Discussion points from the initial gathering of the "Farm for the Future" initiative
On October 25, 2023, the Royal Countryside Fund (RCF) hosted a Welcome Meeting for its 'Farm for the Future' programme. This event, held in Uffington near Stamford, marked the beginning of a series of workshops aimed at building resilience within farming.
The programme, which focuses on fostering collaboration among farmers, attracted a diverse group of participants. From new entrants to experienced stock people, agricultural students to lecturers in farming, the gathering represented a wide range of experiences.
The 'Farm for the Future' programme participants, while not a recognised cluster group, exhibit collaborative qualities. One farmer at the meeting succinctly summarised this ethos, stating, "Just because my boundary stops at the farm gate, nature doesn't."
The meeting featured a great set of speakers, Hannah Thorogood and Liz Genever from PfL, who shared insights on sustainable farming practices and environmental management. Discussions during the event revolved around farming operations, challenges, and personal issues, with participants using post-it notes to record their thoughts.
The value of the RCF Farm for the Future programme lies in the interactions and relationships forged among participants. While formal discussions were valuable, the informal interactions during breaks, meals, and farm walks may prove to be the programme's greatest value.
The skilful leadership of Liz and Hannah was evident during the first event, guiding the group through discussions and fostering a strong desire for collaboration. The group showed a strong preference against a silo mentality and a willingness to share knowledge, machinery, and concerns.
The meeting also highlighted common ground among the participants, including challenges like uncertainty in the sector, low value placed on food by supermarkets, lack of recognition for farming as a career, confusion over food production and environmental management, and issues related to collaboration.
Another significant point of discussion was the collaboration among farmers to maintain continuous hedge lines and buffer strips along borders and riverbanks. Sharing costs for new equipment is a common practice among farmers in cluster groups, and this trend was evident in the discussions.
As the programme progresses, the bond between RCF Farm for the Future programme members is expected to strengthen over time. The growth in farm cluster groups, with farmers getting together to discuss shared projects and schemes, particularly driven by environmental initiatives, is a testament to the power of collaboration in agriculture.
The meeting concluded with an offer for non-PfL members to receive a year of free membership of PfL. This initiative is a testament to the RCF's commitment to fostering collaboration and building a sustainable future for farming in the UK.
The 'Farm for the Future' programme, initiated by the Royal Countryside Fund, encourages personal growth and education-and-self-development among farmers through collaborative practices, as highlighted by the diverse group gathered for the Welcome Meeting and the eagerness to share knowledge, machinery, and concerns among its members. The RCF's commitment to fostering collaboration extends beyond formal discussions, as demonstrated by the value placed on informal interactions during breaks, meals, and farm walks.
