad won’t has done and it has worked for him, it do” necessarily work for what you want to year out. At least with this farm, one day I might be driving the tractor, the next day I might be sorting bullocks or drenching sheep, it varies so much you never really get too bored.”

He was a bit surprised at Robin’s offer, but then his dad had always been keen to get the younger generation involved.

And Robin thinks that making Buster the senior farmer was vital to motivate him, and he is delighted with the way he has risen to the challenge.

The Miltons’ farm has 460 acres, 500 sheep and 40 Aberdeen Angus cattle, with common grazing rights across 3,500 acres of Exmoor. Buster looked at the farm and decided he wanted a simple, low-cost structure for when they moved into beef. The region’s high rainfall means that it makes perfect sense to base it on grassland.

However, he admits to despising his dad’s Suffolk X mules, and once he took over he decided to swap them out for lleyns. They ran the flocks side-by-side for a year and during the winter the Suffolks ate two large bales of hay each day, whereas the lleyns ate two smaller bales every couple of days, and were in better condition.

Twenty-seventeen was a transition year and they lambed 250 ewes, last year the combination of lleyns and Welshies meant that they lambed 450 and next year they are aiming for 350/400.

Buster said: “We didn’t have the space to house the sheep with the bullocks we had, so we had to change it. So far it

seems to have paid off. There has been no drop in lamb price, they have finished quicker on grass, we haven’t had to creep feed them.”

Last year, they started the beef enterprise, buying Aberdeen Angus.

Buster decided to start with 10 or 12 cows and ended up with 40. Then he ran out of shed space, so they have invested in shed frames to expand further.

Robin said: “Changes were relatively easy because it’s his future, he’s the one that’s got to live with it, and I suppose I was quite fortunate that my father gave me the opportunity to change some things and stopped me from changing others I would have liked to and should have done. I thought I’d rather not make that mistake again. I have never understood some people’s inability to change because ‘that’s what I did last year’, or ‘what my father used to do’.”

When asked what his advice would be for other young farmers preparing to become the boss, Buster says: “Don’t be scared to change it if it’s not going to work for you; just because it is what your dad has done and it has worked for him, it won’t necessarily work for what you want to do.”

One of the differences in the generations was their reactions to the environmental stewardship schemes.

Robin and his brother were happy to take parts of their land out of production in order to collect the payment, but the younger generation has different ideas.

Buster and his cousins have taken the

business out of the scheme in order to increase the amount of productive land.

One of the main drivers for making the farm more resilient, efficient and simple to run was to enable Robin and Buster to get on with other things, especially with the NFU. Buster works as a spraying contractor as well as helping out on two local dairy farms. There is plenty of work for all.

And the family has another unusual hobby/responsibility – the two herds of wild Exmoor ponies that graze the moorland. The ponies live on the moor all year, only being rounded up each October to be checked over. The gathering is quite an event and people turn up for miles around to watch as the ponies are brought in and their foals examined. Some are used for riding schools or the show ring, but the hardy ones are released back into the wild with their mothers. Owning the ponies is a family tradition going back generations.

Next year, Buster is planning to marry his fiancée, Jenny, who owns a dogwalking business. The wedding has been planned so it does not clash with calving, spraying or lambing, which Robin thinks is another sign that Buster has changed the way he thinks.

Buster concludes: “Even though technically on paper it says I am the senior partner, I always ask him about any big decisions and he always comes to me about any big decisions. In that way I think it’s still split 50/50, we still run anything major by each other.

“And my dad was always very good, even when I wasn’t senior partner he always asked me my opinion on stuff. So it didn’t change all that much but it did give me the extra drive to think ‘this is my business’.”

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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05/09/2017 11:48:03

S

o you’ve just left home for the first time and you’re settled in to your new accommodation at agric college or uni. Freshers’ week has bankrupted you, you’re fed up of all the free pizza and you've figured out that cider isn't one of your five a day. Unless you want to return home at Christmas deficient in Vitamin C, because you’re not feeding yourself properly, you need to take action.

It’s time to get to the supermarket and buy some proper ingredients (and no, instant noodles do not count). Before you take the first leap to fill up your trolley, take a look at our easy recipe and impress your housemates with your mad culinary skills.

WANT MORE LIKE THIS? A new Countryside Kitchen recipe book will be hitting the shelves on 9 October. It features 75 delicious recipes using great British seasonal food and the stories of the farmers and growers behind the ingredients.

The book will cost £15.95, but Student Farmer members will be able to buy it for just £7.95 plus £3.50 for P&P. Visit www.countrysideonline.co.uk.

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#STUDENTFARMER / September 2017

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TASTY CHICKEN TANDOORI PREPARATION TIME: 20 minutes

MARINADE TIME: 4–5 hours

COOKING TIME: 25–35 minutes

METHOD 1. For the marinade: mix together the ginger, garlic cloves, chillies, yoghurt, tandoori paste and spice blend in a bowl.

INGREDIENTS 4 large chicken breasts, each cut into four pieces MARINADE 1 piece ginger, peeled and grated 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped 3 medium hot chillies, finely chopped 1 large pot natural yoghurt half a jar of tandoori paste 2 tbsp tandoori BBQ masala spice blend salt to taste

2 . Add the chicken pieces to the marinade, stir until well covered, and leave, covered, for 4–5 hours or overnight.

3. P reheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/350°F/gas mark 4.

TO SERVE 2 tbsp freshly chopped coriander

*

RAITA 1 small pot natural yoghurt 1 tbsp freshly chopped mint salt to taste

4. P lace the chicken in the marinade into a roasting pan and cook for 25–30 minutes. Make sure the chicken is cooked by inserting a skewer into a piece – the juices should run clear.

5. S prinkle with the coriander and serve with a salad and the raita.

*Or one person, whatever, we’re not here to judge you, that's your mother’s job

TOP TEN TIPS FOR SURVIVING YOUR FIRST SEMESTER AWAY FROM HOME 1

Stay on good terms with your new flatmates in halls; things can get awkward really quickly and you have to share a kitchen for the rest of the year.

2

Buy loo roll in bulk because no one wants to be caught out, and it’s easily done when you’re used to your mum buying all the essentials.

3

Fancy dress is key: make sure you have at least five different outfits up your sleeve for various parties. No, you can’t dress up as a farmer…

4

Line that stomach. Drinking with your friends is all part of the experience, but hangovers just make you lose days, and if you’ve got a part-time job milking it can be a nasty experience with a dodgy stomach.

5

Don’t put a deposit on next year’s rental house in October.

You don’t know the people well enough yet, and a lot can change in a year, believe me!

6

Don’t waste money on joining societies you’re never going to actually attend – pick one or two and commit. Shooting and rugby? Sorted.

Netball and choir? Cool. Just don’t sign up for origami, interpretive dance and Quidditch if you’re never going to go.

7

Speaking of which, you really don’t have to take part in dangerous sports society initiations because while it may seem important at the time, no one will remember in a couple of weeks. No one except you if you fall and split your head open that is (and yes, I’m

speaking from bitter experience on that one).

8

Use that student discount while you can! It won’t last forever, and you can save serious cash on big buys such as clothes and laptops.

9

Wash. You won’t have your mum reminding you to hop in the shower after you leave the lambing shed so if you want to keep friends get into a routine. Deodorant on a dirty body is not a good look or smell.

10

Get an NFU student and young farmer membership – it’s free and you’ll get a discount on doing that trailer test you promised you’d get round to taking! www.nfuonline.com/membership/ membership-news/students-andyoung-farmers.

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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OH, LORDY! The Lord Mayor’s Show invited eight NFU student and young farmers to represent the industry at a parade around London NAME: Hannah Binns LOCATION: Lancashire, North West FARM: Sheep Student farmers need to give it their best shot. Don’t be afraid of getting anything wrong – they are made so that we can learn from them.

I’m excited to work alongside the other young farmers in promoting our industry at the Lord Mayor’s Show. This experience is once-in-alifetime and I cannot wait promote the #BackBritishFarming message.

I once did a charity skydive out off a plane at 15,000ft to raise £832 for RABI, which went to local North West farming families.

British farming can have a bright future post-Brexit if farmers stand their ground on access to the EU single market and a reliable work force. If we all urge our government to recognise this, we have a bright farming future.

NAME: Ryan Came-Johnson LOCATION: Cornwall FARM: Ewes and lambs You need to have your own ideas and persevere with them, but know when to ask for help and advice. I’m looking forward to being part of such a spectacle in our capital city and helping to fly the flag for British farming and our future farmers.

Artificially inseminating pigs has to be up there as one of the unusual activities I’ve done in farming. But we need new entrants with new ideas, and we should embrace those ideas.

NAME: Greg Colebrook LOCATION: Cambridgeshire FARM: Beetroot You need to be determined – there will be times when you’re not making progress but every day you learn something new.

I’m looking forward to taking the best of British farming to the capital. We have a great story to tell and it’s vital to get the message across to those outside the industry. Last time I was in London I had to get my picture taken in M&S promoting beetroot.

British agriculture needs to attract new entrants to the sector.

Farming is full of technology and science that should have a wide appeal and this is changing at a fast pace and it needs to be championed in the future.

NAME: Dom Bloxham LOCATION: Staffordshire FARM: Cattle, pumpkins Agriculture is the most exciting and rewarding industry. It's hard work and sometimes sacrifices are made, but the benefits to your whole life are endless.

I am looking forward to showing people the origin of their food. I grow 10 acres of pumpkins and manually pick 1,500 pumpkins a day. I have also spent time in New Zealand. To secure a bright future for we need to educate the public about buying British.

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#STUDENTFARMER / September 2017

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NAME: Jack Davis LOCATION: Kent FARM: Livestock, crops New student farmers need to be passionate and ask as many questions as possible. Be sure to visit different regardless of what sector of agriculture they are in.

I’m looking forward to representing UK agriculture and showing the public what great produce British farmers produce each year.

We have to help people understand farming, and produce great products across all sectors. We also need to come out of Brexit with a positive trade deal in place, but make the best of the deal that we receive and have a positive mind-set when planning for the future.

NAME: Tom Rees LOCATION: Pembrokeshire FARM: Crops Be passionate about what you do it will rub off on the people around you and things will happen. Be prepared to put the hours in but never be frightened to take a step back and ask yourself why we are doing this. The part of the parade I’m most looking forward to is being able to portray the positive image of our industry. It’s so important that people know what a young vibrant industry we are.

I’m looking forward to meeting people and filling them with confidence about buying British.

The strangest day for me was when a friend arrived at the farm with an artist form Australia who wanted to take photos of rural charters in the UK to take home to paint.

I voted to remain in the EU but now that we are coming out I want us to make the most of the opportunities. I hope we channel our energy in to opening trade deals worldwide. If we continue to show the quality of our products and innovate, we will go from strength to strength. Too many in our industry are worrying about subsidies at the moment. If we can get the trade deals right the will become an irrelevance.

NAME: Jessica Spencer LOCATION: Nottinghamshire FARM: Runs a farm shop selling homereared beef, bread and cakes I would tell young farmers to live life as though you’ll live just one more day, but farm as though you’ll live forever.

I’m looking forward to filling London’s streets full of happiness and joy while promoting one of the most valuable industries in the UK. Farming only tends to make the headlines following a crisis or disaster, so let’s get promoting the fantastic things that farmers do, like our animal welfare standards and the loyalty to our UK consumers.

I previously met Elizabeth Truss, the DEFRA Secretary of State at the time, to discuss the issues and advantages of women in agriculture – unsurprisingly, a car seat doesn’t fit in a tractor.

As much as I fear a world run by robotic machinery, it is essential to facilitate new technology and innovation to compliment modern practical farming. But the values passed on through farming generations is what makes the UK agricultural industry so valuable.

NAME: John Throup LOCATION: Yorkshire FARM: Livestock and dairy I would encourage student farmers to get out and visit as many farms as possible to gain ideas and knowledge. There are lots of great farmers out there willing to share ideas. I’m looking forward to taking part in the show as it will be a great opportunity to promote British farming, an industry that I’m proud to be part of.

We need to win the interest and opinion of consumers and outsiders, so we can show them why agriculture is important and why they should support British farming.

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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Equine, Animal Welfare, Countryside Management, Agriculture and hundreds of other brilliant courses, with lots of practical learning and support.

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As a Rising Star, the sun really does shine out on Richard Bower

Rising Stars

YOU KNOW NOTHIN’ Years of binge-watching Game of Thrones and missing classes might have left you lacking in direction, but you are the Next Generation

M

uch like the winter winds in Game of Thrones bring the terrifying prospect of White Walkers, the chilling prospect of Responsibility emerges like a shadow from the mist in your final year of education.

And as you leave university or college, you might feel no better equipped to enter the world of work than when you first got there. This is where the Next Generation can help.

The concept of getting a job is upon you, and while you might be entering the best industry on the planet, you’ll still want to be welcomed into a world where no question is a stupid one. The Next Generation Forum can be the Valyrian sword you use to fight off problems and avoid pitfalls as you start your career. It is a group of 16 proud young NFU members - between 26 and 40 years old - who help other

youngsters, stand up for farmers early in their career and put young people’s views on policy developments forward; from having a say on what students should be taught on ag courses, to what we want Britain to look like after Brexit.

Chairman Richard Bower recently unveiled plans to make the forum a formidable force within the NFU. Those include presenting a policy document to the National Policy Board in January that will appraise how younger farmers get involved with the industry, provide perspective on financial risk management, and assess access to land, finance and business skills.

Richard said: “There has never been a more important time for young people to be involved in farming. I am proud that the Next Generation Forum is playing such a key role in shaping NFU policy at such a critical time in today’s farming environment.”

Farmers Weekly recently crowned its Rising Stars in the world of farming, comprising 13 people under the age of 35 who will possess great influence in the coming years. Several of this year’s winners represent, or are members of, the NFU. More importantly, they are part of the Next Generation Forum.

Richard Bower received one of the honours, and Farmers Weekly editor Karl Schneider said: “Richard takes every opportunity that comes his way – whether that is to develop his own farming skills and business or to lobby on behalf of the next generation of farmers. He’s now vice-chairman of the local NFU branch, chairman of the NFU’s Next Generation Forum and has an ambition to be the youngest ever NFU officeholder.”

Next Generation’s secretary, Rohit Kaushish, was also a recipient.

Karl said: “Rohit took a huge risk in abandoning a successful career in banking, but is using the experience he gained in that sector to help shape future farming policy. Determined, tenacious and passionate about his new career, Rohit is playing a critical role in the NFU’s work to develop a domestic agriculture policy.”

Other personalities recognised include the national NFU Dairy Board’s Abi Reader and NFU member Edward Towers. ➜ Check out NFUonline.com/ sectors/next-generation for a full list of Rising Star winners

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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TAKING THE BULL

BY THE HORNS In the last edition of #StudentFarmer, we brought you four case studies from people who had previously taken part in the NFU’s development and industry programMes. This time, it’s alL go as the new programMes get underway. Here, we introduce our new Poultry Industry ProgramMe participants for this year and we telL you how you can get involved with the recently anNounced Sugar Industry ProgramMes and Young Producers Livestock Scheme.

NFU Sugar Industry Programme Recruitment is now underway for the 2017-2018 Sugar Industry Programme (SIP). The SIP offers growers an opportunity to better understand the UK Sugar industry in its entirety. Now in its eighth year, the SIP will once again comprise several visits, including trips to Germains Seed Technology, a British Sugar factory, the BBRO, Westminster, SESVanderHave, NFU Conference and NFU HQ. Training is also given in presentation and media skills.

The programme will take place between November 2017 and March 2018, and requires a number of overnight stays. The SIP is funded by NFU Sugar and British Sugar,

42

including travel and accommodation costs, and will contribute BASIS points. Successful applicants are expected to attend all events.

If you would like to participate, update your CV and a covering letter, telling us about yourself and why you would like to take part in the Sugar Industry Programme.

You can send all this to Sugar Adviser Bethan Williams at Bethan.williams@nfu.org.uk.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on 13 October.

#STUDENTFARMER / September 2017

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Poultry Industry Programme The candidates are assembled for the 2017/18 NFU Poultry Industry Programme (PIP), which kicks off this month. This year, 16 young and enthusiastic individuals have been chosen to represent the different sectors of the poultry industry.

The PIP brings together like-minded young people, offers market insight into the British poultry meat and egg sectors and teaches new skills to help participants develop their careers. We will be keeping you up to date with what the group are getting up to over the next year or so but for now we would like to introduce the 2017/18 PIP participants:

David Andrew, ABN

Daniel Blenkiron, broilers

Edward Calcott, seasonal turkeys

Matthew Donald, broiler breeders

William Garton, vet and practice owner at AviVets

Thomas Gent, layers

Tom Glen, ABN

Patrick Lynn, layers

William Martin, seasonal turkeys

Niamh Molloy, Technical Service Manager for Aviagen

Federica Monte, poultry consultant for ADAS

Kenna Murdoch, agricultural adviser for Tesco

Charles Roe, layers

James Smaldon, broiler breeders

David Throup, layers

James Wilson, Mid Wales egg packers

NFU Young Producers Livestock Scheme The NFU has recently launched its newest programme to improve engagement between young people and the sector they work in. The NFU Young Producers Livestock Scheme is targeting younger producers who’ve already entered and are actively working on farm within the beef and lamb sector.

The scheme will present a number of opportunities for the participants, including contributing to future policy within the beef/sheep group and invitations to the National Livestock Board or Uplands Forum. Attending these meetings will allow participants to observe and understand how NFU policy is formed. Additionally, there will be chances given to see how the NFU livestock advisers interact with industry bodies, such as AHDB and Red Tractor, on behalf of their members.

The NFU Young Producers Livestock Scheme had its first event on 5 September 2017 at NFU HQ, Stoneleigh Park. NFU Vice-President, Guy Smith opened the event, which included addresses from NFU Livestock Board Chair Charles Sercombe and NFU Chief Livestock adviser John Royle. ➜ If you’d like to get involved with future NFU Young Producers Livestock Scheme events, please email NFUlivestock@nfu.org.uk with your name and specific interests for more information.

September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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05/09/2017 11:51:45

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September 2017 / #STUDENTFARMER

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Looking for a career in farming and Agriculture?

Job Pages The National Farmers Union recruitment site for rural and agricultural job vacancies

jobs.nfuonline.com

FARMING’S BRIGHT FUTURE As we all know, farming isn’t just a job; it’s a lifestyle. Here are some examples of the wonderful opportunities available in the world of farming, so see if it inspires you to get involved too!

Tesco Future Farmer Programme

McDonald’s UK Outstanding Farmer of the Year Fakenham pig farmer Robert Battersby has been crowned McDonald’s Outstanding Farmer of the Year 2017. Robert has supplied McDonald’s for over four years and was chosen for his exceptional sustainable business practices.

Robert’s business has a strong focus on pig welfare through insulated farrowing arcs, improved water management systems and staff training and development. These developments have not only helped improve animal welfare on his farms, but also reduced piglet morality rates.

To find out more please visit: https://people.mcdonalds.co.uk/ early-career-opportunities/ progressive-young-farmer/

Not sure how to get your foot in the farmhouse door? Tesco offers a free, 12 month programme, which includes a mix of activity designed to give your farming career a kick start. Workshops, supply chain visits, mentoring and industry exchanges are all part of the scheme, so if you think your CV could do with that extra boost or if you want to make your farm more productive, make sure to apply.

Bristolian dairy farmer Keith Gue said: “Being able to collaborate with and learn from such a diverse and progressive group makes it much more fun to learn. The finance workshop in particular has helped me to get a better understanding of our own business accounts and the most recent workshop on sustainability has also helped open my eyes to potential new ways to grow the business.”

Cereals Challenge 2017 Who said you have to get your hands dirty to farm? For the first time in the eight-year history of Cereals Challenge, teams did not have a real plot to manage but competed to grow the best virtual spring barley.

Four agricultural degree students at Writtle University College have beaten seven other universities to win the competition.

Oliver Martin, Harry Coppin, George Padfield and Harry Hawkins were given the prestigious agricultural prize at Cereals 2017 as part of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists Cereals Awards. Harry Coppin, who now works for Garford Farm Machinery said: “It was an amazing experience. It was good to incorporate our learning and agronomy skills into a potential real-life situation.”

To find out more follow @CerealChallenge on Twitter

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M&S Farming for the Future awards M&S Farming for the Future is a programme of initiatives which champions sustainability and innovation within the agricultural industry. The programme is designed to help farmers identify opportunities for improvement, increase their profitability and provide a sustainable supply chain that can continue to deliver quality and innovation for the long term.

Now in their tenth year, awards are given to farmers who impressed the judges with forward thinking approaches in their sectors, commitment to the future of farming, engagement with the community and retailers, and enterprising sustainable practices.

This year’s Young Producer award went to Billy Swain, a poultry farmer in Suffolk. Judges were impressed by Billy’s wide ranging experiences within the poultry industry, alongside his commitment to turkey welfare and drive to improve farm efficiency.

To get involved visit: https:// corporate.marksandspencer.com/ plan-a/our-approach/food-andhousehold/capacity-buildinginitiatives/farming-for-the-future

#STUDENTFARMER / September 2017

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