We were delighted to sponsor and attend this inaugural event on 27th February. Hosted at the East Afton Farm centre, over 100 delegates were present – mainly farmers but many attached businesses and supporting interests as well. The venue was ideal and the organisation, together with locally provided refreshments, was excellent. The Speakers too were thorough, well versed in their subjects and entertaining. The all-day event passed rapidly.
There were four main themes.
1. Habitats and Environmental Initiatives. Perhaps the most widely talked about subject in the farming world at present, whether voicing support or raising concern about food production. Mr Rob Shepherd, a well-known farmer from Hampshire, was the keynote speaker for the Conference and his inner knowledge and practical experience delivered a great hands-on account of how the two points go together. Anyone listening would be reassured that this can work – however they might adopt it to their own farm.
2. Farm Subsidies and Finances followed, led by Claire Robinson Senior NFU adviser travelling down from Birmingham, explaining what is on offer from the Government’s various schemes, and how these can merge comfortably with each farmer’s vision and ambitions. That does seem to be a feature of Defra’s current approach – to let the farmer select what he feels suits his farm and business, rather than be directed by the bureaucratic perception and process.
3. Changes in Farming Practices, not just ‘diversification’ although that featured strongly, but again to show how Food production and sustainability still fits with Nature and the protection and regeneration of habitat and landscape
4. Competitive policies for Land Use – whether for Development (following the Government’s demand for more houses) and Energy (whether infrastructure, like Solar Farms, or crops, supplying AD plants) as well as what the Conference had already debated on Environmental initiatives and the overall need to produce Food.
Whether or not everyone attending agreed with all that was discussed will remain to be seen, but undoubtedly the Conference gave much ‘food for thought’, yet it was very positive and optimistic as to the future of the Island’s, and UK’s, farming industry, notwithstanding other issues and challenges (not least with reference to Inheritance Tax changes). Collaboration and Cooperation was considered to be key to a successful future and, as so often is the case, the farming community, with all who feel part of it, will rise to that challenge and need, and, as they have so often done over hundreds of years, will come through this next phase successfully.
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