tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55632354574564041412024-03-14T08:23:48.161+00:00The Loddington EstateGWCT's Allerton Project Blog -
Farming, Environment and Community - Sustainable SolutionsFarmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-37488750504732880192020-02-26T22:54:00.000+00:002020-02-27T07:18:37.628+00:00NFU CONFERENCE; FARMING WITHOUT BARRIERS #NFU20<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">NFU CONFERENCE;
FARMING WITHOUT BARRIERS #NFU20</span></b><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here
are my top ten highlights from the 2020 NFU Conference at the ICC in Birmingham.</span> (<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: currentColor; border-right-color: currentColor; border-top-color: currentColor; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>The usual caveats about typos, grammar and spelling apply</i>.)</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;">1.There is no
doubt that the <b>NFU President, Minette Batters</b>, was the star of this conference This committed, determined and articulate leader was at her forceful best. It
started with a barnstorming opening address, reiterating standards and trade,
fairness in the food chain, flooding and infrastructure and much more.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A ‘rally call to the London gathering in March, through
to a ‘you will be back at conference at 8.00am to hear the Secretary of State –
George Eustice hit the bullseye. Her clarion call brought members out from all ‘corners
of Birmingham’ and the hall was full. This was leadership at its best and I don’t
think I’ve heard such rousing ovations for the any NFU President.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;">2. <b>Climate
Change, the Challenge of our Time</b>. It is somewhat frightening to think how
quick the climate change debate is moving. Scanning back through previous conference
highlights the climate debate stories are somewhat scarce to find.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;">The
environment got a good outing in the 2019 Crops Board breakout and the
Environment breakout in 2018 showed glimpses of what lay ahead for our
landscape management.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;">However, in
this session Professor Myles Allen, really warmed to the task of explaining a
complicated subject into more easily digestible morsels. The ‘methane cooling’ discussion
will have many investigating this further. Flooding and water management issues
showed that this challenge is here right now. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 18.6667px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 18.6667px;">Phil Jarvis (yep that’s me) highlighted Greenhouse Gas reduction, biodiversity gains and food we provide society as the three drivers for the industry’s future.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14pt;">The practical journey that
farmers will need to embark on (highlighted with examples from the Allerton Project), the solutions farms can provide, carbon
calculators, were just some of the topics covered and debated.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;">3. <b>Ronald
Ross Primary School and Joshua Payne</b> deserve great credit, for what on the
face of it looked like an interesting choice for the Conference Hall, but the
children and the school’s video on winning Farmvention was an absolute delight.
Josh really captures the enthusiasm that is needed to deliver positive farming
messages and a proactive education programme. This is money well spent, on a
resource that connects with the next generation of food consumers. Keep it up NFU
Education.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;">4. My fourth
highlight came in the <b>Combinable Crops breakout</b> where self-confessed
robotic geek Jonathan Gill from Harper Adams delivered an articulate, engaging and
succinct presentation on technology in the crops sector and hands-free
technology. It perhaps provided one of the comments of the day when during his
presentation Jonathan admitted he’d missed his girlfriend’s birthday as he was
so engrossed in the hands free-technology. One crop board member who shall remain
nameless (Olly Harrison..oops), enquired ‘how had he missed his girlfriend’s birthday
if the tractor was driving itself’. Priceless.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;">5. <b>Penny Haslam,
Carolyn Fairburn and the President</b>, took on a business, trade, productivity
and basically all things farming session. If I heard right there were some
great quotes ‘Trade is a contact sport’ and ‘Sovereignty or rules’ to 'We got Brexit
done we now have to get it right!’</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;">6. The <b>Safeguarding
Standards Session </b>gave some nice interplay between Stuart Roberts and Chris
Elliot, but Shaun Spiers from the Green Alliance Trust <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>provided some sharp and humorous observations.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;">7. It would be
remiss of me not to mention the <b>Secretary of State, George Eustice</b>. I
feel many in the hall were disappointed with the messages delivered about the
future It shows when a powerful government is in place many officials have to
fall in line and support a collective position. However, this is a long game and George has some understanding of farming and the NFU will keep policy and politicians focused on UK growers
interests.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;">8. <b>Commodity
sessions and workshops, NFU Staff and friends. </b>The scope and issues covered
across the 2 days is a credit to the hard-working advisors, staff and farmers
who give their time to make the NFU such a strong organisation. My own experiences
are positive, well briefed by the NFU Staff, who are focused on the significant
subject’s that need highlighting in the conference hall. There is a time and
place for Twitter but there are some gems of humour and pearls of wisdom which
many manage to encapsulate in the briefest of sentences. </span><br />
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<span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;">9. It always
amazes me how the <b>coordination of the NFU Conference</b> comes together. To
the many staff involved in the logistics, I once again tip my hat. It is by far
the best catering, timetabled and choreographed event in the agricultural
calendar. Impressionist John Culshaw brought some light relief to the evening
dinner with a ‘cavalcade of characters’, B..B..B..Boris Johnson was my favourite.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; border: none 1.0pt; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;">10 <b>The new
office team. </b>Well done to Stuart Roberts and Tom Bradshaw for their
elevation within the NFU and they join Minette to guide the organisation
through future 'challenges and conundrums'. With every good news story, there are
some that don’t always work out. <b>Guy Smith</b> deserves a special mention in
dispatches, his ‘You don’t always get to choose your exit’ tweet expressed
thanks and no regrets. Thanks for your tireless work Guy…….the RPA will sleep a
little easier tonight.</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-17830634425947510412019-02-20T21:14:00.002+00:002019-02-21T07:43:08.725+00:00Our Food, Our Future NFU 2019 Highlights<span style="background-color: white; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here are my top ten highlights from the 2019 NFU Conference at the ICC in Birmingham.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #5d5d5d; font-family: "cabinitalic"; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>The usual caveats about typos, grammar and spelling apply.</i></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I scanned through my previous conference highlights in preparation
for scribbling my 7<sup>th</sup> NFU Conference summary piece. I couldn’t help
but notice some reoccurring themes of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">food</b>
(hardly surprising I hear you murmur, we’re farmers), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the future</b> and the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">logistical
masterclass</b> the NFU puts on for its members. The 2019 conference of Our
Food, Our Future seemed very apt as an industry that is worth £113bn looks to a
somewhat uncertain future.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, as I rattle through my top ten highlights from this year,
I’ll make the point early that the undertone of uncertainty caused a rather melancholy
mood in this farmer from Leicestershire. It was soon replaced by incredulity. The
position the United Kingdom finds itself in with a parliament’s MP’s squabbling
over what party they do or don’t want to be in or what leader they will or won’t
follow. It could have saved us a lot of angst if we’d just had this bust up in
the Commons 2 or 3 years ago and saved us falling out with Europe, the home
nations, families, ourselves and the Japanese manufacturing fraternity. Here
ends the party-political broadcast for the ‘Know it-all Hindsight Party’.</div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
that controlled rant it seems fitting to then give the number 1 billing to
Steve Richards, writer, broadcaster and political commentator. It appeared, during
his session, that we might have been at an outside broadcast, live on air as the
‘Tory Three’ joined the Chuka Umunna’s S Club 7. It’s not often politics get’s
my undivided attention but the impersonations and idiosyncrasies of Teresa May,
Tony Blair, Alan Johnson, Gordon Brown and Jeremy Corbyn were an engaging punctuation
in a lively Q&A with Terry Jones. Eventually we did get back to the impact of
Brexit on Farming but quite frankly it was extremely illuminating for a mainly
rural audience.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I’m not going to sing Minette Batters praise’s
quite as many times as Michael Gove did during his conference speech, but I was
extremely impressed in the assured and considered way in which the NFU
President opened the Conference. Taking the Secretary for State to task on several
occasions and providing a glorious retort to Michael Gove ‘over my dead body
would British Standards be undermined… Minette said she was reasonable …. didn’t
want it written in blood…but did want it written in ink. In the lead up to
conference, 'the view from the President's article' in March's British Farmer and Grower was positive and proactive. It eluded to the part farmers will play in reducing green-house gas emissions and
the contributions farmers will have in the meat and plant-based diet debate. The closing address recognised that her leadership
would be judged, not on speeches but delivery, actions and outcomes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs, Michael Gove is an astute politician, but there was a lot he
couldn’t or wouldn’t say about the forthcoming weeks. I suspect giving Mike Rowe’s
email address out to the assembled throng, to enquire about RPA payment delays,
will lead to meltdown in the DEFRA e-mail server. I wasn’t let down as the
speech unfolded and my favourite subject of alliterations began to ‘trip tenaciously
throughout the talk!!’. Starting with some old favourites such as food and
farming, we had ‘roll-on roll off’, shirk and shy, places are palatable, meet
and master and my favourite ‘a hotter and hungrier world’.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Jack Bobo, Vice President, Global Policy and
Government Affairs, Intrexon Corporation was just the sort of speaker who
livens up proceedings. His comments on how we are approaching the most
important ‘30 years on the planet’ and probably the ‘most important 30 years we’ll
ever have’, were a stark warning on climate and population growth. His equation of Hazard x media exposure = 'perception of risk' is one which should be retweeted after every social media scare story!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The combinable crops board breakout session is
certainly up there with the best I’ve attended in seven years. Jack Watts and Tom Bradshaw gave
a polished ‘double act’ and BASF’s Mike Green gave clarity to the world of
natural capital in modern day farming. There were 40 minutes of extremely
positive probing questions to round off a session expertly chaired by Adam
Bedford.<o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sp-75eBPvrU/XG3Co2LmlnI/AAAAAAAACyM/Ho-GzoGaEXQXhXYpaeGjUe_NNAHbGykxwCLcBGAs/s1600/Dz1l7RnXcAERdIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sp-75eBPvrU/XG3Co2LmlnI/AAAAAAAACyM/Ho-GzoGaEXQXhXYpaeGjUe_NNAHbGykxwCLcBGAs/s320/Dz1l7RnXcAERdIT.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Positive and proactive crops board breakout</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Quotes of the conference; there were many that I probably misheard but here’s my interpretation of a few of them;</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i style="text-indent: -24px;">Guy Smith, ‘2019 what could possibly go wrong’</i></i></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nick von
Westenholz ‘next week will be a critical week’ acknowledging that recently
every week has been a critical week.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Terry
Jones’ comments on Mike Rowe trending on Twitter after the e-mail address
revelation.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mike
Green ‘soil is sexy and we’re all on the soil page now’<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Twitter ‘quote off’ as NFU East Midlands described Joe Stanley as ‘loquacious’
(talks a great deal) and Joe acknowledging that would be a triple word score in
scrabble and then dropping ‘progenitor’ into a question to the secretary of
state which had me exclaim ’eh-up’ and searching google for its meaning.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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I heard the term ‘Flexitarian’ a lot during
conference and I was just wondering if the last time they had come to
prominence was in an episode of Star Trek?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Meet Your Officeholders gave a rare opportunity
to get the full team in front of the membership for some two-way dialogue in a
Q&A session for those who tamed the temptation to ‘walkabout’ during the
previous evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The debate and comments around a National Food
Strategy, Commission and Food reporting in the media are essential for a constructive future. I commend you to read <a href="https://www.nfuonline.com/nfu-online/news/the-future-of-food-2040/" target="_blank">‘TheFuture of Food 2040’</a> which Andrea Graham presented to Conference.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Smart meters for the RPA came out in one of the
breakout sessions to improve performance, payments and practice. The source of
this comment is not disclosed to protect the innocent!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I always end with the high standard of food and
organisation from those tasked with running such an event. It once again
delivered the logistical masterclass. It can be a thankless task gathering speakers,
stage managing an event to get just the right messages to a broad audience.
Well done and thanks to those that sponsored and supported the 2019 Conference.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The professional and grammatically correct conference
summary will be out soon. See you on the other side of March!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-27255821594293437002018-12-12T19:14:00.000+00:002018-12-12T19:32:53.611+00:0010 Highlights from the NFU's Farmed Environment Conference<div class="MsoNormal">
With the first NFU Farmed Environment Conference taking
place in Westminster yesterday, The Allerton Project’s Head of Farming, Phil
Jarvis, offers his top ten highlights from the day’s proceedings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“My feelings, as I entered the RICS building within the view
of the Houses of Parliament, were those of dismay. I felt like the house was on
fire and we were attending to the flowers in the garden and the vegetables in
the allotment!!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<li> <span style="text-indent: -18pt;">The fact that the NFU brought this conference
into the middle of London to highlight the importance of the farmed environment
and linking it to food production is to be commended. The <a href="https://www.nfuonline.com/cross-sector/environment/environment-must-read/new-nfu-report-united-by-our-environment-our-food-our-future/" target="_blank">report</a> launched at
this conference ’United by our environment, our food, our future’ is an opening
gambit, some opening remarks for a wider conversation. The NFU will be
continuing this debate will all of us for many years to come.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="558" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r_WrKdvBIb4/XBFa1dLOTLI/AAAAAAAACxg/GOwl2RnjnlsO1o6mbByXv-V4nsGQFIovwCLcBGAs/s320/NFU%2Benv%2BReport.png" width="243" /><span id="goog_726510324"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_726510325"></span></div>
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><b> </b></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Minette Batters</b> opened and closed the conference
emphasising that we need profitable businesses to deliver the public goods,
society require, demand and expect. There were some clear messages about future
investment in the countryside and looming trade deals. If poorly executed (and
quite frankly the appalling events unfolding in Parliament don’t fill you with
much confidence) we will miss the opportunity for change or export
environmental issues to other parts of the planet. The NFU President stressed
that farmers shouldn’t be complacent and there was still more work to do.
Indeed, the Farmed Environment Report, whilst delivering a positive message
about what farmers are already doing has over 40 references to where
improvement can be made. I suggest some commentators who took to social media
to express some negative views, read the document and look at how we take the common ground forward. It will be a much more constructive area in
which to debate our differences. Working without farmers or introducing complex
regulation to solve these conundrum’s is going to be a difficult circle to
square.</span></li>
<li><b> </b><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>George Eustice</b>, deputising for Michel Gove, gave
some succinct comments on the Agricultural Bill and the future Environmental
Land Management schemes. The questions were wide ranging, could such schemes ‘Bridge
the Risk’ of new agricultural production systems? Can we really deliver
meaningful agroecological approaches/Integrated Pest Management/Organic
Fusion/Improved farming husbandry (Delete as required to leave your preferred phrase).
After a long and winding question, the Minister expressed that this showed what
was wrong with the CAP. Some might think the UK’s delivery of CAP might have to
share some partial blame. The future, if the UK has one, will see our destiny
in our own governments hands. No penalties or fines from Europe just the checks
and balances from the Treasury then…brace yourselves!!!</span></li>
<li> <span style="text-indent: -18pt;">The<b> morning panel</b> of ’Movers and Shakers’
included Richard Bramley from the NFU Environment Forum, Chris Musgrave from
Marlborough Downs NIA, Judith Batchelar from Sainsburys, Shaun Spiers from the
Green Alliance and Teresa Dent from Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust. My
summary won’t do them justice ….but I
think they said value food, value community, value the customer, value other
people’s view and value working together in the landscape. These can help our
roadmap to a better environmental future. </span>The<b> afternoon panel </b>of ‘Food and Soil Makers’
(the case study farmers in the report) explained their environmental ethos. My
favourite, Thomas Binns, clear concise and straight to the point</li>
<li><b>The questions </b>from the floor. A grown-up
discussion on reduced pesticide use, integrated pest management, farmers who
weren’t so committed to the environment and water quality. Should we value food
and biodiversity in equal measure, no ranting and raving (well only a little)
but some well measured responses.</li>
<li>The tangibles came in the form of the NFU’s
commitment and sponsorship of the<b> GWCT’s Big Farmland Bird Count</b>. It’s coming
up in February 2019 and it’s time for farmers to take this to another level.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7FgTcsCNl0/XBFbk2b9vcI/AAAAAAAACxs/7epHkcC4dh04MT2G-v_sSwWUc1_SYmDSACLcBGAs/s1600/GWCTBFBC.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="564" height="236" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7FgTcsCNl0/XBFbk2b9vcI/AAAAAAAACxs/7epHkcC4dh04MT2G-v_sSwWUc1_SYmDSACLcBGAs/s320/GWCTBFBC.png" width="320" /></a></div>
</li>
<li> <span style="text-indent: -18pt;">I always like a bit of <b>humour</b> and Mike Green
from BASF question to George Eustice about how he was getting on with his price
list for Natural Capital got the chuckling muscles going. However, Minette
Batters comments on ‘how much she enjoyed Paol Hoveson big kit!!!’ certainly
lightened the mood in the room.</span></li>
<li>We only lightly touched on regulation,
verification, complexity of delivering workable future environmental schemes.
There are threads throughout the report and speakers eluded to well researched
but <b>practical solutions</b>, for practical people, to solve practical problems. At
the risk of shooting myself in the foot with this article, I saw a very
poignant cartoon this morning that said, ‘There are a lot of people writing,
but not many reading’!!! Food for thought, but it brings me nicely to my
concluding point.</li>
<li><b>Our next generation</b>…. Whether it be for the next
generation of farmers or youngsters in our education system, it was great to
hear the work the NFU is doing in this area. We must stop talking about the
balance of food production and environmental responsibilities and get on with delivering
more tangible benefits for those who will live with the results of our actions, with farmers in the driving seat. The bookends in this debate are the 25 Year Environment Plan and a ‘productive,
profitable food sector’. There need to be some win wins for all those interested
in our rural landscape. We just need to work out how the market place, farmers
improving efficiency and some effective government policy deliver those win
wins.</li>
<li>The real summary of this conference can be seen on this extraordinary piece of artwork, which I thought had been put together before the conference. Little did I know the artist was in residence during proceedings. Bravo!! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FfEkHB5gmVQ/XBFdegXLe5I/AAAAAAAACx4/aADmVIba6Zo0Es6NaRPVxkWQXyfFpAf6QCLcBGAs/s1600/DuJIMVfXgAAq3-F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="1200" height="174" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FfEkHB5gmVQ/XBFdegXLe5I/AAAAAAAACx4/aADmVIba6Zo0Es6NaRPVxkWQXyfFpAf6QCLcBGAs/s320/DuJIMVfXgAAq3-F.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-47294474963240602212018-02-21T22:57:00.001+00:002018-02-21T23:03:53.853+00:002018 NFU Conference Highlights - Recipe for ChangeHere are my Top Ten highlights of the 2018 NFU Conference at the ICC in Birmingham. The theme was 'Recipe for Change', so lets see what ingredients make up this year's dish. <i>The usual caveats about typos, grammar and spelling apply.</i><br />
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1. There was a rip roaring 'Food Business Session' with Terry Jones, the NFU's Director General, using his retail nous in the hot seat. He drew out 'loss leader' questions but expected 'quality brand' replies. Paul Muphy (Jordans CEO), Jo Whitfield (Co-op Food CEO), David Gunner (Dovecote Park CEO), Derek Wilkinson (Managing Director Sandfields Farm) and Arla's Managing Director Tomas Pietrangeli provided a lot of rat-a-tat-a-tat in this pacey panel debate. They covered food waste, trade, working with universities and farmers, labour, consumer messaging and they even slipped in the West African Trade Agreement. I was only talking about that in the pub the other day !!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terry Jones was in fine form conducting the Business Panel session</td></tr>
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Quotes for consideration " We've got to get the 90% trade with the EU right before we turn to the 10% in the global market." "We're looking at strategic options, rather than strategic decisions." "Turning our worries into meaningful solutions". Great Stuff.<br />
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2. The trade session with Shanker Singham (Legatum Institute) and Julian Braithwaite (WTO Ambassador) showed conference that this arena will require serious negotiations. We'll need an 'Enigma Code Machine' just to understand the permutations of WTO rules, food standards, regulations, trade deals, quotas and subsidies. Although David Gunner from Dovecote later picked up that sometimes "Reality is different to making statements". These two speakers were cool, calm, collected, there was something reassuring about their soothing overtures. The <a href="https://www.nfuonline.com/news/nfu-conference-2018/nfu-conference-2018-news/nfu18-trade/" target="_blank">official NFU report</a> will give you a far more comprehensive report than I could ever assemble.<br />
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3. It's not often Michael Gove gets dropped into the mixing bowl as the third ingredient, but much of his speech's content had been kneaded and rolled out at the recent Oxford Farming Conferences and Government's 25 Year Environment Plan. A coherent food policy, with payment for public goods, review of current inspections, joined a promise to not undercut home market standards in the pursuit of post Brexit trade deals. It was 'all about alliteration' as the Secretary of State acknowledged Meurig's effectiveness as an 'advocate for agriculture'. Other phrases punctuated the prose such as, farm to fork, a consultation not a conclusion, contributions for conversation, future funding, productive and profitable -were rolled out during the Ministers speech. One tweet made me smile.<br />
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lots of announcements about announcements that will be announced very shortly when I do some more announcing</div>
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But make no mistake Michael Gove is astute and charismatic, he is moving and shaking whilst whisking up this new agricultural era. He wants people to help him improve the recipe, rather than tell him you can't cook and eat it.<br />
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4. Four hundred folk registered for the Environment breakout session, that's a 400% increase from 2 years ago and had it to be housed in the Main Hall. Farmers realise that future support is coming from landscape schemes and public goods. This opportunity has to be grasped with a continued cohesive NFU policy that will recognise the opportunities that exist in both food production and farmland management. DEFA's Gavin Ross is talking a 'simplification and verification' message, rather than a 'complication and inspection' regime ,which is music to my ears. If farmers are to have a mindset change; others in government, industry, and civil service will have to follow suit, to help us deliver tangible environmental and food production goals.<br />
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5. Greg Clarke MP delivered the 'Trade Brief 'and whilst the government's industrial and Agritech strategy got an airing. There did seem to be a message of simplification a call for effective delivery of our R&D programmes and money commitments (£90m) were also promised. A theme repeated by others was a better pipeline between blue skies and applied research, this really needs to gather some traction - a simple diagram of the process would help the practitioners understand how the system could help agriculture's efficiency and productivity.<br />
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6. The 'safeguarding your people breakout session' sent a clear message to the industry, this is one ingredient that you can't substitute for anything else. Well done to the organisers for highlighting the need for improving health and safety on our farms.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every gathering need a health and safety meeting.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few of the usual suspects who probably have high viz safety pyjamas. Some of this campaigns great advocates.</td></tr>
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7. It's sometimes easy to forget that flour, eggs and butter and key components of your recipe and need paying attention to. Dreaming of jam and honey from policies years away can lead to a 'shoddy show stopper' or a 'saggy signature dish'. With this in mind the NFU's commodity sessions are a reminder that the day to day farming issues still have to be addressed. We almost certainly can mitigate risk, market our produce better, review our machinery, buy energy cheaper or improve our breeding programmes. All of these will continue as the Brexit spaghetti unfolds.<br />
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8. Miles Jupp entertained the 1200 guests at dinner with such self- deprecating and understated humour, it had me gently chuckling at such a delivery of witticism. Some of his quickly worded observations about agriculture convinced me they were part of CAP policy. I was delighted for Richard Bramley who received the Meurig Raymond Award for his commitment to the NFU.</div>
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9. As I close in on the final few elements of out recipe for change, an emotional Meurig Raymond bowed out of his main stream involvement with the NFU. Meurig leaves the union in good shape, 14 years as an office holder, but decades of commitment to British agriculture. Words and phrase are sometimes difficult to compose when really you could write a book on his journey to our Farming Statesman. Thank you Meurig.</div>
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10. The banquet would not be complete without the conclusion of the officeholder elections. A current (not a currant) of energy, throughout the conference, provided heat for this contest to simmer on the hotplate. Congratulations to Minette Batters, who was elected as the new President with a substantial mandate. Stuart Roberts pushed Guy Smith all the way in the Deputy President race but had to settle for a convincing winning margin as he stepped into the Vice Presidents position.</div>
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So as we leave 2018 NFU Conference, thanks to the team that put this event on, it is a mammoth logistical exercise which is expertly put together. It seems food is up the agenda, DEFRA is up the agenda, the environments up the agenda and we don't really need to make it much more complicated than that. </div>
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The ingredients have been marinated, mixed and this 'recipe for change' has been added to the menu.</div>
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Your full Conference report has been assembled <a href="https://www.nfuonline.com/news/nfu-conference-2018/nfu-conference-2018-news/!page/1" target="_blank">here</a> by the professional NFU chefs. Bon Appetit.</div>
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Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-54739081468249622392018-01-07T23:09:00.000+00:002018-01-07T23:15:35.774+00:00A Tale of Two Conferences<div class="MsoNormal">
Over a thousand participants attended the two Oxford Farming
Conferences last week, the GWCT’s Phil Jarvis reports on his highlights from
the proceedings. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“I managed to navigate my way through a number of events in
Oxford, heard and saw plenty of signs that there is common ground. Several
commentators talk about developing an organic fusion in approaches to food
production and landscape management. This shared vision was evident in the architecturally
stunning quadrangles and courtyards that hosted farming sessions. That is not
to say there are different approaches or wide-ranging views in each camp, but
the quicker this joined up thinking is presented to government the better the
outcome is likely to be for the British countryside. I have highlighted OFC or
ORFC initials after each highlight to show where mutual areas are shared.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My first event was the <b>Daylesford
Farm Visit</b> which in collaboration with <a href="https://www.agricology.co.uk/">Agricology</a> gave an opportunity for
Organic and Conventional Farmers to tour the farm and hear speakers extol the
virtues of grass leys, livestock and cover crops in a mixed farming system.
Soil health was top of the bill and earthworms, non-grazed leys, sainfoin and
cultivations practices all got air time and questions came thick and fast from
the assembled audience. Agricology is a great starting place to develop a much
more holistic picture of best practice for food production and environmental
rejuvenation our farmland. <b>ORFC/OFC</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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A quick dash to Oxford through a windswept countryside saw
me get some top-notch science from the <b>BBSRC
Innovation Hub</b>. Sitting on the BBSRC’s Agriculture
and Food Security Strategy Advisory Panel I’m always keen to see how are
scientists are delivering knowledge and innovation to the practioners. Tackling food waste, in-field herbicide-resistant blackgrass testing and
drone technology all came across my radar and some illuminating discussions
ensued. <b>OFC<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>The Great Beer Debate</b>,
organised by <a href="https://www.innovativefarmers.org/">Innovative Farmers</a>
brought together ingredient growers, a maltster, an agronomist, brewers and a
thirsty audience. The process from field to firkin was debated over an hour in
the delightful St Edmunds Hall. When I say debating, there was discussion from
the panel whilst the assembled throng put Marstons and Stroud Brewery’s
products through a vigorous series of taste tests. Three of the ales seemed to
get the thumbs up whilst the other two were a more acquired taste. Ranking them
did get more difficult as the evening progressed!! An enjoyable debate,
although when the subject of drinking and glyphosate were mentioned in close
proximity, it was time finish the spicy crisps and head into the night. <b>OFC/ORFC<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>The Oxford Real
Farming Conference</b> with its four strands of farm practice, big ideas,
growing and supporting a new generation of farmers and Brexit, made its’ way to
the centre stage. Kath Dalmeny from Sustain made an admirable job of explaining
what is in store and her props kept a complicated subject visually compelling.
The Michael Gove Roadshow rolled into the town hall and the question and answer
session with Zac Goldsmith was full of semantics which required code breaking
to understand their full meaning. It was a championship performance in
diplomatic replies from an astute politician. There is changes afoot in
agricultural support payments and the ORFC audience certainly applauded the
future environmental intentions.<o:p></o:p><br />
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The two other sessions I attended did fill me with some
dread, not for the content or the passionate discussion, but the shear
complexity of measuring farmland rejuvenation and the infra-structure that will
be required to deliver a future environmental and food production policy. The
potential for regulatory bedlam looms large. Many farms have small workforces,
so collating meaningful measurements for soil health and greenhouse gases or
planting millions of trees under a overbearing monitoring regime will cause
problems. The plans by academics, politicians and NGO’s have to be practical or
the complexity will become counter-productive and the tangible benefits lost. <b>ORFC/OFC<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>The Oxford Union </b>Debate’s
motion that ‘this house believes that by 2100 meat eating will be a thing of
the past’ pitched George Monbiot against Gareth Wyn Jones and whilst the result
was probably preordained, the motion proposers presented a sound, articulate
and humorous argument. I did feel that I might speak from the floor and ask if
the same legislation that we could use to increase soil organic matter could be
adapted to file down our meat eating incisor teeth by 0.1% per anum. So that by
2100 they would be 8.2% smaller and level with our vegetable chewing molars. <b>OFC/ORFC<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>The Oxford Farming
Comedy Night</b>. Now, farming and stand-up comedy don’t appear to be natural
bedfellows, but as business diversifications go Jim Smith’s is one of the more
innovative. Farming in the Perth region (That’s Scotland not Australia) he
certainly lightened up a late night in Oxford. Back to back shows to over 150
folk was a top effort. Jim’s conversational style certainly engaged the second
shows Irish, Scottish, English and Canadian audience. He was onto a winner with
farming as his subject matter, from Young Farmers, sanitised farming TV shows
and a delightful exchange with Tim Papworth about how he could have helped with
his injury recuperation. Now of course there are serious networking dinners and
events throughout the conference but the organisers should be applauded for
‘embracing change’ and putting on a comedy show. An hour in Jim Smith’s company
was tip top end to the evening. <b>OFC</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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I then turned my attentions to the <b>Oxford Farming Conference</b> lectures in the Sheldonian Theatre. I am
a great believer in delivery and style at big conferences. We spend an
extraordinary amount of time dealing with the nitty gritty of everyday life and
farming facts and figures. James Wong and Eve Turrow Paul gave polished and
absorbing narratives on the challenges facing our industry and the ‘tribes’ of
people that make decisions on the food that we produce, but they eat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #242424;">As Michael Gove and Dieter Helm had
reminded the OFC on Thursday, the direction of food and farming is
environmental. It could alternatively be described as payment for public goods,
natural capital or helping ecosystems, it’s easy to get confused with the terminology. </span>The conference continued with this
theme and talked about the <b>birds and
bees</b>. What were <span style="background: white; color: #242424;">the policies and practicalities of
greening and biodiversity likely to look like over the coming years. AHDB’s Paul
Temple made it clear that farmers were a large part of future solutions to a
rejuvenated farmed landscape. <b>OFC/ORFC</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #242424;">Steve Murrells explained another
sort of rejuvenation to a British institution. It was his message to the
conference, to support and champion the Co-op as it goes about championing
British produce, that hit home to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #242424;">I congratulate the organisers of
both conferences, the humour from Caroline Millar at OFC certainly could have neatly
fitted into a routine at the comedy night. I know her committee have worked
tirelessly to put together the programme and the final day lunch was a
triumphant taste explosion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #242424;">My final words are about Mark Lynas
</span><span style="background: white; color: #14171a; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">and his </span><a href="http://www.marklynas.org/2018/01/mark-lynas-speech-to-the-oxford-farming-conference-2018/"><span style="background: white; letter-spacing: .2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">tentative 7-point plan</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #14171a; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> for a peace treaty between anti and pro-GMO warriors. Now
we’re all looking for common ground and we need to get off our polarised pedestals
and Mark probably has a blueprint that a future Agroecological approach to food
production requires. It would be wise for all sides to open their ears and
reduce their oral volume.<b> OFC/ORFC</b></span><span style="background: white; color: #242424;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-53392032264222035942017-07-05T14:55:00.001+01:002017-07-05T14:55:33.373+01:00Good food, good people, good farming. A quick photo blog from Amelia looking back on this years Rutland County show and Open Farm Sunday.<br />
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Off to a great start with a sunny day. </div>
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The sheep look lively, not sure about the cow!</div>
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Farmer Phil and James embrace modern technology. </div>
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Open Farm Sunday </div>
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Our visitors were welcomed by some friendly faces from Oakham YFC. </div>
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Plenty of people about.. </div>
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Some great kids activities were on offer as part of the NFU discovery barn. </div>
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A quick sit in the combine to learn about what we grow with Farmer Jim! </div>
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Plenty of tractor tours around the farm- Our most popular attraction! </div>
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'Facetime with the goats'</div>
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A pig, a pig, a pig, a pig, a pig...</div>
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South Devons in the sunshine. </div>
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Plenty of animals to see!</div>
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A big thanks to Kellogg's origins for the cereal for all our visitors! </div>
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That'll do pig, that'll do......lie down. </div>
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Huge thanks to everyone who helped make the day a great success! See you next time- 10th June 2018. </div>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-24141658826727657882017-05-17T16:04:00.000+01:002017-05-17T16:12:11.379+01:00Open Farm Sunday<div class="MsoNormal">
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Planning is well
under way for our <b>Open Farm Sunday</b>,
our gates will open on the <b>11<sup>th</sup>
June 2017. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>10am-4pm</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Allerton Project,
Hall Farm, Main Street, Loddington, Leicestershire, LE7 9XE. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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We know how important it is to share the farming story and
ensure we have public support for British agriculture. The future of UK farming
depends upon trust from the general public for what farming delivers in the
world today. Open Farm Sunday gives us the opportunity to showcase this and ensure
people from all ages and backgrounds engage with food production and the
countryside around them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We’re sure to have a
jam-packed, fun-filled day with tractor and trailer rides, local produce,
Leicestershire Longwools, South Devon cattle, chickens, pigs, alpacas, farm
machinery, children’s activities and more! <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, do come and see us, suitable for all ages, grab friends
and family for a brilliant day out on the farm! And of course, it’s free entry.<br />
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Good food, good people, good farming. See you there! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-37386259276046486442017-05-10T13:45:00.000+01:002017-05-10T13:45:19.508+01:00Drilling home the message Ensuring farming is supported by government policy has never been so important and at the top of our industry’s priorities. With Brexit and the upcoming general election presenting more uncertainty within agriculture, it is paramount that the future interests of food production and farming are heard.<br />
The government often discuss their long-term goal to make Britain a world-leading agricultural and rural nation, especially when it comes to self-sufficiency. The Secretary of State has set out five priorities for action for achieving these aims;<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>To improve productivity and competitiveness of the whole food supply chain. </li>
<li>To increase global demand for British food and drink. </li>
<li>To strengthen resilience of our agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors. </li>
<li>To increase sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting, enhancing and investing in our natural environment. </li>
<li>To build consumer trust to ensure confidence in the food they buy.</li>
</ul>
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At the end of March, The Allerton Project had a visit from Andrea Leadsom. The purpose of the day was to gain an understanding of the Allerton approach to integrated farm management, complete with a farm tour from Farmer Phil. The visit also gave GWCT and The Allerton Project the opportunity to express our initial views on post-Brexit farming and environment policy.<br />
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The project has also been busy with many events and training days. We have recently hosted a national soils days in partnership with the NFU and LEAF covered in our last post, followed by a soils day for Syngenta, this focused around infield practices and soil armour alongside fertiliser and pesticide application. There were many take home messages from the day, centering around sustainable intensification and conservation agriculture. Key principles of this include minimum soil disturbance through reduced tillage systems, continuous ground cover and diverse crop rotations. It was great to see the candidates learnt so much- shown here:<br />
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The farm has been equally as busy with spring drilling and the Longwools going out to grass. However, the dry weather has presented some challenges. Our oats and barley are beginning to come through after being drilled straight into stubble or cover crop residues. This has helped with moisture conservation during the current dry weather, but can also compromise seedbed preparation. Direct drilling has led to some varied crop emergence on heavier land where wet conditions at drilling time led to some smearing with the drill. Our winter crops have come under stress from lack of moisture and cool weather, which is making our decisions for fungicide and fertiliser use more challenging. If the fertiliser isn’t used when conditions are favourable, it can volatilise rather than being washed into the ground. Drought stress and late frosts after fungicide and growth regulator ‘tank mix’ applications can lead to scorched crops. In other words, there is one farmer in Leicestershire who is doing a rain dance (but not too much)! </div>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-62841032062115479572017-05-03T14:12:00.000+01:002017-05-03T14:12:02.390+01:00Raising the Sustainable Soil ProfileAt the Allerton project in Leicestershire, numerous studies are in action to investigate the impact of cover cropping and cultivation methods on soil resilience. The Project in partnership with the National Farmers Union (NFU) and LEAF hosted a stimulating event, sponsored by Dale Drills and Kings. A range of experts attended to discuss the latest industry research and how farmers can and are leading the way to achieve healthy soils for the benefit of the environment, crop yields and consumers.<br />
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We know that soils are important for our crops and therefore food security, as well as the wider environmental benefits supported by good soil health. By its very nature, without this essential component, we would not be able to grow food, provide wildlife habitats, prevent flooding or have clean water.<br />
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£5.3 billion is spent on agriculture annually and 25% of this goes on soil degradation costs (Defra, 2012). There is no one single strategy to tackle this impact. It is therefore important to consider objectives and management strategy, from sowing methods and dates, pest protection and establishment along with crop rotation, which advances in agricultural technology will help with.<br />
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The soils day was attended by nearly 50 farmers, NFU members, industry advisers, researchers and policy makers and was chaired by Mike Hambly (NFU, National Combinable Crops Board).<br />
We kick started the day with a research review from Dr. Felicity Crotty (the Allerton Project soil scientist), who highlighted the innovative 3-year SIP project and the benefits that cover cropping can bring. These include, but are not limited to, nutrient retention, ecosystem provisioning, increased organic matter, reduced soil erosion, livestock forage and weed control. We also learnt that earthworm weight can be greater per hectare underground than the livestock above ground which graze it!<br />
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Following this, Ron Stobart of NIAB evaluated the impact of cover cropping at a landscape scale, he was quick to point out that;<br />
‘<i>Patience and careful management in cover cropping is required! Benefits are not always immediate and there are challenges along the way</i>.’<br />
There are many risk factors within these systems which require careful management. Greenbridge pests and diseases, rotational conflict, weeds such as volunteer cover crops in following cash crop and destruction methods must be thought out.<br />
Mike Hambly concluded this session; ‘<i>Like with anything, in farming, timeliness is everything</i>’.<br />
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Chris Baylis- LEAF demonstration farmer and head of farming for Sutton Settled Estates gave a farmer’s view on the practicalities of cover cropping and direct drilling. In his system, there are 6 key aims;<br />
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<ol>
<li>utilise cultural control of weeds, pests and diseases, </li>
<li>maintain the soil nutrient balance, </li>
<li>spread financial risk, </li>
<li>increase biodiversity, </li>
<li>maintain soil structure,</li>
<li>spread workload to utilise on farm resources. </li>
</ol>
It is worth noting that success isn’t always what you see. This can be put into context with green area and rooting depth, although it is important to retain soil cover, we also want the underground benefits of cover cropping, so balancing starter fertilizer is crucial. Chris also commented that drainage must be managed, as there are challenges with cover cropping on heavy land.<br />
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Our final speaker, Professor Jonathan Leake discussed the importance of mycorrhizal fungi and what they can deliver. In 2 million hectares of wheat in the UK there is mycorrhizal hyphae that would stretch from the earth to the sun 26,000 times or over 500 times to Pluto! Cover cropping can be used as a nurse crop for mycorrhiza and its presence will encourage phosphorus capture and nutrient use efficiency. It will also contribute to improved soil structure and greater organic matter. However, it must be said that soil structure cannot be attributed to one sole component but a combination of management strategies.<br />
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A soils day wouldn’t be complete without a farm tour, looking at the Allerton Project’s research in action and of course, a look at some shiny kit. In the field discussions on future challenges facing soil management ensued. Conversation centred around soil management practices across the diverse soil types in the UK. Sited on the farmyard were examples of machinery and a quick drilling demo- this included Dale Drills, John Deere, Sumo, and Claydon, some of which are used by the Allerton project to direct drill seeds into the untilled land.<br />
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Changes to cultivation techniques can help to build a resilient soil, that can withstand more frequent and exceptional weather events such as flash flooding and drought. This will be vital as we go forward so that we can continue to farm our food efficiently while caring for the environment.<br />
Phil Jarvis, Head of Farming at the Allerton project stated;<br />
‘<i>I want to improve my soil health and profitability, but patience is key, there's no right or wrong, it's what fits with the system</i>’.<br />
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The day brought some insightful debate. These systems are not easy on heavy land but are important for the diversity across all farming systems. We must not ignore the massive impact the approaches discussed can help increase soil resilience. This can help reduce the £1.5 billion cost to the economy of soil degradation. The real question is how to reward farmers for delivering resilient soils, but establishment methods and success is measured by an individual farm basis, there is no one size fits all solution.<br />
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This event at the Allerton Project has shown how food production works in harmony, as well as enhancing the farmed environment. With a UK population of 60 million people, set to rise to 70 million in the next decade, food and farming needed to be at the heart of Government and that the A in Defra should once again stand for agriculture. Although we strive for farming to be profitable it is more than being a businessman, it's about being environmentally aware. <br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-65809550642664401362017-02-24T15:14:00.002+00:002017-02-27T13:17:17.782+00:00#NFU17 Top Ten - Conference Highlights If it was a close run race last year about what was the number one conference issue, then rather unsurprisingly Brexit continually threaded its way through this gathering.<br />
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So off we go with my top ten personal highlights.<br />
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1. I was encouraged by the theme of the Conference - Success - and NFU President Meurig Raymond gave us a glimpse of what vehicle might assist us on that journey. The three strands in the next step for a domestic agricultural policy seem to revolve around productivity, volatility and the environment. A timely reminder was made about the return to the British economy of £7.40 for every £1 spent on agriculture. HS2 is to return £2 which is surprising as its meant to revolutionise the way the country increases productivity.<br />
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2. Andrea Leadsom found some favour with conference stating she would fight to get farming the best deal at home, in Brussels and around the world. She spelled out a five point plan to guide us through this transitional period, it will be interesting to see how it looks after Government department <em>'deal, divide, ration, share, split, allot, dispense, allocate' </em>the resources and other rural stakeholder consultations. There were also some reassuring words for livestock farmers on the TB eradication programme. The Secretary of State advocated farm clusters for environmental management and recognised <a class="twitter-atreply pretty-link js-nav" data-mentioned-user-id="20672100" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/Gameandwildlife"><span style="color: #0084b4;"><s>@</s><b>Gameandwildlife</b></span></a> 's part in promoting them. <br />
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3. Ian Wright, Director General of the Food & Drink Federation perhaps provided us with the most entertaining speech of conference. He managed to convey the Anglo Saxson language he encountered on the way into conference and I had to admit this is the first reference to Boewolf and Chaucer I encountered in 5 years of conferences. He stressed the importance of collaboration with primary producers and the Brexit transition deal was more important than the final free trade deal. His take home message was we have to work together. Other comments such as 'If you can't feed a country, you haven't got a country' and a 'dogs brexit' and 'world class leakers' were both hard hitting and humorous.<br />
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4. The keeping ahead of the game session that looked at robotics and four farmers from different sectors highlighted there use of technology. Simon Blackmore from Harper Adams, with his tongue firmly in cheek, did express concerns of driverless tractors being controlled by Microsoft Windows.<br />
When the panel was asked what there next technology would be, Andrew Griffiths who has robotics milking and feeding stated that his wife said he had all his toys, so a robotic house cleaner was next. I offered the collective nouns for the panel of farmers (on social media) as a convey of..., a cluster of..., a punnet of and of course a flock of farmers.<br />
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5. George Pascoe-Watson gave a very accomplish 'Jeremy Paxman' performance (that is a compliment George) in making George Eustice and Lesley Griffiths feel slightly uncomfortable if he thought they were avoiding the question, skirting around the issue or just playing politics. The questions from 'half man half cheetah' (see later), weren't letting the DEFRA minister off lightly either.<br />
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6. The cross sector breakout ' Produce', focused on productivity and innovation. How can the research and innovation pipeline from blue skies to the practical implementation achieve this. The launch of the <a href="http://www.nfuonline.com/cross-sector/science-and-technology/science-and-tech-rh-panel/our-science-and-technology-reports/" target="_blank">Feeding the Future - Four Years On</a> brings us right up to date with the innovation needs for British Farming.<br />
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7. The Environment breakout had the simplification of agri-environment scheme administration being a clear message to Government, policy makers and DEFRA. The increase in Fly tipping incidents was reflected in the questions to the panel and Government departments have to get to grips with this 'landscape blighting' problem.<br />
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8. The Crops board had some intense discussion on glyphosate and marketing. Whilst much of this was quite technical, it importance was paramount!!!<br />
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9. This year my feeling was we were a little light on humour, but that wasn't the case with Marcus Brigstocke's after dinner entertainment. A vet on my table said ' of course we're all use to sex, basic animal instincts and functions. Marcus covered all of these and it made me laugh. Some comments were made that he looked like a young John Charles-Jones but I couldn't possibly comment.<br />
A comment almost lost on conference was made by Guy Smith who called the fun run organiser Stuart Roberts ' half man, half cheetah'.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wild savannah landscape... in the foreground 'half man half cheetah' - Stuart Roberts</td></tr>
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10. Last but not least, the conference organisation is exemplary. Thanks to those in charge, the staff, the sponsors and the venue. The organisation behind the UK food hamper to Liam Fox really shows the professional nature of this team.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A message to Liam Fox (in charge of International Trade) you must Back British Farming.<br />
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The official version of the conference is available <a href="http://www.nfuonline.com/magazine/public/conferencespecial17v2/" target="_blank">here</a><br />
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<strike></strike><br />Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-2666612301344413322017-01-26T13:21:00.002+00:002017-01-30T11:47:24.202+00:00Ode to Brexit<span style="font-family: inherit;">My last contribution to the NFU's 'British Farmer and Grower' as Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland County Chairman is an poem! Enjoy!!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Since late June we often ponder,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On the type of future that lies yonder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There's a cacophony of noise like chicks in a nest,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As one and all tell us what’s best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As we drift away from our European mooring, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Our stern line snipped, it’s not the time for tit tat
point-scoring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A brave new era of opportunities and trade,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Built on the brand of British made.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fruit and vegetables all need labour,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Much supplied by our continental neighbour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Conundrums to solve and circles to square,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We’ll need a system that’s agreeable and fair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There’s talk of rewards for public goods,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Cleaner air and water by planting plenty of woods?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We can’t be green if our businesses are red,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Is innovation and market the roadmap ahead?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Technology to help yields from sustainable soil,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Seems just reward for our endeavours and toil.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Safe, secure and wholesome food,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Such a Government policy would seem quite shrewd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Is it time for the appliance of science?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Or a simpler way of delivering Cross Compliance?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Agri-environment, rural landscape and health, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The foundations on which to build a nation’s wealth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Can we take an information vacation?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Get smarter at saying less with short precise notation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">No more gold medals for delivering red tape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Halve the rules as we try to reshape. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Farming’s offer to Britain is to keep a nation fed, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">With an enhanced environment in the years ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We might see this as productive and lean</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But remember people help deliver this rural scene.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ahhkJuBYQGI/WIn3Oo4lJVI/AAAAAAAACuI/31Pfpfjoxso_klrOrDB6vt64s16T0ijQQCLcB/s1600/Ode%2Bto%2BBrexit_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ahhkJuBYQGI/WIn3Oo4lJVI/AAAAAAAACuI/31Pfpfjoxso_klrOrDB6vt64s16T0ijQQCLcB/s640/Ode%2Bto%2BBrexit_1.jpg" width="204" /></a></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></div>
Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-13556288739991382972016-12-05T18:55:00.000+00:002016-12-05T18:55:01.116+00:00World Soil Day - Keeping soil in good shapeTo celebrate World Soils Day (December 5) we asked <strong><a href="http://www.nfuonline.com/cross-sector/environment/environment-rh-panel/nfu-environment-forum/" target="_blank">NFU Environment Forum member</a></strong> Philip Jarvis how he maintains healthy soil on the GWCT Allerton Project Farm at Loddington.<br />
<h2>
He writes…</h2>
As a farmer, soil is one of my most important assets and its careful management is key to my farming operations. My overall aim is to make my soils more resilient. I look at it as my shop floor; what I put in has a direct impact on what I take away come harvest time.<br />
My first step to a healthy soil is to know what type of soil I have on-farm and understand how it reacts to different conditions. Having light sandy soil can lead to issues with wind erosion, whilst soils with a high concentration of clay can be badly affected by water erosion and poor drainage.<br />
The main challenges to healthy soil on my heavy clay soils in the East Midlands are:<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Erosion</strong></li>
<li><strong>Compaction</strong></li>
<li><strong>Reduction in organic matter</strong></li>
<li><strong>Climate Change</strong></li>
</ul>
Practices that I have adopted on my farm include introducing cover crops, importing muck and making the transition towards direct drilling.<br />
Cover crops can help prevent soil erosion as well as increase the percentage of organic matter in the soil. This aids the growth and health of the cash crop once sewn.<br />
<br />
Spreading imported muck on my fields also helps increase the number of earthworms’ on-farm. In an effort to “promote the good things” I hope to increase the amount of earthworms in my soil from 400 p/m2 to 800 p/m2 without dramatically increasing the number of slugs.<br />
In a bid not to overwork the soil, I am a real advocate of direct drilling. To prevent compaction it is necessary to determine the appropriate levels of cultivation. To this end diverse rotation, minimum soil disturbance – through direct drilling and reduced tillage – alongside continuous crop cover can go a long way in the conservation and nourishment of my soil.<br />
<img alt="_39384" class="img-responsive content-img" src="https://media.nfuonline.com/Uploaded_Files/_media/8/7e14316d-87c1-42f5-ac5e-4e157ab51076_800.jpg?ratio=1.875&width=800&scale=1" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;" />Looking towards the future, I am involved in and aware of various research groups which look into ways to improve soil health whilst maintaining productivity. As a member of the Kellogg’s Origins Programme, I am one of a community of European farmers who meet to combat various challenges, trial new ideas and share knowledge.<br />
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By nurturing the land and taking care of my soil I aim to help maintain the balance between food production and the environment and carry on producing efficiently for generations to come.<br />
<img alt="good soil structure_29351" class="img-responsive content-img" src="https://media.nfuonline.com/Uploaded_Files/_media/8/cc824e75-c2bb-4dc2-adaf-8b95ea8e4f6b_800.jpg?ratio=1.875&width=800&scale=1" style="margin-top: 10px;" />Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-15348072751471184822016-07-25T17:47:00.003+01:002016-07-27T11:30:54.836+01:00Everyone needs a bright future for agriculture !!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Emma Duncan’s recent article in <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/time-to-cut-our-greedy-farmers-down-to-size-bx2fxkst2" target="_blank">The Times</a> about cutting
greedy farmers down to size is an interesting viewpoint on the current Brexit
debate. The GWCT Allerton Project’s Head of Farming Phil Jarvis offers an
alternative view to some of the statements (in red) she made.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“I’m drawing a little comfort from the prospect of our
liberation from the one bit of Europe I have always hated — the Common
Agricultural Policy.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The CAP is the system of agricultural subsidies implemented
over 40 years ago to increase food productivity, security, market stability and
reasonable prices to the consumer. It is far from perfect, but it has provided
bountiful supplies of food for European consumers and enabled economic
viability for a number of often neglected rural communities. Whether food is
more important than other manufactured goods is debateable when supermarket
shelves are full and supply exceeds demand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It is both admirable and desirable to increase freer trade
with the developing world, but I’m not sure I want to see the demise of the
UK’s agricultural production and a return to a weedy wilderness as an
alternative. Food safety and security with comparable production standards are
required to keep a level playing field, of course unless we don’t want a UK
farming industry. Be very careful exporting our productive landscape to one you
have very little control over! Importing food from developing countries might
also lead to food shortages in other parts of the world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Not all farming payments are production based; many help
protect and enhance our farmland wildlife habitats. The three Greening elements
and Cross Compliance all help protect our environment, while Environmental
Stewardship helps enhance and rejuvenate wildlife habitats around crop
production. Through the Campaign for the Farmed Environment, farmers
voluntarily create thousands of acres of habitat to encourage biodiversity. As
I drilled wild bird cover for winter feeding, I noticed a plethora of wild
flowers, providing a bountiful food source to our resident invertebrates and
pollinators, as well as a diverse array of crops in the landscape. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: "calibri";">…………………………….sowing wild bird cover for feeding over the winter period</span></em><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: black; border: 1pt black; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="background: black; border: 1pt black; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">A plethora of wild flowers, providing a bountiful food source to our resident invertebrates and pollinator</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The crops I grow are part of my commitment to feed a growing
population and make no excuse for such a stance. This is against a backdrop of
challenging weather, increasing concerns on climate change and market
volatility.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">…. The crops I grow are part of my commitment to feed a growing population.</span></em><o:p></o:p></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red;">“If we cut subsidies, farming will
shrink and land prices fall. That will free up land for other uses. One is
housing: we desperately need houses for our young people, and lower land prices
will make building them more affordable. Another is a healthier environment.”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “The subsidy regime encourages a sterile
monoculture:</i></span> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;">it condemns the Yorkshire Wolds to barley and wheat as far as
the eye can see and denudes the Welsh hills by covering them with a surplus of
sheep.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A healthier environment is not necessarily achieved by
replacing a ‘sterile monoculture’ with building more houses for ‘our young
people’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What is this sterile monoculture of wheat, barley and sheep
expressed in the article? The Yorkshire Wolds and Welsh hills are some of the
most popular rural tourist locations featuring a combination of stunning
landscape; much of which is farmed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a poll
in Farmers Weekly just before the vote suggested that 58 per cent (of farmers)
were Leavers and 31 per cent Remainers ….. These genetically modified turkeys
voted for Christmas.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I resent being called a ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">genetically
modified turkey’</i>. The implication that genetic modification is an agricultural
practice in the UK, is both incorrect and misleading. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The National Farmers Union works hard to represent its
members and wants a strong vibrant United Kingdom agricultural policy in the
years ahead. This will only be achieved with strong functional and fair markets
enabling farmers to run profitable businesses. However, this can be achieved by
building upon farming’s environmental role, allowing all farmers to care for
the countryside, wildlife and mitigate climate change. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zdNTiettWVU/V5Y3eAJ3fdI/AAAAAAAACsk/4lmQ2Kb1AMQM2LlwVIDoxcOCs1ps-iJvQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0160_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zdNTiettWVU/V5Y3eAJ3fdI/AAAAAAAACsk/4lmQ2Kb1AMQM2LlwVIDoxcOCs1ps-iJvQCLcB/s640/DSC_0160_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is about a sustainable future for food production and responsible environmental management</span></em>.</span><o:p></o:p></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> British agricultural policy is about a balance between food production and responsible environmental management. </span>As long as
legislation and regulation are proportionate and not bureaucratic and
counterproductive we can continue to enjoy productive vibrant sunlit uplands. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Working for a bright future for British agriculture will mean a bright future for the British landscape</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I invite Emma Duncan to visit the GWCT Allerton Project,
where the more positive aspects of the CAP; soil health, food production and
environmental enhancement are key ingredients of our sustainable future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
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Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-30263255730621633532016-03-22T10:10:00.001+00:002016-03-22T10:10:49.225+00:00World Water Day<h1>
A blog to mark World Water Day</h1>
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The recent floods and wet weather have brought into focus the dilemmas surrounding the use of water in the United Kingdom. The rural stakeholders who can influence the management of water will have to sort out some mixed messages and find some common ground!<br />
We will probably all agree that we are seeing more extremes in our weather, with rising temperatures and heavier, more concentrated rainfall. The conundrum is how to balance removing water from land that supports crops and livestock, without unacceptable erosion, whilst still trying to protect urban settlements from flooding and the ensuing damage. Those in the uplands of northern England have particularly suffered this winter, with lost animals and conspicuous landscape change as a result of the ferocious power of rivers in full flood.<br />
The issue is that farmers want their land to drain so it doesn’t lie waterlogged for too long, and the Environment Agency wants to hold water back in the upper reaches of a catchment so it takes longer to reach urban areas.<br />
The answers probably lie in balancing landscape change, which could include more on-farm reservoirs; more sensible urban development within flood plains; and a role for trees to stabilise vulnerable areas.<br />
<img alt="Cover Crops" height="269" rel="478,269" src="http://www.gwct.org.uk/media/608637/phil1.jpg?width=478&height=269&crop=true" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Cover Crops" width="478" /><br />
At the <a href="http://www.gwct.org.uk/farming/allerton-project/" title="Allerton Project">Allerton Project</a>, we have looked at how we can increase the water-carrying capacity of the soil so that the arable land has more carrying capacity before it starts to drain or run-off into water courses. Below are some steps we have identified to achieve these aims:<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.4;">Crop choice and rotation appropriate to soil type.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.4;">Striving for a well-structured soil that allows water to permeate in over a longer period rather than running off the surface. Less farmland traffic for less soil compaction.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.4;">Increasing organic matter to allow more water-holding capacity. The use of cover crops aids this process and reduces erosion.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.4;">Keeping a ‘soil armour’ of growing crop and crop residue for as long as possible.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.4;">Tramline reorientation across slopes where possible.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.4;">Appropriate livestock management in times of wet weather, fencing water courses to avoid bankside damage.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.4;">Silt traps should be the last port of call rather than the first measure implemented.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="line-height: 1.4;"><img alt="" height="375" rel="597,448" src="http://www.gwct.org.uk/media/608642/phil3.jpg?width=500&height=375&crop=true" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" /></span><br />
Whilst most commentators are currently talking about too much water, we should remember that prolonged periods of dry weather are also causing issues, and many of the above measures can help produce a more resilient soil in times of drought as well.</div>
Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-9293348142999749522016-02-25T20:01:00.001+00:002016-02-25T20:01:29.602+00:00#NFU16 Conference Highlights <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NFU 2016 Conference gets underway.</td></tr>
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In amongst all the serious and worrying challenges that are facing agriculture, there is room for a few alternative views and highlights from the 2016 NFU Conference. The first two places in my top ten were close but the Brexit was first past the post.<br />
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1. The lively 'Brexit' debate between MEP Dan Hannan and former MEP George Lyon combined exuberance, humour and sharp political debate which had Conference listening to every word. I'm sure George Lyon told conference to ignore 'patrotic jingoism' similar to that used by the Leave Campaign in last years Scottish Independence debate. However, two highlights came in responses from the floor, firstly about 'bank managers....ing my business' and the second was from session chair Martin Haworth. When a member from Dorset commented that 'The Times was reporting the NFU swinging behind the 'stay in' campaign, and perhaps we should trust neither politicians or journalists' ...Martin turned to Dan Hannan and enquired if as a politician and journalist he might like to comment. Priceless<br />
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2. The 'wit and wisdom' award this year went to Dr David Hughes who wanted adjectives rather than nouns when describing the meat we buy. A lively and at times controversial presentation it was nonetheless delivered with delightful humour.<br />
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3.The polished performer award went to Connor McVeigh who takes the title from last year's winner Mark Grimshaw. Coolness under pressure personified. However it would have been nice to hear some direct answers to questions. Would the Living Wage lead to higher prices in Macdonalds? The answer was there were efficiency to be had via the Beef Production Carbon Report..... aimed at the producer. No word on sharing through the food chain with carbon savings on transport to the restaurants or carbon saving in the restaurants themselves!!<br />
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4.Secretary of State, Elizabeth Truss repeated an earlier Oxford Conference statements about reducing bureaucracy, with DEFRA agencies working towards shared and common goals. Let's hope they are the same ones that the industry has and both consultation and collaboration will be paramount to achieve a successful outcome. Her comments on TB were also well received.<br />
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5. Mark Berriford-Smith's comments on 'forecasters predicting seven of the last two recession' was well received in the conference hall.<br />
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6. A masterstroke engaging the Campaign For The Farmed Environment as a conference sponsor, showing that farmers and their representative do care about the environment. Lets hope we get some common goals and sensible outcomes from our current agri-environment deliberations.<br />
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7. Returning to a more light hearted moment, the 'Pointless' game conducted at dinner between Minette Batters and Guy Smith once again showed that in amongst the serious business of conference, humour and mirth should never be forgotten.<br />
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8. In the break out session of cropping and environment, the issues were interwoven in both. Environmental responsibility was never far away at the crops session and cropping profitability was pronounced at the environment meeting. Some comments that registered about environmental labelling were' Green is the normal now' and 'The role of Government is like a tide that floats all boats'. Whilst it was great to see pioneers using competition to drive business efficiencies the whole industry needs some mechanisms to help push forward it's environmental credentials.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of support for the environment and Crops break out session.<br />
(Pictures courtesy of NFU On-Line)</td></tr>
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9. Once again the Conference organisation was second to none, no complaints from this delegate. How you managed to know that I would step on the 4.22pm train 20 seconds before it was due to leave is beyond me. Keep up the great work. The <a href="http://www.nfuonline.com/Magazine/public/conferencespecial2016/" target="_blank">conference summary report </a>is out already and will give you the real and considered sequence of events and is essential reading. For those into networking it is Networking Heaven! The cross section of industry representatives is testament to the conference's importance to the agricultural industry.<br />
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10. The leadership contest turned out to be a vote for continuity and with many challenges ahead I'm sure this team will work tirelessly for the benefit of its members. If anyone asks you what the NFU does, get a copy of the NFU 2015 Yearbook and place it in front of them.<br />
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Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-57886246516777505012016-02-25T17:46:00.001+00:002016-02-25T17:48:42.760+00:00Conservation, collaboration and precision<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Members of Young Farmers’ Clubs (YFC) will be joining conservation
and farming experts to enhance their understanding and skills in precision
arable farming.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TfG-Iw7jMPI/Vs87EKTAnBI/AAAAAAAACrM/fzLwL5sPPMc/s1600/IMAG1323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TfG-Iw7jMPI/Vs87EKTAnBI/AAAAAAAACrM/fzLwL5sPPMc/s320/IMAG1323.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) has joined
forces with the </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Game
& Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">to develop an arable precision farming day at the Allerton Project
demonstration farm, Loddington, Leicestershire. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Nuffield scholar</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> <a href="https://www.niab.com/shop/page/davina-fillingham-mrics-faav" target="_blank">Davina Fillingham</a> shares her professional expertise and
study project on precision farming, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbKWbzsziyM" target="_blank">Clive
Blacker</a> from Precision Decisions explore </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">scanning, yield mapping and guidance for successful
but sustainable farming enterprises of the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">GWCT’s
Phil Jarvis commented: "It's really important to show the next generation
of farmers how technology can aid both profitable food production and help
protect our farmed environment. I'm sure this event will stimulate informative
discussion and positive messages."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sam Dilcock, newly-elected Agriculture and Rural Issues
(AGRI) chairman and self-employed contract farmer said: “As an Industry, we are
becoming ever more scrupulous over our inputs, returns and best practice to
deliver on our customers’ expectations. Best practice is a combination of
cutting-edge innovations alongside tried and tested methods, to produce food
which is safe for the consumer and the environment. This is paramount for the
future of agriculture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This precision
farming event will deliver knowledge from experienced industry experts which
our members will find both intriguing and informative on a practical level.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Young farmers will experience conservation and farming practices first-hand
at the 333 hectare mixed arable and livestock business headed up by </span><a href="http://www.gwct.org.uk/allerton/allerton-project-blogs/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Phil Jarvis</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ,
hear from the project’s director of policy </span><a href="https://www.fwi.co.uk/academy/experts/alastair-leake"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dr Alastair Leake,</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
and from head of Allerton’s development and training </span><a href="https://twitter.com/jimegan08"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jim Egan</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Allerton Project is home to ground-breaking
research on many areas of farming, including the successful implementation of
water-friendly farming. As crop profit margins are squeezed, the need for
informed management of the natural resources available to the farm becomes paramount.
The Allerton Project’s aims are to research the effects of different farming
methods on wildlife and the environment, and to share the results of this
research through educational activities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For more information on the event
and to book, contact: </span><a href="mailto:sarah.palmer@nfyfc.org.uk"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sarah.palmer@nfyfc.org.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
or book directly via the </span><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nfyfc-arable-precision-farming-day-with-game-wildlife-conservation-trust-gwct-tickets-21630224584" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NFYFCwebsite</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Note to Editors:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://nfyfc.org.uk/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs
(NFYFC)</span></a></b><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> With over 25,000 members and 644 clubs, the National Federation
of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) is one of the largest rural youth organisations
in the UK and head of a nationwide body of Young Farmers’ Clubs (YFCs) located
throughout England and Wales dedicated to supporting young people in
agriculture and the countryside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
memberships comprise young people aged between 10 and 26 years from a variety
of backgrounds, who live or work in rural areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Members of the YFC organisation play an important role in
current (and future) social and economic aspects of the rural community. They
play a key role in the sustainability of rural environments and therefore have
a great interest in maintaining viable conditions in which to live and
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YFC members can sign up for the
event by visiting the </span><a href="http://nfyfc.org.uk/AGRINews/agrinews?articleid=11099&single=1"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">NFYFC
website</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.gwct.org.uk/"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust</span></span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
– providing research-led conservation for a thriving countryside. The GWCT is
an independent wildlife conservation charity which has carried out scientific
research into Britain’s game and wildlife since the 1930s. We advise farmers
and landowners on improving wildlife habitats and we lobby for agricultural and
conservation policies based on science. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists
and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects,
mammals, farming, fish and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as
projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies.
The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action
Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for
brown hare and black grouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Allerton Project
- </span><a href="http://www.gwct.org.uk/allerton"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">www.gwct.org.uk/allerton</span></a></b><o:p></o:p></div>
Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-63073675407173439182015-12-12T09:23:00.001+00:002015-12-12T09:36:17.172+00:00Sharing Your Farming StoryFarming can be a battle with Blackgrass, cause you to ponder upon poor prices and get baffled by BPS bureaucracy. However there is a great story out there and I was given the opportunity to shed a little light on our Open Farm Sunday experiences in Farmers Weekly. <br />
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<a href="http://www.fwi.co.uk/farm-life/opinion-share-your-farming-story-with-the-public.htm">http://www.fwi.co.uk/farm-life/opinion-share-your-farming-story-with-the-public.htm</a><br />
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Whilst we share our story spare a thought for those Farmers in the north of the country affected by the recent flooding. <a href="http://www.forageaid.org.uk/Home.aspx">http://www.forageaid.org.uk/Home.aspx</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharing our Farming Story<br />
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Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-33429892439342387732015-11-26T22:40:00.002+00:002015-11-27T09:22:51.335+00:00Clear Cut No Nonsense ApproachThe latest <a href="http://www.cfeonline.org.uk/cfe-crop-protection/" target="_blank">Campaign for the Farmed Environment leaflet</a> takes such a positive approach to crop protection for arable and livestock farmers. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"Clear and simple advice"</em></td></tr>
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In an era of information proliferation, this clear cut, no nonsense approach is extremely refreshing. There is no mention of penalties or fines, but a number of constructive measures to implement. It doesn't duck out of the legal requirements that farmers have to follow. The language is robust where it needs to be, but is sensible and non confrontational. <br />
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Many growers are bombarded with literature on water protection zones, confused by agri-environment schemes, Greening and a plethora of water quality consultations. Whilst its vital to protect our ecosystems, tying growers in 'bureaucratic knotweed' can be counterproductive as you try to comprehend the messages and decipher the semantics.<br />
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The advisory leaflet was launched this week, at the East of England Showground. It was good to see it on every seat of the afternoon seminar at Crop Tec.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kNXHM-6cLkg/VleCucBDS5I/AAAAAAAACqg/FZwkKURFxDk/s1600/photo%2B3%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kNXHM-6cLkg/VleCucBDS5I/AAAAAAAACqg/FZwkKURFxDk/s320/photo%2B3%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"Launching the leaflet"</em></td></tr>
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Farmers do care about the environment. However, jumping through regulatory hoops or indeed getting stopped at the first entry hurdle is frustrating. So initial take up of agri-environment schemes is often slow to gather momentum. This can give some commentators the opportunity to question farmers environmental credentials. Its not the environment farmers don't want to protect, its the process by which they have to get there that is the issue.<br />
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So if every piece of environmental legislation disappeared overnight, <a href="http://www.cfeonline.org.uk/advice-and-training/literature/" target="_blank">the CFE Literature page</a> would give you a comprehensive guide to looking after your farm. The leaflets include succinct guidelines on nutrients, soil, wildlife, water and biodiversity habitats for both livestock and arable farmers. I recommend them whole heartedly to every farmer across the UK. <br />
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The information held within them make financial sense as well. Who wouldn't want to make better use of plant nutrition, build a healthy productive soil, encourage bees and other insects which help pollinate crops. The business case is as strong as that for the environment.<br />
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Finally, bravo to the collaboration of farming and environmental organisations that agreed on the principles for publication. Its a far better rural landscape when there's a harmonic resonance, than listen to the sound of mud slinging. <br />
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Let's hope some common sense prevails with the future direction of the Campaign For The Farmed Environment. I'm pretty sure these documents will stand my farming practices in good stead for many seasons to come and it will be a shame if others don't see the value to our industry.Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-87800466358612587702015-09-18T07:33:00.004+01:002015-09-18T07:37:19.776+01:00High and Lows - Joys and WoesWe're on the home run, in what had become a rather 'normal harvest' in terms of weather patterns. Fine and dry weather whilst crops ripen then, show them the combine and down come the August showers. Before the picture and harvest progress here are this season's highs and woes.<br />
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<strong>Highs</strong><br />
<ul>
<li><strong><em>Its always a pleasure to work in the countryside during the summer months</em></strong></li>
<li><strong><em>Yields are up on our 5 year average</em></strong></li>
<li><strong><em>The benefits of reduced tillage are becoming apparent</em></strong></li>
<li><strong><em>I love GPS automatic steering on combine and tractors</em></strong></li>
<li><strong><em>The weather has helped chit our 'No. 1 Public Enemy' - Blackgrass</em></strong></li>
</ul>
<strong>Lows</strong><br />
<ul>
<li><strong><em>Blackgrass - We continue to 'fight the good fight'</em></strong></li>
<li><strong><em>Low commodity prices - will we ever have proper functioning market place on a level playing field</em></strong></li>
<li><strong><em>Late harvest has delayed osr and cover crop drilling, a week or two in August is critical for good establishment</em></strong></li>
</ul>
So with 2016's harvest oil seed rape just putting some true leaves out, 116 acres of beans to harvest here are some of our summer photos.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nSGUi07WkQY/Vfuqe9CnqEI/AAAAAAAACok/ToCiWEJbB6I/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nSGUi07WkQY/Vfuqe9CnqEI/AAAAAAAACok/ToCiWEJbB6I/s400/DSC_0009.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The name of the game at this time of year is combining</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dREVQpjUl84/VfuqoBcL4uI/AAAAAAAACps/_uEOfxWHwTg/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dREVQpjUl84/VfuqoBcL4uI/AAAAAAAACps/_uEOfxWHwTg/s400/DSC_0041.JPG" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Two or three mows and pollen & nectar shows'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YheinDHl7ww/Vfuqdym8uGI/AAAAAAAACoc/1bc0htI3qdk/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YheinDHl7ww/Vfuqdym8uGI/AAAAAAAACoc/1bc0htI3qdk/s400/DSC_0011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reasonable oats yields surpassing our previous best - over 8 tonne/ha for some fields</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ezpj_I8bNCM/Vfuqfd33jcI/AAAAAAAACoo/HdejwSZhleA/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ezpj_I8bNCM/Vfuqfd33jcI/AAAAAAAACoo/HdejwSZhleA/s400/DSC_0020.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bees are in the borage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fknS3TwX_BI/VfuqfifY4hI/AAAAAAAACos/8LDhJZN44hE/s1600/DSC_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fknS3TwX_BI/VfuqfifY4hI/AAAAAAAACos/8LDhJZN44hE/s400/DSC_0026.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Growing the winter bird table feed -millet, kale and cereals</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VevogoDaDeY/Vfuqima574I/AAAAAAAACpI/kRe6oia02_c/s1600/DSC_0027_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VevogoDaDeY/Vfuqima574I/AAAAAAAACpI/kRe6oia02_c/s400/DSC_0027_1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunshine on a rainy day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cKIFfLOUoOM/VfuqhqphatI/AAAAAAAACpA/8X3RaPm23Fs/s1600/DSC_0030_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cKIFfLOUoOM/VfuqhqphatI/AAAAAAAACpA/8X3RaPm23Fs/s400/DSC_0030_1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dust did occasionally fly in early September</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/---0xqQ0TDiE/Vfuqhv_8_eI/AAAAAAAACo8/LU2jq6-GB3g/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/---0xqQ0TDiE/Vfuqhv_8_eI/AAAAAAAACo8/LU2jq6-GB3g/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover crop drilling delayed by later harvest - fingers crossed!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CMEnLx9QUww/VfuqlDa6ovI/AAAAAAAACpY/Fwk_O1PBp8M/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CMEnLx9QUww/VfuqlDa6ovI/AAAAAAAACpY/Fwk_O1PBp8M/s400/DSC_0045.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loddington's 'Sunflower Strip'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcr0HHIqQ3o/VfuqkskMGKI/AAAAAAAACpU/AecjM3rIQJw/s1600/DSC_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcr0HHIqQ3o/VfuqkskMGKI/AAAAAAAACpU/AecjM3rIQJw/s400/DSC_0043.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last wheat to cut - 13th September 2015</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K4Z3q4O1FI4/Vfuql45r4RI/AAAAAAAACpc/TXtb5fUZSe8/s1600/DSC_0059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K4Z3q4O1FI4/Vfuql45r4RI/AAAAAAAACpc/TXtb5fUZSe8/s400/DSC_0059.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apart from a frustrating 'Ad Blue' feed problem early doors the combine performed well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This just about sums up showery summer rain filled harvest<br />
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<br />Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-46754346431200023212015-08-14T15:15:00.000+01:002015-08-14T15:15:22.698+01:00Combining, Cutting and CloudsAs you would expect, in the month of August, the combine has been getting into some serious action. Oilseed rape and Oats have been cut and the 17mm of rain on the 13th August has allowed us to catch our breath before the wheat is ready. A small amount of hay has been made for the sheep and I thought I'd add some rather interesting cloud formations in my picture gallery. Enjoy!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iTCsULdpGDE/Vc3zbU08uVI/AAAAAAAACks/rqbuUYRmmwI/s1600/IMG-20150801-WA0002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iTCsULdpGDE/Vc3zbU08uVI/AAAAAAAACks/rqbuUYRmmwI/s320/IMG-20150801-WA0002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First to come in was the oilseed rape -yielding between 3.5 and 4.4 tonnes per hectare</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5uAAFdOddPk/Vc3zykBD8vI/AAAAAAAACk0/azraWc4kAuc/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5uAAFdOddPk/Vc3zykBD8vI/AAAAAAAACk0/azraWc4kAuc/s320/DSC_0021.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thunderbirds 2 and 4 !!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oA-YsPgqT20/Vc3z_XNPHsI/AAAAAAAACk8/uD3lxHBNEAk/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oA-YsPgqT20/Vc3z_XNPHsI/AAAAAAAACk8/uD3lxHBNEAk/s320/DSC_0018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oats look good...hope we get them before the rain.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SlHiaN5u2Ug/Vc30F2i1oEI/AAAAAAAAClE/PBRD8O-qQi0/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SlHiaN5u2Ug/Vc30F2i1oEI/AAAAAAAAClE/PBRD8O-qQi0/s320/DSC_0027.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here comes your porridge ..oats yielded up to 8 tonnes/ha</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U1V-AxR9LME/Vc30X5JQESI/AAAAAAAAClM/iV-9g76yypA/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U1V-AxR9LME/Vc30X5JQESI/AAAAAAAAClM/iV-9g76yypA/s320/DSC_0016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Environment meets production</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunflowers for September or as Green Day would say Wake me up when September comes...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yhibUEYkoMM/Vc30nHAY3GI/AAAAAAAACl0/Llz3LFIPPgg/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yhibUEYkoMM/Vc30nHAY3GI/AAAAAAAACl0/Llz3LFIPPgg/s320/DSC_0037.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hay... smells grand</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcsBDyr4JLU/Vc30dD-hp4I/AAAAAAAAClU/v3H_mbhknws/s1600/CLrU2CZWoAEerxJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcsBDyr4JLU/Vc30dD-hp4I/AAAAAAAAClU/v3H_mbhknws/s320/CLrU2CZWoAEerxJ.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheep are not too excited ..lazing about</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0D5knDhZVHM/Vc30epzCHZI/AAAAAAAAClc/edtMPVXDSlI/s1600/CLeqytPWgAAXpW5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0D5knDhZVHM/Vc30epzCHZI/AAAAAAAAClc/edtMPVXDSlI/s320/CLeqytPWgAAXpW5.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a reason they are called a Longwool!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2ahi16Jrms/Vc30hsfWjyI/AAAAAAAAClk/s6C7fBQBrkE/s1600/CLwOjxJUAAAxBsI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2ahi16Jrms/Vc30hsfWjyI/AAAAAAAAClk/s6C7fBQBrkE/s320/CLwOjxJUAAAxBsI.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red sky at night...haymakers delight</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdeFT0ZfRO4/Vc30i5t820I/AAAAAAAACls/WTKFwHodPes/s1600/CIc_ZRYWIAAaeDO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdeFT0ZfRO4/Vc30i5t820I/AAAAAAAACls/WTKFwHodPes/s320/CIc_ZRYWIAAaeDO.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a bizzare cloud formation</td></tr>
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More harvest and cultivation action soon.</div>
Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-14913438830728814692015-07-13T17:59:00.002+01:002015-07-15T17:49:47.411+01:00Countryfile in ContextIt was good to see Countryfile address the issue of soil sustainability on this week's programme. The health of our soil is the most important factor for our business and environmental sustainability.<br />
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The time available on the programme meant that not all issues got coverage, however some clear messages were addressed;<br />
<ul>
<li>cover crops to help with structure </li>
<li>the importance of earthworms</li>
<li>erosion</li>
<li>reduced cultivations</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filming with Tom Heap</td></tr>
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It was an interesting few hours of filming with Tom Heap, numerous camera shots, re takes and sound bites. The audience for Countryfile is wide and varied and as such the programme addresses many, sometimes complex issues. I have to admire the craft that goes into the final edit, mixing library footage for explanation with 'live footage' which brings our farms and countryside to life.<br />
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There were many more areas that could have been covered;<br />
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<li>rotations</li>
<li>cultivation timings</li>
<li>controlled traffic</li>
<li>organic manures</li>
<li>soil's nutrient composition</li>
<li>mycorrhizal fungi and other beneficial soil flora and fauna</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover crops can help our soil, if we can get their management and cost right</td></tr>
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The GWCT Allerton Project is always looking to develop and demonstrate practical solutions for growers and farmers. It's collaborations with numerous industry partners in the public, private and charitable sectors gives us a good understanding of the issues surrounding profitable farming and environmental responsibility. If we can address both, to create win wins, then farming and environment becomes much more cohesive.Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-45836461625123619012015-06-21T23:39:00.001+01:002015-06-21T23:39:13.334+01:00Meadow ManiaNo words<span id="goog_2027116725"></span><span id="goog_2027116726"></span> are really necessary.... all taken from the same field at Loddington this week<br />
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Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-35404808074701971852015-06-20T08:04:00.002+01:002015-06-20T08:04:57.503+01:00Digging for victory with healthy soils<h3>
Reproduced press release from GWCT </h3>
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<img alt="A deep soil pit in a field of Spring Barley enabled Alastair Leake to explain the layers of the soil, the significance of burrowing, feeding and casting of earthworms and their ability to help withstand extreme weather events" height="300" rel="2848,4272" src="http://www.gwct.org.uk/media/495906/2015-06-16-142747.jpg?width=200&height=300&crop=true" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 12px 12px;" title="A deep soil pit in a field of Spring Barley enabled Alastair Leake to explain the layers of the soil, the significance of burrowing, feeding and casting of earthworms and their ability to help withstand extreme weather events" width="200" />The United Nations has declared 2015 as the International Year of Soils with the aim of helping to raise awareness of why soils are important for food security and the environment. By its very nature without this essential element we would not be able to grow food, provide wildlife habitats, prevent flooding or have clean water.<br />
Celebrating this theme, the National Farmers Union (NFU) together with the <a href="http://www.gwct.org.uk/allerton/">GWCT’s Allerton Project</a> in Leicestershire, held a thought-provoking event with a range of experts explaining the latest research findings on soil research as well as describing how cultivation and innovation is helping farmers lead the way to achieve healthy soils for the benefit of the environment, crop yields and people.<br />
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Attended by nearly 50 farmers, NFU members, industry advisers, researchers and policy makers, including representatives from Defra and the Environment Agency, this important event was chaired by Minette Batters, deputy president of the NFU who started by saying “The Year of Soils is a vital opportunity for the NFU to showcase some of the amazing work that farmers are doing.”<br />
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Similarly, Phil Jarvis of GWCT started his presentation by stating “Farmers do a lot for soil and the environment and don’t shout loud enough about it.” This view was mirrored by all the expert speakers who presented their current research findings on managing soil which included Dr Alastair Leake from the GWCT Allerton Project, Dr Ron Stobart from NIAB TAG and Ian Matts from Yara. In addition, Richard Bramley, farmer and NFU Environment Forum member, gave a detailed insight into the challenges and benefits of managing his soil sustainably from personal experience on his own farm in Yorkshire.<br />
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The audience heard how research and current practice was working to overcome problems such as soil erosion, compaction and flooding by adopting emerging techniques such as strip and min-till, to more established practices such as cover crops, buffer strips and beetle banks .<br />
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The discussions which followed focussed on the future challenges facing soil management including what farmers, researchers and policy makers should do to bring agriculture back into the limelight. Dr Alastair Leake from the GWCT’s Allerton Project highlighted how soil management can make farmers resilient to climate change by adding, “Changes to cultivation techniques can help to build a resilient soil, that can withstand more frequent and exceptional weather events such as rainfall and drought. This will be vital as we go forward so that we can continue to farm our food efficiently while caring for the environment.”<br />
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Minette Batters, summed up at the end of the event saying "The year of the soils is a vital opportunity for the NFU to showcase some of the amazing work that farmers are doing. Soil is the most important asset of any farm, and it's very clear from the farmers here today that it's their absolute priority to look after it.<br />
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“This event at the Allerton Project has shown how food production works in harmony, as well as enhancing the farmed environment. I am therefore delighted that this government has committed to a long term food and farming strategy. This is essential if we are going to have sustainable, resilient farms that can manage climate change whilst continuing to produce food and care for our treasured environment." Mrs Batters, went on to add, "With a UK population of 60 million people, set to rise to 70 million in the next decade, food and farming needed to be at the heart of Government and that the A in Defra should once again stand for agriculture.”<br />
<br />
The afternoon session involved a tour of the Allerton Project Farm to see research in action which stimulated much conversation about the differencing soil management practices utilised across the diverse soil types in the UK. Sited amongst the productive fields were examples of machinery – Sumo, Dale and Claydon drills that are used by the Allerton project to direct drill seeds into the untilled land. A deep soil pit in a field of Spring Oats enabled Alastair Leake to explain the layers of the soil, the significance of burrowing, feeding and casting of earthworms and their ability to help withstand extreme weather events<br />
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Richard Barnes, from seed suppliers Kings was also on hand to explain work on cover crops and how these are an important part of the mix to ensure soil health. Top of the cover crops with Richard are currently radish, vetch, rye, oats, phacelia and buckwheat. These seed mixes produce a diverse range of soil crops which in-time reduce soil compaction and improve structure.<br />
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Concluding the day, Jim Egan from the Allerton Project and co-ordinator of the event said, “There are lots of farmers doing good things and they are learning about new techniques and challenges all the time. But to pull this all together we need practical research and demonstration and we saw that in ample amounts at this event today.”<br />
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The NFU and GWCT are grateful for the sponsorship provided by Yara and Kings.</div>
Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-69764631570349179742015-06-09T12:11:00.004+01:002015-06-09T12:11:49.640+01:00Sunshine SundayWell what a day Open Farm Sunday was this year, hard to estimate numbers but getting towards 500 visitors to the Allerton Project in the last few days. It is time for another photo blog, so here goes...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tent Team</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tents ready....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheep ready... although they don't look that bothered about all the fuss..</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Combine and tractors ready.... will anybody turn up?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yep.. car park looking good....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Kelloggs..... showing how their breakfast cereal is grown. We also had stalls selling honey, eggs, ice cream, wool and cider......all locally produced</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fire brigade turned up and got loads of new recruits all under 10 years old !!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim Egan explaining what we do and grow at the Allerton Project</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made 18 tractor and trailer trips around the farm...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at spring oats..</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....winter wheat, woodland, ponds, wild flowers and much, much more<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Thanks to all the team, Richard, Dianna, Rachel, Margaret, Geoff, Arthur, Nicola, Clemmie, Ruth, Ben, Michael, Chris S , Chris N, Jim, Alastair, John, Katy, Sarah, Sofi. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Thanks to all the visitors, exhibitors and stall holders</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Over and out for another year.... a date for your diary is Open Farm Sunday, 5th June 2016</span></div>
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Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5563235457456404141.post-77980530661978723442015-05-18T14:06:00.002+01:002015-05-18T14:06:55.863+01:00Spring Time Photo UpdateAs they say, a picture can replace a 1000 words so here goes with another Loddington photo update.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u7aa7F3ikaw/VVnavMxSiDI/AAAAAAAACWI/nPIFr8ze5RE/s1600/DSC_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u7aa7F3ikaw/VVnavMxSiDI/AAAAAAAACWI/nPIFr8ze5RE/s640/DSC_0097.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 1. Take one large hedge<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TAVV2i8ZF4c/VVnb4XhHi7I/AAAAAAAACWw/KGCeg9H-gK0/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TAVV2i8ZF4c/VVnb4XhHi7I/AAAAAAAACWw/KGCeg9H-gK0/s640/DSC_0053.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 2. Side up<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ryc9coQwjV0/VVna_i57duI/AAAAAAAACWQ/Dvu6XkKVrQI/s1600/DSC_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ryc9coQwjV0/VVna_i57duI/AAAAAAAACWQ/Dvu6XkKVrQI/s640/DSC_0108.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 3. Lay Hedge<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-24TtgJozLl8/VVnbee5u_bI/AAAAAAAACWo/7ZiY-7TojZY/s1600/Completed%2BHedge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-24TtgJozLl8/VVnbee5u_bI/AAAAAAAACWo/7ZiY-7TojZY/s640/Completed%2BHedge.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 4. Ditch and Fence<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ExHmkk476bo/VVnbdT0PAYI/AAAAAAAACWg/gdgnB657EkI/s1600/DSC_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ExHmkk476bo/VVnbdT0PAYI/AAAAAAAACWg/gdgnB657EkI/s640/DSC_0080.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 5. Sheep in<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QxprvQIxLaU/VVnceyW9jnI/AAAAAAAACW4/C74haYsknco/s1600/Drilling%2BCover%2BCrop%2B23rd%2BAug%2B14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QxprvQIxLaU/VVnceyW9jnI/AAAAAAAACW4/C74haYsknco/s640/Drilling%2BCover%2BCrop%2B23rd%2BAug%2B14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover Crop drilling Aug 14<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fvdb5vUJFjM/VVndFrfMdXI/AAAAAAAACXA/XTdyQvEDo20/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fvdb5vUJFjM/VVndFrfMdXI/AAAAAAAACXA/XTdyQvEDo20/s640/DSC_0027.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover crops over winter<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FgdJFt5xH9Y/VVndWEjqC_I/AAAAAAAACXI/34a_F5-rJpw/s1600/DSC_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FgdJFt5xH9Y/VVndWEjqC_I/AAAAAAAACXI/34a_F5-rJpw/s640/DSC_0166.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half grazed ...half sprayed off<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VbFFQJpg9c0/VVndsZfKQbI/AAAAAAAACXQ/FhklzMBD1HU/s1600/DSC_0191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VbFFQJpg9c0/VVndsZfKQbI/AAAAAAAACXQ/FhklzMBD1HU/s640/DSC_0191.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drilling spring oats in early April<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpTT4o5syag/VVneCHxCgaI/AAAAAAAACXY/zq--heZa_rY/s1600/DSC_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpTT4o5syag/VVneCHxCgaI/AAAAAAAACXY/zq--heZa_rY/s640/DSC_0097.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring oats in mid May</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remove sheep and flowers grow</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pollen and Nectar in May</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheat crop looking good as well...must wash the windows !</td></tr>
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Farmer 'Phil' Jarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15172757617572113346noreply@blogger.com2