At the CARAS AGM held in Llangollen on 7th April Terrig Morgan FRAgS was appointed Chairman of CARAS for the next two years. Terrig took over the role from previous English Chairman Rosie Carne.
The chairmanship of CARAS is held for a two year term by each Country, Rosie having taken over from Will Taylor of Northern Ireland in 2015.
The CARAS Council congratulated Terrig Morgan on his appointment.
The dates of the 2017 Awards Ceremonies were as follows
England: @ The House of Lords on 21st February
Northern Ireland: @ The Balmoral Show on Friday 12th May
Scotland: @ The Royal Highland Show on Thursday 22nd June
Wales: @ The Royal Welsh Show on Tuesday 25th July
Study Tour to Euston Estate, Norfolk.
Associate member Andrew Blenkiron hosted a wonderful day visit to The Euston Estate where he is Estate’s Director. After coffee in the House, Andrew took us on an extensive tour of the 6,200 acre estate where as well as the AD Unit we saw the in-hand farming growing cereals, sugar beet and a wide range of vegetable crops inconjunction with a local grower/packer. Irrigation of the very light land areas is key and since arriving five years ago, Andrew has doubled the quantity of water storage by designing and obtaining planning for new reservoirs. Also responsible for 1500acres woodland.
After a splendid lunch we were treated to a tour of the Hall where Andrew should his knowledge of the history of the house, the paintings and the furniture to be as detailed as his knowledge of the farming operation!
Dear Members,
I feel so privileged to have been the Chairman of CARAS and look back over my two year term with great affection. The highlights have undoubtedly been the Awards presentations at – in calendar date order- the House of Lords for England, the Balmoral Show for Northern Ireland, the Royal Highland Show for Scotland and the Royal Welsh Show for Wales. Reading the applications and citations for our newly recognised Associates and Fellows should give our industry great confidence in the wealth of creative talent we have in the farming industry. Talent which needs to be harnessed to effectively impact the public, policy-makers and the research and development agenda.
It is very worrying to read that so far there has been a lack of farming representation in the meetings arranged with the UK Department for International Trade (DIT). A real fear that new trade deals could be at the expense of domestic producers. When choosing to buy British food, British consumers can have confidence in the safety, quality and high standards of animal welfare in the production of that food. Food grown with environmental responsibility. This confidence in safe food could be diluted if trade liberalisation and a move to global commodity trading and the reduction or elimination of trade barriers is encouraged to: “get a deal”.
I know that each National panel has arranged a 2017 programme of visits, meetings and conferences- please support them and think how best to promote the findings to take our industry forward – vital, if current agricultural productivity is to flourish to feed the needs of the future. Recently Professors’ John Wibberley and Malcolm Stansfield undertook a survey of the membership to evaluate the impact of these Awards in motivating excellence for UK agricultural progress and public benefit. CARAS has yet to distil 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!”
Many of you are industry leaders already actively involved in our industry’s future – please mobilise our network of members – who were “recognized for personal contribution – to the understanding, further efficiency and well-being of agriculture, and land-based industries within the UK”. The Secretary of State Andrea Leadsum has declared five Government Principles: Trade, Productivity/innovation, Environment, Animal Welfare, and Resilience. It is crucial these principles are integrated and not allowed to exist in separate silos. We all can be part of delivering the best solution.
In April 2017 I pass the Chairman’s ‘baton’ (actually a beautiful enamel badge) to Terrig Morgan to lead our organisation for the next two years. As I write, Article 50 has not been triggered but by the time you read this it probably has been and we are in the uncertain times of BREXIT negotiations.
Talk of fractured relations between Westminster and the other National administrations can only make things worse….. It is so important the UK food and farming industry remains together, speaking with one voice.
Best wishes
Rosie Carne BSc FRAgS FGAJ
Chairman of CARAS 2015-2017