Farmers to have their say at conference (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Farmers to have their say at conference

1:00pm Tuesday 30th October 2012 in Local

LOCAL farmers and rural business are to be given an opportunity to discuss the influential Oxford Farming Conference report next month, at the Three Counties Agricultural Society’s own annual Malvern Farming Conference.

Author, Dr Alan Renwick, head of the Rural Policy Centre at the Scottish Agricultural College, will present ‘Power in Agriculture’, which looks at where the economic, political and natural resource power lies in the world of agriculture, how it might change in the future, and the impact of change on Britain’s farmers.

In the power index, Britain’s political power is deemed to be strong, but its mineral and natural power, and its trade and corporate influence leave it lower in the rankings than the US, the EU, Russia and China.

The implications of the report are that Britain faces stiffer competition from emerging economies such as China, and that its farmers will need to improve efficiency in terms of resources and adopt alternative farming practices to sustain levels of production.

The Malvern Farming Conference, sponsored by Frontier Agriculture and supported by Bruton Knowles, will be held on November 15. Now in its sixth year, it is fast gaining a reputation as a forum for the area’s farmers in Worcestershire and neighbouring counties to discuss global issues in a regional context.

Dr Renwick will be joined by four other high-profile guests on the night; Jon Duffy, Frontier’s Trading Director, John Berry, MD of Haygrove Polytunnels, Simon Fryar, commercial manager for Meadow Quality Livestock and Patrick Gething Lewis, MD of Gamber Growers, Potato Wholesalers.

Sharon Gilbert, PR & Marketing Manager for the Three Counties Agricultural Society, said: “The Oxford Farming Conference report has been the subject of much discussion to date, and highlights a real need for the UK’s farming industry to respond to the challenges of an increasingly globalised agricultural system, and greater pressure on resources.

“Those challenges are pertinent to the farmers and rural business leaders in and around our region, who will need to respond. We are extremely privileged to have Dr. Renwick and other keynote speakers here at Malvern to consider the impact on those living and working locally.”

Taking the conference chair this year is Worcestershire CLA chairman, Edward Holloway, a farmer from Suckley.

In 2011, the society introduced afternoon sessions to its conference format, with great success, and they are back by popular demand, with talks by Nuffield Scholar, Jo Nash, and NBA Beef Expo Organising Committee member, Paul Westaway - who runs a suckler herd and finishes dairy beef.

Afternoon sessions begin at 4pm, with registration at 3.30 pm, and the Evening Conference begins at 6.30 pm, with registration from 5.15pm.

The event includes a trade show which is open from 3.30pm, and tickets are £15, to include supper, (£7.50 for students) and available either from the Ticket Hotline: 01684 584924, or via the showground’s website - threecounties.co.uk