Improving the Public Perception of Agriculture

Evolution - a brief synopsis!

2011-08-30T10:00:00.000+01:00

As with most things in my life, evolution seems to be an integral part of being.

My Nuffield Study topic was no exception.

My Nuffield Study topic started out as "Championing British Agriculture".

Once I had researched key aspects to this area of study, my topic title changed to "Improving the Public Perception of Agriculture".

As my travels progressed, I grew to understand that agriculture is but a small part of the food chain. I also developed an understanding that public trust is more important than public perception (see previous posts for details).

Thus the results of my study are best reflected by the title "Improving Public Trust in the Food Chain".

However, that title is a result of my study and as such is a part of the findings rather than a title that sets the scene.

US Farmers and Ranchers launch video clip manifesto

2011-07-19T20:13:00.004+01:00

http://usfraonline.org/share/manifesto_60.MP4

A short (very short) lesson in philosophy

2011-05-15T16:54:00.000+01:00

[In the style of Melvyn Bragg]

- Good Morning and welcome to 'In Our Time'.
It was Socrates who, just prior to his suicide in 399BC, said "Nobody trusts me, I've had enough".
As an international playboy of his time, Socrates image was up there with the best of them, so the question of trust played a significant role in his demise, rather than an image problem getting him down, or the terminal spread of the nasty rash that he contracted on the Athenian coast the Summer of 400BC (a bit like the summer of '69, with togas).

This morning I'm joined by Adam West, Nuffield Scholar and "professor inabsentia" at The University of Life.

Adam, please define the difference between trust and image for us.

- Morning Melvyn.Socrates mistake was not the fact that he should have taken precautions with his love-life in order to prevent that minor rash. His mistake was that he paid more attention to his public image and did not monitor how much the public trusted him.
Of course there are significant linkages between trust and image, however the findings of my recent study are that trust is causal and objective and image is purely a symptom of actions and thus subjective. As such, there are many circumstances such as in agriculture where need to deal with public trust issues rather than seeking to improve our image by whatever means.
By the way, you sound a bit blocked up Melvyn. Do you want some Sinex?!

Hold on tight - Eureka moment happening!!

2011-05-14T01:24:00.001+01:00

My chance email to Roma Britnell (Australian 2011 Nuffield Scholar) to find her blog details resulted in an introduction to Charlie Arnot of the Centre for Food Integrity in the USA. Pretty tenuous in the first instance, but I'm so glad it worked that way. (The spirit of Nuffield in action!)

Charlie was inspirational. There's no other way to describe how I felt. The 2 hour meeting (very generous anyway) went on for 2 hrs 30 mins, late on a Friday afternoon, showing Charlie's generosity and dedication to the subject. During that time we mulled over a wide variety of works relating to food chain trust, agricultural image, key players, interactions between them, leadership, innovation, overcoming obstacles to win - it's all beginning to sound like our Gettysburg visit last year. Thankfully Charlie wasn't dressed as Abraham Lincoln!!

It appears at this point that Charlie, Roma and I seem to be heading in similar directions on the subject of demonstrating the value of agriculture and improving the trust/public perception of agriculture/food chain.

I'm indebted to Charlie for his time and effort in seeing me, and to Roma for being open and sharing her contact with me.

Having had such a positive experience (and it's Friday evening and I'm lucky enough to be in the centre of Kansas City) I'm going for a beer and half a cow (a light snack now I'm used to USA food portions)!

Uploading and downloading...

2011-05-12T15:47:00.000+01:00

It's not everyday you meet someone like Bart Ruth.

At first sight, Bart's an easy-going, unassuming Nebraska farmer who obviously loves farming. Speak with him for 5 minutes and you begin to see the professional agriculturalist who has done so much for the industry in the US, through promotion of soybeans overseas and globally through his involvement in the Eisenhower Fellowship amongst other groups.

In the 24 hours I've been here, we've planted soybean (no-till), sprayed fertiliser and pre-emergence herbicide and discussed public image issues at length, not all of these at the same time I hasten to add!

Bart's open mind and vision for the future is key to his effectiveness as an industry advocate. This, coupled with his voracious appetite for information (the blackberry didn't stop beeping while we were planting!) keep him informed, so he speaks with authority.

Frustratingly, I find myself struggling to communicate home (a combination of poor Skype connection and lack of mobile coverage), while Bart's constantly soaking up farm and industry information via the blackberry, his son (Geoff) and his agronomist.

Using technology has to-date had it's challenges for many of us, not least adoption of new methods of communication (e.g. Twitter, blogging) and associated costs of mobile access to this information.

Bart proves that you can farm and make use of technology without having to blog (I'm going to teach him the basics later - poor sod!) or tweet. Bart's a great communicator and has spoken at numerous events, but you won't find his stuff on Youtube. LinkedIn is about the only social media that he currently subscribes to.

I guess the lesson is listening (technically known as downloading) is as important as talking (uploading).

So now I'm going to download some more information from Bart while I'm here and stop uploading this blog!!

Joe Bloggs does internet research on farming systems

2011-05-11T03:22:00.000+01:00

It wasn't surprising to find that US farmers running scared of single interest lobby groups.
The farmers I visited have all been really generous with their time and hospitality, allowing me to look at their farm enterprises and sometimes even drive the tractors myself - all making the trip a great experience.
Now, I like to think I'm a relatively easy guest, after all I'm a farmer myself so have much in common with my hosts.

My point is this; if we as farmers are going to allay the public fears over farming methods we're going to have to (on some farms) show mainstream farming practices to the public in ways that they can access easily and quickly.

I say this on the back of an hour of youtube searching, during which time I found a plethora of clips showing abbatoirs, and various "normal" farming systems. As you'll be aware, these clips are publicly available, so "Joe Bloggs" can read an article in the paper/on the web and within seconds research the subject using tools such as youtube.

There are some great clips of good practice already on youtube, but littering the lists are many clips which have been produced by single interest groups or individuals trying to make a point (usually negative from a farming perspective).

So Joe Bloggs' research is now tainted by the fact that much of his time and effort is resulting in inflammatory material further skewing his opinion.

There are two main ways of showing Joe Bloggs how it's done. The first is for him to have ready access to a farm near him where he can see this first hand. A big ask and unlikely to happen across the board simply because farmers didn't join the profession to be tour-guides.

It's a concept that is reaping rewards in some places. FairOaks Dairy Farm for example are famous for their tours, which allow the public to view the processes on a dairy farm without it being a major hassle for the farm - in fact in the case of FairOaks, it's a subsidiary income. (and not insubstantial at that!)

http://fofarms.com/en/home

I very much doubt my hosts would have shown Joe Bloggs what they showed me, because they're not set up for visits and neither should they have to encourage people to visit.

Many farms have websites now and farmers should be encouraged to record and upload their own clips, over which they have full control. They should then put them on their websites and add them to youtube while they're at it.

That way there would be far more realistic clips for "Joe" to research when he next looks into how a farming system works.

Centre for Food Integrity

2011-05-10T06:06:00.001+01:00

Not only have the Americans established a US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), they also have a group called Centre for Food Integrity (CFI).
From an outsiders perspective, there seems to be much overlap, although it's apparent that CFI tend to represent the food processors and retailers as well as the agricultural sectors such as dairy, pork and poultry.
CFI has been around since the 1990's and has built up an armoury of frontline PR work in that time.

I am due to meet with the CEO of CFI on Friday to clarify their role especially in the light of the recent creation of USFRA.

My sincere thanks go to Roma Britnell, the 2011 Australian scholar who put me onto the CFI.
Roma's topic has synergy with mine and is called "What's the Value of Agriculture?".

Tim Richter's farm in Dow advertisement videos

2011-05-08T03:26:00.003+01:00

The Corn Belt - even bigger than my belt!

2011-05-07T03:09:00.002+01:00

It was dark at 4.30am when I drove out of St Louis, but I couldn't sleep on account of being fa too excited about the prospect of driving a tractor at Tim Richter's farm that day.
By 8am it was fully light and the vista opened up to "big sky country" as I entered Iowa State.
Fields of dark rich soils in every direction, all cultivated, some already planted with what could only be corn (maize) or soybeans.

This really is one of the bread-baskets of the world with so much croppable land in one area and an infrastructure to match.

Here are some photos of the kit required to farm 6,500 acres with maize and soy. All have GPS, some with RTK technology to offer inch perfect accuracy.

Big Cat (865)

Little Cat (765) - Sue Richter, David Richter & Deb with Daisy the labrador

Kitten (665) - pulling an 18m Kinze maize planter!

Contracting

2011-05-06T01:31:00.000+01:00

Here in the US, contracting out management activities and projects is the norm for agricultural industry organisations.

There are some 500 "Association Management Companies" globally, providing everything from "full service" to specific project management.

For industry organisations run by farmers, this is a fantastic opportunity to let the people with the appropriate experience manage the day to day admin of the business and implement strategic plans, especially if the farmers are voluntarily managing organisations. The farmers then simply direct and control business as a board, to which the contractors are wholly accountable.

One such "Association Management Company" is Drake and Co of St Louis. They have been operating since 1992 and now employ 25 people, managing some 11 clients as well as running single hit projects for others.

http://www.drakeco.com/

This is an industry in itself, with an accreditation system.

A selection of the PR works undertaken by Monsanto recently

2011-05-05T23:17:00.000+01:00

Communication and collaboration - dirty words?

2011-05-05T22:54:00.002+01:00

The United Soybean Board (levy body) and National Corn Growers Association (part levy body, part industry association) have always had quite a bit in common. Both their products can be used for feed, fuel or fibre (via the oil content).
For years they simply got on with the day-job of representing their sectors.

A few years ago they realised that they relied on the livestock sector as a valuable market for their crops, without which sales would slump significantly.

So they talked and came up with a joint plan to promote pork, chicken and beef to the public. The aim being to stimulate growth in the sectors that depended on them for feed, so that feed sales would increase in time.
IT WORKED and they now have an ongoing positive dialogue with the livestock groups as well.
This is roughly how the US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) was born.
www.usfraonline.org/

Since then, the USFRA has formalised this communication and collaboration, expanding to include 34 national and state organisations including agri-business and the likes of Monsanto.

Monsanto have recently being doing their own PR exercise aimed at the public in a very professional manner. See link below.
www.monsanto.com/americasfarmers
This work will tie in with USFRA plans. Why? BECAUSE THEY TALK TO EACH OTHER. (As the saying goes: "It's not rocket science")
Here's an example of Monsanto's recent TV commercial.

On June 3rd, USFRA plan to run their new 2011-12 PR plan past the largest agri-businesses in the world to gain their support where possible.

Given the US penchant for communication and collaboration, I'm sure they'll succeed and with a $500k membership fee for agri-business clients, they are likely to raise plenty of funds to support their campaign.

This all goes to counteracting the comments of single interest lobby groups and achieving wider public support for farmers.

Now let's start talking...

US farmers lose battle to keep Mississippi floodbank

2011-05-05T22:44:00.000+01:00

Since Monday, US forces have exploded three floodbanks (levees) along the banks of the Mississippi River in Missouri, flooding over 50,000ha of farmland in order to reduce the risk of towns being flooded. The blasts effectively divert the river some 35 miles across farmland before rejoining the river.

US government have purposefully created a "disaster zone", for which the affected people with receive federal compensation from the "disaster zone" pot of cash.

The public however aren't all sympathetic. One comment on a news site that I read stated: "They're all losers and shouldn't receive any money as compensation". Thankfully this was one comment of five, where the others chastised this person for their thoughtless comments. So sanity rules to a fair degree.

St Louis - selling positive farming stories to the US

2011-05-05T03:10:00.002+01:00

Monsanto are one of the agri-businesses who follow USFRA with great interest.

Following years in the public relations doldrums, (in other words "Keeping their heads down") Monsanto have been on the front foot in the past year or so when it comes to PR within the US and have a live £3m campaign of their own running across the whole country. Check out this link for details - it's VERY professional.

http://www.monsanto.com/americasfarmers/Pages/default.aspx

While at Monsanto HQ in St Louis discussing their PR strategy, I was given a tour of the facilities. Really interesting to better understand the processes associated with gene identification and replication - certainly pushed my knowledge to the limits and that's with a BSc in Biochemistry from 1991.

One of the core pieces of equipment that is shown was the corn chipper. It's their way of sampling the DNA from a seed without affecting it's viability.

The concept of chipping a sample from a seed sounds simple enough. (e.g. scrape a bit of the seed into a cup!)

Doing this on a scale involves detailed mechanical processes such as aligning the seed (so you don't damage the embryo) and cleaning the blade and pipes down which the sampled material travels so you don't get cross-contamination.

Given that this machine samples 8 seeds at a time, this is no mean feat.

OK, so I was impressed!

If you're impressed with this too, you'd love the DNA sequencing lab in which robots do most of the manual work processing the samples taken from the chipper and matching them with specific gene markers to identify the presence of specific genotypes. Multi-million $ labs and out of date within a few years of course as technology progresses.

The biotech laboratories in which they raise and trial the plants is almost exactly the same as the facilities at Rothamsted in the UK. Although in true American style, it's cheaper for them to buy coal-generated electricity to run this site than bother making the electric themselves from renewable sources.

Given that controlled atmosphere growing cells take masses of electricity to run, this was an 'interesting' perspective from a climate change point of view.

On that point, at the baseball game the other eve, there was an advertisement for the main coal-powered electricity power company advocating the "eco-credentials" of coal fired power stations! It's way behind the measures being taken across Europe.

By the way watch out for this car, if it's doing the rounds near you!

In case you can't read the sign on the door and boot (trunk!!), this is a "Monsanto - Global Security" car. It was the only one that I saw, so it could be busy. I wonder how many mpg it does?!

How politics can influence an ag-positive press article

2011-05-04T08:43:00.000+01:00

PLEASE READ THIS BACKGROUND ON THE AUTHOR BEFORE READING THE ARTICLE

**Wesley Clark is a democrat politician who currently serves as the co-chairman of Growth Energy, an ethanol lobbying group^[6]^[7] and on the board of directors of BNK Petroleum.^[8]

Hold the thin green line by protecting farmers

Wesley Clark**
Special to the Star

When the United States rationed food during World War II so citizens and soldiers had enough to eat, the Secretary of Agriculture often repeated the slogan: “Food will win the war and write the peace.”

I think of these words every time I read an article or see a fringe group attacking the modern-day farmer.

The harsh reality is America’s political leaders must take appropriate measures today to ensure that farmers do not become an endangered species tomorrow—a loss we cannot afford.

I am no farm policy expert, but I know about national security, and I know that farmers are as important today as they were in 1942.

Of course, meeting America’s needs is more challenging today because the U.S. population has nearly tripled over the past 70 years and continues an upward march. Meanwhile, the number of farms has plummeted, leaving just 210,000 full-time farms to feed, fuel and clothe more than 300 million Americans.

Think about that sobering fact. More people pass through Wal-Mart’s doors every 21 minutes to buy groceries and clothes than there are farms to grow the goods stocking Wal-Mart’s shelves.

These aren’t mega corporations with reserve capital or bailout packages. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says 98 percent of farms are still family-owned businesses with embarrassingly low profit margins.

Yet we are dependent on their survival for more than just providing three meals a day. There’s also the health of one of the country’s biggest economic engines at stake.

More than 21 million Americans have jobs rooted in agriculture, the industry boasts a rare trade surplus, and it generates hundreds of billions in economic activity each year.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City credits agriculture with being at the forefront of the nation’s economic recovery. Unfortunately, the Fed also warns that farm debt is rising to dangerous levels, leaving the future of agriculture in a precarious position.

Such a warning should alarm us all, because the farming community is also on the frontlines of breaking America’s dependence on foreign oil—perhaps our biggest security threat.

Whether it is ethanol produced from corn, waste-to-energy biomass power derived from crop residue, or wind energy harnessed on farm acres, the Midwest is needed to end our Middle East oil addiction. As an added bonus, ethanol also produces good-paying jobs, and ethanol—with its low-carbon qualities—reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 59 percent compared to gasoline.

As a new Congress debates America’s future, and the White House builds on a promising State of the Union speech, they should think of the 210,000 farms that produce 80 percent of the country’s agricultural output as a thin green line standing between prosperity and disaster.

They must realize that we need to open new markets both abroad and at home. We need to abandon questionable regulations based on unsound science—such as “indirect land use change”—that unfairly penalize farmers and renewable, clean-burning biofuels.

Simply put, we must hold the thin green line.

If we cannot feed, fuel and clothe ourselves, then we cannot defend ourselves. If this one bright spot in our economy is choked off, then recession recovery will certainly stall. And, if rural America falters, we open the floodgate to even more fuel produced by nation states that do not share our values and strategic interests—and our country is less secure.

America is at a crossroads, just as we were in the 1970s when our reliance on overseas oil first bit us. That’s why elected leaders must put a premium on holding this thin green line through smart government—ranging from fewer onerous regulations to tax, energy, and trade policies that boost bottom lines.

If anyone needs a reminder of what we’re fighting for, read the slogan used by the current Agriculture Secretary: “If you have trouble with Hugo Chavez providing your oil, how do you feel about him providing your food?”

Wesley Clark served as a general in the United States Army and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. A former presidential candidate, Rhodes scholar and graduate of West Point Military Academy, General Clark now serves as co-chairman of Growth Energy. Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.

Comments:

Phillip Hayes: — Feb 15, 2011 1:33 p.m.
Well said, General Clark. Sugar was actually the first commodity rationed during WWII and the last commodity taken off the rationing list after the war. We were dependent on foreign sugar producers then and can’t afford to let the same thing happen in the future. Let’s hope legislators hear your warning and help hold the thin green line. There’s a great saying in sugar country: Not everyone farms, but everyone eats.
kcgrh2: — Feb 15, 2011 4:46 p.m.
As expected, no mention of FREEING farmers to produce what they want in the quantity that they want. Why, that would require govt. getting out of the damm way and bureaucrats not hovering over farmers with the resulting SMALLER govt.
Wesley is just another big govt. lib I am afraid…
redstateguy: — Feb 15, 2011 11:21 p.m.
Wow, what a puff piece for Growth Energy. Why would the Star print someone’s press release?
Lance Linklot: — Feb 16, 2011 5:23 a.m.
Wesley is endorsing the biggest tax on food in history
This is redistibution of wealth
Ethanol without a government subsidy is unprofitable
We will be paying at both ends .It is corporate welfare and higher and higher corn and meat prices Forget about Beef its whats for dinner in a few months it will be Beef it was for dinner
The only ethanol that is good is what the the leader Johnny boy gets pickled with every night
Jack Fermier: — Feb 16, 2011 9:33 a.m.
Lance, re-distribution of wealth is what’s happening right now with hundreds of billions of our energy dollars being siphoned off to OPEC countries. Seems to me we’re much better off supporting food and fuel production within our borders, rather than relying on others to supply us. A solid US ag sector helps give us food security, economic securtiy and energy security. I’ll take that over the alternative any day.
Pamela Yoder: — Feb 16, 2011 9:40 a.m.
General Clark makes some excellent points. Our country has become dependent on foreign oil, we sure don’t want to become dependent on foreign countries for our food supply. I would like to see our energy dollars stay in this country too, instead of building up cities like Dubai. Imagine what that could do for our country. Most people may not know that when making ethanol the protein is still going into livestock feed from that corn in a product that livestock producers love. Looks to me like ethanol is a win win. We become less deponent on other countries, dollars stay in the good old USA, and livestock still gets the protein from the grain. Let’s not let those that are opposed to our government farm policies scare everyone off and we become dependent on a foreign governments farm policies!!!
Erik Younggren: — Feb 20, 2011 8:21 p.m.
Excellent article General. I have had the opportunity to hear from many military leaders and they all stress the importance of breaking our dependence on foreign oil. American agriculture can feed, fuel, and clothe America with safe, reliable, and affordable products. Right now we are exporting $1 billion a day for fuel, just think how better off our country would be if we kept those dollars at home.

On the road again

2011-05-01T21:40:00.001+01:00

A couple of views of the magnificent Gateway Arch located on the banks of the Mississippi in St Louis.
Built between 1963 and 1965 to rejuvinate a run down area of St Louis, this structure is truly awesome.
At 192m tall it's the tallest man-made national monument in the US.
Inside it has a "tram" which takes passengers up and over, where you can view the city and river from port-holes at the top of the arch.
An to think they made all the calculations manually. No CAD or computers for these architects.

So onto Leg 2 of my Nuffield travels.
During this trip I will be looking closely at the US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance to try and understand how they have succeeded in getting upto 30 national and regional agricultural organisations to buy into a single PR agenda. These guys are two steps ahead of us in this regard in that they have formed a legal entity to manage the public relations for the industry as well as raising funds from partners and engaging with a PR agency and management company to run the day to day operation.
Lots to learn.
So I'm going to be driving around Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska speaking with the key people involved in this initiative. One key point to note is that most of them are large-scale farmers in their own right.
It's now Spring planting time in the corn-belt, so I'm looking forward to driving some big kit and helping with the planting while I'm at the various farms.

On track for a winner

2011-04-26T22:02:00.000+01:00

The Croome and West Warwickshire Hunt Point to Point, held at Upton on Severn on Easter Tuesday every year represents the culmination of many hours of work building the course.

It's a job that I've done for the past 15 years, fitting it with the "day-job" as a rewarding contribution to the fabric of rural Britain.

The venue is Ryall's Court home of Oliver Surman (2009 Nuffield Scholar). A cracking dairy farm (organic/zero grazing/followers and beef unit on farm/adjacent to River Severn), this venue attracts over 500 members of the British public and is actually a showcase for British farming as well as a fund-raiser for the hunt.

This year the sun shone all day, the going was "Good" despite weeks of dry weather and everyone had a successful day - just wish John Round had been there to enjoy it with us.

10th Fence, one of 5 permanent fences at Upton on Severn

Galloping through Spiers' Meadow.

Moments after this photo was taken the fourth horse raced with 2 feet of my pick-up having thrown it's rider (a chap called James Peck if I'm not mistaken!!)

A (slightly) better day

2011-04-21T01:06:00.000+01:00

Having struggled to sleep, knowing that John's not coming back was easy for me - not so for John's widow and children.

It's so tragic that someone so young (44) could die and leave such a wealth of family and friends wondering what on earth we could have done to prevent this scenario from playing out.

We await the coroners verdict with baited breath.

Today was challenging, wondering why we do what we do and where it's all leading.

On a light note, I had a Barleaners meeting this pm and we were able to plan out Summer Ball after a wonderful steak and chips.

Kate's pregancy is going well so far too. So I have a lot to be grateful for.

Love to you all.
Ad

A sad, sad day

2011-04-19T22:56:00.000+01:00

This morning John Round died in a tragic accident on his farm. Husband of Sophie, father of 3 young children, excellent farmer and fantastic friend - such a loss to all who knew him.

John Round - Glos dairy farmer and 2008 FW Dairy Farmer of the Year finalist - Rest in Peace

FW Awards: Size isn't everything for finalist's high-yielding black-and-whites

John Round

Elmore Back Farm, Minsterworth, Gloucestershire

John Round insists that, when it comes to breeding high-yielding dairy cows, size isn't everything.

Certainly his cows are well filled-out. But they are not the giants one might expect from pedigree Holstein Friesians delivering more than 11,500 litres a year.

The Roundelm herd has been build up "organically" over the past 20 years. "Initially we aimed for increased production using high-index bulls," John says. "But once 'willingness to milk' was established, more attention has been paid to functional type and longevity."

Low production is no longer a reason to cull, while features such as foot angle, rear udder height and support have taken over as key characteristics.

"Traits we try to avoid are large increases in stature and large negatives in butterfat deviation," John explains. "Medium-sized cows with plenty of capacity for massive dry-matter intakes, leading to long lives of trouble-free milk production, are what we are after."

The cows are housed all year round in three groups - low yielders, high yielders and fresh calvers. The sturdy animals are in superb condition and defy any suggestion that intensive farming, with zero grazing, is detrimental to animal health.

Indeed John prides himself on the low culling rate - about 15% - and the longevity of his animals. There are currently 15 cows in the herd that have achieved more than 100t of lifetime production, and there is even one combination of mother and daughter that have both passed this landmark.

While breeding is crucial, the other key to success is maximum dry-matter intake. "That's our goal, so palatable forages are the most important factor in our feeding regime, along with a constant diet, with few changes."

John oversees the ration selection himself - a job that fits in well with his role as straights buyer for his local buying group. "I also do 95% of the feeding, so I am on the button when it comes to matching intakes to milk output."

Maize has become the main source of forage, with four varieties grown and some fields yielding 24t/acre. The cows get 30kg/day of maize silage, along with 15kg of grass silage and a wide range of straights, including 2kg of molasses to boost intakes.

But as well as being passionate about his cows - how they are bred and how they are fed - John has a keen business head on his shoulders.

"Profit and net worth growth are always going to be the target," he says. "Spreading fixed costs over more and more litres of milk is the rule, so increasing yield a cow has been crucial - particularly their lifetime yield - as well as increasing numbers."

Getting the best price possible is another priority, something that prompted John to switch from Milk Marque to Dairy Crest in the early days, and more recently to join the Sainsbury's Dairy Development Group. This delivers him a 1.5p/litre premium and has helped him achieve a gross margin over well over 18p/litre.

"Over the past 12 months I have gained a great understanding of the consumer's demands and also offered, I hope, a measure of the farmer's needs to the retailer."

This is something Sainsbury's acknowledges too, praising John's enthusiasm for the dairy industry and his "passion for improving the landscape for dairy production in the UK".

John is an active member of the SDDG steering group. But he is also a countryman at heart.

He has recently joined the Entry Level Scheme and takes pleasure in the fact his farm is characterised by small fields, numerous hedges and water-filled ditches. "There are several small orchards, full of old plum and cider-apple trees, making a great habitat for woodpeckers. Barn owls are often seen hunting over wetland pastures."

But there is one wildlife species he does not appreciate - badgers.

"There are no setts on the farm, but last year we had one diseased badger that had been displaced from its social group and entered one of our feed passages at night."

He subsequently lost 36 cows and heifers to TB. "The outbreak cost us £40,000 in terms of lost value - more when you factor in replacement cost and lost breeding." John says it is especially galling when 40 miles away, across the Bristol Channel, Welsh farmers get full compensation.

But, typical of his "can do" approach, John has worked with the NFU to co-ordinate a local group of farmers, ready to apply for a culling license on their "island" between the River Severn and the Gloucester/Sharpness canal.

Unfortunately for John, and thousands of his fellow dairy farmers, DEFRA secretary Hilary Benn has different plans for tackling the disease.

FARM FACTS

107ha (265 acres) rented, 48ha (120 acres) owned
Alluvial soils on the River Severn flood plain
306 pedigree Holstein Friesians producing 3.5m litres
Two full-time herdsmen, one general farm worker and two part-timers
Milk sold to Sainsbury's

WHAT THE JUDGES LIKED

Superb-quality cows that thrive in a zero grazing system
Good cost control and high technical efficiency
Sensible approach to investment, using profit not borrowings
Pioneering approach to business, looking for ways to maximise milk price
Displays a "can-do" attitude

Sun and piglets - a recipe for fun!

2011-04-17T01:34:00.000+01:00

For obvious reasons, my six piglets were pretty keen to leave the stable when I opened the door and rattled the breakfast bucket this morning.

Within 30 seconds they were torn between following me or making a break for freedom.

Thankfully their stomachs ruled their brains and they ended up within the confines of my paddock and all understood the logic of an electric fence within 5 mins.

Lovely to see them enjoying the sunshine and gave me a few mins to muck them out (notice the pile of pig poo outside the stable block?!)

Who to call when you've got a nasty rash

2011-04-12T14:55:00.000+01:00

Just to prove that I was awake and paying attention as I hared around New Zealand in my pink Daihatsu, here's a sign I came across on my way to meet the Chairman of the New Zealand Young Farmers.

Always good to know where the Nuffield Doctor lives in case of emergency, or to clear up that nasty rash!

Fragile Bengali agricultural community used as pawns in electoral campaign

2011-03-29T22:10:00.002+01:00

Check out this website to see how Bengali farmers have been affected by recent elections - not a happy time for them.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/the-left-tmc-chose-to-play-safe-in-wb-polls/147307-37-64.html

Oklahoma radio station article on what's happening in the US to improve the image of agriculture

2011-03-22T23:58:00.003Z

Agriculture Industry Seeks To Restore Its Image

March 9, 2011

Farmers and the groups that represent them are wincing from a steady stream of bad publicity. So big agriculture companies — and some smaller operators — are trying to get together in defense to present a united farm front.

Fighting Back

It used to be that most Americans had some connection to the farm. Now, only 1 in 1,000 of us grows 85 percent of the food. For decades, the best farmers could do was to hang on and adapt as their political and economic clout withered. Federal subsidies, primarily from the farm bill passed by Congress every five years, kept them afloat.

These days, farmers are making very good money on everything from corn to cows. But as Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack warned farm broadcasters meeting in Kansas City, Mo., Congress could change all the rules next year when it takes up the farm bill.

“You’re going to have folks from cities making decisions about the farm bill,” Vilsack said. “You’d better talk to them.”

But city folks are hearing a lot about agriculture these days, and not a lot of it is good.

Many farmers worry that most people get all their information about agriculture from foodie advocacy — such as from movies like Food Inc., a documentary depicting inhumane treatment of animals and general disregard for human health in agribusiness. Best-selling books from authors Barbara Kingsolver, Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser have also made this kind of food reporting “highly visible,” says Margo Baldwin, president of Chelsea Green Publishing.

Big ag is fighting back with paid advertising. A spot funded by the seed and chemical giant Monsanto says:

“Few other industries have shown such efficiency and respect for the environment. So when you ask, ‘Who’s caring for the land?’ look to the people who live on it and make a living from it — America’s farmers.”

Mark Halton is in charge of global corporate marketing at Monsanto.

“We’re telling the story of the American farmer, and we’re using iconic images. These aren’t actors. These are farmers,” Halton says.

No Image Problem Here

It’s not just Monsanto. Several other companies are mounting remarkably similar campaigns. Foundations have been established to help farm families perk up their advocacy on Facebook and Twitter.

And two dozen of the biggest ag trade groups have joined the fray, putting aside bitter disputes to form an unprecedented coalition. It’s called the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.

“We want the general public to feel totally safe in their decision-making process, and totally comfortable about the food they buy,” says Hugh Whaley, who runs the group. Whaley says they’ll do it by showcasing real farmers and ranchers. Cattleman Fred Stokes finds that a little odd.

“Hey, the farmer and rancher don’t have an image problem,” Stokes says.

Stokes says it’s big agribusiness that has the image problem. Seeing trade groups aligned with it, united ostensibly to help family farmers, “is a little like seeing a gathering of mafia dons, smoking their long green cigars, putting out the cover story that they are gathering to build a convent,” he says.

As Stokes sees it, the good image farmers enjoy is being exploited by soulless ag conglomerates. But Mike Matson with the Kansas Farm Bureau says this rancor has to stop.

“We have seen that this trend line toward sustaining the political will to do the same thing is not as strong as it’s always been, and at some point, we’ll reach that tipping point, which is why it’s so important for farmers and ranchers to get involved,” Matson says.

And they are getting involved as never before. Many believe it’s the best hope they have to keep the agricultural system they’ve learned to live with from becoming even more hostile to the family farm

Arty farty, or significant public engagement with farming - you decide

2011-03-11T23:29:00.002Z

This art installation was situated in the middle of Lockhart, a rural town New South Wales, Australia.

The sign alongside indicates that this was the winner of the 2008 National Farm Sculpture Award - and rightly so in my opinion.

It is a fine example of public engagement in a subtle manner to show them what happens on farms.

"Improved" blogging

2011-03-11T22:43:00.002Z

Since reading recent concerns about Nuffield blogs being too social/casual and not study focussed, I've decided to run 2 blogs.

My Nuffield study blog will remain at this address (westynuff), but from now on the social stuff will be at
www.westyfarm.blogspot.com

Please feel free to follow both.

Future Farmers

2011-03-11T22:02:00.003Z

Improving public opinion is the key to controlling the demands put on our industry by government and environmental lobby groups.

Following a month of Nuffield travels across the Antipodes, I have seen just how challenging it can be for an industry to come together and promote itself and the value of its products without competitive advantage crippling wider industry gains.

Many farmers and agri-businesses are so busy defending their competitive position that they aren't dealing effectively with the bigger picture of public opinion.

Climate change and food security issues are now on the agenda of many governments and environmental lobby groups are knocking at the door, shifting goal-posts and playing on industry weakness regarding our lack of cohesive position and plans to deal with these issues.

There's a significant need for the industry to address these issues in across the board. This goes way beyond competitive advantage because without an industry-wide approach, we are exposed to the advanced "mining" abilities of lobby groups, plundering our resources and creating chaos and turmoil within markets and within farming families as they strive to keep up with the next wave of lobbying.

The "Farming For Our Future" project in New Zealand was a fine example of an industry taking control of it's PR machine. Currently, in it's early stages, it proposes to bring together all sectors to achieve a greater presence in national and regional media to significantly improve the public image of farming.

This is no mean feat given the characters involved, but with this project is being driven forward by an independent, proactive and open-minded steering committee, it has every chance of success.

Discussions with a wide range of farmers and agri-businesses have clarified that there's a strong desire to get on the front foot, control public opinion and work together for the benefit of the whole industry if we want these guys to be the future farmers of tomorrow.

Tim West and Thomas Roxburgh - Farmers of the Future?

I am very grateful to The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust, which has given me the opportunity to find a solution that secures a safe and healthy farming industry that our children can be proud to inherit.

Farming For Our Future

2011-03-08T05:18:00.000Z

The New Zealanders are ahead of the game when it comes to ag industry PR.

An initiative called "Farming For Our Future" has been on the rise for the past 2 years. They have ministry support and are about to launch it to the whole industry, looking for support across the board for a large-scale PR campaign.

As with the Australians, the Kiwis are considering a multi-faceted approach which stands more chance of success than a single direction project.

They are open about the fact that they've taken inspiration from the Irish "Agri-aware" initiative, which was set up post-BSE to improve public perception issues.

All good stuff and giving me some great ideas as to what we should be doing in the UK.

Did the earth move for you?

2011-03-07T12:38:00.001Z

As my plane approached Christchurch runway, I felt a sudden surge of irrational fear about what I might see in the coming days.
Irrational because I wasn't there to oogle with morbid fascination at the earthquake damage, I simply wanted to get to my meeting with the deer man (Andy MacFarlane) and then on to Sandra's house - the kind lady who offered my accommodation for the next 3 nights at the drop of a hat.

Thankfully the trip to the meeting in the suburbs was fine. Andy McFarlane, my contact pointed out that a small pile of grey sand sitting in a neat pile on the roadside was a result of liquefaction (easy for me to say!).
- the result of mixing underground water and silt under massive underground pressure bringing silts to the surface.

Given the tidiness of the suburbs, the clean-up operation has obviously been rapid and effective todate - what a triumph of the human spirit to pull together in the face of adversity.

On the journey to the Mt Pleasant district, I couldn't avoid evidence of damage caused by the recent earthquake mainly in the form of cracks in the tarmac road surface and subsidence on roadsides.
As I drove up the hill to Sandra's house, some houses had suffered obvious damage, with tilting walls and broken windows/roofs (or should that be 'rooves'? See? 'Rooves' just doesn't seem right does it?).
Others looked generally ok as I drove past.
Thankfully Sandra's place was sound. (well, fine given that it's just withstood a major earthquake)
We had a lovely supper that Sandra had prepared and chatted for a while before I retired to skype Kate and Tim.
During the call, the walls shook as if a rampant rhino couple have briefly copulated next door.
Considering this an unlikely concept, I faced the reality that I had just sat through an aftershock tremor.
At that point I decided to wear clean pants in bed just in case the rhinos had another go!

Big Issue

2011-03-05T12:29:00.002Z

Having shied away from a "crackberry" of "eye-fone" until now, I'm usually the one who tuts quietly when the person next to me at a conference keeps fiddling what seems like an expensive addiction.
However, 24 hours after arriving in NZ, I've only had 15 mins of internet access and I need a fix!
Perhaps my 'dongle' has seduced me into the "easy" world of global knowledge at the press of a button, or maybe I've just forgotten how to use the other tools that I used to use to keep my life organised (diary and phone).
At least I have my old "comforter" to hand (mobile phone), even if it doesn't receive emails; so I am able to check that I'm not the last person alive on this planet.
Having made a few calls and received the appropriate responses, I started to question my reliance on the internet.
Why did I feel so helpless without it?
Why did it seem that you needed to inform the world whenever you so much as farted?
Why did it feel like no-one loved me when my Inbox was empty?
The answer: Who gives a fig? Just give me another shot of email and google and I'll be fine, even if I have to rob a library to get access to it via their wi-fi.
[5 mins later after the sound of gunfire and people screaming]
Yeah man, that's such a buzz... ... far out!!

On a slightly more serious note, this whole issues demonstrates our reliance on modern communications methods. It's now clear to me that the value offered by the internet far outweighs the cost of a smartphone or broadband connection. If we are to lead the industry, we need every tool available and sitting in a room internet connection simply isn't an option.

The Koru

2011-03-04T11:46:00.003Z

Given the scale and type of farming in this country, I can see that New Zealand has the potential to offer some great insights that are likely to be highly applicable to our situation in the UK.

I plan to travel across both islands within 8 days in order to meet with the key players. This is going to include Christchurch, where they are still grieving following the recent earthquake.

The Maori symbol, the Koru, represents the Beginning of Life. The Maori have taken their symbolism from the unfurled new leaf of the silver fern. It depicts new beginnings, growth and harmony.

The Koru

I took this picture in a fit of artistic flair. It's a frond of a beautiful tree fern growing wild just South of Auckland. They are ubiquitous across New Zealand.

Collaboration, shollaboration

2011-03-03T11:33:00.000Z

Collaboration isn't something that comes easy to many British farmers. The same can be said of many Australian farmers as well.
However, the Aussie's have a slightly different take on some wider industry and general collaborative activities.
1. They regularly use multi-tier sponsorship options to capture as many sponsors/partners as possible. (detail in report)
2. When they develop an initiative it often has many more facets than we in the UK would usually consider. This is demonstrated by comparing UK Year of Food and Farming against Australian Year of the Farmer.
3. In Australia, farmers often work with a network of other farmers in discussion groups (e.g. SANTFE non-till discussion group and arable discussion groups), but the links with their "farming union" (State based Farmers Federation) is limited and consequently the links with the National Farmers Federation are even more tenuous. Nothing new there I guess, but when translated in the Euro situation, you can see how most people aren't that engaged with COPA-COGECA, but are likely to know of or be involved with NFU or similar.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

2011-03-02T22:53:00.002Z

Visit to John Rohde's free range egg farm near Riverton.

A family farm business with 6-8 (I lost count) free range egg units (as per UK style on 80 week cycle), 2300acres arable and 2000 sheep.

John also retail packs his own eggs and sells direct to retailers in the district.
Very impressive attention to detail and focus on many enterprises.

The children are still at school, so John's a busy man!

Key issues for his business are:

Price of water (increased 50% in 2010-11 to around £1.50 per kl*)

Price of labour (£10/hr for very basic labour)

Price of chicken feed and field fertiliser

* Ministry of Finance statistic

We discussed price of electricity, but was very low compared to other input costs. PV/wind too expensive to install and get suitable return on investment at this point. John's keeping an eye on the technology and prices and is likely to buy into renewable energy when the time is right.

Colourful cow

2011-03-02T22:34:00.000Z

This sculpture was sat outside the primary school in a town near Riverton.

Schools were provided with cows that were white and they were tasked with painting them to reflect the attributes of cows and their links with agriculture.

Wouldn't it be nice to see one of these outside every school? A simply reminder to the kids that cows and farms are an important part of our lives.

2011-02-28T22:42:00.001Z

Oxtale is run by Amy Jackson, who has more than 25 years experience in agriculture and PR. "We have to get the farming message out there in a far better way," she says. "I am not knocking the industry at all - farming is great in this country and something to be proud of - but we have to be much more proactive in getting our message across."

Farming must become much slicker in the way it engages with the public, believes Ms Jackson. "The industry has to decide how it is going to reassure the public that the milk and other food is produced to standards they can have confidence in."

Agriculture also needs to be much faster in the way it counters misinformation, she adds. "It is no longer possible to shy away from talking to consumers - the public are interested in where their food comes from and farmers have a good story to tell."

Australian free range chicken advertisement

2011-02-28T22:24:00.007Z

An advertisement for free range eggs which has a little sting in the tail with negative comments about caged hens.
Why does positive advertisements

Hannaford Seed Cleaner

2011-02-28T20:50:00.000Z

The Hannaford Wet Wheat Pickler invented by Alf Hannaford (both pictured below) in 1914 following a severe drought and at a time when food security was high on the agenda because of WW1.

I'm currently staying Riverton with Stephen Balls and his wife Nikki (nee Hannaford) who is Alf Hannafords Great Great niece.

The wheat pickler and subsequent seed cleaners revolutionised the preparation of seed, thus improving quality of cereal crops ad infinitum. Not a bad claim to fame!

Steve and Nikki still live on the same farm and the forge and stone barn where the first prototype were made are still there.

Have a look at the link below if you're interested in further biographical info on Alf Hannaford.

http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140426b.htm

A short (kangaroo) hop to the mainland

2011-02-28T14:56:00.001Z

Today I took the early ferry to the mainland and headed North of Adelaide.
I stopped and saw Hieu Ly's tomato business at Wellington Corner before driving on to Riverton to stay with Stephen and Nikki Balls on their arable farm (with a few sheep).
Collaboration between tomato growers is non-existant according to Hieu! To put that comment in context, they run a family business (partnership) that is generally self-sustained, resulting in less appetite to become involved in a highly geared co-operative or similar.

Two men in a boat

2011-02-27T14:50:00.000Z

Unfortunately for Ben, the jetty at Vivonne Bay as busy on Sunday morning.

Ben introduced me to the fishermen patiently attempting to catch their lunch from the jetty and banter was exchanged about how long it had been since Ben was last there and the poor price of crays.

After a few minutes of chat, we dragged a small aluminium dinghy complete with outboard motor to the edge of the jetty and we were lowered down to the sea by one of the onlookers. This was going to be our method of transport to Ben's trawler.

All going well so far...

Ben pulled the start cord of the outboard a few times, flicking the choke switch to and fro to coax it into life;

No joy

He had a few more goes;

No joy

He fiddled with all available levers and switches and tried again;

No joy

By this time, each pull of the cord was becoming slower and slower as Ben's right arm strength faded, so I had a few pulls;

Still no joy and we're starting to drift out to sea.

Ben phoned his mate who was on his boat;

No reply

Never one to be out witted by an outboard motor or uncommunicative friend, Ben directed me towards a pair of oars lying strapped to the side of the dinghy.

I duly unstrapped the oars, passing one to Ben.

Each oar had a metal pivot point (oarlock pin) attached which slotted into a socket on the side of the boat. At least that was the theory.

Try as we might the pin would not fit into the socket.

At this point Ben explained that he had never needed to row this dinghy before and hadn't therefore ever had cause to try the oars to see if they worked.

By this time tears were running down our cheeks as we were acutely aware that an able cray fisherman and a pom were struggling with the basics of boatmanship much to the delight of the crowd on the jetty!

In order to prevent the dinghy from floating off into the sunset, we each took an oar and began rowing Canadian-canoe style - in an aluminium dinghy - dragging an outboard motor behind us!!

By this point, we had successfully created a scene which resembled a cross between Deliverance and Brokeback Mountain! (with an audience)

As we neared Ben's 'real boat' (the trawler) the current became too strong for us and we started to drift away to the side of the trawler.

Luckily Ben's friend had seen us and came across in his dinghy and towed us to the trawler.

Quick check of the trawler (all fine) and we hopped back into the dinghy and were towed back to the jetty to face the music from the crowd.

As a result of this debacle, I think Ben's considering moving his trawler to another bay!!

Curiosity killed the cat

2011-02-27T01:01:00.000Z

My choice of "Tyley Tours" as my guide around Kangaroo Island gave me an insight into life on KI that not many tourists see!
Our first stop was "The Fish Factory", the place where Ben sells his crays.

The main man and a fisherman were sorting crabs and putting them into trays.
I decided to ask a couple of questions to break the ice and develop a rapport with these guys.
First question: Where are these crabs going to end up?
Answer (from main man): Who cares? Any-bloody-where that pays!
OK, now I know what I'm dealing with.
So I go for a simple question that requires a simple answer. Surely I'll get a straight answer to this one....
Next question: What type of crabs are these?
My curiosity was stopped dead in it's tracks by the answer provided by the fisherman:
"Big C**ts!" he shouted across the room at full volume.

Even the crabs cringed as he said it.
At this point, Ben was pretty keen to move on because he's losing credibility as a fisherman (and tourguide) by the second.
Ben walked over to another tank and picked up a cray to show me what he catches while the other guys continue sorting crabs.
I took a quick photo of the cray and a big c**t (see photos!!) and the Tyley Tours party shuffled off to go and see Ben's boat - perhaps there would be some interesting people there to ask questions of...
... and there were, but that's another story.

Study thoughts

2011-02-25T20:59:00.001Z

It's been nearly 2 weeks since I arrived in Australia and I'm getting to the stage where I'm not sure to whom I've told which story! Thankfully I keep moving on, so hopefully on-ones bored of talking about collaboration, measuring the benefits of agricultural marketing and wider discussions around previous efforts to improve the image of the industry.

So far the following 'useful' facts have been re-enforced/learned:

1. Collaboration doesn't come easy to either UK or Australian ag industries

2. Be clear on the scope and aims of any collaborative works to avoid disappointment and disengagement at a later date

3. Keep to the plan unless agreed by all

4. Have a transparent, agreed way of measuring the benefits

5. Communicate the benefits to interested parties regularly

6. Reduce conflicts of interest and competition by having a third party in charge

7. Everyone loves the idea of improving the image of the whole industry, even those who are a step or two away from the end user/city dweller
8. An independent arbitrator is useful to reduce competition pressures when forming an alliance.

There are others, but they're swimming around in my head in need of further distillation before publication!

My perfect farm

2011-02-25T20:27:00.002Z

Now I've seen a fair few sheep and beef cattle on my way around SE Australia, so it didn't surprise me to see a field of Merino sheep as I drove around Tintinara. Not least because South Australia is quoted to be the driest state in the driest continent.

What I hadn't prepared myself for were 12 grower units housing over 1,000 pigs (from weaner to porker).

It's just not bovine or ovine. Makes a nice change though and good to see someone developing their farm in the piggie direction.

One key difference about Tintinara and many other places I've seen in SE Australia is the soil type.

He and his brother Alistair grow lucerne for seed, wheat and oilseed rape as well as running the ubiquitous flock of sheep (1,000), a herd of 300 Angus suckler cows and 1,800 breeding sows across 2 farms. That's all then!

Andrew's farm has a fair amount of limestone around - a la Cotswold brash soils, but with a MASSIVE cambridge roll (4' diameter) to break the rocks down to cotswold size!

Alistair's into his machinery and the Honda CRF450 was spied by our intrepid reporter in the repair shed. Bike storied were regaled and male bonding done while glugging a beer and chewing the fat over the back of the 'ute'.

What a cracking start to the weekend.

Plane flight tomorrow around the area with Andrew and then off to Kangaroo Island. It's a hard life!!

The serious bit if all this is that Andrew represents many Australian pig producers by sitting on the board of Australian Pork. Within Australian, pork and chicken are seen as poor cousins compared to beef and lamb. The main reason for this is the scale of operation and the fact that Australia is a net exporter of beef and lamb, but a net importer of pork.

So who's got greater potential for expansion to fill the market demand? Arguably the pork producers I'd say. Now who's the poor cousin eh!?

As ever collaboration is not easy to achieve even within the sector, especially in a country where transporting animals for 4 hours or more is the norm in many cases and diesel is priced around £1 per litre.

Andrew is passionate about his farm, enterprises and making the most of every square metre of ground. Attention to detail comes as standard and I'm sure he's a massive force for good on the board of Australian Pork, let alone his commitment to Nuffield (he's on that board too!).

Wonder what he does at weekends?

Alistair took part in the Australian bike race called the Finke Desert Race. I'm told he completed the 240km race in 2 and a half hours - makes me sweat just thinking about it.

Farmers Weekly Awards 2011

2011-02-25T19:25:00.000Z

Click the link below to nominate a person or business that deserves an award.

Farmers Weekly Awards 2011: 6 OCTOBER 2011, GROSVENOR HOUSE HOTEL, PARK LANE, LONDON

http://www.fwi.co.uk/awards-website/nominate/

Mount West?

2011-02-25T13:13:00.001Z

Graeme Nicoll at the top of Mt Nicoll overlooking a beautiful bay that forms part of the Bass Strait in the South Gippsland area of New South Wales.

The flat area shown reminded me of the fertile land along the North West coast of England.

If I'm not mistaken, Mt Nicoll was named after Graeme's great grandfather. Graeme's grandfather subsequently established a wonderful metal plate indicating the directions and distances of specific landscape features.

Now all I need to do is find a hill that I can call Mt West. I guess it had better be a big one!

Graeme is a driving force in the dairy industry in Australia and made me aware of projects such as Cows create careers and Lambassador (see links below for more info)

http://www.thepeopleindairy.org.au/projects/cows-create-careers.htm

http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/intl/aunz/lifestyle/sponsored/mla/index.html?ac=hottopic3

Water, water everywhere

2011-02-25T01:50:00.000Z

This flood was the third that I had come across on the country roads between Lockhart and Bidgeemia as I made a detour around Urana (flooded main road).

This one stopped me in my tracks, not least because the water looked dark and smooth with a fair flow from left to right! Having said that I passed a Land Cruiser that had just come through this flood the other way!

So was I a wuss or wise to turn back - you decide...

(bear in mind the car insurance excess was Aus$3,300)

Wild beasts of Australia

2011-02-24T21:41:00.000Z

Helen & Jim Geltch - Echuca

2011-02-20T11:41:00.001Z

2011-02-19T23:36:00.000Z

Can't complete Nuffield travels without spotting a Nuffield tractor.

This one belongs to Hugh Roberts (NSch) and represents the commitments that Nuffield scholars make to the cause.
I'm beginning to get the impression that there's an unwritten rule that every scholar has a responsibility to purchase a Nuffield tractor at some point in their life.

All work and no play...

2011-02-19T23:31:00.000Z

Hugh and Jenny Roberts were fantastic hosts, for my night at Cootamundra and my Nuffield experiences went much further than attending numerous meetings in city offices.

There are many ways in which we can learn and the following events showed me some great examples of flair and innovation (Hugh's cookery skills) and teamwork (beach volleyball). All lessons learned while having a lot of FUN!

Bear in mind I'm 450km from coast at this point.

During my whistle-stop visit, they fed me and oysters and prawns with a very special 'Hugh Roberts' sauce, followed my the 'roundest' melon balls I've ever tasted - Hugh's culinary abilities couldn't go unmentioned!

Following a super BBQ evening with their family and friends, we went to Cootamundra Beach Volleyball competition in town. 96 teams from around the area coming together on a Sunday to play volleyball and have what looked like a lot of fun:

This event raised lots of cash for Rotary and Hugh's grandson who was planning a rugby tour to Samoa in 6 weeks time.

It's all About Mary!

2011-02-19T23:12:00.002Z

Driving out of Canberra, it isn't long before housing and industrial buildings dwindle and the view becomes a wide vista of open fields and scrub stretching to the horizon.

Cootamundra, my destination, wasn't far ahead and I was really looking forward to a walk round a farm to see livestock, crops and some machinery. (sad, but true!)

The first things that caught my eye were these outdoor grain silos - full of wheat, I'm told that although the wheat price is great, there simply aren't enough boats to export the wheat. A result of the lower yields during previous years and consequent reduction in shipping capacity as a result.

Cootamundra was just down the road from this place and I pulled up at Hugh and Jenny's farm soon after this photo was taken.

There in the garden was "Hairy Mary", lying naked on the footpath, directly between me and the front door. What a sight! But what should I do, walk over her, around her, turn back or move her?!

She looked dangerous, so I chose to make my way cautiously around so as not to disturb "her".

It was only after I had mentioned the incident to my hosts that they explained that Hairy Mary was a grass that shed the whole seed canopy when mature and those canopies blow around the yard , building up on certain less-windy areas - the garden footpath in this instance!

Art and Agriculture - unusual bedfellows

2011-02-19T01:39:00.000Z

Seen in a small town in New South Wales, this is a fine example of how farming offers opportunities for art.

I bet the artist had sore hands after cutting all that corrugated sheeting!

Lockhart is a small town with a preserved street-front maintaining a Victorian image. I drove through on a Saturday afternoon. All the shops were shut and I reckon the locals were either at church or in the pub.

Didn't hang around to find out which.

How not to do positive PR

2011-02-18T13:48:00.000Z

http://www.new.dpi.vic.gov.au/about-us/news/media-releases/listing

Canberra-tastic

2011-02-17T21:18:00.003Z

New groups discovered today

National Youth Science Forum: ANU Canberra (links to Rotary) 430 15-17 yr olds sponsored to go on 2 week camps in uni hols to look at application of science in agriculture, offering careers, mentoring, etc.

The Primary Industry Centre for Science Education (PICSE), is a National Strategy of

collaboration between universities, their regional communities and local primary industries, to

attract students into tertiary science and to increase the number of skilled professionals in

agribusiness and research institutions. PICSE is the national infrastructure for a supply chain

that provides the next generation of researchers and industry scientists. The Primary Industries

targeted by PICSE are those which focus on the sciences of agriculture, aquaculture, ecology,

horticulture, fisheries, water security, sustainability, climate change and the environment.

Currently PICSE’s financial partners are DEEWR, GRDC, UTAS, UWA, Flinders Uni, UNE, USC, USQ,

GrowSmart Training (SA), HAL, Fisheries RDC, Dairy Australia, Cotton RDC and the Cotton CRC. The Federal

Government has invested $3.6m over 3 years, the PICSE Universities and University Centres invest between

$50,000 to $150,000 pa (matched by PICSE National) and RDCs and CRCs invest between $30,000 to $150,000

Nuffield Scholar arrested for loitering with intent (nearly!)

2011-02-17T16:48:00.000Z

It couldn't have been more innocent!

I stopped for a quick "between meeting" rest in an industrial estate in Canberra.
A low concrete wall in the shade (it's 25'C here) outside a rather large office block appeared suitable for a rest, make a few calls on the mobile and update my itinerary on the laptop.
All was going well until after 5 mins I noticed a security guy pacing about looking nervous. I thought little of it and carried on. Another 5 mins later his mate joined him and I could see them loitering about and hovering some 10 m away from where I was quietly getting on with my business.
Shortly afterwards one of them plucked the courage to approach me and suggested fairly forcefully that I move on. I duly informed him that I had travelled halfway across the world to sit on his wall at which point he mentioned that the wall on which I sat belonged to the Australian Federal Police (i.e. CIA!!!) and the office behind me was their national HQ!

Oops.

I didn't bother asking him if I could take his photo for this blog!

Mixing grain and wool

2011-02-15T19:40:00.002Z

Today I met with Georgie Aley of Grain Growers Ltd,Claudia Wythe of Australian Wool Innovation and Mike Southan of BRI (Better Research Innovation - a subsidiary of Grain Growers Ltd).

Georgie, Adam and Mike at Grain Growers Ltd, North Ryde, Sydney
(sorry Claudia, forgot to ask for a photo with you before you left!)

They both enlightened me on how large and powerful the ag sector is in Australian business life and how Australian women are the driving force behind much of the off-farm work that drives the industry forward and influences the production industry.
I was made aware of the Country Womens Association and their role in disseminating rural services funding.
One interesting project is the Woolworths "Backing Our Farmers" day, where one day's profits of one of the major multiple retailers is donatred to CWA for rural services. Not sure Tesco would buy into that concept, but worth asking not least because imagine the scale of rural support that could be provided by one day of Tesco profits!
Now I think about it, Woolworths sponsored a Nuffield Australian scholar this year. Has anyone in the UK asked a UK supermarket to sponsor a scholar?

Later on I met with Sally Davison of Australian Farming Institute for a cider to find out what they do to support the industry. I found out that they have an interesting set of R&D projects running each year, of which one proposed at present is around how to improve the public image of agriculture. It's in the mix with other proposed projects going to a selection panel in March.

Kiss and Ride

2011-02-15T19:36:00.000Z

Not quite as naughty as it first sounds, "Kiss and Ride" is a catchy term for "Drop-off Point" in parts of Australia ,whereby a designated area is allocated so that cars can drop-off passengers in relative safety away from buses and traffic.
A great way of incorporating pedestrian safety into road planning.

I love the photo below, not least because it appears that the person is opening the driver's door! Is he going to sit on the drivers lap, or just reach in and kiss him/her?! :-)

Australian Year of the Farmer

2011-02-15T18:18:00.004Z

Wheelin' and dealin' in the city

2011-02-14T21:32:00.076Z

Monday morning in the city is always buzzing, not least when it's your first "proper" day of travel study, you've travelled halfway round the world for a meeting scheduled with people who you've never met face to face before who have kindly offered to talk with you on the topic of your choice!
No pressure then!!

The adrenalin was flowing well by the time I had taken the train to North Sydney and found the street on which my hosts were located.

Once inside the Meat and Livestock Association offices, any nervousness quickly subsided as I was warmly greeted by Will Banks and Deborah Leake.
Their hospitality was generous and we discussed the complexities and challenges of collaboration between sector-specific organisations.
MLA have shown a massive commitment to the wider industry through their leadership and commitment to projects that benefit the whole industry, where others have failed to step up to the plate.

The Primary Industries Education Foundation is a prime example. MLA have worked closely with a select band of organisations to establish Agriculture as a subject taught in secondary schools. It's hoped that other organisations will sign up to this project in due course, but there's no doubt that MLA's commitment and drive has been a catalyst for the project and carries much momentum.

Competition between rival agricultural sectors is apparent, limiting opportunities for collaboration. However, the positive, open-minded attitude demonstrated by MLA means that significant opportunities are not likely to be missed.

I learned some demand 'drivers': Nutrition, Value for money, Enjoyment, Convenience and Integrity.
I can see that consideration of these drivers is crucial when developing marketing materials that aim to increase demand for Australian red meat. After all if you don't know your audience and what makes them tick, how can you expect to influence them.

City Slicker

2011-02-13T23:14:00.002Z

As I sit on this park bench soaking up the gentle smell of tree pollen that I have missed for at least 6 months I reflect on why the vast multi-cultural populous of Sydney should be bothered about where their food comes from - after all, their contact with food is via a large retailer or one of the plethora of local shops/take-aways or restaurant chains (sound familiar to the UK situation?). It is apparent, that knowledge of where food is produced is definitely not a "need", so the approach to educating the public has to be on a "desire" basis.

This means that to engage a city dweller of whatever nationality, we need to appeal to their senses.

The key senses that I understand at this time are: fashion, health and leisure.

Fashion - in this way we can set up new fads and trends in food awareness (the rise of Red Bull, various sweets and confectionary, etc are examples of who fashionable foods can be very successful indeed. No-one "needs" them, but like Jordan we're all aware of them and want them to one degree or other!!

Health - The rise of the blueberry is a positive tale of selling a product on it's health-giving properties and linked to fashion perhaps.

Leisure - I'm sure there are phenominal stats somewhere on how much time we spend in "leisure pursuits". By appealing to this section of our lives, we're making the food story as relevant to our lives as possible.

I'll highlight other ways of engaging public interest in the coming weeks.

For now, I'll settle for a good sniff of tree pollen amongst the punk-pigeons, oddly coloured magpies (black on white or vice versa?), while strange long-billed birds search for grubs in the grass. Not a bad way to refresh and pretend I'm back in the countryside.

Awarding leadership and people associated with agriculture

2011-01-27T21:10:00.000Z

The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an agricultural operation, but who actively contribute and grow through their involvement in agriculture, their leadership ability and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations

I liked this because it incentivises those who do loads for the industry, yet who might not have a flagship farm business too enter into competitions.
After all, there are plenty of us out there!

A quick lesson in (not) speaking as a unified industry

2011-01-26T18:27:00.001Z

The "Why I love Organic" campaign was launched recently by the Organic Trade Board, using taxpayers money to promote a single niche sector.

Slogans such as "We love organic because we care about animals" should really come with a Melvyn Bragg style "-Discuss" comment immediately after and be included in next years GCSE exam papers!

This is a classic example of how single sector marketing ultimately often leads to in-fighting by playing one sector off against another.

Initial impact: Plus for organic, minus for other methods of production.
Net effect after campaign long-gone and forgotten: Neutral or possibly negative if consumers are further disengaged from mainstream food production.

An EU-based cross-sector marketing strategy is desperately needed if we are going to approach the public with positive messages all round and achieve an improvement in the public perception of agriculture.

Now, "EU" and "strategy" don't exactly sit easily together in practical terms and you might also question the benefits of such a strategy for British agriculture. The challenge is that we are an integral part of the EU from a market perspective and as such have to consider ourselves in that light if we are to consider the impact that agricultural production in say Germany, Spain and France have on our food supplies.
With 40% of food on supermarket shelves currently imported, we simply have to consider EU food production when planning our industry marketing strategy.

My forthcoming Nuffield travels to Australia and New Zealand aim to shed some light on best practice around development of cross-sector marketing strategies that might address some of these issues.

One to watch

2011-01-17T22:36:00.000Z

I made a fantastic discovery courtesy of Nuffield - The Houses of Parliament.

I find it hard to believe that I have let 40 years of my life pass before taking an interest in what happens in parliament. Possibly something to do with years of farm and pub talk suggesting that politicians talk a lot of hot air and are not to be trusted.

It's fairly apparent how these comments have developed, but nonetheless I now realise that it's where some life changing and important decisions are made.

None less than the Dairy Farmers Bill that I found while browsing the House of Commons website this eve!! Do I live a wild life or what?!

This bill proposes that dairy farmers are paid a minimum price for their milk - talk about life changing if passed.

There are some slightly more contraversial aspects to the bill that I imagine surround the Nocton Dairy plans, but in general who can argue with a minimum price for milk - the supermarkets have shown that they cannot manage their suppliers in a sustainable fashion so thank goodness this bill has come about.

Frustratingly the second reading isn't for another 5 months and then goodness knows how long until it (presumably) reaches Royal Assent.

I for one will be keeping a closer eye on the House of Commons website from now on. Thanks Nuffield.

Summary of the Bill

A Bill to make provision for the minimum prices payable to dairy farmers for the production of milk; to establish minimum distances between intensive dairy farming operations and the nearest settlements; and for connected purposes

Nuffield Study travel plans

2011-01-17T22:20:00.000Z

Finally work have committed to my Nuffield travel dates from 14 Feb to 14 March and I'm off to Australia and NZ.

Itinerary far too full, but it seems inadequate to leave empty days when submitting an itinerary to Nuffield for the bursary. I'm sure it'll all pan out for the best.

Many thanks to the 2010 Scholars, Jim Geltch and Muddy Boots Software for providing what promise to be great Australian contacts.

Then onto NZ for some equally interesting leads and hopefully a day or so with the CSC Study tour and the chance of a catch-up with Tim Powell while I'm there.

Roll on 14th Feb!

2011 Frank Arden Award accepting applications

2011-01-17T21:47:00.002Z

AN OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY ‘LIFE AFTER MANUFACTURED FERTILISER’
Applications open for the 2011 Frank Arden Study Award

The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust (NFST) is pleased to announce a special award offering leading industry individuals the chance to explore ‘Life after manufactured fertiliser’.

Sponsored by the Frank Arden Memorial Fund, the travel study aims to identify opportunities to reduce our reliance on manufactured fertiliser and find alternatives to these increasingly scarce and costly inputs.

This special award is open to UK residents working in the fields of food, farming or forestry. There is no age limit for applicants.

“Our current use of manufactured fertilisers relies on finite world resources,” points out Stephen Watkins, NFST vice chairman. “Whilst global reserves of potash are adequate for the foreseeable future, the availability of phosphate and the energy to produce nitrogen are both limited, and are expected to become increasingly scarce over the coming decades.

“Significant price volatility at the farm gate is already a fact of life and further predicted price rises pose a serious threat to the profitability of our farms. Time is fast running out and we must start thinking hard about the ways in which our dependence on these manufactured inputs can be reduced, whilst also finding ways to use them more effectively.”

Successful applicants of the 2011 Frank Arden Award will be tasked with researching scientific and practical management opportunities. These might include methods to target phosphate and nitrogen use and to recycle these nutrients far more effectively, or techniques to increase the way in which they are recycled within the soil and released by the soil biota.

Opportunities may also exist to develop plants that use these nutrients more efficiently, or are better able to scavenge them from the soil. Genetic engineering is also seen to have the potential to achieve a step change in the way these types of nutrients are utilised by certain plants.

Nuffield Scholarships

Nuffield Farming Scholarships were founded to discover new knowledge through travel and apply it to practical and profitable industry outputs here in the UK, explains NFST director, John Stones, who can point to numerous innovations, particularly at the farm level, which have resulted directly from individual scholar studies.
“The 2011 Frank Arden Award represents the sixth in a series of sponsored industry investigations which have already provided farmers with important, often ground-breaking information. “We believe this new study will be of considerable relevance and will provide some definitive recommendations to help our industry deal with a dwindling and increasingly costly resource.

“Getting answers, bringing back useful information and providing firm recommendations is what this study is all about,” he explains.

Award applications

The closing date for applications is 18th March 2011, to be followed by interviews for shortlisted candidates on 7th April 2011.

Applicants are required to submit a proposal outlining their scheme of study, together with how they intend to act on their findings. Submissions should be presented on one side of A4.

Successful applicants are required to commence studies immediately after selection to be able to complete the research element by early 2012. The bursary provided allows for reasonable research and travel expenses, both in the UK and abroad.

Further information can be obtained from John Stones, Director Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust - Tel: 01858 555544, Email: nuffielddirector@aol.com (www.nuffieldscholar.org).

2011 Oxford Farming Conference

2011-01-11T22:10:00.000Z

I'd promised myself years ago that I would attend the OFC, but had always found the cost prohibitive.
This time I thought to myself, I'll try and wangle a ticket from one of my contacts.
Judging from the number of "Guests of" badges, it appears that my negotiation skills were not up to scratch when I tried to gain a ticket for the Oxford Farming Conference. So I stumped up the £560 inc 2x days of conference, 2x dinners and accommodation (more of which later).
And boy am I glad I did!
The conference itself was fully engaging with cracking speakers including George Lyons (MEP), John Shropshire and Dacian Ciolos.
As usual emotions range during the 2.5 day period with times when you are well immersed in debate and discussion or listening to breaking news and other times when you just feel completely isolated from the others and need a quiet walk outside for some fresh air.
Net effect was thoroughly positive. To liken the experience to everyday life, it's like reading 2 months worth of FW and FG in 2 days when all the info is up to date and highly relevant.
Most dull speech award goes to Caroline Spelman and her classic comment when asked how young people could enter the industry said " You have the potential to be the riders of the Perfect Storm" - thanks Caroline that's REALLY helpful.
Most confusing, but probably one of the most relevant was Jeffrey Currie of Goldman Sachs who delicately enlightened the large arable farmers that wheat isn't important to traders when compared to gold or oil. That burst a few party balloons of those who have full stores thinking that everyone wants wheat and the prices is just going to keep on rising.
Best speech has to go to Dacian Ciolos, whose clear direct answers were a welcome treat at the end of the conference and who was diplomatic in explaining why EU payments should be capped.
There were too many other speeches to mentions here without drifting into repetition, but in general I propose that all Nuffield Scholars should attend this event as part of their scholarship funding.
Having had a full day of conference chat and a few glasses/bottles of wine there's nothing like a luxury room to relax and sleep of the day- and Oriel College accommodation is definitely not luxury accommodation. I was glad I'd drunk so much wine and didn't feel too many of the lumps and bumps of the bed or worry too much about the sticky carpet and basic bathroom.

Next conference on the horizon is Sentry Conference in February - some cross-over with speakers from Oxford, but sure to be thought-provoking.
Hope the accommodation is better in Lincolnshire!

A lesson in how to overuse utube vids in your blog!

2010-12-15T20:37:00.008Z

We've recently seen a few good examples of internet advertising that promotes farming as fashionable and fun.

Utube video as used in FG article. Another innovative example of how people are beginning to promote farming via the 'net.

The Yeo Valley advert that caused a bit of a stir on the rural youth scene (well at least that's what I heard - I'm soooo in-touch with the youff of today! Radical man!!)

They're all talking "gobblers"!

2010-12-13T10:58:00.000Z

A recent article in Farm Business indicating public awareness of turkeys was interesting, not least because it highlights the lack of understanding of a high profile food-stuff and it's origins.
Well done the NFU for conducting this study.
It's important for us all to understand that generally the public have a poor awareness of where their food comes from and adapt accordingly.
On the plus side, it means that the public are relatively easily led and open to suggestion. This doesn't mean we should hoodwink them, just feed them the info that is relevant and interesting to inform their views accordingly.
I feel that this article supports the concept of presenting agriculture as an interesting story rather than a set of technical protocols - after all why keep drumming on about whether turkeys are fed antibiotics or not if the consumer would actually benefit from a better understanding of what turkeys are and the value therein - no wonder the public are sceptical, we've baffled them with science.

Published by Farm Business 06 December 2010 - 07:55
British public talk turkey in new survey

One in five people say that turkeys can fly while one in ten believes the bird originates from Turkey, a new survey reveals.
The NFU-commissioned poll quizzed 3,000 people about their festive eating habits, how they choose a Christmas bird and how much they know about turkeys in general.
The results revealed that 20% of people believe turkeys can fly with a further 14% not knowing if this is true or not – 66% said they can’t. Ten per cent of people think turkeys originate from Turkey while nearly half have no idea where they come from. Only 11 per cent know that a male turkey is called a stag.
Mike Bailey, a seasonal producer and vice-chairman of the NFU poultry board representing turkeys, said: “It has been fascinating to find out how much our customers know about turkeys. One of the more interesting findings is that public opinion is split on the age-old question of whether turkeys can fly or not and although you are not going to see them flying south for winter, turkeys can actually get off the ground for a short distance.
“I am pleased to add that 67% of British public will tuck into turkey as their main meal on Christmas Day, with 58% saying they will buy fresh. It is also interesting that 39% will buy from a butcher, directly from the farm or a local market. This compares to 52% who intend to buy from a supermarket. The survey revealed what their biggest priorities are when choosing a turkey, 61% of people plump for quality, ahead of price (26%), which means they put quality above the price for this most important meal of the year.”
The survey coincides with the re-launch of website www.ukturkeys.co.uk, where producers can register their businesses and consumers can find their nearest turkey supplier by using just their postcode. More than 300 producers have already signed up.

Some other survey results:
• People in the North East are least likely to eat turkey this Christmas as their main meal, with those in the North West most likely
• Londoners are most likely to eat a fresh turkey on the day – people in the West Midlands are more keen on frozen
• 39% of people only eat turkey at Christmas but 80% of people eat chicken at least once a fortnight
• Other popular meats served up on Christmas Day include chicken, goose, duck, venison, salmon, ham and gammon.

Stocking Densities

2010-12-11T20:51:00.000Z

Following a busy evening, Sow no2 produced 9 beautiful baby piglets bringing our grand swine herd total to 15 piglets and 2 sows - all on just under an acre.
Add them to the 11 chickens and one cat (decidedly unproductive animal, but does keep my lap warm when sat on the sofa) and you can see that farming is alive and kicking at Brick on Edge.
You're all are welcome to come and see the shenanigans (that word seems a bit long to me, but can't be bothered to look it up!), but don't expect a frappe latte and choc brownie a la "Farm Park" just yet. You might get a cuppa and digestive if you get to them before Tim, the pigs or chickens!!
Now back to organising my trip to Australia and NZ.

Pigs galore

2010-12-05T21:14:00.001Z

Having spent most of the past week diligently supplying water to my two sows by means of a leaky watering can, I was relieved when on Wednesday eve 8am I saw the straw twitch near the back end of sow no.1
No she hadn't passed wind, it was a real live piglet!
After a moment of panic during which I was convinced the sow was going to deliberately roll onto it and press it like a flower, I regained my senses and watched as nature took it's course and mother and piglet were joined at the teat.
Four hours later and six keen, hungry piglets were feeding happily form their mother and mother herself looked relaxed (or was that relieved) as she lay keeping them warm and well-fed.
Kate and I were over the moon. Going from one to seven children in four hours has never been so easy - although the arrival of the "Putley Six" confirmed my initial thoughts that childbirth is best left to the mother with little input from the father! If only Tim had been born so easily...

Yesterday my plumber friend called by with his nice clean wellies (bought specially for the job!) and fitted "piglet-safe" drinkers, but not before sow no.2 had chewed his stepladder and scratched her back vigorously against same ladder while he was at the top. Thankfully she chose not to chew his wellies, or I fear he might have had a nervous breakdown, or charged me double at the very least.

So leaky watering can consigned to the recycling bin and we're now waiting for sow no.2 to get on with farrowing. (a bit like watching and waiting for a kettle to boil.)

So what has this to do with public perception of agriculture I hear you cry. Well we have been inundated with visitors (far more than came round when our son Tim was born!!) all of whom think the whole situation wonderful.

Oink!

AFB comment re: formation of USFRA

2010-12-05T20:43:00.000Z

Alliance of Farm Groups Provides ‘Unprecedented’ Opportunity

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 12, 2010 – The American Farm Bureau Federation today called the formation of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance an “unprecedented initiative and new opportunity” for agricultural producers to engage with key audiences.

Founding of the alliance was announced yesterday in Kansas City, Mo. It was the culmination of a series of meetings since May. In October, farmer and rancher organizations met and voted to form a new organization. As of this week, 23 groups have joined the alliance. AFBF President Bob Stallman was elected to chair the executive committee.

“This is a historic joining together of farm organizations,” said Stallman. “We are committed to developing a well-funded, long-term, coordinated campaign to increase consumer trust in agricultural producers and the food system.”

Stallman said the group was formed because of the “deeply-felt need among all the organizations to coordinate and amplify messages about the benefits of our food system in the face of numerous attacks.”

“There is a growing and immediate need to build consumer trust and gain the recognition among stakeholders that food producers must have the freedom to operate in an economically sustainable and responsible manner,” Stallman emphasized.

Joining Stallman on the alliance board are Philip Bradshaw, chairman of the United Soybean Board; Austin Brown of the Beef Checkoff; Scott George of the Federation of State Beef Councils; Forrest Roberts, chief executive officer of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; Bart Scott, president of the National Corn Growers Association; Dale Norton, of the National Pork Board; Dallas Hockman, of the National Pork Producers Council; Gene Gregory, president of United Egg Producers; and John Starkey, president of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association.

The other organizations that joined the alliance include the American Egg Board; American National CattleWomen; American Sheep Industry Association; American Soybean Association; American Sugar Alliance; National Association of Wheat Growers; National Cotton Council; National Milk Producers Association; Southern Peanut Farmers Federation ; United Fresh Produce Association; USA Rice Federation; U.S. Grains Council; U.S. Soybean Federation; and Western Growers Association.

-30-

Contacts:

Don Lipton
(202) 406-3644
donl@fb.org

2010-12-03T15:57:00.002Z

US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance: Working to set the record straight

American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman chairs the group. He says the goal is to dispel myths that exist about agriculture.

Published: Dec 1, 2010

The U-S Farmers and Ranchers Alliance was recently formed and is a joint venture between more than 20 agricultural entities.

American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman is chair of the group. Stallman says the group is still in the organizational stage. "This is the first time that all of production agriculture got together and decided to cooperate on this major effort," says Stallman. "Those of us in production agriculture are dismayed and worried about the critics of modern production agriculture that are out there."

"We've decided to come together, pool our resources, and develop a 3-5 year program that is sufficiently funded to increase consumer understanding of the benefits of modern, production agriculture," Stallman says.

So how will this group work with other groups trying to do the same thing, like the Farmer Image Campaign here in Illinois? "We have surveyed all of the individual efforts out there, whether it's state based or commodity group based, to look at what's being done, what's successful, and the messaging that's out there," says Stallman.

"In essence the smaller based efforts have been a laboratory for us to determine what would work in a national campaign," Stallman adds. "Once again we have to scale up and get a national scope and a duration with enough resources behind it to really get those messages spread in a broad based manner."

Welsh politician keen to drive agriculture into a positive future

2010-11-09T21:19:00.000Z

Lady Gaga and iPads - is this the future of Welsh farming?

5 November 2010 | By Barry Alston

WALES Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones has a vision for Welsh farming.

“I want Welsh agriculture to be a modern industry. I want Welsh farmers on their tractors listening to Lady GaGa on their ipods and comparing beef cost-to-price ratios on their ipads in the local mart,” she told NFU Cymru’s annual conference.

“I cannot stand the description of Welsh farmers as custodians of the countryside – as if you are all passively shepherding the hillsides, whistling at your sheepdog and waiting for the next tourist to pass along to take a photograph of you in your wellingtons and cloth cap.

“Welsh farmers are food producers and land managers. That means that the land is actively farmed and managed.

“Your greatest strength is that many of you own the means of production – the land itself.

“And in this global era when food-producing land and fuel-producing land is shifting ownership in ever-increasing hectares, then my humble advice to you is to hold on to your land.

“Australian grain farmers and Saudi Sheiks are buying thousands of hectares of land in Africa, while the New Zealand and Brazilian Governments are passing legislation to ward off potential foreign landowners, especially the Chinese.”

US leads the way with Alliance

2010-11-08T22:11:00.000Z

Alliance hopes to create ‘unified voice’ for ag

October 14, 2010 by Ken Anderson

Filed under Events/Organizations, News, Top Stories

Calling it a start toward creating a “unified voice for agriculture”, more than 20 national food and ag organizations have agreed to incorporate a U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA).

National Corn Growers Association CEO Rick Tolman serves as chair of the USFRA steering committee. “For a lot of years we’ve been defining agriculture by our differences rather than the things we have in common,” Tolman says, “and we tend to focus on that and then be independent and create our own silos—and we’ve heard from agribusiness and consumer groups and the secretary of agriculture, ‘why don’t you farm groups get together?’”

Tolman says the alliance will stay away from the hot-button issues of farm policy and biofuels, and will focus instead on enhancing the image of farmers and building consumer trust in today’s modern food production systems. He says one of the messages will be “shared values.

“Farmers and ranchers are real people,” he says. “They want to preserve their environment. They want to pass on their farms to their children and grandchildren. They want to have clean water to drink, clean air to breathe—and they want to have an abundant, reliable, reasonably priced food supply.”

Past efforts to have agriculture speak with one voice have had only limited success. But Tolman says the challenges facing agriculture are much greater than ever before.

“I think all of us recognize we’re in a much more serious time and it’s really impacting our ability to operate and do things,” Tolman says, “and we’re getting rule and regulations—things that are not good for our sector, but also not good for consumers.”

Tolman says the new USFRA already has a broader base of support than previous unification attempts. Participants include livestock and poultry groups, fruit and vegetable growers, rice, wheat and corn producers, and many other sectors of agriculture.

NFU survey of "public perception of farmers and farming shows" published

2010-08-29T11:58:00.001+01:00

This week the NFU published the results of their survey of public perception of farmers and farming shows.

The results were generally positive as one might hope/expect and this is the view that was put across in the Farmers Guardian (Friday August 27 2010).

Public support for farmers reaches five-year high

THE British public is falling back in love with farmers, a survey published today suggests.

Three-quarters of people think of farmers ‘favourably or very favourably’, up from 68 per cent in 2005, the latest survey on the ‘public perceptions of farmers and farming’ shows.

The NFU-commissioned survey also reveals that, with a growing demand for food as the world population increases, 86 per cent of people agree that farming will be more important in the future.

The online survey of 1,002 people online across England and Wales showed qualified support for British food, with 46 per cent of respondents saying they would try to buy British produce and 30 per cent saying they would source regional produce.

Just of over half of people (52 per cent) said they ‘agreed or strongly agreed’ that farmers should grow crops for biofuels.

A similar proportion said their trust in farmers would ‘not be undermined if they came out in favour’ of GM crops, while 17 per cent were opposed to GM crops being grown in Britain.

NFU President Peter Kendall said: “These figures clearly demonstrate that the general public supports British farming and recognises the importance of food production to our future.

“A growing interest in where our food comes from means that the public perception of farming is at a five-year high. And when we’re looking to affect change on Government or retail policy then that is what really matters.

“One thing our survey tells us is that people believe farmers have many key roles, both for agriculture and the environment, but their highest priority for us is to produce food and to look after our animals to the highest standards.

“The reality is more and more that we should be doing both while producing more and impacting less. We must continue to meet the growing demand for food and ensure we take the favourability of our customers with us; we need every available tool at our fingertips.”

Some interesting and useful comments to develop in the future when looking to influence public opinion further.

However, rather than this article being reported in the farming press where the target audience is farmers this type of positive article should be "sexed up" and published in red-top newspapers where is can have a further positive effect in influencing the opinion of the wider British public.

Great to have such a positive article and a good pat on the back for the farmers who have pushed so hard to positively influence public opinion over the past few years, not least the NFU who commissioned the survey in the first place.

It's Showtime!

2010-07-25T22:15:00.000+01:00

The Royal Welsh Show and Game Fairs shows very different approaches to public satisfaction, both positive and interesting as follows:

Layout

Royal Welsh: Separate "shopping" and "machinery distributor" zones (subtly done) allowing both types of visitor to enjoy their respective interests away from each other - a wise choice given the traditional agricultural show mix of visitors in this case. This format provided a positive experience for both farmers and general public alike and may be significant in ensuring continued success of the show.

Game Fair: The traditional mix of shopping and machinery stands tailored to suit a mix of people who enjoy both shopping for luxuries and business equipment at the same time. Although a completely different format to the Royal Welsh Show, this format catered well for the audience - i.e. well planned by organisers. However this format meant that visitors had to walk miles in order to see the show because they couldn't discern the key areas of relevance easily. Not a problem on a nice day with a show that was open for 12 hours each day - so long as you don't have kids!!

Specific Public Awareness Aspects

Royal Welsh: "Sheeptacular". WOW, what a great show for the public. Lots of sheep on a stage with a very knowledgable farmer introducing them and giving a potted description of what type they are and how they are used. Brought to the UK by the farmer having seen something similar in New Zealand years ago.

Game Fair: Camels, owls, terrier tent and hounds galore, great interaction for the public. This event does however promote the Range Rover driving mustard cord wearing brand of farmer that the public loathe so much. Good job that the people who attend the Game Fair are likely to be those who either drive range rovers, wear mustard cords or like mixing with those that do.

Pushing the Nuffield Envelope

2010-07-13T21:42:00.000+01:00

It's easy proposing a Nuffield study topic that you're passionate about, research it and plan trips to relevant countries in order to answer some of your key questions and offer the industry some new ideas that might make a difference.

It's much much harder to develop a career plan and identify key contacts around the World who might be able to assist you to achieve that plan.

That's what has been asked of me by Nuffield.

Let's start with the career plan:

1. Become an exec director of a significant national farming-based organisation.
2. Become a farmer in my own right.
3. Become an influential figure on the British agricultural circuit.

From that plan let's identify who I should meet with to assist with meeting those objectives:

1. Existing exec directors of national organisations to clarify what specifically I need to do to join them at that level.
2. Speak with new entrants/tenant farmers to see how they accessed the farming marketplace
3. Meet key industry influencers to join them on the "playing field", develop my position on the scene and develop my understanding of key issues with a view to offering a salient viewpoint when asked.

Phew, that feels better just writing it down.

The fact that Nuffield allows you to do all this is enlightening in itself and leaves you motivated and enthused to get on and make something great come from this opportunity.

Now to work identifying the key contacts themselves...

Record attendance at Royal Highland Show

2010-07-09T12:47:00.001+01:00

More than 187,000 visitors attended the Royal Highland Show this year; an increase of 11,000 on the previous record achieved in 2009.
How this show thrives when others, most conspicuously the Royal Show have failed is a lesson for all of us who are trying to improve the public perception of agriculture.
It's clear that "agricultural" shows, including the Royal Show, the Royal Highland Show and most regional shows are not primarily aimed at a farmer audience. This is shown by the plethora of trade stands selling books, hats and walking sticks that dominate while many machinery distributors still haven't returned after dumping the shows as they became more public focussed in the 1980's.

To that end, a successful show needs to satisfy the needs of the public as their core audience. So, shows run over weekends; more and more hats, walking sticks and cuddly toys are on sale and the main agricultural interest lies in the pedigree show animals that breeders take such loving care and time to prepare.
From a farmers perspective attending the shows is less important from a business point of view because of the lack of farmer focus, but all is not lost...
To those who show their pedigree livestock: Your efforts are directly influencing the public in a positive way about the benefits of buying British meat. Never underestimate the benefits of this to those breeders who will ultimately sell their progeny into the food chain. The reward may seem to take and age to come through, but it surely does as livestock sectors improve from increased sales of British meat.
To those farmers who feel that the regional/national shows are of less business interest to them: Yes, it's a shame that life has changed, and it's now less important in many cases to don the tweed and discuss machinery deals at a show, but that change has opened up other opportunities. You now have more opportunity to push the machinery distributors to send a demonstrator model to the farm for your use, you can negotiate terms on your territory rather than in a small tent over a glass of warm beer that's costing you dear by the time they've sold you the unnecessary extras. Once you've struck a hard bargain on your own patch, you can always go to the pub and enjoy a cool beer, outwith the company of a salesperson trying to sell you an optional weatherproof cover for your new kit!
Weekend based shows give farmers the potential to take the family with them and enjoy some quality time away from the farm where kids are safe (relatively!) you can chat with your partner away from the tie of the farm.
The Highland Show has proved that there is a positive outlook for agricultural shows. 11,000 more people attending (most of whom will not be farmers) is a fantastic number of people with an improved understanding of agriculture and therefore much more likely to Buy British. Let the public have their day and let's keep on producing and selling great British food to them.

The public face of giant dairy farms

2010-06-28T19:56:00.001+01:00

Reading FW this week I couldn't help notice the article on large-scale dairy farms in the USA versus the article regarding withdrawal of the South Witham "super-dairy" planning application.

I was stunned by the fact that Fair Oaks dairy had 32,000 cows being milked across 25,000ha through 10 separate dairy sites. What scale! The key point of the article for me was the fact that Fair Oaks have a "Farm Adventure Centre" which provide the public with access to the dairy business and entertainment to inform and educate in a positive practical manner.
I remember from the Nuffield Conference 2009 that one scholar had visited Fair Oaks and commented that Fair Oaks had a throughput of some 250,000 visitors per annum. Not bad if they even spent £1 each on top of costs I'd say.

I understand that South Witham had specific issues relating to proximity to neighbours, but you're not telling me there aren't any suitable super-dairy sites in the UK - of course there are, applications simply haven't come through from those sites yet.

Key to success of any super-dairy venture is positive public liaison and engagement from concept to daily practice.

I suggest that future super-dairy planning applications in future could do a lot worse than showing the public the benefits of their system (using the existing US models as examples if necessary) so that the public can buy into the approach and support it through the legal/planning hoops through which all these things have to jump. I wonder what the cost of a media agency would be versus failure of such ventures to get off the ground?

Saying that I might be a fair age before I see a 32,000 cow dairy unit in the UK simply because the industry over here is so much behind the USA in terms of scale.

Nuffield Brussels Study Tour June 2010

2010-06-24T12:38:00.003+01:00

The Nuffield Scholars Study Trip to Brussels took place recently, at which current scholars from the UK, Australia, New Zealand got together ably accompanied by Director of French Nuffield "Philipe" and UK director Richard Burt.
On day 1 we were shown the WW1 trenches, battlegrounds and cemeteries of Ypres area.
The scale of fighting and subsequent loss of life really brought home the commitments made by all countries involved. I can now better understand why we have fostered such a positive trading relationship with New Zealand and Australia amongst others of course. Having spent my life avoiding the New Zealand lamb on supermarket shelves, I now have much greater respect for the reasons why that product is on our shelves - although I doubt I'll be buying it so long as British lamb is available!
Before heading to the pub for the evening, we witnessed the Last Post ceremony in Ypres town accompanied by many school trips. Good to see that some schools are bringing history to life in this way. I wonder if I might have been better at history if I had gone on a trip to Ypres as a child. Who knows, at least I've been now and will encourage my children to do likewise.
The evening ended in a cellar bar in the middle of Brussels quaffing Chimel ale, which is apparently 9% alcohol or thereabouts, although my eyesight was deteriorating fast by that time so I struggled to read the label!!
Day 2: The tour progressed to the NFU European office where we were enlightened as to how lobbying works within the EU corridors of power. So many lobby groups - no wonder it takes the EU parliament so long to decide on best policy for all with all those groups badgering them to consider their specific needs many of which are politically driven.
As many of you will already know NFU is part of the COPA-COGECA group which represents all EU countries agricultural groups. this helps focus the lobbying. The NFU representative team were young and enthusiastic.
Day 3: A morning meeting hosted by Mark Cropper (ex ADAS) who now works for the policy research dept of the European Commission. The morning focussed on the importance of knowledge gain and transfer in influencing our future agricultural industry.
Train back to London that afternoon went smoothly - I highly recommend Eurostar trains. Sure beats flying or ferry in my view.

A novel way to influence democratic governments.

2010-06-19T18:23:00.003+01:00

You don't have to look to far through the farming press before you see a comment such as "Farmers will need public support if they want to do/grow/adopt something new."
In parallel, at farmers meetings, when discussing a new concept, one person usually asks the question: "How can we get the public to accept this?"

In the UK, farmer representative bodies focus much of their attention influencing government to ensure that legislation development takes account of the interests of farmers.

Through my Nuffield Scholarship, I've learned that in Australia, the National Farmers Federation (NFF) does things rather differently.
They employ a media agency on occasions to convince the public (remember them, the people who spend their hard-earned cash buying our products) that the new concept (whatever it may be) is a good thing.

...now for the clever bit:

With the public on board, a democratic government is subsequently much more likely to be supportive/accepting of any legislation required for the new concept to be realised on the farm.

Net effect: Happy public = happy government = happy farmers!

My Nuffield study will take me to Australia at the beginning of September to visit the NFF Annual Congress to identify the costs and benefits of this seemingly novel approach to new agricultural concepts with a view to changing the UK approach to influencing the public and government for the better where possible.

Nuffield Study Tour to Brussels June 2010

2010-06-03T22:47:00.001+01:00

Next Monday a group of International Nuffield Scholars and some partners will travel to Ypres for the Last Post before travelling on and staying in Brussels for an interesting series of meetings arranged by kind hosts NFU Europe office.
In the light of imminent CAP reform and the various EU/UK fiscal issues, I'm looking forward to seeing the political hub of Europe for myself and developing an understanding of how the legislation is thrashed out before the British Government starts juggling it about.
Amongst all the key questions of the day, you've got to ask yourself why they keep moving from Brussels to Strasbourg every 3 weeks when so many of us are trying to reduce our carbon footprint.

Red Tractor customer awareness to be improved for pig and poultry sector.

2010-05-18T19:50:00.000+01:00

Marketing of pig and poultry products as well as other red tractor labelled foods in the UK looks set to have a signiciant boost following the recent pig and poultry fair at Stoneleigh.
At this event a revised funding system for the Red Tractor was called for. It followed widespread agreement from a panel of industry (farmer, supermarket and processor) representatives that additional money was needed to better market the assurance logo.
The additional funds were proposed to be sourced from farmers, packers, supermarkets and levy monies.
This development follows EU "state aid" approval in September 2009 for levy funds to be used to support the red tractor scheme.
At last it seems as if the public are going to be made more aware of the benefits they're getting from this front-facing initiative.
Perhaps it's not just government engaged in joined-up thinking at present!

Red Tractor are advertising for a Marketing Co-ordinator in Farmers Weekly this week.

Planning and preparation for Antipodean leg of Nuffield Study Tour

2010-05-05T20:15:00.000+01:00

I have made contact with the National Farmers Federation in Australia, which will hopefully identify some key people involved in media and PR in the agricultural industry in Aus.

Brett Heffernan has sent through some useful info on NFF (Aus) media work in the past few years and it seems they're light years ahead of the UK.

If anyone has contacts who are farming "champions" in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden or USA please do let me know - I'd love to meet them and pick their brains.

Improving the Public Perception of Agriculture

Evolution - a brief synopsis!

US Farmers and Ranchers launch video clip manifesto

A short (very short) lesson in philosophy

Hold on tight - Eureka moment happening!!

Uploading and downloading...

Joe Bloggs does internet research on farming systems

Centre for Food Integrity

Tim Richter's farm in Dow advertisement videos

The Corn Belt - even bigger than my belt!

Contracting

A selection of the PR works undertaken by Monsanto recently

Communication and collaboration - dirty words?

US farmers lose battle to keep Mississippi floodbank

St Louis - selling positive farming stories to the US

How politics can influence an ag-positive press article

PLEASE READ THIS BACKGROUND ON THE AUTHOR BEFORE READING THE ARTICLE

**Wesley Clark is a democrat politician who currently serves as the co-chairman of Growth Energy, an ethanol lobbying group[6][7] and on the board of directors of BNK Petroleum.[8]

Hold the thin green line by protecting farmers

Comments:

On the road again

On track for a winner

A (slightly) better day

A sad, sad day

This morning John Round died in a tragic accident on his farm. Husband of Sophie, father of 3 young children, excellent farmer and fantastic friend - such a loss to all who knew him.

John Round - Glos dairy farmer and 2008 FW Dairy Farmer of the Year finalist - Rest in Peace

FW Awards: Size isn't everything for finalist's high-yielding black-and-whites

Sun and piglets - a recipe for fun!

Who to call when you've got a nasty rash

Fragile Bengali agricultural community used as pawns in electoral campaign

Oklahoma radio station article on what's happening in the US to improve the image of agriculture

Arty farty, or significant public engagement with farming - you decide

"Improved" blogging

Future Farmers

Farming For Our Future

Did the earth move for you?

Big Issue

The Koru

Collaboration, shollaboration

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Colourful cow

Australian free range chicken advertisement

Hannaford Seed Cleaner

A short (kangaroo) hop to the mainland

Two men in a boat

Curiosity killed the cat

Study thoughts

My perfect farm

Farmers Weekly Awards 2011

Mount West?

Water, water everywhere

Wild beasts of Australia

Helen & Jim Geltch - Echuca

All work and no play...

It's all About Mary!

Art and Agriculture - unusual bedfellows

How not to do positive PR

Canberra-tastic

Nuffield Scholar arrested for loitering with intent (nearly!)

Mixing grain and wool

Kiss and Ride

Australian Year of the Farmer

Wheelin' and dealin' in the city

City Slicker

Awarding leadership and people associated with agriculture

A quick lesson in (not) speaking as a unified industry

One to watch

Summary of the Bill

Nuffield Study travel plans

2011 Frank Arden Award accepting applications

2011 Oxford Farming Conference

A lesson in how to overuse utube vids in your blog!

They're all talking "gobblers"!

Stocking Densities

Pigs galore

AFB comment re: formation of USFRA

Alliance of Farm Groups Provides ‘Unprecedented’ Opportunity

Welsh politician keen to drive agriculture into a positive future

Lady Gaga and iPads - is this the future of Welsh farming?

US leads the way with Alliance

**Wesley Clark is a democrat politician who currently serves as the co-chairman of Growth Energy, an ethanol lobbying group^[6]^[7] and on the board of directors of BNK Petroleum.^[8]