#STUDENTFARMER - SEPTEMBER 2018

BACK BRITISH FARMING

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SEPTEMBER 2018

AGAINST THE GRAIN women on farm

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The Black Farmer’s new book calls for diversity

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05 WHERE’S YOUR HEAD AT? 06 FROM OUTSIDER TO BRAND SUPERSTAR 09 OUT OF THE CLOSET AND ONTO FARM 10 MORE THAN A WOMAN 12 #BACKBRITISHFARMING DAY 14 TRACTOR TALK 18 NEED MONEY? TOP BANKING TIPS 20 HIGH FLYING GRADUATE 22 NEXT GENERATION, NEW FACES 25 MAD APPRENTICE SKILLS 26 CHEESE PLEASE, BOB 34 PULLING THEIR WEIGHT 37 WINNING WITH THE YFC 39 HOUSE RULES 41 FAMILY FARMING 42 RARE BREED 45 DON’T GET SCURVY We’re all in this together

37 Published by: NFU, Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, CV8 2TZ Filled with words by: Huw Hopkins, Orla McIlduff, Tom Sales, Jo Travis, Ali Parker, Tim Relf, Katie Anderson, Kerry Annal Designed by: John Cottle To advertise, contact: Alan Brown on alan.brown@nfu.org.uk Contact: studentfarmer@nfu.org.uk /StudentFarmer @studentfarmer @studentfarmer

I’m pretty lucky. I was born white, straight and male. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve worked pretty damn hard to get where I am in life, but I’m also pretty woke to the fact that, without knowing it, people who meet me for the first time probably judge me in a more positive light than someone who isn’t a white, straight, male – all kinds of wrong.

I’ve worked in journalism now for a few years – across newspapers farming, fieldsports, music and basketball (#ballislife) – but I’m not sure I’ve ever been more proud of editing a magazine. You see, it doesn’t matter which industry you work in, discrimination against someone because of the way they look, or what reporoductive organs they have, isn’t cool. The NFU members and staff I have met have not been closed-minded individuals, but to outsiders, the world of farming is just grey-haired caucasian blokes with wives and kids.

There is nothing wrong with this, but just as variety in the breed helps fight off diseases in livestock, people who go against the grain of farming’s stereotype can be a huge benefit to innovation and productivity, as they will look at things in different ways.

Promoting their incredible routes into farming is something we at #StudentFarmer are keen to do.

It is why we have put together this Against the Grain edition to kick off the new academic year. But in the rest of the magazine, you can get on the road to #BackBritishFarming, visit New Holland, meet the Next Generation and be inspired by your fellow farmers.

Huw Hopkins Editor, #StudentFarmer @HuwNFU #STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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#AGA I N S T T H EGR AIN

FIGHTING BACK Poor mental health took away one of the

most important parts of Emma Picton-Jones’ life. but Tom Sales hears how she has no plans to back down from the fight

O

n 5 July 2016, dairyfarmer’s daughter, mum and primary school teacher Emma Picton-Jones became a widow at 27 when her husband committed suicide.

Daniel – dad to Mali, four, and 14-month-old Trystan – was a selfemployed agricultural contractor in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and had struggled for years with poor mental health.

He’d sought help, but not found the tailored support he needed.

“I presumed that because he had a wife, two young children and a seemingly settled life he

“I didn’t realise the extent of the issues in our community.

When I started talking to people everyone knew someone who had died through suicide.

I needed to do something positive.” would push through and come out the other side,” said Emma. “Sadly he felt we’d be better off without him.

“Nothing can prepare you for losing a loved one, but planning a funeral at such a young age and trying to explain to your children why their daddy isn’t coming home will haunt me for years.

“To them, daddy was OK because he had looked OK. Mali kept saying that she just couldn’t understand.”

In the immediate aftermath, just moving forwards was an achievement.

Emma did that for her young family.

And then she did something in Daniel’s memory, for her rural South West Wales community, and for the farming industry, in which suicide rates are double the national average.

She took the fight to anxiety, stress, depression and other mental health illnesses in farming, by setting up the DPJ Foundation charity.

“I was naive before Daniel’s death,” she said. “I didn’t realise the extent of the issues in our community. When I started talking to people everyone knew someone who had died through suicide. I needed to do something positive.”

The frontline

Emma was sure support from within farming was the key, but getting farmers together when they work long, unsociable hours in isolated places was a tough ask. The answer was to take the support to them.

Using donations at Daniel’s funeral, Emma hit the road, spoke to the people who went into farms most regularly – the vets, feed reps, tanker drivers – and gave them access to basic mental health awareness training. They, in turn, began signposting farmers to support. So far, DPJ has trained 68 such ambassadors.

With a groundswell of support, in January, the charity launched its Share the Load counselling referral service.

Emma explained: “We trained 14 Samaritans volunteers and took on a bank of fully-qualified counsellors. We created a 24-hour telephone line and a text service, because admitting your difficulties out loud is a big step.

“We all waited for the first call to come – and then it did! Since then we haven’t looked back.”

Those who make contact hear from a counsellor within 24 hours and receives six funded sessions, with the option of more.

Emma was also receiving counselling just as her charity was beginning to take off.

She said: “It was a turning point. I thought I was attending for grief counselling, but it was so much more.

"I didn’t realise the impact living with someone with poor mental health had on me and, ultimately, the effect the suicide had.”

Get help

On average, one farmer takes their life each week. If you or someone you know wants to talk about mental health issues, here are some helpful numbers SHARE THE LOAD (WEST WALES):

0800 587 4262 or text 07860048799. Donations via mydonate.bt.com/charities/ thedpjfoundation MIND: Call 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 SAMARITANS: 116 123 FARMING COMMUNITY NETWORK: 03000 111 999

#STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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04/09/2018 11:47:43

#AGAIN ST T HEGRAI N

B

ack British Farming is an important message. The concept means people get the freshest food, produced to the highest standards. The price remains affordable while keeping 3.8 million people working in food and farming, and contributing £111 billion to the economy.

But what is British farming? What does it look like?

To the uneducated, Britain’s farmers are white, grey-haired, middle-aged men from the West Country, ploughing a field in a dilapidated tractor or rounding up sheep.

An idyllic scene, yes. But the reality encompasses so much more than this, and so many more people.

Meet Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones.

Aside from living in Devon and working with grass-fed cattle and sheep, he doesn’t necessarily fit into the previous description of British farming.

His family is from Jamaica. He grew up in a two-up, two-down in Birmingham, one of 11 under the same roof. He is a black descendent of the Windrush generation, and he is making his presence felt across the British countryside.

“People thought I was a drug dealer and I’d bought my farm with money from drugs. The stereotypes are all around. What I did with my brand is make a virtue out of my colour.”

Black British Farming

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones is changing the way people think about farming in the UK

inspirational, rags-to-riches story about how a young boy sitting on a small allotment in Birmingham chased anxiety and uncertainty to realise his dream of owning a farm.

Wilfred explained: “My father had an allotment where he would grow fruit and veg to help the family income. As the eldest boy, it was my responsibility to look after the allotment, and it became my oasis. It was my way of getting away from the cramped surroundings of my big family in a small house.”

The idea of owning a farm was a driving force throughout Wilfred’s life. However, he didn’t do well in school, didn’t have any direction and struggled to get his life going at an early age – sound familiar?

He said: “I went into the army, got kicked out, I had no education and

an attitude problem. I was a failure at everything, and if you were a failure at that time, the only thing open to you was catering – it wasn’t as glamorous as it is today. But I enjoyed it and worked in number of restaurants and hotels across the West Midlands and I was always restless and ambitious to make it up the ladder. I loved watching programmes on BBC and thought I wanted to get more catering on TV.” He knocked on doors, wrote letters, made calls and spoke to whoever would listen about working in the media.

Just one person – who Wilfred called his “guardian angel” – gave him a chance. A former manager at the BBC in Birmingham, Jock Gallagher, sat with Wilfred for an hour and even told him “you are not the sort of person we

But it shouldn’t be such an unusual thing to see a black face on farm, according to Wilfred.

“A lot of immigrants from Commonwealth countries came from rural backgrounds, but they went to work in the cities when they came to the UK,” he said. “So, farming is in my DNA, as it is for lots of immigrants. There are lots of people of colour who want to work in farming in the UK, but, A: they’re frightened of it, and, B: there is a lack of understanding. It’s really difficult to get into the farming community as an outsider, especially if you’re not in a position to own or rent land.”

It is this fear that made Wilfred want to write a partly autobiographical book. Jeopardy is a sort-of self-help, 06

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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#AGA I N S T T H EGR AIN

“farming is in my DNA, as it is for lots of immigrants. There are lots of people of colour who want to work in farming in the UK”

employ” due to his lack of education of training. Regardless, Jock gave Wilfred a three-month stint as a running and this kickstarted his career in TV. After helping get several celebrity chefs on TV for the first time – people such as Gordon Ramsay and Anthony WorrallThompson – then setting up a food marketing agency and running to become a Member of Parliament in 2010, Wilfred had finally saved up enough money to buy 30 acres of land in Devon.

By hunting out gaps in the market – such as antibiotic-free pork and glutenfree beef – Wilfred’s food is becoming a talking point. His brand, The Black Farmer, stands out. It features a shadowed man in Wilfred’s recognisable hat holding a British flag.

Wilfred said: “We have to accept the fact it is difficult for black people to get opportunities in rural communities because of lack of understanding. People thought I was a drug dealer and I’d bought my farm with money from drugs. The stereotypes are all around.

“What I did with my brand is make a virtue out of my colour. All my neighbours called me The Black Farmer, and with a

brand you have to be unique, so I decided to use it.”

His market research suggested that people wouldn’t respond to a black farmer being publicised so widely on food labelling, but that has not been the case.

“My view generally is we need to sex up farming. When I got to catering, people thought it was the worst job to do – it was celebrity chefs that changed that. The image of farming is old men with old ideas and the ear of the government. We have to demonstrate that the farming community is as sexy as catering community.

“We need new thinking, new ideas, and a wide variety of people, be they black, gay or whatever. This should be a happy environment to go into, whoever you are.

We need a champion.”

Wilfred has become that champion.

He is not afraid to speak out for young people in farming, from disadvantaged backgrounds. He said: “It’s not just about colour, it’s also about white working class boys who have no education – they are being pushed down to the bottom of the heap.”

Wilfred used to run The Black Farmer Rural Scholarship but he fell ill with leukaemia a few years ago. He has nearly fully recovered, but because it didn’t kill him, it has apparently made him stronger. He said: “I’m lucky to be alive.

Four years on from stem cell transplant and I’m getting there. But believe me, there is nothing better than having a new lease of life to make you want to change the world.”

Be inspired

#StudentFarmer has three copies of Wilfred’s book, Jeopardy – The Danger of Playing It Safe On The Path To Success, to give away. If you want to be in with a chance of winning a copy, email competitions@nfu.org.uk with the title ‘StudentBook’.

The closing date will be 1 December 2018.

Jeopardy costs £14.99 and was published by Piatkus.

#STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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04/09/2018 11:49:19

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“I’m a student studying agronomy in Brazil but am currently completing an apprenticeship on a farm in North Dakota. I am from a family of farmers, so I was looking forward to learning more agricultural techniques in the United States that I could apply back on my farm in Brazil.

A typical day on the farm for me consists of fueling the tractors and other equipment, load the trucks up with seed, field work, tractor maintenance, driving tractors and other large machinery. Farming in the United States is so different compared to back home. The farms are so big and so is the machinery!

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many families in America take part in the harvest as well. It isn’t rare to see the entire family helping in the fields!

My hosts are excellent people. They have become more than hosts to me, now they are dear friends! I feel so comfortable to work with them as they are always trying to teach us and trust us to work with all of the large equipment. During my exchange program, I am living on the farm with two other trainees from Brazil who also train at the farm.

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31/08/2018 14:45:09

#AGA I N S T T H EGR AIN

Having pride in your job Being gay isn’t all glitter and rainbow flags, just ask top farmer Will Patten

“W

e’re taking a look at infrastructure at the moment.

My dad was a pretty traditional farmer, so he put up farm buildings and thought ‘that’ll do’ but they’re all looking a bit old fashioned now. So, we just put in a new parlour, introduced some tracking for the cows and put in some automatic calf feeds.”

Sounds a bit boring, doesn’t it? Sounds like a conversation people have on farms up and down the country.

But the person who told us this is called Will Patten. He’s a pretty good farmer.

Knows his stuff. He even won Young Farmer of the Year in 2013.

“I had a great time in university. A lot of people weren’t phased that I was gay and I realised there was nothing wrong with me” Oh yeah, and he’s gay.

He said: “I don’t introduce myself saying, ‘Hi, I’m Will, professional homosexual’. It’s not the most important thing about me. It’s not a choice. The only choice you have is whether you live your life as what you are, or whether you live your life as who you are.”

Will figured out his sexual identity from a young age but it wasn’t as simple as he makes it out to be today. “I was about 13.

I had guy friends and girl friends, we were at the age where we were starting noticing each other, but I wasn’t going through that in the same way. I was noticing boys instead of girls. In my mind it was a disaster, it was the worst possible thing.

“I didn’t tell anyone for five years. I was going on the internet trying to find ways to cure it, and looking at all the terrible

things you can do to get rid of it.”

Not only is the process of dealing with your sexuality difficult for any young person, doing it in a rural community where it is more difficult to find others you can relate to is another step entirely. It isn’t as common, and is deemed unusual, unnatural even. Will said: “My brother struggled a bit at the start but he’s fine with it now. My sisters are fine with it. My mum struggled with it. I don’t think there’s any mum that hopes they’re child is gay. It just wasn’t on her horizon so she had to get her head around it. My dad, however, never came to terms with it. We agreed not to talk about it, but that’s just what my relationship was like with my dad.”

It wasn’t until Will stepped away from the farm to study English Literature and Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University that his eyes were opened.

He said: “Farming can be very traditional. You need to get married, have kids, create the next generation and pass the farm on to them. I had a great time in university. A lot of people weren’t phased that I was gay and I realised there was nothing wrong with me. If you’re a gay farmer, you think you’ll become a different person – starting to wear bright colours and glitter – but instead you just become more relaxed and confident when you’re yourself.”

At university, Will’s instinct was to not go back to the farm, but his father fell ill at the time and needed help back home.

He passed away two years ago.

But now that Will is out, and back at home, he has rediscovered his love of farming. “It’s in my blood. I’ve always loved Jersey cows and now I’ve got a whole herd. I love genetics and the business side. I love figuring out problems and being responsible for the business.

WIll changed switched to Jersey cows when he took over the family farm And I want to speak to more consumers and add value to our milk.”

There he goes. Back to normal, boring farmer talk. Talking about the same things you hear up and down the country. He’s a pretty good farmer. Knows his stuff.

And that’s all that matters.

Struggling?

Will said: “Your sexual orientation does not change your personality or your ambitions, the only thing that changes when you come out and accept yourself is that you no longer have to live under the weight of your own fear anymore.

The world will not end. The people who love you will always love you.”

He contacted the Gay Farmer Helpline on 07837 931894 to get support from Pastor Keith Ineson.

#STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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#AGAIN ST T HEGRAI N

WOMEN’S WORK To most, seeing a woman driving a tractor, herding cattle or becoming the NFU President is NBD, but Jo Travis shares how that has not always been the case

B

ack in the day, it was a truth universally acknowledged that a farmer seeking to pass on his business would look to the male members of his brood. His daughters may have done as much of the work, but were only thought of in terms of being a future farmer’s wife, never the farmer in their own right.

But the times they are a changing.

While there were 13,000 female farmers in 2008, this figure had risen to 25,000 by 2013, according to Defra. And the number of young women applying for agricultural courses at college and university has soared in recent years.

Increased confidence and better kit to handle the heavy lifting have broken down the gender barriers that kept women on the sidelines. This trend is global: in 2016, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation reported that farming was “feminising” across the world as young males were more likely to leave rural areas for the city than women. It’s not always translating into equal pay and greater empowerment, but it’s a start.

The NFU has recently hit the headlines for taking a pitchfork to the glass ceiling with the election of its first female President, Minette Batters.

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Minette was elected in February 2018 after a long and distinguished NFU career, beginning as a grassroots member, then county chairman, South West Regional Board chairman, member of the NFU Governance Board and then serving as Deputy President for four years. But while she is undoubtedly proud to have been become President, she wishes her gender was not such a big issue. At this year’s Hay Festival she said: “The big success for women will be when it isn’t newsworthy.

Because farming, of all industries, has had men and women equally involved in it, and women are the backbones of many a farming business.”

Despite coming from a farming background, Minette’s route into farming was not plain sailing. Her father did not view farming as women’s work, and the lack of a succession tenancy meant that her own mixed farm business was started from scratch.

Prior to that, she trained as a chef and had a successful career as assistant trainer to David Elsworth of Desert Orchid fame (which was a proper famous horse from back in the 1980s).

Now she has 100 continental cross sucklers, a small herd of pedigree Herefords, sheep and arable, as well as a wedding venue and catering diversification, and livery stables at her Wiltshire home.

Minette also co-founded the campaigning initiatives Ladies In Beef and the Great British Beef Week and is a trustee of Farm Africa.

In September, Minette will accept an honorary degree in recognition of her significant contribution to agriculture and to the work of NFU at a Harper Adams University graduation ceremony.

She will be the guest speaker, where her audience will be made up of graduates from agriculture, business, agri-food and land management undergraduate degree programmes, as well as a range of Masters and PhD graduates.

But it is telling that the university has awarded this accolade because of Minette’s work in putting British farming on the global map, as well as raising its profile on the government’s agenda, rather than becoming the NFU’s first female President.

Getting everywhere One look at the NFU’s commodity boards shows that women are increasingly taking their place at the table of UK agriculture.

Ali Capper is the Horticulture and Potatoes Board chairman, working tirelessly to raise the issue of labour in the mind of the public and government. Dairy Board member Abi Reader (pictured) is an ambassador for her industry, who is dedicated to educating children about the sector.

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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04/09/2018 11:51:56

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Moulton College, Moulton, Northampton, NN3 7SY

Sat 13 October & Sat 10 November, 8.30am – 12 noon Wed 29 November, 5 – 7pm Pre-register or apply for courses: www.moulton.ac.uk Get in touch: enquiries@moulton.ac.uk 01604 491131

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Experts in Our Field

31/08/2018 14:45:25

Welcome to my office.

Not all working environments have desks, chairs and a photocopier.

Be inspired to do something different at Easton and Otley College.

Apply now at: www.eastonotley.ac.uk

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31/07/2018 16:21 31/08/2018 14:45:50

Advertising feature

www.eastonotley.ac.uk

From new courses to a new principal, everything seems new and fresh at Easton and Otley College based in Norfolk and Suffolk. Here we take a look at what 2018/19 holds for one of the largest land-based colleges in the country.

New course in events management Some of the biggest festivals in the UK are run on farms by farmers.

Thanks to the popularity of Glastonbury and numerous other magical musical occasions, hosting events can be a great way of raising revenue in an ever changing agricultural landscape.

As part of this, the college has teamed up with two of the largest agricultural associations in the country by creating a new events management course.

The two year programme - that is equivalent to three A-levels -will see applicants working directly for the college and either the Suffolk Agricultural Association (SAA) in Ipswich or the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) near Norwich – depending on where they are based.

Last year, these organisations (SAA and RNAA) were involved in hosting around 500 events.

These occasions included the Sundown music festival that hosted the likes of Chase and Status and Shawn Mendes, one off concerts with the operatic goddess, Katherine Jenkins, polo matches, awards ceremonies, county shows, farmers markets, Christmas parties and careers festivals.

As well as working with Easton and Otley College staff where students will support fun days and open events, they will also get to work first hand with events teams at the agricultural associations.

The events programme will also give a range of general business skills in everything from human resources to health and safety via marketing and management.

New opportunities: from study trips to competitions, Easton and Otley College students are given opportunities to progress In the past 12 months, students from the college have competed in numerous events gaining successes at national competitions such as the Smithfield Festival in Peterborough where they came first in a stockjudging event.

They visited the Paris agricultural show and a team has represented the UK at a skills competition in Germany.

On a separate visit to Deutschland, 34 learners visited the ‘largest agricultural machinery show in the world’ on a study trip. They also visited the CLAAS combine factory on the way to the machinery show.

Farm students have also been involved in a European crop research project and Adam Henson from Countryfile came along to give a talk to business leaders and students about his life in the TV spotlight.

The college is also keen to reach out to the local community as much as they can and this can be exemplified when one of the farm lecturers got dressed up as Farmer Christmas to hand out gifts to youngsters at a local primary school in Suffolk.

More plans for community, European and UK link ups and study tours are planned in 2018/19.

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New principal wants you to be the best In March 2018, Jane Townsend was appointed as the new principal of Easton and Otley College. Miss Townsend has worked in education for over 25 year’s. At the time, she set out her vision for how she sees the future of the college unfold.

She said, “Easton and Otley has massive potential and I have been overwhelmed by the active support and endless goodwill I’ve had from across our region.

“I want to put my mark on the organisation and bring even more professionalism to everything we do. I also want to promote our increasing range of vocational courses and bust some myths surrounding A-levels being the only credible choice for young people after GCSEs.” Since then, Jane has presided over many college and individual successes that included an end of term prize day ceremony for some of the top performing students. During this ceremony, she urged students to be ‘the best they can be’ and thanked them for helping to put ‘the college on the map’.

If you would like to help put the college and indeed yourself on the map, you can call 08000 224556 or visit www.eastonotley.ac.uk (Accommodation for students is available at the Norfolk campus).

31/08/2018 14:46:04

# backbr iti shfarmi ng

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The road to

#Back British Farming Day

November 2017: Lord Mayor’s Show Half a million people lined the streets of London on 11 November to see the NFU join forces with the Worshipful Company of Farmers and New Holland to bring a ‘Proud to produce your food’ message to the Lord Mayor’s Show 2017. Eight NFU young farmers representing different farming sectors walked alongside a Union Flag-adorned New Holland, which included a T7 tractor and a C8.80 combine harvester. Jack Davis, a 22 yearold Harper Adams University student, bought his first cattle when he was 18. He said: “I think it’s important that farmers have a direct link to the consumers. The public should know we’re just normal people who work hard to produce their food.”

at #StudentFarmer, we know you guys work hard in telling your mates to always #BackBritishFarming, but did you know there’s a whole day dedicated to it on 12 September? so here’s everything you need to about the NFU’s journey to #BBFDay

February 2018: NFU Conference 2018

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Eight NFU student and young farmer members won the chance to get a backstage look at NFU Conference 2018. Newly elected NFU President Minette Batters said: “I am calling on the whole of government to help us put Britain on the global map when it comes to farming. I want to be involved in Brexit trade negotiations, and for farming to be the first to take its place in this new buyers’ market.”

Secretary of State for Food and the Environment Michael Govespoke at the conference and said: “I want to see farmers better rewarded for their vital public services, but I know that farmers would not be in the position to provide these services and the countryside that we cherish without successful, productive, profitable farm businesses.”

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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#bac k b r i t i shfar m ing

September 2018: Back British Farming Day

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Back British Farming Day 2018 will see MPs wear their wheatsheaf pin badges in Prime Minister’s Questions on 12 September and pledge their support for UK agriculture. The NFU is working with the catering team at the Houses of Parliament to provide a special week-long menu based around the fantastic produce grown and reared on UK farms.

How to get involved: •

• •

Tweet your local MP and encourage them to wear their wheat sheaf badge on Back British Farming Day Use the #BackBritishFarming hashtag on social media on 12 September Contact your Students’ Union and organise your own #BackBritishFarming Day on campus

What’s next?

The NFU is working hard to raise the profile of the British agriculture industry because the UK Government will soon be publishing an Agriculture Bill (a bunch of laws that will dictate how we farm after Brexit). We need to ensure that UK farming gets the best possible deal from this Bill, meaning the industry continues to be profitable and productive with exemplary standards of animal welfare.

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Visit NFUonline.com for all the latest #BackBritishFarming coverage

June-August 2018: #YourHarvest Promoting British farming to the public and government is a year-round job, which many farmers do alongside running their farm businesses.

Summer 2018 saw the NFU launching its first #YourHarvest campaign.

Farmers and growers were encouraged to write, tweet or email their local MPs and invite them on farm during the harvest. NFU Crops Board Chairman Tom Bradshaw was one of the driving forces behind the campaign and said: “It’s never been more important to talk about the role that farmers play in managing the great British countryside. The #YourHarvest campaign successfully enabled farmers to increase the understanding of their sectors amongst decision makers.”

May 2018: Speak up for farming’s future The NFU tooks its summary response to the government’s Command Paper to Parliament and held a drop-in session for MPs. Sioned Davies, a second year agriculture student at Harpers Adams University responded to the paper and said: “Quite simply, I want British people to eat British food and for the farmers to get a fair price in return. But, apparently, it is not as simple as that.

So, what would I do if I was Prime Minister, or even sat in Michael Gove’s position? I want an industry that is controlled by pioneering innovation, that has a relationship with its consumers, and that works in harmony with the environment.”

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#STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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04/09/2018 11:52:42

# S FON TOUR

the making of new holland Ali Parker took seven lucky #StudentFarmer competition winners to see one of New Holland’s tractors being built

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D

id you know that in just 15 hours you could build a fullyfunctioning tractor?

At the New Holland plant in Basildon that’s exactly what they’re doing, churning out 85 of these globally recognised machines a day – from start to finish.

Since 1964, the Basildon plant has been producing some of the most popular tractor models ever made: the Ford 4000, 5000 and 7000, and the modern day T6, T7 and T7 Heavy Duty tractor models.

Being the only UK Plant, its size is pretty impressive: spanning 40 hectares with around 1,000 employees on the site, 500 of which work in the factory. So from

the moment we pulled up outside the manufacturing plant, we knew we were in for something special.

Financing the Future of Farming

When you’re setting up your career in farming, or maybe expanding a business in the future, you’ll need to purchase some new machinery, which can be pretty expensive. One way to do it is by securing a bank loan, but even if you were lucky enough to do a Farming Business module at college (and you didn’t doze through it!) few young farmers actually know how to approach a bank manager to secure that loan.

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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04/09/2018 11:57:16

#SF O NTO UR

Ed Dowler

To help with this, NFU Economist Anand Dossa joined the trip to talk us through investments and systems bankers may use to assess lending propositions.

All systems go

On the factory floor you really get a sense of the scale of the plant – it definitely blew us away. The assembly line is 2.5km long – that’s, like, one long step, 2,500 times – taking the machine from the driveline, as just a transmission and rear axle, to a complete tractor that can drive away.

“I found the trip around the factory floor incredible. Seeing the logistics behind making 85 tractors a day was mind blowing, the whole work force each plays a crucial role in the smooth running of the tractor assembly. It was really interesting to hear from Anand, about how farmers’ attitudes can affect the success of their businesses and how to approach a bank for a financial loan.”

Liam Watson

“The day was amazing, and I think the best part of it for me was going on a tour around the factory, because I thought they built them all in one go, but they are built to order from a 16500-spec sheet.”

It really is a team effort, as the workman at each section of the line has just 4.5 minutes to attach all of their components before moving onto the next. Just to make it even harder, no two tractors are the same as each is built to meet a specific order, with its specification chosen from amongst 16,000 options.

Components are brought to Basildon from all over the world – for example, the transmission and rear axles are manufactured at the New Holland factory in Belgium. These British-made tractors are then exported to around 120 different overseas markets, including the USA, Australia and China.

Trips with the NFU

#StudentFarmer runs regular trips for members. If you would like to get involved, contact us on social media.

Where we’ve been recently: • Houses of Parliament • NFU Conference • John Deere tractor plant

Getting it right

Machinery can be a large investment area for your business but it can really make a difference to farm productivity. However, when you’re spending so much money, you really want to make sure you pick the models that are best for your business.

Luckily for us, the New Holland team had two of the company’s newest tractors around the corner, just waiting for us to #STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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04/09/2018 15:01:53

# S FON TOUR have an exclusive test-drive.

We were let loose on a T6.175 DCT and T6.175 AutoCommand, and the staff was able to answer all of our questions and point out the key benefits of each model.

Sitting in the tractor, surrounded by the latest gadgets and technology, it was hard to imagine that it takes just 15 hours to put it all together. And no matter how often you’ve driven one, there was still something quite exciting about speeding around their test track in some pretty impressive kit.

Quentin Watson

“Being a student member of the NFU alerts you too many opportunities in the agricultural sector that you may not otherwise hear about. It’s a great way to make more contacts in the industry which can help to develop your career.”

Dan Hawes

“Looking around Basildon was something I have wanted to do for a while, and this was the perfect opportunity. Being a #StudentFarmer member keeps you informed with useful information and events, and it’s free!”

Howard Samm

Nick Hill

“The tips from Anand on how to go about getting a loan from the bank for expanding a farm business will be very helpful to me in the future as I go into a career in farm management.

I had a brilliant day at Basildon, and it was great to learn about the export of British-made New Holland tractors all over the world.”

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“As a recent graduate, I am now looking at every aspect of how to plan my future career path within agriculture. Days like this are always a great way to get to know other like-minded people, gain insights on potential jobs, and to build up contacts.

The talk from Anand Dossa was excellent in painting the picture for the future of British farming, and what way that may be heading. New Holland has had to change with the times and adapt by making the new heavy duty tractors, it’s always good to see how businesses adapt to ‘future-proof’ themselves.”

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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04/09/2018 11:57:37

#ECO NO M ICS

Financing the future of farming Our competition winners drooled over the New Hollands But to get one they and you will probably need to make the case to the bank. the NFU’s economics adviser anand dossA explained how

W

hen you’re setting up your career in farming, or maybe expanding a business in the future with the purchase of some new machinery, it can be pretty expensive.

One way to do it is by securing a bank loan, but even if you were lucky enough to have a Farming Business module at college (and you didn’t doze through it) few young farmers actually know how to approach a bank manager to secure that loan.

NFU Economist Anand Dossa joined #StudentFarmer’s lucky winners at New Holland to talk us through investments and the systems bankers may use to assess lending propositions.

Anand’s top tips ON applying for a lo an Remember that lending

decisions will be based on a rang e of factors:

1. Know your track record, cred it history and credit rating – do this via websites like Experian, ClearScore and Equifax.

2. Demonstrate that you are plan ning for the future and are equippe d to manage any business issues. Wh at plans and contingencies do you have?

3. Always ensure that the purpos e of the credit fits with the strategi c objectives of the company, so you r bank understands how the new funds will benefit the business. What is the lending is for? Is credit needed for working capital, investment cap ital or expansion?

4. How much is needed? You nee d to ensure that you apply for the right level of amount, that it is realistic and considers all costs when looking to raise new finance.

#STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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04/09/2018 13:55:57

# GR ADUATESCHE ME

beers, birds and brussels Emily Roads shares some highlights from her year at NFU HQ as part of the NFU Grad Scheme

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mong my fellow recent university graduates, there seems to be a negative stereotype about the first real job. Many of them think you’ll be in charge of making coffee and photocopying, everything you dreamed of as you flung your mortarboard in the air.

Luckily, for me, nothing could be further from the truth on the NFU Graduate Scheme. As an Agricultural Policy Graduate Trainee, I have been entrusted to lead on key policy work, run my own projects and set up high profile events, all in the name of Back British Farming.

The first 12 months are spent at NFU HQ. I began with six months in the Food and Farming Department, working across different sectors of the industry.

A highlight of this was the Beer and Cheese Reception we hosted for MPs and Lords in the Houses of Parliament.

From taste testing various beer and cheese combinations through to serving these delicious foods to policy makers, organising this event was really exciting.

By showcasing our farmers’ produce, we landed some key policy asks with decision makers in a relaxed and social manner.

Following this, I moved to Policy Services. Again, I found myself in

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Parliament, supporting the NFU’s work on behalf of members affected by HS2.

This project involved gathering evidence from members, researching documents with the NFU’s legal team, ahead of giving evidence to the Select Committee. It was fascinating to play a role in work that will make a difference for impacted farmers.

The work is diverse and one of my other projects involved organising the inaugural Farm Nature Discovery on the NFU President’s farm. By inviting a range of biodiversity experts, we explored the range of flora and fauna found on farm, and it was really rewarding to bring this event together.

There are loads of opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills. All the graduates had a day of media training, learning how to tackle tough interview questions in print, radio and television journalism: it’s amazing how much your confidence and ability to talk in front of a camera can improve over a few hours. There are conferences and events to attend, that will help you build your network of contacts and industry knowledge.

One of the best

things about working for the NFU is the people. Not only are my colleagues extremely knowledgeable and supportive, but they appreciate working for our members and I know that my work is making a difference to their businesses and lives. It is rare to have a whole week at your desk as there are always opportunities to get on farm and talk to our members, attend branch meetings, or head to London and Brussels. This makes the job particularly varied, and there is never a dull day.

In the last 11 months I have been given opportunities I never thought I would have. When I compare the work I do to others, I know I made the right choice.

Looking ahead, I will spend part of it working in the NFU regional offices. I am also moving to Brussels to join the team at the British Agriculture Bureau, where I will be engaged in lobbying and policy work at European Parliament level. Put it this way, it definitely beats making coffee and photocopying.

Become an NFU Graduate

Stay tuned to NFUonline and #StudentFarmer social media for announcements in the next few weeks around the next influx of NFU Graduate Scheme opportunities

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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Love food?

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31/08/2018 14:48:06

# NE XTGEN E RAT I O N

we got next

The new king of the NFU’s Next Generation Forum Simon Gadd talks about working with the King of Beers and the future of farming in the United Kingdom

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ne of the negatives about living in an isolated area is many farmers get so engrossed with their dayto-day jobs that they can sometimes lose sight of the big picture – why are we doing this? Who relies on me? What’s the point?

When the newly elected Next Generation Chairman Simon Gadd moved away from his small village outside Boston in Lincolshire, where the family farm is located, to the big university campus of Loughborough, he realised this was something he needed to avoid.

“Working alongside my dad, we do pretty much everything between us. We’re in a transition period of handing over the farm – dad has started dealing with less and I’m taking over more. Things like cultivation and combining are joint decisions, when it comes to selling and buying he takes the lead, but I’m learning more from him with regards to getting good contracts.

“We’ve always been NFU members but just stayed local. But when I did my BASIS, I met Joe Greenfield and he introduced me to doing more with the NFU. We’re a small, very rural farm but I studied chemistry at Loughborough and started interacting with bigger communities.

Working away taught me a lot and when I came back to farm with just me and dad, I tried to think more about how it fits into bigger picture.”

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A recent addition to the Gadds’ big picture is a contract with Budweiser, which has helped Simon and his dad change their outlook on what they do. Simon said: “We used to produce wheat for feed and we didn’t know where it went. Then we started growing for Hovis and it felt good knowing where it was going towards making bread and feeding the nation. And now it’s the same with Budweiser. We get a lot of information back from them.

We’ve already got results through from screenings and germination from this year. In the past, you either hit the mark or not, and you didn’t know why.

“When we visited Budweiser, we saw field trials that looked at gluten free oats and other diversifying opportunities into what the UK actually needs, so we don’t just continue to producing what we’ve always produced. But Budweiser is producing more and more in this country and looking to move toward 100% production of their malt in the UK. It’s reassuring that we have people investing in the future. We need to step up we take hold of these investments.”

With the future becoming harder to predict with Brexit around the corner, Simon wants to make sure the Next Generation Forum is doing everything it

Meet the new Next Generation Chairman (CENTRE)

Simon Gadd, 30 Cereals, barley, wheat, oilseed rape Vice-Chairman (right)

David Ractliffe, 27 Dairy and beef Vice-Chairman (left)

Thomas Collins, 33 Corn, pigs and cattle

can to help young farmers prepare for the unpredictable. He said: “We will try take a bigger role in training: knowing how to get, and how to use, all the tools available to make sure our produce is best in the world. We are going to help the Next Generation to get ahead on data and not just look at doing what you did last year.”

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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04/09/2018 13:56:25

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Meet Siân

operations, to marketing and have helped me to better understand my strengths and weaknesses. I now definitely feel more confident to go out and look for jobs that I know I will enjoy and put into practice learnings from each.

I will continue to encourage those who are unsure of their career path to apply for the scheme as it’s the best choice I’ve made to progress my career.”

Two years ago Siân was about to graduate from Harper Adams University with a degree in Agri-Food Marketing. Today she has almost completed the MDS graduate scheme and has secured an exciting role within the food industry. Here’s what she has to say about the scheme: “I applied for MDS after seeing their stand at my university careers fair. I have always been encouraged to take part and gain as much experience as possible and so to apply for a scheme that offers this whilst providing training along the way was an opportunity not to be missed!

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31/08/2018 14:49:21

#A P P R E NTIC ESHIPS

Safe hands

College and university isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Orla McIlduff caught up with farm apprentice Joe Porteous to find out why getting stuck in on-farm was ideal for him

T

hey do say “If you don’t ask, you don’t get” and this is certainly true in the case of 19 year-old Joe Porteous, who has been working as an apprentice on Tom Martin’s farm in Haddon, near Peterborough.

“The apprenticeship was suggested to me at college because I wasn’t really a big fan of sitting in a classroom if I’m honest,” said Joe. “I did a level 2 countryside land management course at Shuttleworth College and I was due to work with Tom Martin through the summer doing contract work. I asked him about the apprenticeship before I started and he said ‘Let’s give it a go’.”

That was over two years ago, and neither Joe nor Tom have looked back since. Joe attends college one day each week, and works on the farm the rest.

When asked about having Joe as an apprentice, Tom had only good things to say: “Joe is brilliant. There isn’t a better machinery operator anywhere and we’re very lucky to have him. One thing about apprenticeships is that you have to get the right person for your farm.”

Tom is now really passionate about farmers supporting apprentices, especially as businesses change post-Brexit and with new technology afoot. He said: “We don’t

Joe, Tom and Tom's dog Gatsby make a cracking team on farm need to produce labourers anymore. We need to produce business managers and technical operators.”

Joe understands the importance of having a good working relationship with Tom. He explained: “We do well as a team.

Tom can go off to meetings and do what he needs to do, and he knows the farm will be in safe hands with me. Everything that needs done will be done.”

Taking on more responsibility as he progresses prepares Joe well for a longterm career in the agriculture industry, but he doesn’t have a favourite aspect of

the business: “I can’t imagine a future outside of farming now. Farming is so mixed that you never get bored. I work with sheep, pigs and machinery and although there are times when you do the same thing over and over again, as soon as you get bored of it, the season changes and you start working on something else.”

The success of Joe’s apprenticeship on Tom’s farm really gives food for thought about different learning styles. It’s important to find a style that’s right for you, and this just happened to be the right thing for Joe. When asked about advice he’d give to other people considering an apprenticeship, he said: “Ask yourself if you enjoy learning by the book. If you do, then college and university is right. But if, like me, you prefer learning by handson work, then definitely look into an apprenticeship.”

#STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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04/09/2018 12:00:27

# BUILDIN GAB U SI NESS

Wheys and means Who says you can’t launch a business while you’re at uni?

Tim Relf spoke to two people have done just that

J

ohn Davies and Hannah Kinston had a brainwave.

They realised that people at country shows and food fayres didn’t want to carry items they’d bought around all day – so the young couple hot-footed it to the exit gate and sold the few packets of cheese they hadn’t shifted on their stand during the day.

This entrepreneurial approach is typical of these 21-year-old students, who run a business in tandem with their academic work, retailing products they purchase from Joseph Heler, who is an awardwinning cheesemaker.

Since launching the John and Hannah business in 2016, the turnover has risen with a range of 15-plus products sold at shows, via hamper orders and through farmshops including the one at Chatsworth House. The offering has a distinctly personal connection to the duo as milk from Hannah family’s Jersey herd in Derbyshire supplies the cheesemaker.

Their age, they’re convinced, helps them win customers. Hannah said: “There can be a perception that young people are lazy and just mess around wasting their student loans – they like to support us because we’re working hard and really trying to make a go of this. Customers like a story and our business has one.”

Luckily, some of the busy periods in the cheese-selling cycle – such as summer shows and Christmas hampers – coincide with college vacations, but John, studying Agri-business at Harper Adams University, and Hannah, reading Veterinary Medicine at the University of Nottingham, put in whatever hours are required to keep things going.

“There have been times when we’ve been surviving on between two and six hours sleep a night,” she said. “We’ll have lie-ins when we’re older.”

While they are integral to the brand (after all, the company is is called John 26

and Hannah), they know it’s quality products that guarantee repeat purchases.

Among their offering is Red Leicester with Indian Mango Chutney (Hannah’s favourite) and Orson Winston, a strong cheddar (John’s first choice).

Nowadays, cheese appeals to people of all ages, including their generation. “You

used to see burger vans outside nightclubs – now there vans selling cheese toasties,” explained John, who is from a family farm in Snarestone, Leicestershire. “Younger customer always want to try the smoked chilli cheddar. It’s got a real kick to it.”

Their approach is to set prices at levels that are “accessible for everyone” in a

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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#B U I L D I N GABUSINESS bid to capitalise on this demand. “We treat everybody the same, regardless of whether they’re a millionaire or on a budget,” John said. “You’ve got to make sure everyone leaves the stand feeling like they’ve got a good deal.

“We always ask customers lots of questions – whether it’s what they thought of a previous purchase or what the occasion is that they’re buying it for.

It’s important to really listen.

“You have to be honest with people. If you don’t know the answer to something they ask, tell them that. A small business lives or dies by its reputation and one small lie, however innocuous it might seem, could destroy that.”

John and Hannah will attend 20-plus shows during 2018 and the annual Open Farm Sunday event at Hannah’s family

“When it’s your own business, you really care about its reputation. I sometimes see people in jobs who are just going through the motions. This really matters to us“ farm near Burton-on-Trent was a big date for them, as they typically attract about 2,000 visitors.

As the enterprise has expanded, they’ve needed help and, as well as drawing on family support, have enlisted friends and

college contemporaries. They’ve got a rule here – they always get pals to do the more repetitive tasks such as packing, to free up their time to focus on the organisational and front-of-house aspects.

John said: “You’ve got to make sure the people who help have the same approach and values as you. When it’s your own business, you really care about its reputation. I sometimes see people in jobs who are just going through the motions.

This really matters to us.”

The couple are aware of their complementary skills – with Hannah particularly adept at customer care and marketing, and John a whizz with figures.

Hannah said: “We sometimes disagree and occasionally even fall out, but neither of us bears grudges and we always make up. When you work with someone, it’s important that you can disagree because

often it’s the compromise solution that’s the best one.”

For this couple, the cheese venture could also prove a stepping-stone onto something bigger – they’re researching opportunities for rose veal meat, an idea that was conceived when Hannah was researching the economics of dairy bull calves for a uni project.

Hannah said: “We’d like to theme the products – make burgers for Bonfire Night or summer barbecues, for example.

“This would all be so much harder if we were doing it on our own. We share the worries, but we also share the successes and the good times. It’s nice to have something we can be proud of together.” johnandhannahltd @johnandhannah John and Hannah LTD

#STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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04/09/2018 12:19:42

# BUILDIN GAB U SI NESS

Mozzarella Man

For many students, finishing university may feel daunting. But for Matt Mitchem, a love of

A

fter completing an Agriculture and Business Management degree at Reading University, Matt Mitchem returned to his family farm near Exeter. Currently a mixed farm with dairy, pigs and broiler chickens, Matt decided to add mozzarella to the mix, made with milk from his 120 Holstein cows and 25 Jersey cows. He said: “Our cows are milked twice per day with the milk entering the same tank and being mixed. At the moment all of our cattle are housed, but we are looking to introduce more grazing into the system.”

Spending some time working on different farms already doing similar ventures has helped Matt: “I’ve taken inspiration from a family friend who produces a range of pizza doughs for high street pizza chains. I found it very influential being in a company with people who are passionate about the products they produce and about supplying them into the food service industry.”

Matt has laid a lot of groundwork for

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mozzarella sparked an interesting business idea, and nearly a year on, things are well underway. Ali Parker finds out more

his new business: creating the business plan, getting funding and gaining all the necessary food hygiene qualifications.

Next on the to-do list is to build an onfarm facility to produce the mozzarella on a saleable volume. He explained: “I currently rent a facility locally where I am able to produce small batches of mozzarella, creating samples and refining the product. I’ve been sending samples out for feedback and I’m now ready to take the business to its next phase.”

Once the new facility has been built, the plan is to sell locally before moving further afield: “We will be targeting the food service trade, but further down the line we will complement this with selling the product in local shops and markets.

We have the most potential selling directly into restaurants.”

The growing trend in consumers wanting locally produced food is something Matt is keen to deliver. Some may think “Isn’t mozzarella made from buffalo milk?” but Matt told us that actually a lot of supermarket mozzarella products have been made from cows’ milk: “We don’t need to do anything different with regards to the management of the cows to make the mozzarella. Our milk is great tasting and perfect for the job!”

Like many dairy farmers, Matt has seen first-hand the farm struggle from volatility in milk prices, driving him to want to change their approach. But his main reason for embarking on this mozzarella mission is the pride which comes with producing his own product: “Producing your own product that has your name on the packaging is highly rewarding and allows you to set yourself away from the rest.”

tips on starting your own business 1. Don’t be afraid to give it a go.

If you are confident in your approach and willing to make it work this will put you in as good position in making it a success 2. D on’t disregard anything or anyone. You may have to talk to 10 people to get one piece of useful advice, and often it comes from place you wouldn’t expect.

3. T ake your time and appreciate how long things may take.

4. Be confident of your numbers and be realistic when forecasting for your business plan. When starting a business, you will be judged a lot on the numbers, whether this is when applying for funding or trying to convince your parents.

5. E njoy what you’re doing. If you don’t enjoy it you’ll have no passion to make it work, and the exercise will be pointless.

Building a business isn’t easy, so it’s no surprise that Matt has faced a few challenges: “The majority of issues have been in the way of delays, and I’m fairly impatient so it’s been a real learning curve having to take my time and put a mature head on in certain situations.”

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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#B U I L D I N GABUSINESS

Once fully up and running, Matt will be one of only a few cows’-milk mozzarella producers in the UK with a unique business of his own: “I like to think that our unique selling point is that we produce a high quality, British, artisan mozzarella direct from farm to the consumer. We have a transparent approach, meaning the customer can see our complete business process.”

Producing products in this way also gives Matt the chance to educate consumers: “If we can educate the consumer as well as promoting our sustainable farming system along the way, then this has to be a good thing.”

#STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018 student-farmer-88x129-v1.1.indd 1

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05/12/2017 19:38

04/09/2018 12:17:59

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03/09/2018 09:14:33

#B U I L D I N GABUSINESS

Cracking down on food waste JO TRAVIS MeetS the former UEA student making the most of his poultry farm’s produce

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aste not, want not is the mantra of a farmer’s son who spotted a gap in the market and turned it into an egg-citing business opportunity.

University of East Anglia psychological science grad Matt Havers founded protein drink company PECK after realising how many ‘seconds’ eggs were being wasted. Hundreds of eggs from his father’s layer flock of 16,000 birds in North Suffolk were being ditched because they were the wrong size, colour or texture for the retail market.

Matt created his first fruit smoothie in June 2017, using British Lion Code free range eggs that would have gone to waste, and launched his range in January.

“Cutting down on food waste is one of the biggest challenges we face as a farming industry – anything we can do to make our processes more effective and sustainable is really important.

“Chickens use about 60% of their daily calorie count to make an egg, so it’s even more important we make use of their produce from their perspective.”

Matt hopes to approach retailers directly to source the healthy eggs that are wasted by supermarkets when one or two eggs in a box are cracked. The UK wastes 4% of its eggs before they even leave the shops, which equates to 1.4 million eggs daily.

He has encountered numerous challenges in his war against food waste: “At the moment we can’t use eggs from my family farm as it requires some costly infrastructure to process them, but all the eggs in our drinks would have otherwise been disposed of at other farms.

“Transforming people’s perceptions about consuming egg whites in this way are low in sugar and fat with no artificial has been a hurdle, as some people still colours, flavours or preservatives. associate raw eggs with the Rocky films.”

“The yolk of an egg is where 90% of Protein drinks have steadily grown the goodness of an egg lies, however, it in popularity in the last few years as also contains 100% of the fat. Similar to consumers become more interested in avocados and nuts, it is classed as good high protein products for muscle building fat, but we wanted to keep the fat content and weight management. low so it would appeal to people The drinks are lactoseon specialised diets too.” free and contain five said Matt.

Win peck! free-range egg whites Since graduating from Eight lucky readers could per bottle. This equates UEA, Matt has wanted win a pack of PECK. Just to 20g of protein. They to encourage students email competitions@nfu.org. and graduates to pursue uk with the subject name their business ideas and ‘StudentPECK’. entrepreneurial passion.

Closing date 1 December.

He said: “Always try something new, it’s tougher to start, but if you have something unique the pay-off is huge.

“Even if my business falls down around me, I can hold my head up because of the journey that I’ve been through.”

PECK has received grants from Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative and Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership.

PECK will to be launched in the East of England Co-op and Musclefoods in the next few months. They can be purchased on the PECK website and on Amazon. #STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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# D OGS

The dogtor is in

Dr Rosie Howson is a vet working in a farm and small animal practice in North Yorkshire.

She gives her top tips for taking care of man’s best friend (and often colleague)

W

orking dogs (when they behave), can be as fundamental to a farm as a tractor, quad bike and calving jack combined. Much like said tractor, quad bike or calving jack, dogs have a habit of breaking down at the worst possible moment.

The vet will be called, the treatment will follow, and the inevitable bill will drop through the letter box a month later.

Here is a rough guide to when it’s time to call the vet.

Puppies

It is safe to assume that if the puppy is under four months old and starts showing signs of lameness, diarrhoea, vomiting or in fact any sign of ill health, it needs to see a vet. Puppies get poorly quickly so it is never too soon to call for advice. It’s important to remember that puppies under six months old need worming monthly as they are much more prone to picking up parasites than adults.

32

adult dogs

Once a dog is about six months old, most vets recommend thinking about neutering.

In bitches, this means spaying her (removing her womb and ovaries) and in dogs, castration (removing his testicles). The obvious benefit of neutering is to prevent unwanted pregnancy and puppies but particularly in bitches a number of health benefits also exist. Spaying bitches prevents against life threatening womb infections (pyometra) but also protects against breast cancer.

Young adult dogs don’t commonly need to see a vet more than once a year for a booster, however it is important to see a vet if you see: • Vomiting – especially if your dog is a scavenger.

• Cuts/scrapes/wounds – the sooner you take a dog to a vet, the better. New, fresh wounds are much easier and quicker to stitch up and less likely to get infected.

• Lameness.

• Coughing – kennel cough is common amongst working dogs. If your dog coughs, keep it away from others until it has stopped as kennel cough is highly contagious.

• Diarrhoea – often will get better by itself by feeding the dog bland food (chicken and rice) but if it doesn’t seem to improve or the dog seems unwell, take it to the vets.

Elderly dogs

When dogs get past about the age of about eight, most will start to slow down a bit.

While they are still as likely to get a cut or a wound as a younger dog, they are more prone to illness and will need to be seen by a vet if you notice: • Sudden, unexplained weight loss • Rapidly growing or changing lumps or bumps • Drinking more than usual – this can indicate different diseases so most vets will take a blood sample to check liver and kidney function if your dog is drinking more.

If you own an un-spayed bitch, drinking more can mean a womb infection, which can be diagnosed with an ultrasound scan.

• Slowing down – being slow to get up in the morning and more tired after exercise isn’t just old age, it can mean your dog has arthritis. Much the same in dogs as it is in people, arthritis can be painful, but it is also treatable with the right medication.

However, it is a bad idea to treat dogs with human pain relief as drugs such as ibuprofen are highly toxic to dogs.

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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#y f c

ON THE PULL The Royal Welsh Show offers plenty to see and do, but nothing

attracts better crowds than the NFU Cymru-sponsored Tug Of War

C

rowds surround the pitch – 10, 11 rows deep. The sun beams down on makeshift tents, under which competitors huddle, trying to keep out of the heat, while butterflies on overdrive rattle around inside their stomachs.

Tug. Of. War.

Each year, Young Farmers’ Clubs from around the UK grab the rope and give this sport a go, but in Wales this fun competition becomes something so much more serious. In particular, the Royal Welsh Show acts as the ultimate tournament in the calendar, and teams feed off the energy of the thousands who turn up to enjoy the event.

Tug of war is more than just a show of strength, as technique, conditioning and endurance is required to succeed. Teams

“The Royal Welsh is the highlight of the year. It’s the only place you can come and the whole crowd is cheering ‘pull! Pull!‘” face off against other groups in a similar weight category, so when it comes to the pull, you can’t rely on having a few hefty locals to fill out your crew, they need to have the skills that win.

Ewan Davies of Trecastle YFC’s tug of war team in Brecknock said: “We mostly do endurance training and you’ve obviously got to be tough.

“One of the activities we do is to throw a rope over a big tree and pull a weight up 34

it, and we also pull against each other.”

While being big and strong is certainly an advantage, competing in the 680kg category means there is a strict limit.

Ewan, who pulls third from the back, said: “You’ve got to watch your weight or otherwise you’ll end up going running just before a competition to shed a bit of weight – and nobody wants that.”

Game of brains

First-time viewers of the sport will go into it thinking it’s just a case of pulling really hard, but it is so much more tactical than that. From the positioning of each athlete along the rope, to the techniques required at certain stages, the competition is a tense affair that keeps you gripped – or at least it does at this level.

There were a few examples of this at the Royal Welsh Show. A strategy of the top teams was to withstand the initial

pull and simply hold their position. It is a ploy to let your opponent make the first mistake by trusting in your strength and endurance. When they finally relent and try to pull, they will be momentarily vulnerable as they reset their grip, and that is when the greater, stronger and more patient team can capitalise.

After that, the way to win is a mixture of long, rhythmic pulls, smaller stuttered steps – all of which have to be done in sync with the rest of your team. It is a mesmerising thing to watch and is not dissimilar to seeing the Oxford and Cambridge rowing teams compete, or watching a dance group move in harmony.

Embracing TOW

Wales YFC Chairman Laura Elliott shared a few stories about her previous attempts to get involved with Glamorgan club’s tug of war team: “We were terrible. We just

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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#yf c

Trecastle men leapt into each other’s arms after winning the championship

spent the afternoon getting dragged about the pitch.”

YFCs have their own heats in the build up to the Royal Welsh to determine the best team to represent the region, and many of the teams will often compete in the Welsh Tug Of War Association, but the show in Builth Wells represents something greater than the weekly pulls against other local teams.

Part of this is thanks to the support NFU Cymru provides, in sponsoring prizes and hosting a drinks reception.

During the hot afternoon on the Wednesday of Royal Welsh, women and men representing Anglesey, Brecknock, Camarthen, Ceredigion, Clwyd, Eryri,

Glamorgan, Gwent, Meirionnydd, Montgomery, Pembrokeshire, Radnor stepped onto the hard, dry ground.

The women’s event concluded first, which saw Trecastle pull against Glamorgan’s team. Laura wasn’t competing, so her home side from South Wales weren’t dragged around the pitch, it was quite the opposite. Glamorgan only needed two of the best-of-three opportunities to put away the team from Brecknock in a convincing fashion.

The small village of Trecastle also made it into the Men’s final, which saw Brecknock take on Gwent. The first pull was long but Brecknock held hard and forced Gwent into three mistakes. The second round was won by Gwent.

The coaches joined the referee for a coinflip to determine who would pull from what side. It went the way of Brecknock, as did the final tug, and the Royal Welsh Show title.

Newly crowned Ewan Davies said: “The Royal Welsh is the highlight of the year.

It’s the only place you can come and the crowd is shouting ‘pull, pull!’

“You start off with your regional competitions against other clubs at rallies and then there’s the Welsh TOW Association competitions every weekend that you have each weekend, but this is the pinnacle for YFC.”

These boots are made for tugging You might think the only thing required for a tug of war competition is a rope, but other items play an integral role.

Some outdoor clothing companies manufacture their own boots, including brands like Lowa and William Lennon.

But according to Nottingham’s YFC, most of the athletes at the European and World Championships tend to use rebuilt footwear. A number of tuggers, however, are seen walking around with rollerblades sans wheels, skiboots minus skis, or army boots post-duty.

Ewan Davies of Trecastle said: “The boots are important. Our coach makes ours and he’s pretty good at them.”

There are restrictions, as the heel has to be flush with the sole and no thicker than 35mm from the bottom of the shoe. Also, the heel can have a metal plate, but must be no greater than one third of the surface area of the shoe, nor less than one quarter. You can have a taper to the side of the shoe that will come in contact with the ground, whereas the opposite side needs to be flat.

For more information on making your own tug of war boots, visit www.tugofwar-twif.org.

Glamorgan’s women dominated the final exchange to take the title #STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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04/09/2018 12:05:11

ARE YOU PLANNING TO START AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN AGRICULTURE? The NFU Mutual Agricultural Undergraduate Award will give four selected students a £3,000 bursary to help support their tuition, work experience and living costs.

To find out if you’re eligible to apply for the award, please visit nfumutual.co.uk/undergrad

The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No.111982). Registered in England. Registered Office: Tiddington Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ.

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#yf c

The weird, wonderful, YFC Rally

The Young Farmers' Club can teach you skills you’d never have learnt before, from the technical challenges to the give-it-ago competitions. But a veteran of the YFC’s more unusual side, Ali Parker, found that there is something for everyone… required to race on broomsticks to the theme of Magic and Mystery.”

One man band

with a fantastic dance routine, decorate their wheelbarrows to look like Red Arrows planes (above) and perform as if their lives depended on it – much to the amusement of the spectators.

I

t’s a familiar day of the year for YFC members when the club secretary asks ‘who wants to do the senior woodwork this year?’ After all the usual competitions are filled, it’s then time to find willing volunteers to tackle the bizarre ones that have been thrown into the mix. This is when most people are sat there thinking ‘Oh god – not me!’

After the lucky few have been selected, next steps are to read the rules and find out what you’ll actually end up doing.

Everyone’s face is a picture of delight when they read: “Wheel barrow display: Competitors will be required to perform a wheelbarrow display that is to the theme of Red Arrows, to commemorate their 100 year anniversary.”

In true YFC spirit, competitors will put their heart and soul into coming up

Egg-whisking

If dancing isn’t your thing, there’s always the egg whisking competition. For this nerve-wracking challenge, competitors are in teams of two and will race against another team to see who can whisk an egg white the fastest. Once a competitor can hold the bowl over their partners head without the egg white falling out, they will be crowned the winners.

Fancy dress

Fancy dress is often popular with young farmers, so obviously a Wizard of Oz Fancy Dress competition in which “teams will be required to work together to dress one member as a character from the Wizard of Oz using ONLY plastic bags and bin bags” is a necessary one to have.

Or if you’re looking to make it more physical, how about a Broomstick Racing competition where “each team will be

Possibly the strangest of them all was the One Man Band competition, in which competitors had to play an improvised instrument whilst singing along to a well-known song. Standing on a stage dressed as Princess Fiona from Shrek, smacking two plastic water jerry cans with bits of wood, while enthusiastically singing ‘I’m a believer’ has to be a highlight of my YFC career (left). This musical display led to a firstplace victory and another performance representing the county – oh yay!

These unusual competitions definitely add some humour to the day, but let’s not forget some of the other competitions that give young farmers the opportunity to gain skills in areas they might not usually try.

YFC could help you uncover your hidden cake-decorating talent, or your ability to mould metal into all sorts of different objects. You could also take part in stock judging and learn how to identify top quality livestock, a skill that could then be applied to your own agricultural businesses.

HOW TO JOIN If you would like to join YFC and see what all the fun is about, visit the NFYFC website to find your nearest club: www.nfyfc.org.uk

#STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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#h o m esw e e tho m e

DREAM DIGS Tom Sales guides you through your uni living arrangements THE WHO

Think about how many of your friends you could actually live with? Dave, Hannah and Lisa might seem fine now, but how many of them would you want to be contractually tied to for a year. You will share bills, housework, bathroom quirks. Can you handle them during exam time when they transform from Wrecking Ball-era Miley into an icy librarian? Saying no names *coughLisacough*.

All we’re saying is that being each other’s bestie/wingman does not an ideal housemate make. If you are moving in with others, meet them first. Any bad vibes and you should walk. Finally, think really hard before moving in with your crush. The sight of too many cut toe-nail clippings and you might end up living with your ex.

THE HALL

Of course, in halls you might not get much control over the ‘who’. This can be a good thing because you will meet all sorts of people. It’s also generally one payment for pretty much everything apart from food.

You will be able to roll out of bed and into lectures and there’s almost always a late bar within sight. There’s rarely a dull day in halls, but that can be part of the problem.

If you live with Hannah, drum and bass will keep you awake until the early hours and leftover pizza boxes will breed in the communal kitchen. Halls can be the best time you’ll ever have, but you will need flipflops, hand sanitizer and ear plugs.

“Think about your budget before signing up to anything and know your legal rights as a renter, as unfortunately we do hear stories of landlords taking advantage of young people’s lack of knowledge.

I’d encourage everyone to look for their local tenants’ union and join up. If you’re clued up, you could save some serious money!”

National Union of Students Vice President (Welfare) Eva Crossan Jory

THE HOUSE

So, you’re going off campus.

You’ll need to move fast for the pick of the digs, but take care weighing up the options. Luckily there’s an excellent checklist at Save the Student, which does the sensible for you (stuff like asking about HMO licences, fire safety, bills, security) and it turns out a score you can use to compare properties in a rational way. It’s best to avoid moving somewhere just because the landlord is offering a case of beer (www. savethestudent.org/downloads/ HouseViewingChecklist.pdf).

When it comes to signing on the line, make sure you are happy with the length of the contract and read the small print. We’d recommend seeking advice (student services can often help).

A landlord who won’t let you to take a copy away to be checked should set alarm bells ringing.

Also remember to do a full inventory of contents and their condition. That means everything, from whether the toilet seat is on properly, to hole(s) in the carpet.

You and the landlord should sign and date it. Seems extreme? See how you feel when you’re arguing over the return of your deposit due to a broken mop.

THE HOW

You’re in! Congratulations. You’ll probably know what’s ahead if you got The Who sussed out above. Nonetheless, a little bureaucracy now can save grief later on. So draw up rotas and set up The Rules of The Fridge. Pencil in house meetings or grievances will fester – like with Dave, who still hasn’t done his washing up shift from the curry on Tuesday! Come on, Dave!

#STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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#L E A R N I N G O NTHEJO B

STEPping UP

You never know what’s going to happen to the main person in charge of the family farm. for Kerry Annal there was time to prepare for the change, but she soon found out there was still a lot to learn.

T

he farm isn’t really a place of work that you can leave at the end of the day. It is often entwined with family – a balance between the day to day running and the deep rooted connection with your contribution to it. Your efforts will be passed on to the next day, the next season and the next generation. The emotive future of the farm, although not spoken about blatantly, is often at the back of our minds.

As a young person, assigning myself the title and role of Farmer is something I have strived to do since I could walk, but this year I have grown to appreciate what being a Farmer really means, on a much greater level.

“I have always enjoyed working and helping on the farm, but even I had overestimated how prepared I was to actually get on and do it“ In February, my father underwent a planned operation on his ankle, which left him unable to bear weight for six weeks.

Despite the operation being eagerly awaited, and ultimately to his benefit, it also happened to fall at our busiest time of year, calving.

As prepared as we could be, the reality of running the farm still took a lot of getting used to. The sudden increase in workload was inevitable, and our family and neighbours wholeheartedly agreed

to help as much as possible. I have always enjoyed working and helping on the farm, but even I had overestimated how prepared I was to actually get on and do it.

It wasn’t the obvious tasks like driving the tractor, but things like trying to find last year’s powdered colostrum after a set of twins arrived two weeks early, and familiarising yourself with the cattle’s traits and individual symptoms when calving. It’s taking the responsibility of using your initiative to decide when you have to call for extra assistance.

I imagine it’s a common scenario in many farming families. We all take on our assigned roles and get comfortable doing them. You learn how to work alongside each other and regularly complete tasks on the farm with minimal communication – you build a routine.

But when you have to step up and take on a new job, it’s daunting, and puts doubt in what you always thought would come naturally. When you’re in the role of Farmer, it is constant and that can be really rewarding, but it can also be challenging.

I was prepared for running the farm in a purely practical sense, the tiredness

and a life where the farm comes first and everything else must wait, but I wasn’t aware of how much I would care, and how much more conscientious I would become about smaller tasks.

I am aware of how fortunate we were that Dad’s absence from the farm was planned and short-lived, but there were many scenarios where the role of Farmer had to be filled overnight. The last few months have made me more eager to challenge myself, be pushed out of my comfort zone, and be more reliable and resilient to problems.

It is only during this period that I needed to be all these things.

But now I know that I can be a farmer too, whenever it’s needed.

#STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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# rar ebr ee d s

Share the rare!

Going against the grain means carving your own niche, and what’s better than some gorgeous rare breed livestock?

Katie Anderson tells #StudentFarmer why rare breeds are perfect for her 42

About Katie

Katie Anderson is a 26 year-old first-generation farmer who works on a rare breed beef cattle farm near Dover, Kent. She has been working in the agricultural industry since 2013, having come from a teaching background and growing up in a commuter town in Essex. Katie has diarised her journey into farming on her website femalefarmeruk.com and continues to share her ups and downs in this turbulent industry, as well as encourage and educate others via her livestock farming blog. She has a great passion for rare breeds and thinks farmers should consider going against the grain by choosing such animals for their business. Previously, she has had rare sheep, herd of pigs, various poultry, and now the Shetland cattle she has chosen to work with at Homestead Beef.

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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#R A R E BR E E DS

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any people believe that rare breeds should not be protected because the reason they are reducing in numbers, is they are no longer suitable for the world that they are living in and do not meet the demands of the consumer. But surely these breeds have something to offer the modern world of livestock farming?

Disease protection The worry about creating a ‘super breed’ of livestock, which contains the best characteristics of each breed, is that you then give the country’s livestock population limited genetic diversity.

Can you imagine a sheep, for example, that has the wool quality of a Merino, gains weight like a Dorper, has the lambing percentage of a Finnish Landrace and sells for the price of a prized Valais Blacknose?

On paper, all of this sounds great, but in reality if such a sheep existed and every farmer wanted one, we would be in a high-risk situation when it came to the spread of diseases.

Future protection Wool is integral to the history of the UK, and although it was once a prized product of farming, it is now seen by some farmers as nothing more than a waste product of their flocks. With this in mind, back in the medieval times farmers would be selecting breeds on their wool, rather than their meat quality.

These days, many farmers are looking at breeds that no longer need shearing (easy cares, for example) or for those that have the largest and quickest growing carcasses. We need to preserve the differences shown in the various livestock breeds to future proof the farming industry.

Profit over production rates It is true, rare breeds are never going to compete with modern, commercial breeds of livestock when it comes to their production rates. Some farmers may then question their suitability for building a profitable business. However, if you replace high quantities of produce, with high quality, and, therefore, higher cost produce, profits can still be comparative to that of a commercial herd or flock.

“bear in the mind the practical implications of the breed you choose and don’t just purchase livestock based on appearance“ Rare breed produce can be sold for a premium, especially if you are able to find a niche in the market for your product with even less competition.

So, you’re sold on rare breeds, now, how do you choose one?

As with any livestock choice, each farmer is going to have different preferences and requirements when it comes to breed choice. You will need to consider: •

•

•

•

•

The characteristics of the breed – if you want a herd of sheep that will follow the bucket and come to you for affection, perhaps avoid skittish, hill breeds.

Suitability for your land – think about your weather and grazing. The Outer Hebrides may not necessarily be the ideal home for a lowland breed for instance.

Availability in your area – if the nearest billy for your bagot goat is 300 miles away, it may not be an ideal choice or you may have to look into AI. Breeding goal – think about why you are keeping the animal and try to match this to the breed attributes.

Your personal preferences – easily forgotten but an important point, think about what breed you would like to work with.

I have kept many rare breeds during my short time in farming, including sheep (Grey Face Dartmoors, Oxford Downs and South Downs) and pigs (Berkshires, Tamworths and Oxford Sandy and Blacks) and I now work for beef cattle farmers who keep a herd of Shetland Cattle and Gloucester Old Spot pigs, both rare breeds. Just bear in the mind the practical implications of the breed you choose and don’t just purchase livestock based on appearance.

I have listed below my top rare breeds and their leading attributes for inspiration, and because I wanted to share some cute photos of my stock!

Shetland cattle 750-1,500 left I had to choose these gorgeous creatures, not simply because I work with them every day at Homestead Beef, but also because they tend to be hardy creatures (this isn’t surprising due to the rough conditions of the Shetland Isles) and they are perfect for conservation grazing due to their light frame and large feet.

Gloucester Old Spot pigs 300-500 left Again this wasn’t just a choice because I work with this breed, they also have a very docile nature and are happy to live and farrow outdoors in all weathers.

Oxford Down sheep 1,500 to 3,000 left I loved my previous herd of Oxford Downs. They produce beautifully marbled and, therefore, tender and delicious lamb and are great mothers, with few lambing problems. #STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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30/08/2018 13:36 31/08/2018 14:42:36

Stude

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30/08/2018 13:36 31/08/2018 14:42:26

# d on tgetsc urv y

How do you like your eggs in the morning?

Food-enthusiast Orla McIlduff shares a thing or two about breaking some eggs AHHHHHH you’ve left home – who’s gonna feed you now?

Luckily help is at hand. The great British egg is nutritious, versatile and super affordable. It should be the staple of every uni student’s cupboard or fridge and there are three as there are so many things you can do with them.

Here’s my take on eggs, three ways!

For breakfast:

Perfect scrambled eggs on toast Trust me, I’m not being big headed when I say these are incredible. I started perfecting my scrambled egg skills through mass catering for friends if we’d had one-too-many the night before. Pair it with a couple of rashers of crispy smoked bacon and you’re sorted!

Ingredients: • • • • •

Five medium eggs A dash of milk Salt and black pepper to taste A few knobs real butter Couple of slices of bread

Method:

• Crack your eggs into an appropriate size • •

•

• •

46

bowl and mix together with the milk, salt and pepper thoroughly Put a pan on the cooker on a low heat, and melt a teaspoon of the butter Add the egg mixture and stir slowly and continuously until the eggs begin to cook (this might take a while but it’ll be worth it) Take the pan off the heat once it’s a still just a little bit runnier than you’d like to eat it (the residual heat will do the rest of the cooking for you) Stick the toast in the toaster, and butter it with the remaining butter Serve together with a slice of bacon if you’re feeling fancy!

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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#d on tg e tsc urv y For lunch or dinner:

The fridge-emptying omelette I’m not ashamed to admit that as a fairly self-reliant adult in her mid-20s, I still have an omelette for dinner at least once every week. They’re tasty, and a great way to use up leftovers (you can substitute the mushrooms for whatever veg you’ve got in your fridge).

Top tip

Don’t melt a plastic frying pan handle under the grill!

Ingredients: • • • •

Five medium eggs A dash of milk Salt and black pepper to taste Half a large potato, sliced and cooked for 4 minutes in the microwave • Half an onion • Two slices of smoked bacon • A few sliced mushrooms

Method:

• Dice the bacon and onion and fry them in a small pan for five minutes on a medium heat

• Add the mushrooms and fry for a further three minutes

• Layer up the potatoes on the pan and with the onion, bacon and mushroom between. Cook for a further three minutes • Crack your eggs into an appropriate size bowl and mix together with the milk, salt and pepper thoroughly, then add to the pan • Cook for three to five minutes on a medium heat, then place under a grill for a further three to five minutes to cook the top • Serve with mixed lettuce leaves and a few cherry tomatoes (gotta stay healthy)

Ingredients:

• Five medium eggs, with egg yolks separated from • • • • • • •

egg whites 5 ounces of plain flour 1 teaspoon of baking powder 8 ounces of sugar 90ml warm water Tiny bit of butter to grease the tins Jam for decoration Double cream and icing sugar whipped together for decoration

For dessert (or anyone’s birthday):

Fatless layer cake This cake is my only party trick. I started making it at uni, and now I make it regularly for the office. So I kinda feel like I’m giving away trade secrets here. But hey, this cake is too good not to share (and it really is fatless... it’s just not calorie-less, sorry, still working on that).

Method:

• Beat the egg yolks and sugar for about three minutes until the mixture is light

• Add the warm water and continue to beat for about 10 minutes or until very light, thick and creamy

• Fold in the flour and baking powder very gently with wooden spoon

• Beat the egg whites in another bowl until you can turn

• • • •

them upside down but nothing spills (I recommend you use an electric mixer for this if you have one – you can pick a cheap one up from a supermarket) Stir about a quarter of egg whites into mixture very gently with spatula or wooden spoon, then gently fold in remainder.

Divide the mixture between two or three round tin and bake for 18 to 20 minutes at 190°C or 375°F Cool on wire rack for five minutes then turn out of tin and cool completely Decorate and fill as you wish... I normally layer it up with cream and jam #STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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04/09/2018 12:26:46

looking for a career in farming and agriculture?

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

jobs.nfuonline.com

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31/08/2018 14:41:45

#SF O NTO UR

#StudentFarmer is going on tour!

Meet the team at a college or uni near you

T

he NFU team behind the #StudentFarmer magazine will be visiting farming universities and colleges Come say hi! this year.

And tag us in any pictures It’ll all kick off with Freshers’ Weeks but we you take on want to hear from students and young farmers throughout Instagram, the year, to tell more of your stories and help you Twitter and understand the complexities of Brexit as the UK approaches Facebook its leaving date in March 2019. We also want to hear your thoughts on what the future of farming will look like.

Last year, #StudentFarmer conducted a survey and found that most of you want to see more technical information and advice on courses in the magazine. And several of you wanted to see more opportunities for networking, which is a big reason why we want to reach out to you.

WANT US TO VISIT YOUR UNI OR COLLEGE? If you have an event taking place this year, or want to arrange a visit from staff at the NFU, tell your course tutor or Students Union rep to get in touch with the #StudentFarmer editor at huw.hopkins@nfu.org.uk, or you can also get in touch via social media.

We can’t promise to fit in every person that contacts us, but we will be sure we visit as many regions, colleges and universities as possible.

SEPTEMBER STARTERS Throughout September, we will be attending Freshers’ Fairs and open days to meet you, sign up new members and get to know your places of education.

5 September

Bridgwater & Taunton College 12 September

Writtle College 19 September

Hartpury College 28 September

Royal Agricultural University

#STUDENTFARMER / SEPTEMBER 2018

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04/09/2018 12:13:26

# F REESTUFF

Don’t take it from us…

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21/09/20

17 10:1 6:31

…Student & Young Farmer members love being part of the NFU, and you will too

T

he NFU Student & Young Farmer membership is free to students and YFC members. It allows you to have a say and contribute towards the future of agriculture and horticulture, and you will benefit from access to experts in policy, food and farming, as well as bonus perks exclusive to you.

Join the largest and OR F most influential farming IN JO association and receive: • Access to your local group secretary, NFU meetings and industry debates • The latest news and briefings from our policy experts and NFU Bulletin #StudentFarmer and British Farmer • & Grower magazines delivered to your door • 10% saving on trailer training • Welfare of Animals in Transport test for £35+ VAT • Huge savings with Merlin Attractions (Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and many more) • Special and heavily discounted member rates to attend the NFU Annual Conference and other discounts

!

E E

FR

“I would strongly recommend becoming a NFU Student Farmer member as there is so much to learn and different meetings to go to.

You are treated the same as a full NFU member and the benefits are incredible.”

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Liam Watson

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“Being a student member of the NFU alerts you too many opportunities in the agricultural sector that you may not otherwise hear about. It’s a great way to make more contacts in the industry which can help to develop your career.”

“Being a Student Farmer member keeps you informed with useful information and events, and it’s free!”

Dan Hawes

Quentin Watson

To find out more and sign up, visit www.nfuonline.com/student/ or call NFU CallFirst on 0370 845 8458 to find out more about the benefits offered by NFU student and young farmer membership

1

27/04/20

17 14:0 6:44

50

SEPTEMBER 2018 / #STUDENTFARMER

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29/08/2018 17:16:28

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