East Anglia’s farm conference season moves into top gear

Saturday, December 18, 2010
11:04 AM

With an emphasis on questions and answers, first-hand information covering farming issues will be the order of the day at the Norfolk Farming Conference on Thursday, February 24, at the John Innes Centre, Norwich.

Farming minister Jim Paice, MP for South East Cambridgeshire, will launch the conference with a 20-minute address. Dairy industry commentator Ian Potter will discuss about upward trends in the east.

Jack Watts of the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) will cover grain market prospects and British Sugar’s UK and Ireland managing director Gino de Jaegher will address sugar beet issues.

Four younger generation farmers from the east including Norfolk farmers Nicholas Hood and Seth Walpole, and Tom Bradshaw and Sarah Pettitt, who farms in south Lincolnshire and chairs the NFU Horticulture Board – will cover environmental and business challenges via video clips and discussion.

The afternoon session starts with last minute updates on the commodity input markets by senior members of Anglia Farmers. Then, with an emphasis on Common Agricultural Policy reform, a ‘Question Time’ panel – including Jack Thurston, political analyst and special adviser to former agriculture minister Nick Brown, Tom Hind, NFU head of economics and international affairs, and Simon Tonkin, RSPB senior conservation officer for farmland, take to the platform.

The conference, Farming: a supported future? will be chaired by Essex farmer Guy Smith for the fourth year running. Tickets for Anglia Farmers members cost £32.50 or non-members, £37.50 all plus Vat.

Details - www.norfolkfarmingconference.org or call Helen Bibby on 01603 881881.

Suffolk Agricultural Association’s spring farming conference takes place at Trinity Park on Friday, February 18.

As farming prepares for changes to the Common Agricultural Policy in 2013, the one-day event will discuss the global challenges relating of climate change, local food security and EU reforms.

Former agriculture minister, John Gummer, now Lord Deben, will chair proceedings, and Tory MEP Robert Sturdy will join the team of speakers. Prof Ian Crute, chief scientist of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and chairman of the Sainsbury Laboratory Council at Norwich Research Park, and Duncan Sinclair, Waitrose’s agriculture manager for meat, poultry fish and dairy will also be speaking.

It starts at 1.30pm and ends with a buffet at 5.30pm. Tickets £35 for SAA members, £40 non members. Details www.suffolkshow.co.uk/springconference

Norfolk branch of the Institute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators is hosting the 42nd annual conference at Barnham Broom, near Norwich, on Friday to Sunday, March 4 to 6.

A total of 150 members are expected to attend the conference, which has adopted the theme, Broaden your Horizons.

The speakers will include farming minister, Jim Paice, who will help to wind up the final morning’s proceedings. Other papers will be given by David Lawrence, principal of Easton College, and leading Norfolk independent grain merchant, Andrew Dewing, of Aylsham, and Andrew Fundell, of Brown & Co and Melinda Raker, of the YANA (You Are Not Alone) project.

Details are available from norfolkiagsa.gmail.com and booking forms can be obtained from www.iagsa.co.uk