Speakers lined up for Suffolk conference

Top speakers are lined up for this month’s Suffolk Farming Conference, which is due to take place on 29 February at Trinity Park, Ipswich.

Organised by the Suffolk Agricultural Association,  Fram Farmers and Scrutton Bland. experts from across the sector will share their thoughts on ways farmers and food producers can “thrive, not just survive”.

They will include keynote speaker Henry Dimbleby, who led the government’s National Food Strategy in 2020. A former Defra non-executive director, Mr Dimbleby has also advised the Labour Party on food system  improvements.

Farming and finance

The conference will be chaired by second-generation farmer and Suffolk Agricultural Association chairman Bill Baker, who farms 1500ha in and around Elmswell where he grows cereals, oilseed rape and sugar beet.

Farming issues will be discussed by HSBC regional agriculture director Grace O’Dwyer,  who previously ensured the delivery of assurance schemes including Red Tractor – and has worked for NSF Food UK, the NFU and Syngenta.

Finance will be addressed by Scrutton Bland partner Nick Banks who jointly heads up the firm’s rural and agricultural group, as well as leading the business advisory service in their Ipswich office.

Mr Banks specialises in advising owner managed and family businesses, professional partnerships and farming clients.

He is also the independent chairman of the audit and risk committee at New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership

The afternoon sessions will see a range of speakers –  including farmers.

Cheshire dairy farmers Tom and Karen Halton will reveal how in 2016 they set up The Milkshack on their farm, selling raw milk from a vending machine. The couple now also sell pasteurised milk, milkshakes, cheese, eggs, cakes and butter to a growing customer base.

They are passionate about animal welfare and educating the general public on dairy farming behind the scenes, running farm tours for schools, colleges, universities, cubs, scouts and other outside organisations.

Wide rotation

Suffolk farmer James Forrest will talk about data and information. Mr Forrest farms more than 1600ha with his family farm and long-standing contract farming agreements, including  a wide rotation of crops alongside a herd of Red Poll cattle.

Passionate about knowledge transfer, and volunteers for the benefit of his local farming community. He sits on the board of the Felix Cobbold Trust which aims to provide the means to improve agricultural development.

Tickets are free but farmers are encouraged to make a donation to farm mental health charity YANA. To secure your place, visit www.bit.ly/suffolkconf

Tom Bradshaw set to be NFU president

Essex farmer Tom Bradshaw (pictured) is set to be elected NFU president after standing unopposed for the role in this month’s union elections.

Currently NFU deputy president, Mr Bradshaw farms at Fordham, north of Colchester. The vacancy for NFU president follows a decision by Minette Batters to stand down after six years as union leader.

NFU vice-president David Exwood is standing for the role of deputy president. So too are West Midlands dairy farmer Michael Oakes, Lancashire livestock farmer Thomas Binns and Yorkshire beef and sheep farmer Rachel Hallos.

Hampshire arable farmer and NFU Combinable Crops Board Matt Culley standing for vice-president. So too is Wiltshire farmer Mark Jeffery. The NFU elections take place on 21 February following the union’s annual conference in Birmingham.