Conference Season

It’s not quite like the political world, but the professions do still hold these ‘reality’ events, mixed in with many on-line versions commonly now referred to Webinars. But we’ve just attended two of the traditional forums when not only is it positive to have the speakers ‘live’ before you, and good (some say better) to generate a wide range of opinions and questions, but also you can actually meet people – in the same business or in related businesses – and that also counts for a lot.

Isle of Wight Annual Farming Conference - Thursday 12th February

This is now an established annual event, and for us it was highlighted by our Kirsty Finney being invited to chair one of the panel discussions.

 We chose ‘Building the Right Team’ as our theme, because for us as a small business, this is vital for achieving results and covering the wide spectrum of professional matters presented to us. Having the right team allows us actually to enjoy our working environment, which in turn translates into a can-do attitude and strong performance for our clients.  The same applies to all businesses and especially to farming or land-owning families. So, it is a relevant subject.

The other subjects presented included ‘Making Technology Work for You – AI being the great new initiative -  ‘Staying Strong and Resilient in the face of today’s Challenges’ (both in the business and in the mental and physical sense), and ‘Beyond the Farm Gate’ – describing how agriculture and farming contribute so much to their local communities. Farming is a business aiming to be profitable; it’s a service providing food and other goods to the public and the country, and it’s a way of life which brings so many benefits – particularly to the environment and landscapes we might otherwise take for granted.

Hants Wilts & Dorset CAAV (Agricultural Valuers) Annual Conference – Friday 20^th February

Another ‘must attend’ for members of our profession, as the subject matter is always direct, to the point and up to date, as well as adding to the knowledge we need in order to advise and help our clients. Again, four subjects on offer:

Landscape Recovery – which now seems very much about inviting the influence of government and its related authorities.  The talk gave explanations of financial assistance as well as advice on what actions to take – with water quality and water management particularly emphasised. Yet is there a lingering doubt prevailing as to the practicalities and sustainability of all this largesse, as far as the ‘working farmer’ is concerned?  

Employment Law  – about the changes being introduced in relation to the minimum wage and job security; both have drawbacks if the aim is to support and encourage the younger generation starting their careers.

Property Law – We then also had a resumé of recent case law decisions on the myriad of ‘disagreements’ in the rural sector, which despite encouragement for mediation and compromise  can still sadly end up in a Court – often because the task of applying the law as provided by statute needs the legal profession to appraise the individual facts of individual cases in order to be able to decide what a fair and just outcome has to be.

And finally, on Friday, an address from our own ‘redoubtable and indomitable’ Jeremy Moody, Secretary of the National Association,

  who works tirelessly on the many government departmental initiatives that form the policies affecting our farming and rural property – on ‘Subjects for our own Profession Interest’ including agricultural law, subsidies and environmental initiatives, and not least during this unsettled year, on inheritance taxation that has heralded so many headlines and caused much anguish – and not just for farming families.