Expert line-up for joint farm conference

Economic and environmental pressures on farming will top the agenda this month during a special conference in the south of the region.

Jointly organised by the Suffolk Agricultural Association and Essex Agricultural Society, the Suffolk and Essex conference takes place at Trinity Park, Ipswich on Monday, 22 February.

Speakers include consultant Richard Barker, of Barker Gotelee solicitors, an expert in EU policy and adviser on state aid for agricultural products. He will be speaking on “The Common Agricultural Policy – not there yet?”

Mark Berrisford-Smith, senior economist at HSBC bank, will then speak on “Economic Life in The Age of Austerity”. He is an adviser on development in UK and global economies and their performance by sector and region.

He will be followed by Andrew Clark, NFU head of policy services, who will speak on the environmental challenge for agriculture. A chartered landscape architect, Mr Clark has a been the NFU’s chief environment adviser for six years.

Meanwhile, Christopher Miles, director of Savills East Anglia Farm and Estate Agency team will highlight the firm’s research in agricultural land markets, identifying the recent performance and the prospects for the next decade.

Suffolk show steward David Barker said: “We are extremely fortunate to have such eminent speakers to give us a steer on where they feel the economy is heading and the implications for farming.”