Farming: The Next Generation

6 May 2010 | Updated: 6 May 2010 11:10 am | By Danusia Osiowy

Who are the next generation of farmers and what support can be offered to ensure they become established as business men and women who have a real impact on UK farming? Danusia Osiowy reports on a new industry-led project designed to consolidate young people in farming.

How to embrace the future skills and success of young people in farming, will be the key question headlining a new industry-led conference, to be held later this month.

Farmers Guardian has joined forces with the Royal Agricultural Society of England, Fresh Start and Easton College to stage a

conference in response to calls for the industry to ensure it has a skilled workforce, with achievable succession plans and new entry opportunities.

Entitled ‘Farming: the Next Generation’, the conference will be held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, beginning on May 17 with a dinner where speaker John Baker, director of the Beginning Farmer Centre, Iowa State University, will outline his US experience of the succession issue. He will be joined by other international guests who will share their insights on the new entrant challenge including what is happening across the EU.

The following day, the conference features a range of speakers, who will tackle key decisions affecting family succession, new farming opportunities and the need for skills in setting up and running a new farm business.

With a special entry fee deal of £65 for two generations to attend from the same family, the event is designed to appeal to those starting a farming career, families tackling succession issues, advisers, professionals and policy makers working to support new entrants.

Denis Chamberlain, chairman of the Fresh Start National Stakeholder Group, says the additional focus on overseas experience within the conference may offer UK farmers an insight into achieving sustainable solutions to their business problems.

“The content has been specifically tailored for those people currently wrestling with issues of farm succession and business continuity, whether that is within the family or by engaging with other entrants from outside.

“We will look at different entry models and see examples expressed through working case studies. The conference will also be an important networking and information exchange opportunity for those involved in the policy area and those provide professional advice and service to farms tackling their own sustainability.”

Book your place: To book your place contact Laura Cruse on 0247 685 3060 or visit www.ruralenter prisehub.info/thenextgeneration

Programme of events

MONDAY, MAY 17
Conference Dinner
7pm
Guest speakers include John Baker and Richard Ashworth MEP

TUESDAY, MAY 18
Full conference

9.15 - 10.00

Registration, tea and coffee
10.00 - 10.10

Welcome and introduction from the chair - Denis Chamberlain, MBE
10.10 - 11.20
Succession and new blood - understanding the challenges
The need for ‘new blood’ will feature the succession challenge, the family business or new business, with a succession case study. Speakers will include Dr Matt Lobley from Exeter University, Royal Agricultural Society of England and the National Trust.
11.40 - 13.00
Working with succession - the opportunities
Topics include tenancies, share-farming, working with established businesses, options in the family business, succession planning, options for those wishing to exit the industry and related support organisations and mentoring. Speakers will include John Baker from Iowa State University and the International Farm Transfer Network, and Nuffield scholar Mike Mack from Easton College.
14.00 - 15.30
Business skills and working towards a successful business
Working for a professional industry, the importance of business skills alongside technical skills, financing your future, finding opportunities. Speakers will include: Henry Cator OBE, chairman of RASE, Phil Barker, policy director for Agriculture at Lloyds TSB and Richard Longthorp, farming chair of the Agriskills Forum.
15.45 - 16.45
Inspiration for the future
A selection of case studies of new entrants and businesses will offer an insight into their businesses success. The session will offer the chance to meet them, see their achievements and join in with a debate and question and answer session to a panel of speakers from the day’s events.
17.00
Conference ends