The Fellowship Of Royal Agricultural Societies Coordinated by:

Study Tour – Dorset 7/8 June 2017 – Programme

he theme for the visit was “Profitable Farming coupled with good Environmental Management” – well suited to our new Panel Chairman DrAlastair Leake of GWCT – Loddington. Our base was the Best Western Hotel Rembrandt, Weymouth, DT4 7JU – located on the main road (A354) as you enter the town.

Day 1 (Wednesday)

Assembled at The Garden Centre, Cranborne, BH21 5PP at 10.00 am  (some 20 miles South of Salisbury).

After a welcome to the Cranborne Estate (owned by Lord Cranborne) by Oliver Middlemas the Agent we were introduced to the Farm Manager & Head Keeper. Travelling in trailers up to the “Chase” members saw large scale arable production with cover crops, special headlands, beetle banks & restored dew ponds – all encouraging grey partridge. The estate is part of a Cluster of local farmers adjacent to Martin Down – using their own funds to operate on a  “landscape scale” – particularly encouraging the hare population.

Lunch was back at the rather special Garden Centre Restaurant.

Afternoon – The group returned to the open Downland in trailers & the 2000ac farm of Rob Shepherd – also consultant & Part time Lecturer at RAU. A splendid farmer & key member of the “Cluster”. 1600 outdoor sows – mostly finished indoors. 200 acres grassland in Reversion Scheme. Adjisted cattle on break crops. Participating in HLS to 2019. Rob and his family entertained us to a splendid tea in their garden with wonderful homemade cakes.

5.00 pm Members drove to the hotel in cars – for the AGM @ 6.00pm.

7.00 pm Assembled in Private bar to welcome our guests.

7.45 pm – Dinner in the Garden Room.

After Dinner Speaker – James Townshend FRAgS described the formation of Velcourt and briefed us on the farm visits the following day.

Day 2 (Thursday)

A full morning – hosted by Velcourt Farming, kindly arranged by James Townshend FRAgS.  Full background details of each farming enterprise was made available to the group. Beyond commercial farming,  a wide ranging discussions were held on a wide range of topics from optimum storage & use of digestate & slurry, green bedding for cows,  soil management & reclamation post gravel extraction. Most of the land is in HLS.

9.00 am Woodsford Farm, Dorchester

11.15 am Evershot Farms, Melbury Dairy & AD Unit.

12.15 pm Depart for Melbury Park & a splendid lunch at Melbury House hosted by James and his wife Charlotte.

2.00 pm Depart for East Stoke – GWCT Fish Research projects on River Frome.

Met by Bill Beaumont – Research Manager.  We visited the facilities in groups (Wellies were useful!)

3.30pm Coach returned to the hotel. Conclusion of visits.

 

 

FRAgS BOOKING FORM Dorset 2017

Presentation of Awards at The House of Lords 21st February 2017

Dr Alastair Leake, Chairman of the English Panel welcomed those receiving Awards, their families and members of the organisation to our 2017 Presentation of Awards. He thanked our host Baroness Hazel Byford and introduced Rosie Carne- Chairman of CARAS.

Rosie explained that the Awards Scheme had been launched in 1970 and is administered by the Council for Awards known as (CARAS) which consists of representatives of the participating four Royal Agricultural Societies of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. She explained The Council is supported by a National Panel from each of the four nations of the UK who are represented on the Moderators Panel.

She remained the assembled company that the Awards to be presented are for personal achievement following peer recognition of each individual recipients’ outstanding contribution to agricultural progress within the UK. A Fellowship or Associateship of Royal Agricultural Societies is a prestigious honour: recognition of the outstanding contribution – by an individual – to the understanding, efficiency and well-being of UK agriculture

Associateship (ARAgS) is recognition of significant contribution to the agricultural and land-based industries of the UK. It is awarded to those who can demonstrate the required high level of achievement required. Candidates do not apply but are invited to do so by Panels appointed within each of the four UK nations, having been nominated by two existing Fellows as sponsors to vouch for their outstanding work.

The Awards embrace practical farming and the development of new husbandry practices, research, technology, economics, education, farming care, communication and administration.

Fellowship (FRAgS) is the senior Award of the Council. Associates are only considered for advancement to Fellowship if they have demonstrated a continuing significant contribution to agricultural and rural progress in the UK.

Advancement is by no means automatic and many people remain as Associates.

Professor Malcolm Stansfield- Hon Secretary to the English Panel and member of the Moderators Panel read a short citation about each recipient before the Awards certificates were presented to the following:

New Associates (ARAgS): Tony Bambrige, Judy Bell,  Richard Betton, Richard Calver, Belinder Clark,  Peter  Cornish, Richard Elliot,  Fiona Fell,  Jeremy Finnis,  Clare Greener,  Peter Gregory , Ian  Ohnstadt,  Nigel Pulling,  Humphrey Salway,  Philip Stocker,  Peter Wastenage, Diana  Wastenage.

 

Husband and wife Diana and Peter Wastenage presented with their ARAgS certificates by CARAS Chairman Rosie Carne

 

 

New Fellows (FRAgS): Helen Bower,  Andrew Brown,  David Cotton,  Meredydd David,  Sarah Dunning,  Tony Garnett,  Peter Gott,  Robin Hancox,  Stephen Harris,  Andrew May,  Graham Ward, Nicholas Watts.

New Fellow David Cotton presented with his FRAgS certificate  by CARAS Chairman Rosie Carne

 

 

 

2 new Fellows from Cumbria: CARAS Chairman Rosie Carne with new Fellows Peter Gott and Sarah Dunning with long-time Fellows Olive Clarke, John Geldart and John Dunning (Sarah’s father).

Thank you to members who submitted a response to the recent survey

Recently Professors’ John Wibberley and Malcolm Stansfield undertook a survey of the membership to evaluate the impact of our Awards in motivating excellence for UK agricultural progress and public benefit.

A simple, one side of A4 questionnaire was sent out in January 2017 to all Fellows and Associates of Royal Agricultural Societies in the UK (just over 1200), with a stamped addressed envelope for ease of reply. Members were given over three weeks to respond. Almost 600 responded.

CARAS has yet to distil and consider the findings but what I can share with you in advance is:

  • In all cases, the aspect of enjoyment of their membership rated consistently highly!
  • There is a strong sense that this pool of talent needs to be harnessed to impact the public, policy-makers and the research and development agenda more effectively. With BREXIT LOOMING YOU COULD SAY THIS HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT. AGRICULTURE & THE FOOD & FARMING INDUSTRY MUST BE AT THE BREXIT TABLE.
    • Though it is recognized that many who hold CARAS awards are already engaged through many other agricultural and rural organizations and thus exert their influence, and already maximize the ‘reach’ of CARAS.
    • Also – collectively – members of the Fellowship across the UK do act as independent custodians of the cause of agricultural and rural progress.

At the recent NFU Conference Defra Secretary Andrea Leadsom reiterated the 5 Government Principles: Trade, Productivity/innovation, Environment, Animal Welfare, and Resilience. Crucial these principles are integrated into policy and not allowed to exist in silos.

  • Our activities stimulate and encourage further excellence of contributions from its recognized members
  • The ‘public understanding’ category – about the understanding of the CARAS scheme by outsiders – was considered deficient by all. Given that applicants are invited – one might question how important it is for outsiders to know about the scheme….?
    • On the other hand- if its existence can inspire people in agriculture to aspire to contribute significantly to agricultural progress, then its existence and standards need to be better known.

This is a challenge and your CARAS Council will be considering how to address the findings. Watch this space!

Rosie Carne – Chairman of CARAS