The Farmers Club Issue 280 by The Farmers Club

9 Farmers SUMMER 2019 • ISSUE 280

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Club

INSIDE Circular farming p6 St George’s Lunch p8 Naish obituary p10 Netherlands Ag p11 Letter to Ed p12 Club Summer p13 Leadership p14 Pinnacle Awards p16 Veganism p18 Terrace menu p19 Under 30s p20

INSERTS Committee Nominations Greenwich + Van Gogh Annual Report

Star quality Rugby star entertains at Saint George’s Day luncheon p8 www.thefarmersclub.com for the latest Club news

Farmers Club Serving the farming industry for 175 years 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL Patron – Her Majesty The Queen

Contents

FRONT COVER Rugby legend Dean Richards regaled Club members and guests at a fine Saint George’s Day luncheon in the Club’s Farmers Suite.

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

A super party venue and reflections on modern farming

Chairman’s Comments

Busy spring season underpins strong Club finances

Club News

6 Circular agriculture Improving agriculture’s environmental footprint by reducing, re-using and recycling – with a flavour of the Netherlands

8 Saint George Rugby star Dean Richards entertained Club members and

guests at a wonderful Saint George’s Day luncheon

10 Sir David Naish obituar y Tribute to a former Club Chairman and industry leader 11 Monday Evening Lecture Our North Sea neighbour reflects on farming’s future 12 Blended agriculture Hard-nosed economics need blending with environmental best practise to ensure the sector’s future

13 Precision ag course New course aims to help plug productivity gap 14 Leadership in farming A fresh approach to rural leadership is needed 16 Pinnacle of business management Cracking business plans emerged from entrepreneurial agriculture students in the annual Pinnacle Awards

18 Vegan, veggie or flexitarian? How food consumption trends are developing

18 Plant breeding prospects A joint technical seminar with BCPC this July 19 Chef ’s page Terrace menu launched and bacon food safety considered 22 Giggly Pig Company An inspiring story of a farming newcomer making great progress, as heard at the Under 30s Spring Dinner

22 Club Information and Contacts 02 • The Farmers Club Summer 2019

Chairman’s Comments • Nick Helme ahead has any bearing, and your Club does need advance bookings in order to plan activities and expenditure. Members can book well in advance and many need to. The new IT system should make for a slicker process in future. Spring joy Writing this at Easter coincided with the arrival of fantastic weather and the sound of screaming swifts. Peering between the trees I can see a haze of brilliant violet as the bluebells start to show in the woods. There is something magical about that incredible, almost indescribable shade of purple, a sort of water colour tint washing through the dappled sunlight. The simple pleasure of wandering through the woods makes all the hours of transplanting thousands of bulbs over the years very worthwhile.

Chairman’s Comments “I was very fortunate to form part of the interview panel for the Pinnacle Awards. It was very heartening to see that there really are very good quality people with well-honed skills coming forward into our industry.”

SCARILY, I have just been reminded that I am now a quarter of the way through my Chairman’s term, and I’m already looking forward to the overseas trips and the round of agricultural shows. In my first article I wrote about what might happen on March 29th. Sadly, as predicted, nothing was actually sorted. But what I did predict, did happen – it was still my birthday and we had a fabulous party at the Club! I really can’t praise the Club enough for the incredible work they did in making it a very special occasion. I have no qualms whatsoever in turning this into an unashamed plug for the Club Conference & Banqueting team. If you have any plans for a party you really wouldn’t go far wrong from talking to the team here at the Club – the best food, wine and service, in the best venue! Beer gate The Chairman’s post bag seems to have been mainly filled with the “beer gate” issue! We appear to have successfully resolved the matter with smaller barrels of Fountain Bitter that will keep for longer. It did require a personal tasting! Given the concern and the fact that it was the lack of consumption that exacerbated the wastage I am very hopeful that with a good beer and lots more keen drinkers we should be able to keep draft beer in the bar. The other part of my postbag is the perennial issue of the Club being just too popular. “I can’t book a room!” is the refrain. I can assure you that we continue to monitor this situation. None of our analysis suggests the ability to book up to a year

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The variety of events I am invited to is one of the fun things about this job. The annual dinner of the Association of London Clubs was one such, held at the prestigious Reform Club this year. Fabulous as the food and surroundings were, the real highlight was hearing the high regard with which the Farmers Club is held by other Chairmen and Secretaries. We hosted the event last year and without exception everyone was still talking about how magnificent it was. Potato circus On the farm we saw thousands of tonnes of potatoes despatched from the cold stores in the run up to Easter, closely followed by the arrival of the “circus”, as dozens of tractors, cultivators, destoners and planters descend on us to transform stubbles into geometric patterns of potato rows. I just love the precision of all those straight rows, and the pride everyone still takes in achieving it. Of course it’s a lot easier these days with GPS satellite steering. Old-school guys like me had to make do with three sticks and a bit of bent wire on the tractor bonnet! It used to take us weeks to work down and plant our few acres of potatoes. I spent many hours as a child sat on the back of the planter with the monotonous ping of the bell prompting you to drop yet another spud down the chute! For those of you who haven’t done that job, you don’t know what you missed! Today’s planter speeds down pre-formed, destoned beds, automatically placing each seed with absolute precision along with the right doses of fertiliser and chemicals; all controlled by computers, GPS and cameras. Fifty acres will be planted within the day and the “circus” will move on. But for all the changes it’s still the same job and still needs a team of dedicated people working with the land and understanding their crops and soils. Long may it remain so.

@thefarmersclub

The Farmers Club Page

www.thefarmersclub.com • 03

Andrei Spence • Club News

Club News Wonderful events at your vibrant Club

applicants, 56 on this occasion (we have, on average, about 250 applicants each year) and the Communications Committee were briefed and discussed the various stages in the Project Plan to implement the new Club IT system and what flows out from this to enhance engagement between the Club and the members across this and other media sources. Later that day the Chairman hosted the Past Chairman’s lunch for 22 past Chairmen, spanning 36 years from 1983. I was also very pleased to welcome to the lunch former Club Chief Executives Grieve Carson and Stephen Skinner. Under 30s The Under 30s Spring Dinner in the Farmers Suite was the first event under the Chairmanship of Scott Hayles and was attended by forty Under 30s (twice the number of 2018). They were entertained by a really vibrant and challenging speaker, Tracy Mackness (p20), followed by an excursion to the Farmers Club School of Dancing!!

When I wrote these notes I had just reported the Management Accounts to the General Committee, including first quarter results of 2019, writes Club Secretary & Chief Executive Andrei Spence. They showed a very promising position as a foundation for the rest of the year and significant improvement on the difficult financial start the Club endured last year (due mostly to severe weather and deep economic uncertainty). The Club has been mostly full during the week, with Saturdays increasingly popular as members take advantage of the extended hours of bar service including a full bar menu. The Club has also benefitted from a good level of booking of its conference and banqueting services for business meetings, birthday celebrations, wedding anniversaries and wedding receptions. Chairman’s birthday All this has undoubtedly arisen from the Club’s increasing reputation for excellent food, service, ambience and location. It culminated this term in our Chairman celebrating his **th birthday at the Club, entertaining 85 of his family and friends, to much acclaim from those who attended.

04 • The Farmers Club Summer 2019

Monday Evening Lecture Early April saw the second of our Monday Evening Lectures at the Club where about 45 people attended to hear the Dutch Agricultural Counsellor, Mr Tim Heddema, speak on a variety of Dutch innovative approaches to farming production (p11). Equally important before the main talk the audience received a briefing from the two Under 30s members who attended the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth’s (RASC) annual conference in Edmonton, Canada, facilitated by the Jill Willows Legacy Fund. Mr Geoff Bastard and Lord William Yarmouth gave a superb and polished presentation and took a number of questions afterwards (p11). The day after this the Club sub-committees met ahead of the General Committee meeting. The House Committee were kept abreast of issues ranging from the summer bedroom refurbishments, the new menu (now launched) and the return of draught beer, which Jelle, our Restaurant & Bar Manager, has now sourced from the East London Brewery Company in quantities that reflect consumption in the Club. The Membership Committee applied their rigorous approach to the latest batch of

Pinnacle Awards The Farmers Club Pinnacle Awards, which are generously supported by the Cave Foundation and ADAS (p16), saw eight students compete in a day of interviews and business presentations before a judging panel chaired by Professor Bill McKelvey, to whom we are once again most grateful for the time and energy he devotes to this very worthwhile initiative. The speaker, and Guest of Honour, was Mrs Deborah Flint, a first generation farmer who has successfully developed the Cinderhill Farm Pie House business (with husband Neil) supplying speciality sausage rolls and ‘Foggy’s’ (pasties) to both Gloucester and Tebay service stations as well as very many other outlets. Their story was inspirational and a tale of entrepreneurship from very modest beginnings to something which has become hugely successful. A story entirely consistent with the aims and encouragement that the Pinnacle Awards seek to provide. Dean Richards entertains Finally, the day following the Easter Bank Holiday, a packed Farmers Club Suite assembled for the St George’s Day lunch. Members were treated to a superb ‘English sourced’ lunch and had the great pleasure of welcoming ex- Leicester, England and British Lions rugby star, Dean Richards, as our Guest of Honour and speaker. Everyone present was enthralled with Dean’s story and his humorous anecdotes on rugby at elite level (p8).

Club News • Andrei Spence

Russian Royalty & Romanovs

Club Calendar Diary Dates

See back cover for Calendar of Club events

Summer Events

For full details and to book your place see www:thefarmersclub.com/events

Sixty Club members enjoyed lunch at the Club followed by a talk from art expert Anne Haworth before visiting the Russian Royalty & the Romanovs Exhibition at the Queen’s Gallery. Richard Godber was typical of of members who wrote to express their enjoyment and satisfaction: “Thank you for organizing the Russia and Romanovs event. It was marvellous having the talk beforehand as it guided us round – and lunch was excellent.”

Balmoral Show dinner Our first Summer agricultural show event saw the Chairman host a good number of members and guests on the eve of the Balmoral Show for dinner in the Europa Hotel’s presidential suite, where we welcomed new RUAS President Mr Billy Martin and were fortunate to hear from Mrs Heather McLachlan, National Trust Regional Director for Northern Ireland, who shared some thought provoking ideas and perspectives.

AGM calling notice The Farmers Club will be holding its 177th Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, 2nd July at 12 noon. All Club members are invited to attend.

New IT system progressing As prefaced in my monthly e-newsletters progress with the building, configuring and testing of parts of the new IT system are well under way. I am pleased to report very satisfactory progress all round. The team is working very hard to ensure we provide the detailed data ahead of schedule to maintain the momentum of the IT providers. Although there will be the inevitable ‘bumps in the road’ during the project, we have been adept so far in anticipating and mitigating these, and maintaining our broad timelines within the overall project plan.

Woman of the Decade For those who are not aware, I am very pleased to report that LEAF Chief Executive and Farmers Club member Caroline Drummond has been awarded the Women Economic Forum’s ‘Women of the Decade’ award for sustainable farming, celebrating her achievements and contribution to sustainability and corporate leadership. Caroline accepted her award at the Forum in New Delhi in April.

The Club “knowledge”

Committee Nominations Nomination papers for the Committee elections due to take place later this year are included as an insert in this Journal. Any member can put themselves forward for election (details on nomination paper) with appropriate proposer and seconder. A number of potential places are available for the year commencing January 2020. Once we have sufficient nominations ballot papers will be issued in the Autumn Journal (Sep 2019).

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All Club bedrooms have a Room Directory, containing a host of useful information relating to your stay and Club facilities. Please take time to take a look when you visit, as it may answer any questions you might have.

The Farmers Club Page

www.thefarmersclub.com • 05

Charles Abel • Farming policy

Going round in circles? The circular economy is the buzz-word in policy circles. Charles Abel was at the Royal Society in London to find out more

“With circular farming principles we can produce 70% more food with more ecological smartness.”

BUILDING on its bold brand message “this tiny country feeds the world” the Netherlands is now positioning itself as the global leader in circular agriculture. It makes sense. Its highly productive farm sector, exporting to numerous global markets, has a tiny landmass on which to operate, and a large and critical urban population. Every drop of farm waste is under intense scrutiny, not least the huge output of slurry from its dairy farms. Protecting the image of Dutch food and farming, whilst making waste an input advantage, is an understandable mission. Significantly, and despite having a coalition government, Carola Schouten, the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in the Netherlands, has embraced circular agriculture as the industry’s pathway to a successful, and profitable, future. The goal is to close the circle by 2030, noted Aldrik Gierveld, Deputy Director General for Agriculture at the Dutch Ministry. At stake is the better use of so-called farming waste, whilst striking a better balance between nature and agriculture, with production efficiency as a prime driver. The Dutch ministry’s strapline says it all – Agriculture, nature and food: valuable and connected. Regulation, better economic returns for producers and demands from the marketplace

06 • The Farmers Club Summer 2019

Prof Martin Scholten, Managing Director of the Animal Sciences Group at Wageningen University in the Netherlands

could all help drive the transition to circular agriculture, with technology and entrepreneurialism playing key roles too. Planet to plate to planet But how does circular agriculture differ from current practise? The key issue is the transition from linear production chains, using inputs to create outputs, repetitively, to a constantly rotating circular system, where inputs are extracted from outputs, by recycling, reuse or repurposing. The leakage of costly, valuable and potentially polluting resources from the current linear system needs to be curtailed, said Prof Martin Scholten, Managing Director of the Animal Sciences Group at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. “Nature works from the limits of natural resources, with nothing produced being lost, whereas agriculture around the world delivers less than 30% of the biomass produced to consumers, with 70% lost because it is seen as low value. It actually needs to be seen as high value.” Feed and fertiliser are prime examples. Using by-products to create new nutrient and feed sources may not lead to the “best” inputs, but they can be optimal – environmentally, and increasingly economically.

Farming policy • Charles Abel “Unbounded smartness will be needed too,” he insisted. “We can’t do it without novel and innovative technologies. And we need scale and diversity to make the most of the opportunities to reuse by-products in different sectors.” Urban waste, especially food waste, would be a key resource. Similarly, human waste offered great potential. Ignoring genetic inputs would be scientifically “stupid”, but societal issues needed accounting for too, he acknowledged. He gives two warnings. “Most regulation is aligned to traditional linear production systems, and can even prevent a circular approach.” Policies and legislation need adjusting to facilitate change. In the Netherlands that is happening. But in the UK Defra has shown no signs of creating such a framework, noted Shaun Spiers, Executive Director of the Green Alliance. Despite a big Government push over recent years in the wider economy uptake has been poor. Top manufacturers may have improved energy efficiency, by up to 50%, and Nissan is maintaining a 10% year-on-year improvement in resource efficiency, but most businesses have achieved only 10-15% total improvement. “On the whole it is not doing well, despite regulation. We are still on the nursery slopes.” Which leads to Prof Scholten’s second warning: circular agriculture cannot succeed if it is not at least as economic as standard agriculture. “It has to have a business case. If it does, it becomes ‘credible circularity’, and more and more consumers are open for that.” Current projects Researchers at Harper Adams University in the UK are seeking technical solutions, Prof Michael Theodoru explained. The focus is on improving productivity by reducing the use of raw materials – through recycling, reconstituting and reusing – rather than trying to cut raw material costs. Moving away from energy recovery as the driver for processing muck and food waste through anaerobic digestion will help, he believes. “Water is the big problem. Slurry is very dilute, with just 3-4% solids, so you are moving a huge amount

Circular agriculture • Optimised use of inputs • Less ‘leakage’ • No waste of produced biomass • By-products used as valuable inputs • Whole system view, not linear commodity chains • Needs scale and diversity • Technology and profitability key

of water, and having to add energy crops or food waste to make AD economic.” Removing water and prioritising the recovery of nutrients is now feasible using electrocoagulation, as pioneered by Elentec in Wales. “It is very cost effective and it really works. We can recover 90% of phosphate into sludge. The goal now is to convert that into chemical phosphate to apply back to fields.” Another project, with Alchemy Utilities, is recovering energy from poultry manure using a dry continuous-feed anaerobic digester, small enough to be mobile. Combine the two processes and livestock farming has the potential to circularise waste with a far smaller capital outlay than in an AD plant. Spotting sweet spots The role of farmers in pinpointing the sweet spots for optimising input use, preventing wasteful leakage and adopting new techniques and technologies will be crucial agreed Caroline Drummond, Chief Executive of the UK’s Linking Environment and Farming initiative and Frank Verhoeven, owner of the Boerenverstand (literally Common Sense) livestock farming consultancy in the Netherlands.

Agriculture, nature and food: valuable and connected The Netherlands as a leader in circular agriculture

3 RS OF CIRCULAR AG

Reduce Reuse Recycle

Both felt better soil management was key to achieving a more circular agriculture. “It is the greatest capital asset a farmer has,” Mr Verhoevstad noted. “Aiming for optimum output, not the maximum, means my client farmers are using less fertiliser and less bought-in feed, saving thousands of Euros, and helping them make more money,” he added. Some of his clients were using the Happy Planet system, developed with Wageningen University for Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream, to monitor and reward moves to a more circular system. Moving from 40% protein from soil to 80% was one example. Assessing soil quality was more problematic. While governments found it hard to integrate policies and regulations, companies were interested in integrating scores to support their marketing, he concluded.

Royal Society The “Circular Agriculture” seminar at the Royal Society in London, the world’s oldest independent scientific academy, was organised by the Agricultural Department of the Dutch Embassy and Harper Adams University. www.government.nl/ministries/ministry-of-agriculture-nature -and-food-quality/vision-anf www.harper-adams.ac.uk www.wur.nl/en/Dossiers/file/Circular-agrofood-system.htm See also NFU target of net zero emissions from farming by 2040: www.nfuonline.com/nfu-online/news/the-future-of-food-2040/

www.thefarmersclub.com • 07

Andrei Spence • St George’s Luncheon

Saint George

thriller! Rugby star Dean Richards captivated Farmers Club members and guests at a fine 2019 Saint George’s Day luncheon in the Club. Andrei Spence reports

A marvellously entertaining luncheon.

08 • The Farmers Club Summer 2019

Special floral arrangements created a wonderful atmosphere in the Farmers Suite.

St George’s Luncheon • Andrei Spence AS ever, this central event in the annual calendar of the Farmers Club was hugely popular with over 130 members entering the ballot for 97 places at lunch.

“What a superb club you have here, with a super bunch of people – I seriously enjoyed the afternoon” – Dean Richards, rugby legend.

A superb menu had been created by Paul and executed by the kitchen team whilst the Conference and Banqueting team led by Craig provided super-efficient service throughout. Chairman Nick Helme welcomed all those attending and of course, our guest of Honour and speaker, Dean Richards, legendary rugby player for Leicester Tigers, England and British Lions and after his playing days, as Head Coach at Leicester, FC Grenoble, Harlequins and Newcastle Falcons. The Farmers Suite looked resplendent in its full lunch livery complimented appropriately on St George’s Day by very creative flower designs of red and white roses, hanging from the chandeliers, creating a truly special feel. Within minutes of the start of the lunch, the volume of the conversation was significant with members meeting old friends, making new friendships and discussing the panoply of current issues around agriculture and the state of rugby in the UK! This camaraderie and ability to speak with anyone is what the Club is about. Rugby colossus As the lunch finished and members settled down to a cup of coffee, the Chairman gave a suitably brief introduction of the Guest of Honour, suitably so, as there was not much more to say about a colossus of the rugby world, being one of the most decorated players in English rugby history. An enviable playing career at club level, winning all there was to win, a three time Grand Slam winner with England and an ever present in the test side in the British Lions successful and winning tour of Australia in 1989.

Club Chairman Nick Helme presents engraved glasses

Dean gave a really excellent speech giving a brief, yet very modest run through of his playing career and amused everyone with some insights of the world of club and international rugby combined with a career in the Leicestershire Constabulary, before the age of professionalism became the norm.

Tales of pre-match warm-ups of no more than 2-3 minutes at least 20 minutes before the game, players having that last minute cigarette before taking the field, and others more worried about their ill-fitting shorts and hairstyle before the team photograph, than perhaps the game in hand – or was this just the way people dealt with what was to come – we heard of similar preparations for the referees as well!! The differences between then and now were very stark with players now monitored for fitness, diet, fluid intake, strength whilst also fitting in media training and brand imaging to mention but a couple. Amusing insights Dean was also candid enough to review the real story of what happened after the 1998 Calcutta Cup Match against Scotland at Murrayfield when he and John Jeffrey happened upon Rose Street and proceeded to enter most public houses on its length and filling a certain large silver cup from which to drink various forms of alcoholic beverage. At some stage, the cup was damaged, but it seems that Dean’s tactical approach and mitigational ability before the RFU was sufficient to earn him a one match ban, whilst his companion in Rose Street gained a six month ban!! Dean also talked about the structure of the Six Nations Championship, the demands on modern players and England’s hopes for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup later this year in Japan – let’s hope his forecasts for England’s progress through the tournament come true. Thunderous applause At its conclusion, Dean’s speech was met with thunderous applause and Nick Helme presented him with two Farmers Club engraved tumblers as a reminder of his visit to us. After the formal lunch, Dean was good enough to spend a couple of hours in the Club bar chatting and mingling with the members, discovering that they had many mutual friends and acquaintances. A fantastic afternoon in the Club which culminated in Dean’s last comment before I left him on the pavement outside the Club on his way home: “what a superb club you have here with a super bunch of people – I seriously enjoyed the afternoon”.

www.thefarmersclub.com • 09

Denis Chamberlain • David Naish Obituary Nottinghamshire farmer Born and raised a farmer in Nottinghamshire and educated at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, Sir David soon showed he would have an impact far beyond the farm gate. He started on the family farm, when irrigation, fertilisers and machinery were turning hungry Nottinghamshire sands into a perfect medium for roots and cereals. In his mid-20s he was recruited by Sir John Eastwood to be his business assistant. Ten years later, he became Managing Director of the burgeoning Eastwood egg, poultry and pig meat empire. He saw at first hand the growth and power of the supermarkets and the need for farmers to behave and trade like businessmen, valuing their output and contribution where it mattered – in the market place. He gained political experience as a County Councillor in Nottinghamshire and began climbing the greasy poll of NFU politics as chairman of his county branch and National Council delegate. He was made NFU President in 1991.

Sir David Naish Club Chairman in 1980

“He led by example as he strove to ensure the industry punched its weight with Government, in Brussels and with its customers and consumers.”

WHEN a barely-40-year-old David Naish assumed the Chairmanship of The Farmers Club in 1980 the character of the man who was to become one of the most influential Presidents of the National Farmers Union was clearly emerging. In that year’s first issue of the Farmers Club Journal, the new Chairman said that British farmers needed to emulate their European counterparts in their ability to influence Governments. “It must be the same in this country if our agriculture is to be put on a fair and equal footing which truly reflects its place in the national economic picture. This demands a great deal more PR than the industry has done to date and every farmer has a part to play.”

10 • The Farmers Club Summer 2019

During his presidency he saw the demise of the marketing boards; numerous reforms of the CAP leading to direct payments and phasing out of intervention price support. He was there when Britain withdrew from the ERM; he saw commodity prices soar and fall during his decade in charge. Political shrewdness Perhaps his greatest challenge was the Mad Cow Disease crisis in 1996 which threatened to destroy the UK beef industry overnight. His political lobbying, calmness and political shrewdness (with both Government and his own members) brought the industry through. He helped sow the seed for much of what followed through farm assurance and the Red Tractor movement. He also served as President of COPA – the European confederation of farmers’ organisation. Sir David was a man of great humour and kindness, a keen member of Lindrick Golf Club, a man who enjoyed the odd week on a canal barge with friends to re-charge batteries. A man of considerable physical and intellectual stature, he was always a great friend to, and supporter of, The Farmers Club. He believed it had to be politically independent, but nonetheless a facilitator of political debate. By following that belief he, perhaps more than anyone of his farming generation, played a part in defending the industry’s reputation and making sure its voice was heard. He left a real and lasting impression on the UK farming industry. Denis Chamberlain MBE Club Chairman 2004 • Sadly, Sir David Naish’s brother, James, passed away in May – full obituary in next Journal.

Monday Evening Lecture • Charles Abel SPEAKING to an attentive audience in the Farmers Suite in early April Tim Heddema, Agriculture Counsellor at the Netherlands Embassy in London, explained how food and agriculture had become a great example of his country’s prowess in global trade, built on innovation and collaboration, not just good soils, geography and water.

Tim Heddema (right), Netherlands Agricultural Counsellor

As the world’s second largest exporter of agricultural goods, with sales of £79bn in 2018, representing 10% of the nation’s GDP, almost half its trade surplus, and nearly 10% of its labour, it was little wonder the Dutch government prioritised the sector’s development, through what Club Chairman Nick Helme branded “probably the best agricultural ministry in the world.” It all stemmed from a policy of keeping markets open during intense price pressures in the early 20th century. With just 1.8m hectares and a high population density, ultra-efficiency became the by-word backed by hefty investment in agricultural R&D. Today’s triple-helix or golden triangle of business, science and government continued to raise R&D spend by 10-20%/year, with an aim of producing twice the food from half the resources. As the world needed more food in the next four decades than it has harvested in the past 8000 years combined, ‘climate smart’ agriculture would use circular systems (p6) to make better use resources, he noted. But Brexit was a worry. The UK is the Netherlands third largest destination for agricultural exports, with much of it just-in-time and perishable. Trade impacts could cost Dutch citizens £150/year each until 2030. The Netherlands would lose possibly it’s best friend in Brussels too – a science and innovation partner, an accomplished negotiator, and a northwest ally whose loss would shift the EU power balance south-east, as well as shrink the budget.

Innovation excellence “Scientists become entrepreneurs – it’s in our nature in the Netherlands.”

JILL WILLOWS LEGACY Speaking before the main Monday Evening Lecture the first two beneficiaries of the Jill Willows Under 30s Scholarship paid warm tribute to her foresight. “Jill did something very special for the Under 30s, and it is our aim to ensure her legacy continues and becomes increasingly successful,” noted Lord William Yarmouth of Ragley Hall, Warks. Attending the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth conference in Alberta had probably “taught me more in a week than I learned at University,” he quipped. Fellow beneficiary, Geoff Bastard, an arable and beef farmer from Cornwall, and technical manager for Certis, felt that while UK farming may not be able to compete at commodity level, it could certainly leverage its ambition, technical prowess and compliance with regulations and legislation, provided it marketed more effectively and adapted appropriate new technologies. More info: www.thefarmersclub.com/under-30s

Forthcoming Farmers Club lectures Tuesday 2 July – after-AGM Lunch talk by Dr Fabrice De Clerk, EAT Director of Science Thursday 11 July – joint Plant Breeding Developments seminar with BCPC (p18), Monday 4 November – Monday Evening Lecture (details to follow). Book on-line www.thefarmersclub. com/events or contact Administrator Anita Kaur 020 7930 3751 administrator@thefarmersclub.com Lord William Yarmouth (above) and Geoffrey Bastard, Jill Willows Scholarship beneficiaries

www.thefarmersclub.com • 11

Virginia Masser • Summer Club

Here Comes

Summer… The year seems to have flown by and Summer is fast approaching. As I write the gardeners are out in Embankment Gardens, planting the summer beds and the London Eye and the River Thames are glistening in the sunshine. The Club is as always FULLY open throughout the summer and all facilities are available.

Chef is creating a delicious Terrace menu to compliment the seasonal Restaurant and Bar offering, which will feature wonderful seafood from around the UK. New Terrace parasols and seat cushions are arriving soon. Children and families are of course very welcome and London has a fantastic array of places to visit. We look forward to welcoming you! Virginia Masser General Manager 12 • The Farmers Club Summer 2019

Technology • Charles Abel

On-farm precision technology FRESH efforts to unblock UK agriculture’s sluggish productivity growth include a new course organised by Harper Adams University and The Farmer’s Livery Company, with sponsorship from NFU Mutual. Participants will learn to to use information from their own farms/businesses on the way to developing a ‘Precision Vision’ for their own enterprises, says course director Simon Thelwell (pictured). Primarily aimed at farmers and farm managers the course aims to fill gaps between research, science and technology, and farmers who might use such technologies. Harper Adams University, which has a track-record in precision technology research and delivery, not least through the much publicised Hands Free Hectare initiative to grow cereals without stepping into a field, is now seeking participants keen to

implement new technologies within their business, but who, as yet, are not truly convinced about the technical, financial or operational benefits. Adopting Precision Technology in Agriculture comprises two weeks of study in the UK and one in the Netherlands, so participants can see the technology in practice, talk to innovators and industry leaders, and assess opportunities, benefits and potential returns. “There has been much discussion about the technological revolution in farming, but not as much practical assistance to get farmers on board with the adoption of these new approaches,” says Dr David Llewellyn, HAU Vice Chancellor. “The APTA course will present delegates with the necessary knowledge and tools to embrace precision technology, which will have a direct impact on the ways they manage their businesses,” adds Karen Mercer, Chair of the Education Committee at the Worshipful Company of Farmers.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, Thank you for the sympathetic article “Keeping the faith” in the Spring Farmers Club Journal. I fear that if farmers adopt the ruthless advice of economist Sean Rickard, recorded earlier in the same issue, the public will still see them as excessively greedy, as Robin Hicks’ article reported they were in 1973; and totally uninterested in issues such as global warming. Fortunately, we know that such an extreme position is not too widespread, most farmers balancing agriculture with other environmental concerns, like my admirable (and undoubtedly profitable) neighbour at home. Mr Rickard asks “Do we want a world class food industry or a national park?” Of course we want both, beautifully interwoven. Best wishes, Hal Moggridge OBE Filkins, Lechlade Gloucestershire GL7 3JQ Letters to the Editor: editor@ thefarmersclub.com 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL

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Applications close 31st July. Further information at www.harper.ac.uk/apta or email apta@harper-adams.ac.uk

www.thefarmersclub.com • 13

Charles Abel • Charitable Trust

FCCT LEADERSHIP Rural leadership is a prime focus for the Farmers Club Charitable Trust. Charles Abel reports from an important meeting held in the Club this spring

FRESH approaches to rural sector leadership dominated as 16 beneficiaries of the Farmers Club Charitable Trust leadership training programme met in the Club’s Forty Room in early April. The leadership programme, initiated by past Club Secretary Stephen Skinner, FCCT trustee James Cross and former FCCT Chairman John Kerr, has run since 2011, initially with funding from two generous beneficiaries, and more recently with collaboration from other industry bodies. Having all participated in the high level multisector leadership training course provided by the Windsor Leadership Trust, as well as other leadership courses within UK agriculture, the group was adamant that fresh approaches to leadership needed championing. An address from guest speaker David Kennedy, Director General of Food, Farming and Biosecurity at Defra (see below), tied in well. Working under the banner of Rural Leadership Champions the alumni group aims to promote fresh approaches to leadership via its own networks, as well as consolidating its own expertise and learning through regular catch-up meetings. Whilst it would serve as a sounding board, it would not seek to lobby.

14 • The Farmers Club Summer 2019

With representatives from almost every aspect of the UK’s rural sector – including land management, regulation, professional services, industry bodies, commerce and public engagement – the group had a powerful network, noted event Chairman Nick Green, a newly appointed FCCT Trustee and Farm Operations Director for the Alvis family’s Lye Cross dairy farming business in Somerset. “We shouldn’t underestimate what we can do through the influencer effect.” Rutland farmer Andrew Brown, an advocate of public engagement, agreed: “Through our networks we have an opportunity to make a real difference, not just to farming, but to wider society too.” Aspects that the Rural Leadership Champions aim to promote include: • Use of challenging mentors • Disruptive thinking • New solutions not compromise • Inspiration from beyond the sector • Influence without authority • Resilience under pressure • Strategic vision • Individual leadership values

Charitable Trust • Charles Abel Emily Norton, Head of Rural Research at Savills, felt the course had helped her challenge the value of leadership models that were often presented as inspirational, yet may not be well suited. “Sometimes you have to find the model that works for you, rather than just saying yes to everything and sacrificing all along the way.” Insular agriculture Agriculture’s tendency to be “very negative, insular, and to give up very quickly” was a big frustration, said Alan Laidlaw, Chief Executive of the Royal Highland Agricultural Society. The sector needed to be “more savvy, streetwise and show more mettle”. With Defra, politicians and the food and land industries all feeling disillusioned he felt the time was right to inject new leadership thinking into existing industry groups. Matt Dobbs, founding partner of Westpoint Veterinary Group, agreed. “Leadership is about taking people somewhere they wouldn’t have got by themselves, and that means change management and disruption.” “A leader without authority – corporate or political – can still be leader,” added marketing consultant and youth development advocate Jane Craigie. “Agriculture is so insular. We’re only here because Stephen Skinner understood the need to talk to wider society and understand wider society’s issues. We have a really good opportunity to be ambassadors for thinking beyond our own industry.” Amazing course Branding the Windsor leadership training programme “amazing” dairy farmer and RABDF vice-chairman Di Wastenage said she “re-wrote the farm business plan on the way home, it gave me the confidence and clarity to break down walls.” Rebecca Heaton, UK Climate Change Commissioner and Group Head of Sustainability and Policy at Drax Group, felt the course had been “brilliant”. “I’m ex-Shell, BP and ADAS and have done leadership courses before, and worked around the world, but this course was gamechanging, especially around developing personal resilience.” The course had helped overcome preconceived ideas about leadership, and aided the discovery of individual leadership values, added Sarah-Jane Laing, of Scottish Land and Estates. “It showed me how focusing on developing better solutions is better than compromising.” Tayler & Fletcher Farm Business Consultant Adrian Cannon felt the course had provided the confidence needed to lead a team, while Ian Tremain of Anode Feeds highlighted the value of clear strategic thinking, and challenging mentors.

mentor others, formally or informally, noted Herts arable farmer and schools engagement enthusiast Ian Pigott. The alumni group was also keen to continue to learn from each other, a particularly valuable aspect, noted Andrew Blenkiron Estate Director at Euston Estate, Suffolk. North Lincolnshire pigs, cereals and potato farmer Alex Godfrey agreed, highlighting the importance of strategic vision, which the course had helped to crystalize. Fiona Fell, deputy chairman of CIEL, felt greater collaboration, within the group and across the rural sector, was crucial. William Haire, Agriculture Development Manager at East of England Agricultural Society, acknowledged the sheer power of being more decisive, and recognising the value of what could be achieved as a result. Watch this space for more from the Rural Leadership Champions. EU exit leadership As well as explaining Defra’s extensive plans for coping with the risk of a no deal EU Exit, David Kennedy, Director General of Food, Farming and Biosecurity at Defra shared his approach to leading 6000 staff through the process.

“ L eadership is about taking people somewhere they wouldn’t have got by themselves, and that means change management and disruption.” M att Dobbs, Westpoint Veterinary Group

Giving staff direction and a sense of common purpose, so they knew their roles and how they fit into the bigger picture, was vital. Doing that in a period of uncertainty meant line management, change management, on-boarding (a lot of) new staff and supporting well-being were key. Open and honest conversations, treating each other as people, and empowering colleagues were further touchstones.

• Initiated in 1981

FCCT RURAL LEADERSHIP

• Over £750,000 spent

• Cross-sector representation

• Leadership training + educator awards

• Disruption and change management key

• 22 leaders trained

• Inspiration beyond ag

• Support from industry vital

• Wide influencer network

• www.thefarmersclub.com/ the-charitable-trust

• Vital to update embedded leadership structures and approaches

FCCT SNAPSHOT

TRUST AWARDS AMBASSADOR Lisa Turner is the newly appointed FCCT Awards Ambassador, with a brief to promote the activities of the trust and provide administrative support. Applications for a new round of awards in 2020 are likely to be announced at an industry meeting this winter. e-mail: ambassador@tfcct.co.uk

The altruism of wanting to give something back meant the group was well equipped to

www.thefarmersclub.com • 15

Charles Abel • Pinnacle Awards

Pinnacle performance The Pinnacle Awards champion best practice in farm business management. This year’s finalists showed innovation, attention to detail and great tenacity. Charles Abel reports

ideas and thoughts – it really is very encouraging to know the industry is in good hands going forwards,” Prof McKelvey commented. Competitive entries In a keenly contested competition entries were initially sifted by ADAS. “It was a really interesting mix of projects, from a range of courses and modules, some team entries and some individual, some focused on core farming and others on diversification, a real case of apples and oranges,” noted ADAS consultant Cat Wolton. The eight top applicants attended a judging day at The Farmers Club in central London, including a probing interview panel and a 10-minute presentation to a room of fellow contestants, lecturers and judges firing questions from the floor. Past, present, future Guest of Honour and after-dinner speaker Deborah Flint encouraged finalists to focus on their “past, present and future” when seeking inspiration. Self-confessed ‘newbies’ to the industry Deborah and husband Neil run the hugely successful Cinderhill Farm in Gloucestershire’s Wye Valley, a pioneering producer of artisanal sausage rolls and pies using home-grown native breed pigs and wild boar.

“It was interesting to see how much innovation was on show, driven maybe by the uncertain political climate and difficulties assessing where the industry will be five years from now.” Tony Turner, Pinnacle Judge and ADAS Senior Business Consultant.

MEETING the changing needs of the farming industry was a key theme as the 2019 Farmers Club Pinnacle Awards rewarded the UK’s top farm business management students. Sponsored by the Cave Foundation and run with consultancy firm ADAS this prestigious competition drew entries from colleges and universities across Britain, but not Northern Ireland this year. Competitors were clearly thinking ‘outside the box’ to meet the evolving needs of society and policy developments, noted Prof William McKelvey OBE, chair of the judging panel, which also included Farmers Club Chairman Nick Helme, ADAS senior business consultant Tony Turner and Farmers Club Journal Editor Charles Abel. Key criteria for the awards are precise project reports, with a succinct explanation of the business case, backed by robust financial analysis, recognising downsides and risks as well as upsides. Strong problem-solving abilities, good presentation skills, agile thinking, and an ability to stand up for ideas under scrutiny were also important. “It was very interesting to see the younger generation coming forward with new projects,

16 • The Farmers Club Summer 2019

Drawing on a ‘past’ of 26 years in corporate charity fund-raising Deborah recalled a time in the Philippines when she was struck by just how many livelihoods farmers there could support on small parcels of land. The idea of creating a thriving business on just 8 acres of UK farmland was born. It now employs eight staff. Key to the ‘present’ was to live the reality of personal aspirations. For the Flints that meant an on-going drive towards truly ecological farming, including 100% renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, composting, recycling and heat recovery from waste. “It’s about wanting to get out of bed to do the job every day, and continuing to learn.” And the ‘future’? “Consider relationships from the past and present to build your future. And don’t underestimate the potential,” she urged. An initial contract to supply pies worth £20,000/ year had grown 25-fold, with new customers signing up weekly. “If an idea doesn’t turn out to be the final thing, don’t worry – we’re still developing new things all the time. And don’t forget you are the future of your farm, your land, your business. Look after that future.” Intriguingly, Cosnard’s Net-winged Beetle, one of Britain’s rarest species, had been seen just 15 times in the UK, 12 times near the Flint’s farm in the Wye Valley, prompting a close involvement with the Species Recovery Trust (panel) in a bid to “pass the baton to the future”, Deborah explained.

Pinnacle Awards • Charles Abel

Alex Crawley, Royal Agricultural University Pinnacle Gold, Nickerson Cup, £2000 A truly distinctive business model from a first-generation farmer with a military background. The aim was to deliver eco-system services to a rapidly emerging market for grant-funded ‘hoof-powered’ nature restoration of rare species grassland, blended with ‘wild-flower fed’ premium beef sales. The project was aimed at meeting the need of non-farming NGOs (eg Wildlife Trusts) and public bodies (eg MOD) for out-sourced grazing of large areas of low productivity grassland, but also full compliance with complex issues, including conservation scheme rules, environmental regulations, public access and TB movement restrictions. A robust contract-driven business model with templated processes, backed by insurance, would use docile Belted Galloway cattle, tailored electric fencing (and even collar-based geofencing), daily volunteer checks and planned logistics to ensure appropriate grazing. Extensive research had identified a best practice model, which could be offered as a franchise. Excellent out-of-the-box thinking, consideration of key personnel, problem solving, communication skills and financial planning.

Sarah Morgan, Harper Adams University Pinnacle Silver, £1000

Ian Buchanan, SRUC Aberdeen Pinnacle Bronze, £600

Adding two six-bed log cabins alongside existing holiday let on mixed Shropshire farm to boost non-farm income and exploit owner’s proven strong hosting skills. Very clear report, including thorough financials, excellent investigation of competitor activity within 10 mile radius, grant bid, and sensitivity analysis for occupancy below 58% target occupancy and £100/night average rate. Enthusiastic, crisp, convincing presentation.

Realistic costings and detailed market analysis for a low-borrowing recently launched free-range rare breed pork enterprise north of Edinburgh, maximising revenue by selling key cuts through farmers markets and a proposed farm shop. Strong branding and good provenance story, evidenced on social media and web videos, building loyal customer base. Pragmatic, huge enthusiasm and great ability to think on his feet.

Runners-up (all finalists receive one-year Club membership): Charlotte Bailey, SRUC Ayr –

Diversification enterprise to make and market premium Scottish “Drouthy” mead with a strong provenance story based on Ayrshire honey from locally grown oilseed rape.

Alistair French, Bridgwater & Taunton College – Detailed feasibility study showing the risks of investing in robotic milking, buildings and extra cows at college farm, proposing a single teaching unit in existing buildings instead.

Phoebe Lole, Nottingham University – A mobile out-door dairy goat enterprise on Nottinghamshire sandland using more hardy Anglo Nubian goats to supply burgeoning non-dairy milk market, with grant support.

Julie Mackenzie, SRUC Ayr – Novel project to produce and retail ‘chicken of the woods’ mushrooms as a meat alternative, including market research and strong focus on organisational structure/leadership.

Max Porter, Harper Adams University – Produce and market kiln-dried oak coppice firewood to exploit anticipated legislation designed to cut particulate emissions from the use of wet wood in domestic stoves.

Species Recovery Trust

More info:

Committed to halting the loss of some of the UK’s rarest species, Cosnard’s Net-winged Beetle is amongst the trust’s 50 target species to save from the brink of extinction. It only lives in dead/dying beech trees in the Wye Gorge and South Downs. www.speciesrecoverytrust.org.uk

www.thefarmersclub.com/library/pinnacle-awards-reports www.cinderhillfarm.com info@grazingmanagement.co.uk A full gallery of 2019 Pinnacle images can be seen on the Club website www.thefarmersclub.com

www.thefarmersclub.com • 17

Stephen Howe • Club Event

Farming Figures A look at… the challenge/opportunity of the rise in plant-based foods in UK diets… told through some key statistics

No.1

Last year the UK launched more vegan products than any other nation

£310m

Net value of vegan market in 2018

Vegan share of UK population, half of which switched in 2018 and a third are millennials

250,000 sign-ups This year’s Veganuary participants compared with 3,300 five years ago

22 million people

Non-vegan ‘flexitarians’ who consumed 92% of all plant-based meals in 2018, stimulating a surge in retail offerings

46 food products

Tesco’s 2018 range, inc. smoked salmon-style carrot sandwich, curried protein pot, pesto lasagne and Chinese BBQ shreds

+25% Double £5.50

Rise in Tesco’s 2018 chilled vegan food sales

‘Vegan” searches on waitrose.com in 2018

Price of Beyond Meat’s premium priced ‘bleeding’ vegan two-burger pack

100% edible

Belgian brand Alpro’s zero waste vegan mushroom nuggets and sweet potato fries in edible takeaway bucket packaging

350,000 tasters Try-before-you-buy samples given to public by Alpro in Feb/Mar to boost vegan sales Sources: Marketing Week, Kantar, Alpro, Tesco

18 • The Farmers Club Summer 2019

Profiting From New Breeding Techniques Staying On The Right Lines Thursday 11 July 2019, The Farmers Club, London WHATEVER the final ramifications of Brexit for UK agriculture and its markets at home and abroad, farmers’ ability to remain viable will depend on finding ways to adapt to change. Fortunately, unlike most present day politicians, our farming industry has a longterm vision. It also has a resolve to remain profitable and competitive based on best practice and being at the forefront of new technology. There’s no better example of that than the rapid advances made

by the crop biotechnology sector which has the potential to offer huge benefits to UK farmers, the economy and the environment. This one-day technical seminar, the third in a series to be organised by the Farmers Club and the British Crop Production Council, two independent organisations, sets out to explain the science, benefits, drawbacks and regulatory issues surrounding new breeding technology.

SEMINAR PROGRAMME: 10.30-11.00 Registration and Coffee 11.00 Chairman’s introduction: Bill Clark, Technical Director, National Institute of Agricultural Botany 11:05 New breeding techniques – The economist’s perspective: Graham Brookes, Agricultural Economist, PG Economics 11:35 UK farmers’ standpoint: Tom Bradshaw, Essex farmer and NFU Crops Board Chairman and Helen Ferrier, NFU Chief Science and Regulatory Affairs Adviser 12: 05 What accelerated plant breeding has to offer: Alison Bentley, Director of Genetics and Breeding at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany 1:00-2:00 Lunch: hot & cold fork buffet 2.00-2:30 The regulatory framework: Julian Little, Head of Communications and Government Affairs, UK Bayer Crop Science Division 2.30-3.00 Research perspectives and priorities: Cristobal Uauy, Project Leader, Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre 3.00-3.30

Discussion

3.30

Tea

Apply on-line at www.thefarmersclub.com/events The seminar will be held in the Farmers Suite of the Club. Dress for gentlemen is lounge suit. Cost is £40/head including lunch and coffee. Places can be booked using the application form in the Spring Journal, the pdf version on-line at www.thefarmersclub.com/events or contact Club Administrator Anita Kaur on 020 7930 3751 e-mail: administrator@thefarmersclub.com

Head Chef & Director of Food • Paul Hogben

Terrace Menu and a Little

More… THE additional Terrace Menu that proved a great success last year relaunches on 10th June. Let’s hope the same lovely weather will be around this year for you to enjoy the Terrace in all its glory.

A recent piece suggests nitrates and nitrites may not only be harmless but beneficial… sounds good to me! I appreciate that there will be some readers that disagree with this entirely.

The Terrace Specials include Dorset lobsters and crabs, langoustines from the Western Isles of Scotland, cured meats from the Chilterns, caviar from Exmoor and oysters from the West Coast of Ireland.

I read that only around 5% of nitrates in the average European diet come from bacon, while over 80% are from vegetables that acquire nitrates and nitrites from the soil they grow in. One serving of rocket, two servings of Cos lettuce, and four servings of beets or celery, all have more nitrite than 467 hot dogs. So, perhaps the general consumption of nitrates is the real discussion and not just one food group.

Whether you fancy a dressed crab salad or fullblown sharing shellfish platter why not add a glass of Lanson Pere et Fils, or maybe our new British Sparkling wine, Hatingley Valley Classic Cuvee from Hampshire. If the climate is a little cool, don’t forget we now have stunning Terrace table heaters and new parasols are on their way, so you can enjoy the Club, which is fully open throughout the summer and beyond. Bacon research On another note, I’ve researched (by no means exhaustively) some of the latest news items regarding processed foods and red meat, especially bacon, as it plays an important role in our food offering. Most of us love bacon (l am no exception) but it’s long been considered unhealthy due to the use of nitrates and nitrites in the curing process. I found that there have been major reviews of scientific literature that found no link between nitrates or nitrites and human cancers, or even evidence to suggest that they may be carcinogenic.

“ L et’s hope the same lovely weather will be around this year for you to enjoy the Terrace in all its glory.”

l wasn’t quite expecting this to come out of my limited research, but as you are aware l want to serve you great British produce. So, I’m looking forward to seeing you all on the Terrace for a delicious seafood platter, or maybe a bacon sandwich. Enjoy, Chef

REAL ALE - STOP PRESS!!!! REAL ALE HAS ARRIVED BACK IN THE BAR. Some of you will be delighted to know that Jelle, our Restaurant & Bar Manager, has now sourced a real ale, called Fountain Bitter, from the East London Brewing Company in 20 litre boxes. The Committee tasted and approved the new beer after the Committee Dinner, with Past Chairman Stewart Houston commenting: “it’s very good; sweet, hoppy, refreshing and light.” Enjoy!! Source: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20190311-what-arenitrates-in-food-side-effects + other linked content

www.thefarmersclub.com • 19

Scott Hayles, Chairman; Eleanor Kay, Vice Chairman; Anita Kaur, Secretary • Under 30s

Chairman’s Jottings

With rainfall here in the East well below average (as I write) we are on for the driest start to the year for many years, with crops looking slightly stressed. Fingers crossed for rain! For our first event as a new committee we welcomed Tracy Mackness from the Giggly Pig company to our Spring Dining event – an extraordinary lady with a jaw dropping story. A fantastic example of how farming isn’t just for those born into it and how it creates a diverse group of driven, entrepreneurial people. I will not steal Fiona Friend’s thunder, see her write up across the page. What a great way to start the year! At the April Monday Evening Lecture Lord William Yarmouth and Geoffrey Bastard spoke about their experiences in Canada at the RASC, courtesy of the Jill Willows Scholarship for Under 30s. We now look forward to seeing the further development of the Scholarship. Contact William, Geoffrey or myself for more information. The next event is the Spring Farm Walk from May 31 to June 2 in Hampshire, with visits to Waitrose’s Leckford farm, Under 30s member Ed DuVal’s AD plant at Apsley Farms and Vitacress. All the tours and dinners are near Winchester, so fingers crossed for fine weather and an even finer weekend! The next Under 30s event at the Farmers Club will be our Cocktails Evening on July 19, always a popular event, using the Club’s Terrace we are so lucky to have. Keep a look out on the Farmers Club Under 30s Facebook page for key dates, photos and regular updates on Interclub events.

Contact Scott for more information: Scott Hayles U30s Chairman 2019/20 07887 834159 scott.hayles@corteva.com

20 • The Farmers Club Summer 2019

British agriculture should be recognised COMMITTEE Member Georgina Knock interviews Ed Taylor as part of the Meet the Member initiative to improve the public face of farming. Ed Taylor has been an Under 30s member of The Farmers Club since 2010. He farms a 200 Pedigree Holstein Friesians milking herd in Coleraine in Northern Ireland. With a veterinary degree, he is the Director of TheVetService.com, a digital business providing locum and permanent staffing services for vet practices across the UK/Ireland and New Zealand.

expenses to farmers”. He goes on to explain that market volatility makes planning difficult. He agrees with leaders who talk about the industry improving efficiency. However, he suggests: “we need to retain the youth and intelligence for the future, or else it doesn’t matter how efficient we are. Parts of British farming are in serious financial difficulties, and the younger generation will be the ones who will have to manage these pressures going forward.”

Heritage is what Ed enjoys most about farming, with the family business in its fifth generation; as he says “we strive to produce a quality milk product, a quality breed and a quality workplace.”

“Misunderstood, uninformed and losing interest” is how Ed describes the relationship between farming and the wider population. Three aspects that could improve this relationship are better communication, stronger marketing and to “make it more relevant to the general public”, he says.

The farm uses synchronised calving, to create structure and efficiency for the year, similar to harvest on an arable farm. The cows are fed a tailored diet, depending on where they are in their annual lactation cycle, to ensure they get the right nutrition and remain healthy.

Knowledge of where food comes from is a growing trend. So how does farming ensure people are more aware of what’s growing only a few miles away from them? That’s the challenge. To have your say about the public’s relationship with farming contact Georgina.

When asked what he would change if he could step into Defra Secretary Michael Gove’s shoes for the day, Ed quips: “to redirect payments for [MPs]

Georgina Knock Under 30s Committee Member georgina@sunnysuffolk.co.uk

Under 30s • Scott Hayles, Chairman; Eleanor Kay, Vice Chairman; Anita Kaur, Secretary UNDOUBTEDLY the high point of the under 30s Spring Dining Evening on Friday 12th April, was spending 45 minutes enraptured by the captivating storytelling of a self-declared ‘Former Essex Bad-Girl’. Broadcaster, author, award winning entrepreneur and sausage maker, Tracy Mackness went into prison a convict and came out a pig farmer, going on to set up the Giggly Pig Company. Her story of how she turned her life around, thanks to farming, was unlike anything ever heard at the Club before. Tracy spent much of her early life working on her family’s fruit and veg stalls in Romford market. It was a tumultuous childhood; with her Dad in and out of prison, with a gambling problem, and eventually leaving home.

Giggly Pig Co

Tracy was never keen on school, always set on earning a living instead. She fell in love with some unfortunate characters and in order to help a boyfriend, organised some men to help unload a lorry late at night at a garage in Romford. When the police arrived they discovered four tonnes of cannabis. Despite playing a minor role and expecting to be acquitted, Tracy was handed a sentence of 10 years, on Christmas Eve. Her poor mother fainted in the court room! Whilst in prison Tracy had 23 hours a day in her cell to reflect on her life so far, and what she was going to do when she was eventually released. Although her mind went to some dark places, she discovered a love of learning, taking 52 courses in everything from aerobics to Enhanced Thinking Skills. Part way through her imprisonment Tracy heard that Maidstone open prison had a farm. It is one of just two open prisons for women, since there are around 4,000 female prisoners in the UK compared with 80,000 male. Yearning for the relative freedom of the outdoors Tracy requested a move to Maidstone. Once there she fell in love with pig farming, and the British Saddlebacks, and took qualifications in pig husbandry until she was more qualified than the farm staff! When she was released after a total of seven and a half years, she got together the money to buy 30 of the pigs she had bred whilst incarcerated, and set up her own pig rearing and sausage making business. After winning a Sun newspaper and Barclays Trading Places award for entrepreneurship it was clear Tracy had begun to turn her life around. She now runs an 800 pig enterprise (www.gigglypig. co.uk), with a butchery, 15 vans and a presence at numerous farmers markets. In the words of one Under 30s member who had come across Tracy’s stalls: “If you don’t come away with at least three packs of sausages, something’s gone wrong”.

This wit and charm shone through her afterdinner talk and we thoroughly enjoyed hearing her inspirational story, showing you don’t have to be born into farming to be a farmer. In Tracy’s own words: “You can do whatever you want to do, but you’ve got to want to do it.” Tracy proved that no matter her business credentials, she’s still a good time girl, partying late into the night, along with her cousin Brian, at Bunga Bunga, Covent Garden. A special thank you to Under 30s member Ted Beale for recommending Tracy. Fiona Friend Under 30s Committee Member

www.thefarmersclub.com • 21

The Farmers Club • Club Information

Club Information 020 7930 3557 • www.thefarmersclub.com @thefarmersclub The Farmers Club Page

Office Holders

Patron – Her Majesty The Queen HONORARY VICE PRESIDENTS Peter Jackson CBE, Roddy Loder-Symonds, John Parker, Norman Shaw CBE THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB 2019 VICE PRESIDENTS Barclay Forrest OBE, Sir Mark Hudson, Mrs Susan Kilpatrick OBE, Paul Heygate PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN Nick Helme TRUSTEES Jimmy McLean, Mrs Nicki Quayle, Julian Sayers (Chairman), Tim Bennett VICE-CHAIRMAN Allan Stevenson HONORARY TREASURER Richard Maunder IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN Peter Jinman OBE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND SECRETARY Andrei Spence CLUB CHAPLAIN The Reverend Dr Sam Wells COMMITTEE Elected 2016: Nick Helme, Peter Jinman OBE Elected 2017: Kevin Beaty, John Lee OBE (House SubCommittee Chairman), Karen Mercer (Communications Sub-Committee Chairman), Keith Redpath (Membership Sub-Committee Chairman), Christopher Riddle, Allan Stevenson, Campbell Tweed OBE Elected 2018: Ian Bell OBE, Matt Dempsey and Gerald Osborne Elected 2019: Ms Fiona Fell, Meurig Raymond CBE, John Hardman, Andrew Brown (re-elected) Co-opted: Scott Hayles (Chairman Under 30s), Eleanor Kay (Vice Chairman Under 30s) THE FARMERS CLUB CHARITABLE TRUST TRUSTEES Stephen Fletcher (Chairman), James Cross, Vic Croxson DL, Meryl Ward MBE, Des Lambert OBE, Nick Green, The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Club (ex officio). Patron Mrs Stella Muddiman

NEXT ISSUE The Harvest issue of the Farmers Club Journal, due with members in late July, is set to include reports on the Club’s 177th AGM, the post-AGM Lunch speaker’s talk, new beneficiaries of the Farmers Club Charitable Trust Educator Awards and early Summer Show Club receptions.

22 • The Farmers Club Summer 2019

SUMMER CLUB-BASED EVENTS SUMMER is a great time to visit the Club – all the usual services are on offer, bedroom availability is good, and fine weather favours our lovely Terrace – not to mention four super Club-based events in August. The EY Exhibition Van Gogh & Britain, Tate Britain – Thursday 1 August Van Gogh and Britain presents the largest collection of Van Gogh’s paintings in the UK for nearly a decade. Postal Museum & Thames Tea Cruise – Friday 9 August Enjoy a private guided tour of the Postal Museum and then a traditional afternoon tea on a Bateaux London boat on the River Thames.

Canal Cruise And Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting – Friday 16 August Enjoy a British Seafood lunch whilst enjoying a journey along beautiful Regents Canal before discovering the history of gin in London. Tour Of Greenwich & Meantime Brewery Tour & Tasting – Friday 23 August Private guided tour around the impressive sights of Greenwich followed by a private tour and tasting at Meantime Brewery.

Apply on-line at www.thefarmersclub.com or contact Administrator Anita Kaur 020 7930 3751 administrator@thefarmersclub.com

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO FRIDAY 12TH JULY Mozart’s great comic opera of intrigue, misunderstanding and forgiveness returns with Christian Gerhaher and Simon Keenlyside as the clever Figaro and his aristocratic master. Our program starts with a two-course supper with wine in The Club at 4.45pm. At 6.00pm we depart by coach to the Royal Opera House, in time for a 7.00pm performance, after which (at 10.40pm approx) the coach returns to

The Club. The event is limited to 40 places. Cost is £183.00 per person. Apply online at www.thefarmersclub.com or contact Anita on 020 7930 3751.

THE FARMERS CLUB AT HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA SUNDAY 7TH JULY The Farmers Club is returning to Henley Royal Regatta, thanks to Club Member, Mr Tom Copas. What better way to spend a quintessential summer’s day than amongst fellow members and friends at Temple Island Enclosure during Henley Royal Regatta. Enjoy your day within The Farmers Club private chalet, an idyllic riverside setting, where rowing passes you by and drinks continue to flow, as you relax in the riverside chalet and garden. The day starts at 11am and finishes at 5.30pm. The package includes: • Admission to Temple Island Enclosure • River Cruise • Champagne, Pimm’s and Canapé Reception • Four-course luncheon • Afternoon Tea with strawberries and cream

• Complimentary bar throughout the day • Riverside bandstand featuring morning and afternoon jazz • Reserved car parking • Official programme • Optional coach transfer to and from The Farmers Club Coach will depart from the Club at 9.00am sharp. The cost is £200 per person (max 2 guests per member) or £220 including coach transfer. Apply online at www.thefarmersclub.com

Club Information • The Farmers Club New Members The following were elected: UK Members Mr R Ashby Mr R Binning Mr G Buchanan Mr M Buchanan Mr J Cappalonga Mr J Clarke Mr A Clarkson Mr M Cobbald Mr M Dobbs Mr N Durnford Miss S Dwerryhouse Mrs V Hutton Mr A Irwin Mrs E Kemball-Ludgrove Mrs S Laing Mr D Leverton Mr E McFarlane Mr A Mead Mr E Messenger Mr H Milne Mr G Owens Mrs H Peck Miss V Phillips Mrs S Prewett Mr J Ringer Mrs S Scott Rt Revd. M Seeley Mr P Simpson Mr J Small Mr T Smith Mr T Smith Mr I Speke Mr P Strachan Mrs K Wade-Gery Mr G Williams

Northamptonshire Oxfordshire Suffolk Suffolk London Norfolk Shropshire Rutland Sussex Wiltshire Shropshire Bedfordshire Essex Suffolk Dunbarton Lincolnshire Ross-shire Somerset Dorset Essex Herefordshire Cambridgeshire Herefordshire Monmouthshire Norfolk Rutland Suffolk Warwickshire Hampshire Hertfordshire Somerset Northumberland Perthshire Bedfordshire Herefordshire

Under 30s Miss E Davies Mr J Davies Miss A Eggleston Mr J Fletcher Mr F Harvey-Kelly

Northamptonshire Staffordshire Leicestershire Cheshire Suffolk

Miss D Hogg Miss C Lawson Mr H Monnington Mr E Seymour Mr L Wheeler

London Suffolk Surrey Sussex Northamptonshire

Deaths It is with regret that we announce the death of the following members: Mr M Buckle Buckinghamshire Mr C Clarke Isle Of Wight Mr J Edwards Suffolk Mr J Hickish LVO Cornwall Mr D Lamb Lincolnshire Mrs B Lyndon-Skeggs MBE DL Ross-shire Mr J Massey Northamptonshire Dr R McDonald Canada Sir David Naish KB DL Nottinghamshire Mr R Raine Cumberland Mr R Shaw Yorkshire Mr N Smith Somerset Mr M Sosland USA Dr R Tincknell Buckinghamshire Business Suite The Business Suite provides PCs, printing and WiFi for members. Meetings are prohibited. WiFi WiFi is available throughout the Club at no charge. Luggage room This is a short term storage facility only. In the event that luggage has been left for a period of over 3 months and we are unable to identify the owner, it will be disposed of. Function rooms If you are looking to book a function here at the Club, please contact functions@ thefarmersclub.com or call our Conference & Banqueting Sales Manager on 020 7925 7100, who will be delighted to assist. Phone calls Members are advised that using mobile calling platforms such as Skype, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts etc can facilitate mobile phone calls (over the Club’s wi-fi) in areas of the Club where mobile phone calls are permitted, including in the Business Suite.

A great summer read Ideal for summer reading, as a gift, or a fine addition to the bookcase – this wonderful history tracing the Club’s 175 years is available now. The Farmers Club 1842-2017 uses original research and previous histories to provide a delightful insight into a unique organisation, which has done so much to create friendships, memories and business progress throughout the farming industry.

Club Contacts THE FARMERS CLUB

Serving the farming industry for 175 years 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL

Chairman 2019: Nick Helme

Chief Executive and Secretary: Andrei Spence

Club Number 020 7930 3557 Reception reception@thefarmersclub.com Bedroom Reservations reservations@thefarmersclub.com Restaurant Reservations Option 3 restaurant@thefarmersclub.com Conference & Banqueting Sales Manager Liza Keoshgerian direct line: 020 7925 7100 functions@thefarmersclub.com Administrator & Under 30s Secretary Anita Kaur direct line 020 7930 3751 administrator@thefarmersclub.com General Manager Virginia Masser direct line 020 7930 3751 generalmanager@thefarmersclub.com Head Chef Paul Hogben direct line: 020 7925 7103 chef@thefarmersclub.com Financial Controller Zarreena Neeson direct line: 020 7925 7101 financialcontroller@thefarmersclub.com Membership Mark Fairbairn direct line: 020 7925 7102 membership@thefarmersclub.com PA to Secretary Claire White direct line: 020 7930 3751 generaloffice@thefarmersclub.com Bedrooms ext: 3+ [two digit room number] eg. ext 301 for Room1 Whitehall Court Porters 020 7930 3160 Fax 020 7839 7864 Website: www.thefarmersclub.com @thefarmersclub The Farmers Club Page THE FARMERS CLUB JOURNAL Editor and Advertisement Manager: Charles Abel 07795 420692 E-mail: editor@thefarmersclub.com Designed and produced by: Ingenious, www.ingeniousdesign.co.uk No film or film processing chemicals were used. Printed on Lumi Silk which is ISO 14001 certified manufacturer. FSC® Mix Credit. Elemental chlorine free (ECF) fibre sourced from well managed forests

Available at Reception (£25) or use the online order form: www.thefarmersclub.com/ news/New-Club-History-Book

www.thefarmersclub.com • 23

2019

Club Calendar DIARY DATES 2019

Here are just some of the Club events planned for the coming months. More event details can be found at www.thefarmersclub.com/events, in Club e-newsletters, or from Club Administrator Anita Kaur (020 7930 3751 extn 216) e-mail: administrator@thefarmersclub.com JUNE

Royal Highland Show

Royal Cornwall Show Reception Thursday 6th June Royal Three Counties Show Reception Friday 14th June Royal Cheshire Show Breakfast Tuesday 18th June

Royal Welsh Show Reception Monday 22nd July Book online at www.thefarmerclub.com/events

AUGUST Postal Museum & Thames tea cruise

Apply for above Summer Show Receptions on-line at www.thefarmersclub.com/events

Please contact Anita to book your place

Lunch at the Club & Tour of Eltham Palace – FULL Friday 21st June

Canal Cruise & Gin Distillery

Greenwich & Meantime Brewery

Monday 10th Thursday 13th June

Club Tour to California

Thursday 12th Friday 27th September

Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Thursday 4th July

OCTOBER

Harvest Festival Service & Supper at Club Tuesday 8th October

Book online at www.thefarmerclub.com/events

Under 30s Pimm’s & Supper

Kent County Show Reception Friday 5th July

Details to follow

Please contact Anita to book your places Harvest Festival Service & Supper

Visit to Herefordshire Wednesday 16th - Friday 18th October

Summer event in the Club

Details to follow

Royal Yorkshire Show Reception Tuesday 9th July

Royal Welsh Show Reception

BCPC Seminar Profiting From New Breeding Techniques Thursday 11th July Book online at www.thefarmerclub.com/events

The Marriage of Figaro, Royal Opera House Friday 12th July Van Gogh Britain

Book online at www.thefarmerclub.com/events

Under 30s Autumn Farm Walk Weekend Friday 11th - Sunday 13th October Details to follow

Under 30s Pimm’s & Supper Friday 19th July

Book online at www.thefarmerclub.com/events

Booking form enclosed

Dinner at the Club

177th AGM followed by AGM Luncheon in the Club with guest speaker Dr Fabrice De Clerk, Hampton Court Palace EAT Director of Science Book online at www.thefarmerclub.com/events Garden Festival

Book online at www.thefarmerclub.com/events

Private Tour of Greenwich & Meantime Brewery Tour & Tasting Friday 23rd August

Under 30s Autumn Dining Evening Friday 6th September

AGM Luncheon Tuesday 2nd July

Henley Royal Regatta Sunday 7th July

Canal Cruise & Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting Friday 16th August

SEPTEMBER

JULY

Henley Royal Regatta

Book online at www.thefarmerclub.com/events

Please contact Anita to book your place

Club visit to Jerez – FULL

Booking form enclosed

Lunch at The Club & private Tour of the Postal Museum & Thames tea cruise Friday 9th August

Royal Highland Show Dinner Wednesday 19th June Eltham Palace

The EY Exhibition Van Gogh Britain Thursday 1st August

NOVEMBER New Year’s Eve Dinner Party

Monday Evening Lecture Monday 4th November Details to follow

DECEMBER

New Year’s Eve Black Tie Dinner Tuesday 31st December Details to follow