13th November saw us at RAF Waddington for our annual visit. Station Commander, Group Captain ‘Dutch’ Holland welcomed the group, and described the crucial “ISTAR” work of the airbase – Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting and Reconnaissance. We were then accompanied around the base by Flight Officer Henry Campbell. The highlight was getting up close and personal with the new generation of drone – the “Protector”, being assembled and tested at the base. The group then viewed the airbase’s firefighting equipment and some of the modern airforce’s firearms.
Strawberries Galore!
On 12th November some 30 liverymen and guests were treated to a fascinating tour of the Dyson strawberry operation at Carrington, Lincs, organised by PM Philip Wynn. The site was a field in 2020 and was producing strawberries 12 months later, and now produces 1200 tonnes of fruit a year, including 100% of Mark and Spencers’ requirement. The 10 hectare state-of-the-art glasshouse was mightily impressive not just for its scale, but for the level of sophistication of its environmental control systems. The astonishing robotic harvesting units had to be seen to be believed. Each fruit was individually inspected, filmed, picked and filmed again for quality before being allocated to a punnet. The robots from Dogtooth, a Cambridge company, were in their 4th iteration and were nearing the speed required for commercial use. The 3MW anaerobic digester, requiring 140 tonnes of feedstock per day – mainly on maize grown on the farm – provided all of the electrical power and heat for the glasshouse. The three 24 cylinder engines, running on the methane produced by the digester, hummed away impressively as we filed past in awe. Strawberries as far as the eye could see
Remembrance Sunday
The Master and Liveryman Anne Courtney are proud to support the Westminster Dragoons in Fulham SW6. They were invited to hop aboard this Jackal, a mobile weapons vehicle used for reconnaissance
Surrey Docks Farm visit to Essex
Some 40 children and volunteers from Surrey Docks Farm visited Kelly Turkeys near Chelmsford on 31 July. Founder Derek Kelly and son Paul showed us round the award-winning farm.
Paul Kelly explains incubation
Poults ready for despatch
We saw the hatchery first, where the children were spellbound by seeing the scale of the operation and the little day-old poults being despatched all over the UK.
Outside, we saw Derek’s prime Angus cattle – his real love! After a picnic lunch we moved to one of the Kellys’ nearby rearing farms where we saw ‘Wild Forest Turkey’ production.
The turkeys have full access to the forest floor and were very obliging with their gobbles. Paul staged a gobbling competition, won by young Sam, who gets a free Christmas turkey!
The children’s enthusiastic reaction to this visit amply demonstrated the value of connecting children with the source of their food. Our thanks to the Kelly family, to Gemma and team from Surrey Docks and to PM Richard Whitlock for organising a great day.
The group with the forest turkeys
RAF Waddington visit
On November 8, a group of liverymen visited RAF Waddington for lunch, hosted by the Station Commander Mark Lorriman-Hughes OBE, and presentation of the WCF award by the Master.
The visit was organised by LO Michael Chennells in conjunction with LO, FS Steven Wheatley and Sargent Ross Mc Keon, ably assisted by Stacey Jones.
Our visit was led by the Master Guy Brogden and his wife Catriona. The group of 33 liverymen arrived at the officer’s mess at 8.30 for a 9.00 start.
We then travelled by coach to the part of the base where the Red Arrows are based, and split into two groups to take it in turns to enjoy a detailed presentation on the Red Arrows and a visit to the hanger where they are housed, along with a detailed brief when there was plenty of time for questions.
We then returned to the Officers Mess where we were welcomed by the Station Commander, who updated us all on the current activities on the base, this followed by a presentation from LO Steven Wheatley.
The morning session was then concluded by the presentation of our award along with a keepsake by the Master to Corporal Matt Healey in recognition of his excellence in implementing systems changes and upgrades across the base.
Lunch was then taken in the Officers Mess where we enjoyed a three-meat carvery, following which the Master expressed our thanks to the team at Waddington for entertaining us for the day.
We completed the day by a visit to the RAF Waddington Heritage Centre which covers all aspects of the history of the RAF from the very beginning to the present day.
Lord Mayor’s Show a success
This year’s Lord Mayor’s Show was blessed with blue skies all day, which helped swell the cheering crowds lining the route.
Our ‘float’ consisted of two Case tractors, one of which – the enormous Quadtrac – attracted most of the public’s attention.
Richard Price and the team from the NFU; headed by Minette Batters, Red Tractor and Surrey Docks Farm did a splendid job preparing for the Show, and the incredibly warm reception from the crowds along the way made it all worthwhile.
City Farms visit commercial units
During the half-term break the Farmers’ Livery Company and Redhill branch of the NFU funded and organised two visits to three working commercial farms in Surrey and Bedfordshire.
Sincere thanks must go to our very accommodating hosts, Nellie Maiklem, Paul Knight and Tim Burton for opening up their farming businesses to more than 75 young people from Surrey Docks, Wellgate and Stepney City Farms.
The main enterprises on the farms we visited focused on the rearing of dairy cow replacements, with two farms also operating large dairy herds. We were also taken on a walking and tractor and trailer tour of the farms to see the arable and other diversification enterprises.
Animals are always a point of interest for the farm visitors,with some watching the cows being milked and others bottle-feeding the calves. Fortunately, it didn’t rain on our visits so a sunny and cheery day was had by all.
Pollinating London together
The Worshipful Company of Farmers has been working with a project to help create spaces for pollinators in London. We recently were awarded our membership certificate with thanks from the project: Pollinating London Together.
pollinating
WFC awards two scholarships to OFC
Two Young Farmers Club members will be learning more about the impact of a diverse agricultural sector after earning scholarships to the Oxford Farming Conference in January.
Sian Davies from Radnor and Marley Lamerton from Cornwall were awarded the NFYFC scholarships courtesy of the Worshipful Company of Farmers.
The theme at this year’s conference is the Power of Diversity and speakers will be celebrating the wide range of businesses and people involved in the sector.
The pair get to be part of the two-day conference, as well as have the opportunity for peer-to-peer networking, share views and ideas, while gaining access to key skills development training.
Sian, a third-generation farmer on a sheep, beef arable and poultry farm, studied Agriculture and Business at Aberystwyth University and is looking to build on her industry knowledge.
“I am keen to make decisions, be challenged on the future of agricultural policy and adapt to how times are changing within our industry going forward,” said Sian, who is the vice chair of Radnorshire County Federation. “I’m honoured to have been awarded a scholarship to attend the conference and thankful to NFYFC and the Worshipful Company of Farmers for the opportunity.”
Sian will be joined by Marley, who has studied an Agriculture with Animal Science degree at Harper Adams University before moving into an agricultural graduate job role with Mole Valley Farmers.
Marley, who is not from a farming background, is eager to join in conversations at the conference about the industry being more open to those who are not from farming families.
“I want to highlight the importance of inclusivity for all within the farming community especially regarding breaking down barriers and the ranges of opportunities available. Along with wanting to represent people entering the sector from a non-farming background, I believe I am a strong advocate for women in farming which for some years was a male dominated industry.
“I am confident that my range of experiences will bring unique perspectives to the conference along with my dedication and passion for the industry.”
The Oxford Farming Conference is on 3-5 January 2023 and tickets are on sale here.
Jasper Merrick wins RAU prize
On Tuesday 26 September the Master attended the 2023 Graduation Ceremony at the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester.
The WCF Prize for Best Agricultural Dissertation was won by Jasper Merrick for his dissertation entitled: ‘An investigation into the dependency of UK agriculture on fossil fuels; motivating change’.
The Master was on hand to see Vice Chancellor Professor Peter McCaffery make the award and to congratulate Jasper personally afterwards.