innovations issue 2

InnovationsSeptember 1-12 2014

International Congress

Great Britain

Issue No 2 : March 2014

Just a few days ago, we marked the start of the finalsix months before the 2014 IFAJ Congress

welcomes delegates to Britain for a comprehensive andexhilarating insight into modern British agriculture andhow we, as journalists and communicators, interact withagriculture in our ‘small island’.

Yet what should have been a moment of excitementwas quickly tempered by the shocking news of thesudden death of Joe Watson. There are few ‘regulars’ onthe IFAJ and Congress circuit who did not know Joe, andto those of us in the British Guild the tributes that floodedin from every continent were of some comfort inremembering what a superb contribution he made to ourindustry in so many ways: a mentor to young entrants inBritain, a diligent country representative to the IFAJexecutive, an outstanding journalist and, of course, theinitial driving force behind this year’s British Congress - notto mention a great friend and loyal colleague. Our Guildchairman Jane Craigie provides a full tribute to Joe laterin this issue.

Our IFAJ colleagues around the world will, I hope,understand that it’s not quite been ‘business as usual’ forthe Congress organising committee this month. But we’refirmly of the opinion that if Joe won’t be there to enjoy theCongress that he did so much to procure for Scotland,then the very least that Congress delegates can do toremember his legacy is to have a Congress to remember.That’s what we’re continuing to work towards!

Many of you have been asking when registration willopen. As you’ll know from our recent newsletter, we’vehad a number of unexpected legal and financial issues toresolve before we can start to take bookings. New legalentities and new financial systems have had to beestablished, including a new company to take respon sib -ility for Congress and protect the British Guild fromrunning an event of this magnitude. Individually, they takelittle time, but everything has to happen sequentially rather

than concurrently. We’re now on the final straight –resolving not only the most efficient means of payment,but also one in which all delegates can have confidencewith regards to security of sensitive financial and personalinformation.

I believe we’ve now achieved that and look forwardto opening what should be one of the easiest, quickestand simplest Congress registrations before the end of themonth. This edition of Innovations carries a full registrationguide to help you make your choice of tour and hotel forthe main Congress. I hope we can also encourage you towiden your learning experience and further yourknowledge of British agriculture by signing up to one ofthe limited places available on the exciting and feature-packed pre- and post-Congress tours.

If you’re not already signed up for our e-newsletters,be sure to add your name to the mailing list now, throughthe link on our website. It’ll be through this that we let youknow when registrations will open - with only 70 early-birdplaces available, you don’t want to miss out on that early-booking opportunity!Adrian BellChairmanIFAJ 2014

2 Innovations from a Small Island

Welcome

A Shepherd PublicationPublished byShepherd Publishing Ltd,Burnt House Garden, North CommonNorth Chailey, East Sussex BN8 4DJTel: 01684 565533Fax: 01684 565577Email: [email protected]

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Innovations from a Small Island 3

2 Welcome

4 Welcome to the land of food and drink

6 The Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership Programme

8 Continuing Professional Development

9 Facts and Figures

10 Congress at a glance

14 Post Congress

15 Leckford Estate

16 The Millennium Seed Bank

17 Main Congress:

Tour 1: Arable and Whisky

18 Tour 2: Market Makers: Field scale vegetables – specialist crops and fruit

19 Tour 3: Beef and Red Meat

20 Tour 4: Potatoes and Field Crops

21 Tour 5: Diversification, Forestry and Energy

22 Optional tours

23 Post Congress: Cotswold Farm Park

24 Ludlow Food Centre

25 Staying on after Congress?

26 Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)

27 Want to hear your report broadcast by BBC?

28 Power solutions for today’s agricultural manufacturers

29 Massey Ferguson shows how it support British Farming

30 Joe Watson: a tribute to a great man

31 IFAJ 2014 Organising Committee

32 The Rough Guide to IFAJ 2014

this issue

Welcome tothe land offood and drink


2014 will be an extremely exciting time to be inScotland. Visitors, athletes and media from allover the world will be welcomed to Scotland aswe host huge global events, including theCommonwealth Games in Glasgow, the RyderCup in Gleneagles, our second Homecomingcelebrations and our annual calendar offestivals and events.

That’s a lot of mouths to feed but food and drink isbig business here in Scotland. With a turnover of

more than £13 billion a year, the industry is Scotland’sbiggest employer. We are blessed with a fantastic larderof some of the best natural produce in the world andour longstanding reputation for producing qualityproducts is growing, particularly overseas where we’reseen increasingly as the home of world-class, premium-quality produce. You don’t just have to take my wordfor it - over 40 bottles of whisky are now shippedworldwide every second and our farmed salmon hasbeen voted the best in the world in an independent pollof international seafood buyers.

Our companies benefit from the very features thatScotland is most admired for beautiful unspoiltlandscapes, fertile land and clean air. We also have theambition, the capability and the foresight to keep upwith global food trends.

It is my job – and that of my partners in industry andgovernment – to make sure that our food and drinkcompanies and the wealth of world class agriculturaland rural businesses operating here in Scotland areequipped to do everything they can to exploit thoseopportunities.

That is why we are continuing to invest in ourmanufacturers, our farmers and our fishermen. 330,000people are now employed by the sector in Scotland andthere is exceptional talent and expertise across the fullbreadth of the food & drink, agriculture and farmingindustries. A lot of this activity is focused in our ruralareas, which represent nearly 95% of the land coveredby Scottish Enterprise, which is why our investmentteam has over £21 million invested in rural companies.We provide support to hundreds of rural companieseach year, many of whom are reporting increases inturnover and in overseas exports in spite of the globaleconomic environment.

More broadly, it is very clear that the food and drinksector has been one of the real stars of the Scottisheconomy in recent years. Food and drink sales haveincreased year after year since our sector strategy waslaunched in 2007 and exports hit an all time high of £5.4billion in 2011.

Yet this is no time for complacency. Scotland is notimmune from the challenges presented by the global

Dr Lena C Wilson

economic downturn and our farmers suffered badly lastyear from a very wet summer resulting in poor yields andlow profit margins. At such times, it is absolutely vitalthat we work with our partners in Government, with ourindustry development and delivery organisations andwith business directly to support, innovate and drivechange for future growth.

This investment supports not only individualcompany growth but the development of the wholeindustry. Over the past few years I have been proud tobe one of those supporting key developments which Ibelieve are fundamental to future growth: agriculture co-operatives and rural leadership.

2012 was the UN designated International Year ofCo-Operatives and our industry leaders took everyopportunity this afforded to promote Scotland’s farmersco-operatives at home and abroad. The InternationalYear not only facilitated increased collaboration at home,it further strengthened our global contact network andour resolve to exchange experiences and learning withagri-cooperators around the world.

Closer to home, Scottish Enterprise’s RuralLeadership Programme is designed to equip those thatcan make a difference with the skills, insight andconfidence to be advocates for rural issues. Theprogramme covers a whole range of businesses fromfarming to technical services to machinery and

production and I am blown away by the levels ofinnovation, energy and ambition which this programmehas unleashed. Now in its seventh year and with over289 graduates this now represents a real force fortransformation in rural Scotland with a more connectedcommunity and international outlook.

With such a ‘feast’ of entertainment on offer acrossScotland next year, striving to improve the high level ofskills within the food and drink industry has never beenmore important. Our vision is to make Scotlandinternationally known as ‘A Land of Food and Drink’ andto grow our industry to £16.5 billion by 2017. It’s anambitious goal but one that I strongly believe can beachieved if the industry works together.

I hope that you will join us in Scotland this year toexperience for yourself the beauty and diversity of ourlandscapes and our coastline and of course to enjoy thedelicious produce. I look forward to seeing you there.

Dr Lena C Wilson is Chief Executive, ScottishEnterprise


Enabling Rural Scotland to exploit its potential andmove towards a more confident economy, led by

the private sector, managing on less public fundingrequires improved leadership.

Targeted at business leaders and key influencersfrom across Scottish Enterprise’s (SE) rural areas with afocus on agriculture, energy, tourism and the ruralservices sectors, the Scottish Enterprise RuralLeadership (SERL) Programme has been running since2006. By the end of March 2014 SE will have over 320Rural Leadership graduates from a range of ruralsectors and will have:■ had a direct influence on boosting ambition and

motivation■ increased the confidence levels of businesses to

take the lead■ linked business and Government and made rural

policy more accessible to businesses■ had a direct influence on the establishment of new

businesses, and■ participated in international rural leadership networks

facilitating visits by US delegations.

The aim of the SERL’s activities is to assist ruralbusiness leaders to create additional wealth throughleading, team working, networking, influencing and bybeing ambitious. It does this by developing the capacityof individuals, building their confidence, widening theirboundaries, building industry and parliamentary trust,providing an awareness of rural economic issues andintroducing individuals to the wider rural leadershipnetwork.

The Scottish Enterprise RuralLeadership ProgrammeBy Lena Wilson


“By the end of March 2014,

Scottish Enterprise will have over

320 Rural Leadership

Graduates.


The SERL’s vision for 2014-2018 “We believe in a vibrant rural economy in Scotland, ledby outstanding people who have ambition and drivewhich has been nurtured over time through ourleadership activities. We believe in the potential of theSERL alumni who together can achieve great things.”

The key elements of SE’s rural leadership interventionsto achieve this vision are:

1. Rural Leadership Programme – aims to nurtureambition and increase confidence by developing thecapacity of individuals, widening boundaries, buildingtrust and increasing knowledge and understanding.

2. Harvesting the Growth Programme – aims tostrengthen ambition and leadership that acc el er -ates growth through a focused and sustainedapproach built around supporting the capacity ofindividuals and increasing business performance.

3. Networking and International Connections – aimsto (i) help the alumni to foster business connectionsand encourage collaboration and (ii) strengtheninternational networks and connections in ruralleadership development and encourage the inter -nationalisation of rural businesses.

A recent evaluation of the SERL Programme found that■ 58% of participants state the Programme had a

clear effect on increasing turnover and profit■ The Programme has significant effects on ambitions

(90%), confidence (90%), ability to initiate change(83%) and the ability of participants to plan aheadand think strategically (75%); and

■ 25% of graduates started an additional newbusiness.

The evaluation reported ‘overall we conclude that theSERL Programme has materially increased the engage -ment of the participants in leadership roles and activitieswhich require strong leadership qualities, mostparticularly implementing organisational change’.

Two SERLP graduates will be hosting farm visits onTour 3: Fresh Produce and Soft Fruit

Mike McLaren gained a HNDwith distinction at the ScottishAgriculture College Edinburgh in1997, after which he travelledfor two years working andseeing agriculture practices inEngland, Australia, NewZealand and Argentina.

Returning home to the family’s mixed farmingbusiness, Mike introduced broccoli which hasexpanded to over 400 acres, and the area farmed toapproximately 3,500 acres. The entire broccoli crop issold through East of Scotland Growers, a farm-ownedco-op, of which he is currently vice chair.

Adrian Ivory, after graduatingfrom the Royal AgriculturalUniversity in 1997, returned tothe family farm where heexpanded and simplified the

operations to achieve sustainable profitability. Theaward winning operations now cover 2,200 acresfeaturing arable and beef enterprises. Adrian hasforged strong links across the whole food chain andplayed a hand in organising various farming events.He works alongside processors ABP, chairs Asda’sScottish Suckler Strategy Group and earlier this yearjointly chaired the renowned Oxford FarmingConference.

IFAJ 2014 event managers Caroline Millar andClaire Taylor are also SERLP graduates, as isBritish Guild Chairman Jane Craigie.

Dr Lena Wilson is chief executive of ScottishEnterprise – Scotland’s national economicdevelopment agency – which has 1,100 staff in 40offices in Scotland and around the world.

“We believe in a vibrant rural economy in Scotland

Bring a sharp pencil and a sharpmind to Congress – there willbe plenty of opportunities tohone your communicationsskills and build your know -ledge of British agriculture,writes Steve Werblow

With a theme like Innovationsfrom a Small Island, it’s no

surprise that the 2014 IFAJ Congress hasa strong emphasis on knowledge and learning.

The Professional Development Workshop on Mondaymorning, 8 September, will anchor the educationaltheme that runs through the entire Congress. In thatthree-hour session, a parade of journalists and profess -ional communicators will share insight from the frontlines of the social media revolution around the globe.

British Guild Members Johann Tasker and SimonHaley will explore tactics to harness social media toolsin research and reporting. Consultant Lynsey Swealeswill review social media communications programmesfrom outside agriculture, while representatives of Britishfood and agriculture industry – and the nation’s Depart -ment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – sharedetails on their use of the media to maintain a dialoguewith their audiences.

Delivering IFAJ’s uniquely global perspective, we’llalso learn about social media use in agriculture in thedeveloping world from international colleagues.

Come with a pencil, a smartphone, a tablet or just anopen mind—but be ready to gather a vast new set oftools to help you excel when you get home.

The Monday workshop will be a great finale to aCongress full of professional development opportunities.

The first full day of the Congress kicks off with asession on how Scotland’s agriculture industry positionsitself strategically, pitting its proud farming communityand high-quality crops against challenges ranging fromthe country’s short growing season, areas of low-fertilitysoils and small domestic market.

Rather than grappling for a spot as an exporter ofbulk commodities, Scottish farmers have largely gatheredbehind the development of premium or value-addedmarkets. Scottish berries have been called the world’s

best; so has rich Scotch beef. Andthe Scotch whisky industry gener -ated £4.3 billion in exports alonelast year from the nation’s maltingbarley crop.

Government ministers andtrade association leaders will offer

insight into the Scottish food andfarm industries and perspective on

how the entire food chain is linked in thepromotion effort. It’s a far-reaching line-up,

including the nation’s Cabinet Secretary for RuralAffairs and the Environment and directors of ScotlandFood and Drink, Visit Scotland and Scottish Enterprise.

We’ll also hear from representatives of the nation’sagricultural research centres, world-renowned for dev -elop ments in crop production, weed control, livestockbreeding and even Dolly the Sheep, the first cloned farmanimal.

SRUC, Scotland’s Rural College system, will berepresented throughout the Congress with speakers aswell as a research poster display that will be availablefor visits throughout our time in Aberdeen. A researcherfrom the highly respected James Hutton Institute willpresent her plant breeding programme on one of thetours. And journalists on the pre-Congress tour will visitRothamsted Research, the world’s oldest continuouslyoperated agricultural research station and still at thecutting edge of innovation.

Of course, the farm tours – always a highlight of IFAJCongresses – will bring professional developmentopportunities right to ground level. The bus rides tovarious parts of Scotland’s diverse farm and forest landsprovide ample time to network with colleagues fromaround the world, and will be richened by commentaryfrom local agriculture experts.

From start to finish, the 2014 IFAJ Congress is full ofopportunities to gather stories, shoot photos and honeyour professional skills. We’re confident you’ll go homewith new ideas, new tools and a new appreciation forInnovations from a Small Island.

Steve Werblow is an American agricultural journalistliving in Glasgow for a year. While in theneighbourhood, he's lending a hand with Congress.


Continuing ProfessionalDevelopment

Facts and Figures

India £52.7mLatvia £53.6m

Estonia £54.1m

Japan £74.6m

Mexico £80.1m

UAE £82.0mVenezula £83.4m

Brazil £99m

Spain£259m South

Africa

£166m

Taiwan

£155m

Germany

£150m

South Korea £143m

Singapore£317m

ScotchWhisky

France

£535m

ScotchWhisky

USA£655m

Greece £70.5m

Australia £69.3mChina £66.1mCanada £60.5m

Overall expenditure

The whisky bottles represent the amount of Scotch

exported to the twenty largest markets in 2011.


And as for the amount of whisky delegates are going to sample andenjoy...that’s anyone’s guess. But here’s the twenty largest export

markets; seems there’s a few IFAJ members amongst them!

IFAJ Congress has a budget,including pre- and post-Congresstours, of almost £500,000

15 companies have provided over £160,000 in sponsorship

Delegates coming to Scotlandwill have to pay just 40% of thetrue cost of their place

We have space on Congress for up to 220delegates. Pre-Congress, delegates will travel 825miles before they get to Aberdeen, including 545miles on the Caledonian Sleeper

24 companies and organisations have provided in-kindsupport worth £80,000

We will serve more than 2,100 meals,all based on Scottish produce

including beef, lamb andseafood, during the four

days of the mainCongress

The five themed tours ofCongress will rack up 1,567miles between them,accompanied by more than1,500 refreshing bottles ofmineral water

Monday 1 September■ Travel to Sussex and Hampshire, two countries

south of London. ■ Visit the Millennium Seed Bank see p 16■ Lunch at the Leckford Estate see p 15■ Back to London for a dinner with the ancient Livery

Companies – the original trading companies of theCity of London.

Tuesday 2 September■ Tour of Smithfield Market, the site of livestock and

meat trading for more than 1,000 years. ■ Visit two ‘city farms’ – one of them the largest

urban farm in Europe – to see how farming’s beenbrought into the heart of London for education,social care, leisure – and food.

■ Sightseeing voyage up the River Thames, onwardsto the offices of Farmers Weekly to meet theeditorial team of ‘the newspaper of the soil’, Britain’smost widely-read agricultural publication

■ Return to central London for an evening receptionwith the BBC Rural Affairs unit at BroadcastingHouse – home of the world’s largest live newsroom,at any one time broadcasting to over ten millionpeople in the UK and every week, to over 150million people around the world.

Wednesday 3 September■ Visit Rothamsted Research founded in 1843, the

world’s oldest continuously operated agriculturalresearch station and home to the world’s longestrunning agricultural experiment.

■ Return to London for lunch and tour at the Housesof Parliament, a Q&A session with the AgricultureMinister, and a sustainable ‘food in the city’ paneldiscussion.

■ Evensong service at St Bride’s Church. Situatedon Fleet Street, a name synonymous with the homeof British newspapers and publishing, St Bride’s isthe spiritual home of British journalists.

■ Board the Caledonian Sleeper. One of only twosleeper trains on the British rail network, the servicehas individual or shared cabins and a fabulouslounge car where we’ll start to get our first tastes ofwhat lies ahead in Scotland – whisky and haggis arefirm favourites on the menu!

Pre Congress

Congress at a glance

Parliament

Square

Millennium Seed Bank


Thursday 4 September Delegates arrive for registration at varying times on 4September to the hotels we have booked aroundAberdeen Airport. We have an optional tour to Finzean,a typical and beautiful Highland estate. This tour willleave at 10.30 hrs.

The IFAJ delegate assembly will run from 16.30-18.00,followed by a ‘Welcome to Scotland’ dinner atAberdeen's Beach Ballroom, courtesy of Aberdeen CityCouncil.

Poster display - Science, Innovation and TechnologyA permanent poster display will run for the duration ofthe Congress in the Thistle ballroom. Entitled Science,Innovation and Technology the display will showcasethe best of science, new technologies and innovationbeing employed in agriculture and food in Scotland.

Main Congress

Thursday 4 September

Glenlivet

Heather on Peter Hill

BroadcastingHouse,London

Cotswold Farm Park

“Scotland is renowned for its farming,

its heritage and its food and drink


Professional Development WorkshopInnovations in social media and what it means forcommunicators: A three-hour, engaging mini-conference with a line-up of great speakers from aroundthe world. There will be some fun interstitial content thatillustrates social media and its role and value to

journalists and communicators with hint at what looksto be coming down the line. The morning will start witha zesty, slightly later, open forum breakfast – to help youshake off the previous night's excesses!

Lunch and Congress close 1200-1330

Friday 5 September

Monday 8 September

Painting a strategic picture of Scotland: seminar and panel This session, at Inverurie’s Thainstone Centre, will givedelegates the background to Scotland, its ruraleconomy, the importance of its farming, food and drinksectors, the contribution from tourism and its world-renowned scientific activities. Speakers will includeScottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for theEnvironment and Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead,

Scotland Food and Drink’s James Withers; VisitScotland’s Ken Massie; Scottish Enterprise’s LenaWilson and SRUC’s Prof Geoff Simm.

An afternoon and evening visit to Mackie’s ofScotland, Rothienorman featuring a low carbon dairyfarm, ice cream production, robotic milking, innovativebreeding techniques for low-lactose content A2 milk,branding success story, plus Mackie’s Crisps inconjunction with Taypack potatoes.

Main CongressThere are five tours. Each tour will be run on Saturdayand repeated on the Sunday. All will leave the hotelsearly in the morning, arriving back to the hotels no laterthan 17.30. Whilst the tour titles are sector specific, allhave a diverse and rich range of stories and content; soeven if you don't register early enough to get on to yourfirst choice, we can guarantee an interesting tour. Onevery tour you will see stunning scenery, a wide range

of enterprises, interesting people and will savour thebest of Scottish food and drink. See p17 for details.

1 Arable and whisky2 The Market Makers – Field scale vegetables,

specialist crops and fruit3 Beef and red meat 4 Potatoes and field crops5 Diversification, forestry and energy

Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September


The Evenings

Thursday 4 SeptemberWelcome to Scotland reception and dinner courtesy ofAberdeen City Council at Aberdeen's Beach Ballroom,overlooking the sea.

Friday 5 SeptemberA farm BBQ using lamb and pork from a local farmer, atour tour hosts, Mackies and sponsored by Harbro. Wehope that the IFAJ band will play at the end of the evening.

Saturday 6 September Taste of Grampian Dinner and Ceilidh at the Thainstone

Exchange. a five-course banquet of local food suppliedby local producers The Taste of Grampian Producers,followed by a traditional Scottish dance – the Ceilidh.Kilt-hire will be available for those who really want to getinto the spirit of Scotland.

Sunday 7 September IFAJ Scottish Congress Gala dinner sponsored by Yaraat Raemoir House Hotel – our finale evening with thepresentation of the IFAJ Awards. We will dine onfabulous Scottish produce and finish off the nightdancing to the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

Finzean

Date: 4th - 8th September 2014

Principal sponsors:Massey Ferguson, Perkins Engines and Waitrose

Partners: Scottish Enterprise www.scottish-enterprise.com/ and SRUC www.sruc.ac.uk/

Website: www.ifaj2014.com and www.bgaj.org.uk

Twitter: @IFAJ2014

Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFAJ2014

Contact: For more details contact Adrian Bell ([email protected]), orJane Craigie ([email protected])

Useful Links: Plan your trip: www.visitscotland.comHomecoming Scotland 2014:www.visitscotland.com/see-do/homecoming-scotland-2014/ 2014 Commonwealth Games:www.glasgow2014.com2014 Ryder Cup: www.rydercup2014.com/

The Factfile


Monday 8 September

■ Arrive to Birmingham Airport late afternoon, travelto Stratford-upon-Avon hotel.

■ Evening Civic Reception in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Tuesday 9 September

■ Visit Cotswold Farm Park see p 23■ Visit Duchy Home Farm ■ Travel to Ludlow, internationally reputed for its

locally sourced food and drink. We dine at LudlowFood Centre, a diversification enterprisedeveloped on the Earl of Plymouth’s 3,000ha

estate which strives to offer the best fresh, local,seasonal and handmade food. We’ll be joined fordiscussion with some of the producers to providea true field to fork experience. See p 24

■ Overnight in Ludlow

Wednesday 10 September


Friday 12 September

■ We start the day visiting a new hydro projectdevelopment deemed as a technological andecological win/win on the River Teme on the Earlof Plymouth’s estate.

■ Travel to Wales to visit the Pumlumon Project, anew concept in upland support mechanisms inthe Cambrian Mountains designed to guide amajor change in land management.

■ Find out more about a £1.3m researchprogramme to develop genomic DNAtechnologies, a first for the UK sheep sector.

■ Visit a 1,500 acre upland family farm, Ddol atLlanbadarn Fynydd, Llandrindod Wells to discussthe latest developments in forage varieties andcutting edge sheep genetics within the unit’s2,500 ewe breeding flock

■ Travel to Welshpool for a ‘Welsh fest’ featuring thefinest traditional local fare accompanied bytraditional Welsh music and lyrics from renownedmusician, Sian James.

■ Travel to Stratford-upon-Avon. Visit Mary Arden’sFarm, the childhood home of WilliamShakespeare’s mother which is maintained as atraditional Tudor farm and used as a historicaleducational resource centre with native livestockbreeds and period cookery demonstrations.

■ Free time in Stratford-upon-Avon; optional visits toShakespeare’s Birthplace and heritage sites.

■ Royal Shakespeare Theatre tour, dinner in theTheatre’s Riverside restaurant.

■ Optional theatre visit to ‘The Roaring Girl’ in theSwan Theatre.

■ Travel to nearby Stoneleigh Park, home to theNational Farmers Union (NFU) and Agriculturaland Horticultural Development Board (AHDB).Discuss latest issues with the NFU presidentand other industry leaders, including those

representing AHDB – the arable, horticultural,dairy and red meat levy boards.

■ Research centre and farm visits.

Post Congress:


Leckford Estate1 September

Pre Congress

We’ll be lunching at Leckford Estate, a 4,000 acreworking farm owned by Waitrose – one of our

principal sponsors. Waitrose is a chain of British super -markets, forming the food retail division of Britain’s largestemployee-owned retailer, the John Lewis Partnership.

The afternoon will be spent touring the estate whichfeatures arable crops including high quality bread-making wheat that is used to make a range of Leckfordlabel flour. The unit also supplies milk, apples, pears,apple juice, cider, free range eggs and mushrooms aswell as Leckford free range chickens to Waitrosebranches. On seeing this modern and professional foodbusiness in action, there is an immediate sense ofWaitrose’s commitment to forward thinking.

Leckford Estate is all about innovative practices andnew products, a holistic approach,choice and quality, and respect for theenvironment. But, above all, it’s aboutdelivering customers the very finestfood from known sources. Waitrosestates its reputation rests on thetraceability of the finest foods. Thisrequires strong relationships through -out the food supply chain built onrespect, trust and a mutual comm -itment to the highest standards.Having our own 4,000-acre farmmeans Waitrose practises what itpreaches.

Leckford also embodies theWaitrose principles of good food, goodenvironmental practice and fair

behaviour in all its transactions. At all stages it ensuresresponsible and sustainable agriculture and animalhusbandry. It also recognises the daily challenges thatfarmers face in producing wholesome, affordable foodas well as managing a viable farming business

We will in fact be following in the footsteps of visitorsfrom all over the world who come to Leckford to sharein John Spedan Lewis’s original vision for farming inharmony with the environment, as well as to share in thevalues that Waitrose continues to hold true in itseveryday expertise in food. It shares information andpromote best practice with other suppliers, foodexperts, students and buyers through a regularprogramme of events.

Finally, there will be an opportunity to visit LeckfordEstate’s own farm shop - thefirst supermarket owned farmshop in the UK which is sellingover 1,000 products with astrong emphasis on locallyand regionally sourced food.As well as showcasing thewide variety of food producedon the Estate, it has workedwith Taste of the South Eastand Hampshire Fare to sourcehigh quality local producers.The shop has alreadyestablished supply from over60 suppliers from the area,helping to boost the local andregional food economy.



Who’d have guessed that the most biodiverseregion in the world lies in the middle of the British

countryside? That’s right. Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank,situated in the tranquil grounds of Wakehurst place inSussex is home to the seeds of over 40,000 species ofwild plants. As the hub of a global partnership of over170 organisations in 80 different countries, the seedbank has conserved 13% of the world’s flora and is wellon its way to achieving its target of a quarter of theworld’s seed-bearing plant species by 2020. Mostpartnerships have seed collecting and conservation attheir core and also involve aspects such as training,capacity building, skills sharing and research.

Aside from being a ‘doomsday vault’ to save us inthe event of a global catastrophe, seed banks are aninsurance policy against loss of species in the wild andthey play an important role in research and habitatrestoration, as well as providing communities aroundthe world with options for sustainable plant use. InNamibia, for example, the Millennium Seed Bank hassupplied seeds and knowledge to the Indigenous PlantTask Team to develop indigenous crops that are usedfor income acquisition.

Seed saving has its origins in agriculture, some10,000 years ago as farmers would safeguard seed toensure the harvest for the following year.

The connection between seed banking and foodsecurity is even more relevant today as agriculturecontends with the challenges of a rising global populationin addition to climate change and the continual battleagainst plant diseases. Seed banking is a way ofconserving plant genetic resources, which includes the

wild relatives of crop plants, in a form that breeders canuse to create new, more resilient (or perhaps tastier andhigher yielding) varieties. The Adapting Agriculture toClimate Change project at the Millennium Seed Bank isinvolved in supporting partners to collect their crop wildrelatives for the improvement of agriculture for foodsecurity.

Unlike seed banks such as the Svalbard Global SeedVault in Norway, the Millennium Seed Bank is a hive ofactivity as the incoming seeds undergo a rigorousprocess to prepare them for storage. Once the seedshave been identified, cleaned, dried, counted andchecked for quality they are packaged and stored atminus 20°C in a bomb-proof underground vault. Toensure that the seed collections remain useful forgenerations to come, scientists at the seed bank testfor their viability and investigate the optimum germ -ination and propagation protocols for each species.Collecting seeds may be fun but the real magic iswatching a seed that has been dormant for hundredsof years turn into a living plant. The unparalleledbiodiversity that scientists at the Millennium Seed Bankencounter means that their expertise on issues such asseed processing, storage, and germination is soughtafter by horticulturalists, forestry services and breedersalike.

Plants sustain human life through food, medicine,shelter and fuel as well as through the enjoyment ofsimple pleasures such as taking a walk in nature.Unfortunately more than one in five of the world’s plantsare threatened with extinction. Seed banks, such as theMillennium Seed Bank, are an insurance policy againstextinction and provide us with options for a brighterfuture.

The Millennium Seed Bank1 September

By Sarah Cody

An estimated 85% of the land area of Scotlandis officially classified by the EU as Less Favouredand a glance at the relief map of Scotlanddemonstrates that the main arable area coversa very narrow strip of land down the east coasttotalling 866,300 hectares.However, arable cropping is an important element of theintegrated Scottish farming economy, with wheat andbarley being used for both whisky distilling and animalfeed; oilseed rape (OSR) provides oil for both humanconsumption and energy, while the cake by-product isa valuable protein feed. The value of the cereal cropalone in 2012 was £461.3 million and OSR andpotatoes contributed a further £209.7 million.

Scottish barley growers are benefitting froma soaring world-wide demand for Scotchwhisky. Scotch whisky exports, worth £4.3billion last year, account for a quarter of UKfood and drink exports and havealmost doubled in 10 years. Themain market is the USA whichimports Scotch to the value of£655 million and more whiskyis consumed in France in amonth than cognac in a year.

Exports soared by 23% in2011, particularly to China andcountries in the Pacific Basin.

Malting barley prices have reached record levels overthe past two years but are likely to slip back this year inline with falling world cereal prices. Considerableexpansion is taking place at many of Scotland’s 108distilleries which last year absorbed more than 900,000tonnes of malting barley from Scottish farmers.

Most of the distilleries are in Moray and Speysidewhich is the area the arable tour will take us and willinclude a visit to farms growing malting barley; one ofScotland’s newest maltings where the barley isconverted into malt; and a distillery where there will bean opportunity to sample the final product. Lunch onone of the farms will include beef from cattle finished ona diet including distillery by-products (draff and dried

wheat dark grains). Distillery by-products are also now

being used as a source of energy whichis a concern for farmers dependent on

draff as a relatively cheapsource of protein for animalfeed.

Farming and Rural Enterprise in ScotlandWe will be providing delegates will the opportunity toview a wide spectrum of Scottish farming and ruralenterprise during the weekend of September 6 and 7.Our aim is to highlight the diversity of Scottish farmingand provide you with a range of interesting storiesdesigned to generate a huge diversity of high qualitycopy, sound bites, footage and images.

You will be able to choose two of the five day-longtours covering different subject areas depending on

your particular interests. Places will be allocated on afirst come, first served basis and numbers will be limitedto a maximum of 50, one coach load, each day whichmeans that up to 100 delegates can participate in eachtour over the two days.

Industry experts appropriate to the subject will joineach tour to give you the opportunity of making an in-depth study of the wider aspects of the farmingbusiness, including research and development,sustainability, supply chain issues and marketing.

Main Congress: September 6 and 7

Congress organising committee member Eddie Gillanders reviews each tour

Tour 1: Arable and Whisky



The fresh produce and soft fruit tour takes usdown south of Aberdeen to two of the mostfertile areas of Scotland – Strathmore and theHowe o’ the Mearns, where vegetables and fruitare major farm enterprises. Horticultural cropsaccount for £205.1 million of Scottish farmoutput.The day will also include a visit to Strathisla Farms, thefamily farm managed by former Farmers Weekly Farmerof the Year, Adrian Ivory, which is hometo championship-winning pedigreeherds of 60 Simmental and 60Charolais cows and followers aswell as a commercial beefenterprise of 150 suckler cowsproducing bull beef for super -market, Asda (Wal-Mart), andcrossbred females for breeding.

The herds are high health as membersof the SAC Premium Health Scheme and enhancedgenetics and high EBV bulls are used to achievesuperior performance. Scotch beef will be the centre-piece for lunch which is being provided on the farm.

The morning visit will be to Cronan Farm, Coupar,Angus, where farmer Mike McLaren grows a large areaof broccoli which is marketed through local co-operative, East of Scotland Growers. Members of theco-op specialise in growing so-called ‘superfoods’,such as broccoli, cauliflower, swedes, onions and leeks,with acknowledged high health benefits, for both UKand near-Europe supermarkets. Produce is picked and

packed in the field where possible to ensure maximumfreshness and chilled quickly after picking.

The afternoon visit is to the 700 acre Castleton Farm,Fordoun, where farmer Murray Mitchell and his son Ross

grow 220 acres of soft fruit –110 acres of strawberries,20 acres of raspberries, 70

acres of blueberries and 20acres of late season

cherries under polytunnels for Marks andSpencer, Tesco andAsda. The Mitchells arethe most northerlyblueberry growers inthe world! The coolScottish summer prov -

ides the right growingconditions. The family operates

a busy purpose-built farm shop and café at the end ofthe farm road which has won a number of awards. Theyare also LEAF Marque farmers, an environmentalassurance system recognising sustainably farmedproducts.

The Mitchells won the UK Fruit Grower of the Yearaward in 2009 and arewinners of the RoyalNorthern AgriculturalSociety’s Best FarmPractice award.

Tour 2: Market Makers: Field ScaleVegetables – specialist crops and fruit

Next to whisky, Scotland is probably most famousfor the production of Scotch quality beef, whichtogether with lamb accounts for £786 million ofScottish farm output. Under the stratified structure of production in Scotland,most beef calves and lambs are born and reared in thepoorer land of the hills and uplands and sold by auctionafter weaning for finishing on low ground farms. Calvesare generally single suckled on their mothers rather thanbeing prod uced as a by-product ofthe dairy herd.

The auction system continues tobe the preferred method of tradingand price discovery for mostbreeding stock and ‘store’ cattleand lambs – young stock requiringfurther feeding, which are tradedthrough a network of 32 auctionmarts throughout Scotland. Finishedcattle and sheep are mostly solddirect to abattoirs.

The national beef herd and sheep flock has been indecline for the past decade because of lack ofprofitability and the imposition of bureaucracy by theEU, especially the requirement for electronic taggingand individual traceability.

Despite the EU policy of discouraging supportpayments linked to production objectives, the ScottishGovernment, with the support of NFU Scotland, hasargued strongly in CAP Reform negotiations for theretention of so-called ‘coupled’ support to enableheadage payments to be made on stock to encouragefarmers to maintain production.

The decline in breeding stock is threatening the futureof Scotland’s important meat processing sector and theScottish industry’s ability to meet the growing exportdemand for Scotch beef and lamb.

S c o t l a n d ’ snative beef breeds,such as the world-

famous Ab er deen-Angus, Beef Short -horn and Highland,are currently enjoying arevival, following years ofdecline with the import ofcontinental breeds, such as theCharolais, Limousin and Simmental from the 1960sonwards, to produce quicker growing cattle. Super -

markets are paying premium pricesfor native breed cattle which aredeemed to produce higher qualitybeef.

Deer farming is a much morerecent development but the UK isa very small producer of farmedvenison – only 50 tonnes a year –despite all the early developmentwork on deer farming having beencarried out in Scotland at the

Rowett Research Institute and the Macaulay Land UseResearch Institute, now part of the James HuttonInstitute. New Zealand has been much more adept atpicking up this research and is now a major exporter ofvenison to the UK.

The red meat tour will include one of Scotland’sleading deer farms operated by the current president ofthe British Deer Farmers Association. Ali Loader, andthe Ballindalloch Aberdeen-Angus herd, which is theoldest herd of the breed in continuous existence havingbeen founded in 1860 by Sir George Macpherson-Grant, an ancestor of the present owner, Mrs ClareRussell.

Following a lunch of Aberdeen-Angus beef, we willmove in the afternoon to Wellheads, Huntly, a typicalScottish hill farm, where farmer John Gordon runs alarge-scale sheep and suckler beef enterprise. The farmrises to 1,350ft and stocking comprises 850 Blackfaceand Greyface ewes crossed with Suffolk and Texel rams

and 230 suckler cowscrossed with Char -

olais bulls. Well -heads hostedS c o t l a n d ’ s

national sheep event in 2006.

Tour 3: Beef and Red Meat


Today’s tour heads up to an area known asBuchan in North-east Aberdeenshire for anearly-morning visit to a young entre -preneur who has turned a businessplan prepared for his dissertation forhis agricultural degree into businessreality. In just four years, Gregor Macintosh’s coldpressed rape seed oil, produced from oilseedrape grown on the farm, has won a string ofprestigious industry awards and secured supplycontracts with leading supermarkets, Sainsbury’s andTesco, as well as smaller retail outlets.

Following a visit to the Gulf Food Show last February,Gregor has won his first export order to a wholesaler inDubai which will see Mackintosh of Glendaveny producthit the shelves of supermarkets throughout the MiddleEast.

A £250,000 investment in his state-of-the-art on-farmprocessing facility has increased the capacity of thebottling line to 11,500 bottles a day, making thecompany the largest producer of cold-pressedrapeseed oil in Scotland.

We then move on to Garnieston where anotherentrepreneurial farmer, Philip Benzie, and his family, havebuilt up a large potato operation, growing 1,400 acresof the brand-leading Rooster variety for wholesalersAlbert Bartlett, who are major suppliers to supermarketsthroughout the UK. The russet red-skinned Roosterpotato is a former winner of the Best Fruit and VegProduct at the Scottish Food and Drink ExcellenceAwards and has become the UK’s favouritebranded potato.

The farm, with its extensive grading andpacking operations, is run on renewableenergy from the farm’s own wind turbine andenvironmental features include ponds toencourage varied eco systems and the rest -oration of habitats for the en -dangered bumblebee whichplays an important part inthe pollination of crops.

The Benzie family was last year awarded the RoyalNorthern Agricultural Society’s annual Best FarmPractice award.

Mr Benzie is kindly providing lunch which will includeHighland beef from nearby Bogside farm where CharlesBruce, the current Highland Cattle Society president,runs a well-known fold of Highland cattle and an on-farm butcher’s shop specialising in Highland beef.

This afternoon’s visit is to Maxwell Farms at Turriff, anextensive farming business specialising in theproduction and packing of quality Scottish vegetablesfor wholesale, retail and processing markets in the UKand Europe.

Maxwell Farms’ speciality is turnips, but the farm alsogrows carrots and beetroot, producing both con vent -ional and organically-grown products. Organics aregrown in separate fields well away from conventionalcrops.

Environmentally friendly methods of production arecombined with efficient growing and

harvesting methods to meet thediverse needs of customers.

Grow ing methods are con -stantly being reviewed in thelight of demands for reducedpesticide use and this yearcarrots are being succ ess -

fully grown conventionallywithout the use of nem at -icides.

Tour 4: Potatoes and Field Crops


The fifth tour will take us up into the hills to thehighest village in the Scottish Highlands,Tomintoul (1,132ft), and an all-day visit to the57,000 acre Glenlivet Estate operated by TheCrown Estate on behalf of the nation and partof the Cairngorm National Park.The Crown Estate is governed by Act of Parliament andowns half the foreshore and almost all the seabedaround the UK. It has a commercial mandate tooptimise returns and is not allowed to borrow money.Any surplus from its commercial activities is returned tothe UK Treasury.

The large upland estate of Glenlivet on the edge ofthe Cairngorm Mountains is a fine example of integratedland use which has won widespread recognition, incorp -orating farming, forestry, sporting activities, wildlifeconservation, tourism and recreation. The estate includessix officially-designated Sites of Special ScientificInterest and attracts around 30,000 visitors a year,including a large number of school groups.

Farming is the major activity on the estate with 63%of the land area (36,000 acres) let to tenant farmers. Thenumber of tenanted farms has fallen from 90 to 30 overthe past 40 years as smaller farms have been amal gam -ated to create more viable units capable of supportingfarming families. Farm size ranges from 150 acres to2,700 acres, with an average of 860 acres typicallysupporting beef suckler herds of 50 to 80 cows andsheep flocks of 350 to 550 ewes. Considerableinvestment has been made by the estate to improveand extend farm buildings, especially for cattle.

The estate is keen to encourage new entrants intofarming and has recently let out a 750 acre farm to three

young farm -ers on 10-year limitedd u r a t i o ntenancies.

The 8,000acres of forestry,mostly pine and spruceplanted in the 1950s and1960s, is currently undergoing an ext en sive long-termthinning, clearing and re-planting programme with moreprod uct ive con i fers and native broadleaves rep lac ingpine and spruce. Forestry is closely integrated withfarming to provide shelter for farm livestock.

More than 80% of the farms are involved inconservation schemes to provide habitats for wildlife,which is encouraged by the estate, and sportingactivities, such as shooting, deer stalking and fishing,are important sources of income.

The estate is closely involved in the Tomintoul andGlenlivet Regeneration Project designed to identifysolutions to the economic challenges which the areafaces.

Lunch will be provided by Moray Council, Highlandsand Islands Enterprise and Cairngorm National Parkand delegates will have the opportunity of sampling thefamous Glenlivet malt whisky produced at the nearbyGlenlivet Distillery.

The day’s programme will also focus on renewableenergy.

Tour 5: Diversification, Forestry and Energy


Huntly Hairst Food & Farming Festival

We have an optional tour for partners or any delegatespecifically interested in seeing a vibrant and active ruralScottish community which focuses on the importanceof community, food and farming to rural parts of thenorth east of Scotland. This tour will take delegate an

hour north east of Aberdeen to Huntly, a pretty ruraltown, for its Food & Farming Festival. The event is calledthe Hairst which means harvest.

The Festival is held in the town’s main square andincludes many local food producers’ stalls, craft stallsand live Scottish music and other cultural events. Inaddition, the IFAJ 2014 team has organised for theChairman of the Huntly Development Trust and localschool children to take delegates around the historicHuntly Castle, built in 1190 and the spiritual home of theGordon Clan. The castle is now in part ruin and islocated where the rivers Deveron and Bogie meet. Thetown has a very active community that champions arts,music, food and farming. It has also invested in acommunity farm targeted for erecting a community windturbine and for supporting a local mental health charity.This should be a great day for anyone interested in localfood, culture and community. Places are limited to 15people.

Finzean Estate

There are 65 places on this optional tour for delegatesarriving early from either the pre-congress tour, theMasterclass & Bootcamp or under their own steam.

Finzean (www.finzean.com) is a beautiful Deesidesporting estate in the Grampian Hills with richwoodlands, heather hills and an abundance of wildlife.Home to the Farquharson family for 16 generations over400 years, this working estate farms almost 10,000acres of arable, beef and sheep and typical of a Scottishestate it offers a wide variety of country sports –shooting, fishing and stalking. It also has forestry, a farmshop and tea rooms. The estate is managed as anintegrated family business with a keen interest inconservation and the preservation of a viable andthriving community.

Optional tours for partners/delegates interested in rural communities

Huntly Castle

Saturday 6 September



The Post-Congress tour will travel through theCotswold country side with its honey colouredlimestone villages to Cotswold Farm Park.Cotswold Farm Park is the home of Adam Henson,popular farmer and television pres enter. Adam ishelping to bridge the gap between farmers andconsumers whilst creating a greater awareness ofthe agricultural sector fronting BBC’s rural flagshipprogramme, Countryfile and other programmes suchas Farm Kitchen with celebrity chef Nigel Slater, andLambing Live.

Adam was born on the farm which was opened in1971 by his father, Joe Henson as the first farm visitorattraction in the UK, and to protect some of our rarebreeds of farm animals. We’ll be finding out first handfrom the team how 42 years on this diversificationbusiness has developed to provide a total countrysideexperience for all ages of children and students.

Cotswold Farm Park has had a great start to theseason having beaten off competition from across thecountry to win the Farm Attraction of the Year Award2014, a national accolade which takes into accountevery area of the business.

Cotswold Farm Park attracts more than 100,000visitor each year, however it is a relatively small part ofthe larger Henson and Andrews farm business totalling1,600 acres, including a 1000 acre arable enterprisefeaturing a standard three-year rotation first cereal(bread-making wheat), a second cereal – winter orspring barley for malting, followed by a break crop –oilseed rape plus spring beans or rotational grass.

The farming partnership has always been a familyaffair, and when Joe Henson retired from the businessin 1997, Adam took over the lease and formed a newbusiness partnership with Duncan Andrews, a collegefriend, who since 2000 has held an equal share in thebusiness.

Henson and Andrewsalso contract farm anadditional 300 acresof mixed farming andsupply contract man -agement services ona further 600 acres.All of the farmedarea is covered by

a combination of environ -mental stewardship agreements, and conservation

is a key element in the business’ farming policy.A joint venture with a farming neighbour has resulted

in machinery and labour being shared across a total of3200 arable acres. This has enabled the two businessesto invest in new equipment and adopt a number ofprecision farming practices.

There’ll be an opportunity to find out more about howthe partners run a modern and progressive businessthat has maintained a positive momentum throughinitiatives such as expansion, diversification and addingvalue to develop excellent examples of how modernfarming can be managed in a sustainable andenvironmentally effective manner.

Post CongressCotswold Farm Park 9 September


Ludlow is a small medieval market town on the borders of England

and Wales that is internationallyrenowned for its locally sourced foodand drink, restaurants, and traditionalbutchers and bakers shops. We visitand stay for dinner at one of its mostnewly established – Ludlow FoodCentre (www.ludlowfoodcentre.co.uk)which has already secured numerousmajor national awards the latest beingBritain’s Best Food Hall 2014.

The centre is a diversificationenterprise developed on theEarl of Plymouth’s 8,000 acreestate which was initiallypurchased by Clive of India inthe 18th century. Since then theproperty has remained in thefamily for six generations. LordPlymouth began to farm theestate in-hand in 1950 and sincehas expanded to its current scaleoperating a mix of enterprisesincluding two dairy herds,Hereford and Limousin beefcattle, Lleyn and Welsh CountryMule sheep and the largestherd of pedigree GloucesterOld Spot pigs in the country.

Passion for local is at theheart of the centre which iswhy it is committed to sourc -ing over 80% of the food itsells from Shropshire and thesurrounding counties bringinga major boost for local farmers,food producers and artisans.Offering seasonal and hand -made food is also a priority. Infact its entire supply of beef,lamb, and pork comes fromthe Estate along with a selection offruit and vegetables from Lady Windsor’s walled garden.

The Food Centre is unique in that it is designed not onlyto sell food, but also to produce it. More than half the foodit sells is made on the premises in eight kitchen unitsincluding dairy, butchery, bakery, prod uction kitchen, jam

and pickle kitchen, which surround thefood hall. They’re visible through glasswindows allowing customers to seethe artisan producers at work. Theyinclude award winning head butcherJohn Brereton who works closely withthe estate to select livestock when theyat their peak and has complete controlover the preparation of the centre’smeat. Dudley Martin is head cheese-maker and has spent the last two years

developing a range of award-winning cheeses and handmadebutter using milk from the estate’sherd.

The Food Centre employsmore than 90 people, and staffare encouraged to pursue newideas and create products thatencapsulate fresh, local, andseasonal produce.

We will enjoy some of thisproduce in the centre’s newlyrefurbished restaurant wherewe’ll be joined for discussionto provide a true field-to-forkexperience with some of theproducers along with repres -entatives from the Estate whowill discuss its rich heritagealong with modern sust -ainable farming practices.

Exploiting natural resources:we will visit a new hydroproject development on theRiver Teme, on the Earl of

Plymouth’s estate. Deemedas a technological and

ecological win win, the systemfeatures a very low-head site on

a Site of Special ScientificInterest and an important salmon

river. The result: 165 kW outputproducing sufficient electricity for

122 average UK homes, plus a newco-located multi-species Larinier fish pass to encouragemore fish to pass quickly upstream and spawnsuccessfully.

Ludlow Food Centre 9 September


Find out more about Scottish food, drink andtourism in Stottish Food and Drink Fortnight.

For anyone interested specifically in food and drink, theScottish Food & Drink Fortnight runs a number ofevents across Scotland from 6 to 22 September,celebrating this fabulous sector.

If anyone is interested in finding out more, orattending any events, contact Sophie Fraser of ScotlandFood & Drink: [email protected] find out more about Scotland Food & Drink go to:www.scotlandfoodanddrink.org

In addition, there is a new event called Eat, Drink,Discover Scotland which runs from 12-14 September.Organisers, farmers Andrew Hornall and John Sinclairand the Royal Highland Society of Scotland, describe itas the ultimate celebration of food and drink in Scotlandgiving you the chance to taste all of the country in oneday, under one roof. It all takes place at The RoyalHighland Centre in Edinburgh. Judith O’Leary, who isresponsible for the PR, is pulling together a package,including overnight accommodation, for any delegateswanting to attend this event.

For more information, contact Judith O’Leary [email protected] See: http://eatdrinkdiscoverscotland.co.uk/

Free visits to agri-tourism businesses – in return for coverage

The Scottish agri-tourism sector is represented by aninitiative called Go Rural. Go Rural has offered to arrangea series of trips – two or three days each – to Scotland'sbest farm and estate diversification businesses before orafter the main Congress, including farm accommodation,farm shops, activity providers and on-farm niche foodproducers. Go Rural wishes to hear from any journalistskeen to write about this sector and to review thebusinesses visited, providing feedback and blog and socialmedia content for the business. All arrangements will beput in place by Go Rural. Around 20 short breaks or oneday visits are available. Please register on the delegatebooking form if you are interested in learning more. (Formore information visit www.goruralscotland.com)

Staying on after Congress?


Scotland’s Rural College is delighted towelcome delegates to the World

Congress of 2014. Not only canwe welcome you to Scotland butour Aberdeen campus will play its part inmaking your time in the North East of Scotlanda fruitful one. The title of the Congress is “Innovationsfrom a Small Island” and innovationis our business.

Should you Google SRUC youwill discover we are a new organ -isation, formed in October 2012 bythe merger of SAC (ScottishAgricultural College) with three rural colleges, Barony,Elmwood and Oatridge. Our new organisation is unique inScotland and one of the largest organisations of its kind inEurope. We draw on over 100 years of experience anddeliver internationally respected research, education andconsultancy to lead innovation in agriculture and the ruralsector. Our expertise is part of the mix for your IFAJ WorldCongress 2014.

Collaborating with national and international partnersour researchers are addressing the challenges of adramatically changing climate and expanding globalpopulation. In our research centres and farms we havespecialists in areas such as economics, carbon manage -ment, livestock and crop production systems, pests andparasites, genetics, food chains and rural communityissues. We are particularly interested in work that informspolicy at Scottish, UK and EU level.

Our research informs our consultancy service whichoperates from offices across Scotland and northernEngland, supported by specialist centres and 6 veterinarysurveillance laboratories. We provide agronomy, technicaland business advice for individual clients as well asdelivering extension services for Scottish Government. Werun diagnostic services for crop and livestock diseases,UK wide Health Schemes for beef and sheep, manage theFarming for a Better Climate, Focus Farm initiative and actas facilitators on the Monitor Farm programme funded byQMS.

The diversity of our assets and expertise is also reflectedin our education and training provision. We offer a rangeof courses from entry and apprentice level through to

Honours Degree, Masters and PhDawards. In addition to students

studying various agricultureand animal science, horticulture

and environmental subjects we haveinter nationally recognised expertise in golf

course manage ment, equestrian studies, forestryand engineering.

In the exciting, interesting andvaried programme planned forIFAJ2014 experts from SRUCwill be on hand to outline theirlatest research, explain the

background to farming in Scotland and how it is facingcommon global challenges. Just as important, they will bestill be available long after you return home. The wonderfulthing about an IFAJ Congress is its legacy and thecontacts made. We look forward to seeing you.

Ken Rundle is Senior Communications Officer for SRUC,and the BBC's former Scottish rural affairs correspondent.

Ken was also the voice behind the IFAJ 2014 video,which was shown to IFAJ members in Argentina in 2013.It made another appearance earlier this year at GreenWeek in Berlin, when the Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP,Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,formally launched the Congress at the British Embassy.The video was funded by Scottish Enterprise. Not seen ityet? Scan the QR code and hear Ken!

Scotland’s Rural College(SRUC)


By Ken Rundle

Scan the QR code

and see our 2014

video invitation

Congress Chairman Adrian Bell highlights a veryspecial opportunity open to the IFAJ’s broadcastjournalists.

Known affectionately within Britain as ‘Auntie’ or ‘the Beeb’ and recognised and respected around the

world, it’s the world’s oldest national broadcastingorganisation as well as the largest, employing about23,000 staff.

We’re talking about the BBC, of course - the BritishBroadcasting Corporation. There’s very few Britons whodon’t use one of its services – radio, television, internet –on a regular basis and, for those of us involved withagriculture, there’s yet another reason to enjoy and valueits output.

Farming Today is the corporation’s flagship farmingprogramme, exploring issues of concern not only tofarmers, but all those with an interest in rural issues.Often the first to break big stories, it’s not afraid to shyaway from the big issues; the industry’s big hittersregularly vie for a slot on the daily 15-minuteprogramme. Margaret Thatcher, famously, was a regularlistener as have been many other Prime Ministers andpoliticians.

The British Guild has teamed up with the BBC toprovide a very special opportunity to some of thedelegates attending Congress in September. Eachweek, the programme adopts a theme – and for the

week 1-5 September, the theme is going to be focusedon our Congress, Innovations from a Small Island.

“I would like to have foreign critical views on theBritish food and farming industry,” says Dimitri Houtart,Editor of Rural Affairs and Environment for BBC Radio.“Preferably reports will contrast it with what ishappening in the delegate’s country.”

Dimitri’s looking for five packages, one to bebroadcast on each day of the week between Mondayand Friday, to the programme’s regular one millionlisteners. He’s hoping we’ll be able to recruitcontributors from every continent, to increase its valueand appeal.

If you’re a regular broadcast journalist - perhapsyou’re a former Star Prize winner - then we’d love tohear from you and put you forward as one of the fivecorrespondents. We’ll take care of all the technicaldetails later; the crucial push now is to identify andrecruit five willing and enthusiastic contributors from theIFAJ ranks.

So, here’s your chance to add ‘broadcasting on theworld’s oldest national broadcasting organisation’ toyour CV, and have your report broadcast across Britainin September. E-mail me at [email protected] totake part...

Want to hear your reportbroadcast by BBC?


For more than 80 years, Perkins has been the

dependable source of power behind many of the

world’s most recognisable agricultural machinery brands.

Our engine solutions have powered tractors to sprayers

and chippers to combines, enabling comm unities around

the world to plough their fields, irrigate their crops and

sustain their livelihoods.

Over the years Perkins diesel engines have become

synonymous with agricultural and horticultural equip ment,

from the famous P6 to the 6.354, and more recently the

400, 850 and 1200 Series.

It is this agricultural heritage that enables Perkins to

tailor its technology solutions for equipment manu facturers

around the world; from those whose machines must

operate to the most stringent of emissions standards in

Europe and North America, to those who produce

agricultural machinery for use in lesser regulated territories

such as Asia and South America.

Over the years, Perkins’ valued relationships with its

customers has yielded ever greater benefits for the end

user, with engines and machines becoming more closely

aligned than ever before. In fact our innovative Technology

Integration Workshops (TIWs) have now taken engine/

machine integration to new levels, with better fuel

economy and sharper engine response being just a few of

the end user benefits delivered through this programme.

Once in the field, our engines – both old and new – are

supported by a highly trained network of 100 distributors,

operating in 180 countries, through more than 3,500

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aftermarket network ensures our customers’ engines keep

running, whatever the season.

Our valued relationship with our customers in the

agricultural sector extends to the agricultural press, who,

year after year have helped us communicate the latest

innovations and technology solutions to the food and

farming industry.

This year’s IFAJ Congress will see journalists from

around the world converge on this ‘small island’, united in

a common experience of learning more about the relatively

recent innovations in British farming.

These ‘innovations’ are clearly evident across the

Glenlivet Estate (part of the Crown Estate), which is the

focus of the diversification, forestry and renewable tour,

sponsored by Perkins. With tales from tenant farmers, who

work the land every day of the year, to the recent creation

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rural community. We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information on Perkins, its engines and offering

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Power solutions for today’sagricultural manufacturers

Massey Ferguson is delighted to be supporting theInternational Federation of Agricultural Journalists’

(IFAJ) ‘Innovations from a Small Island’ Congress, saysCampbell Scott, Massey Ferguson Brand DevelopmentDirector.

“The UK, and in particular north-east Scotland wherethe congress is being held, has an incredibly positive storyto tell the world about efficient and safe high quality foodand drink production. Massey Ferguson already supportsBritish farming, through its backing of the Red TractorAssured Food Standards and is pleased to help promotethe message to an international audience,” he adds.

Massey Ferguson also has strong links with theCongress organiser – the British Guild of AgriculturalJournalists (BGAJ). The company regularly supports itswork in the UK and is now looking forward to thisopportunity to help journalists from around the world.

“Massey Ferguson is a global company, so thejournalists attending the event will be familiar with ourdiverse range of equipment. We are, however, also keento assist the BGAJ in raising awareness of modern Britishagriculture and how high quality farm management,exceptional crop and livestock husbandry, along withastute marketing help add value to local produce.

“Farms in north-east Scotland grow a diverse range ofhigh quality crops and agriculture is fully integrated into theregion’s economy. Many have a strong focus on end-usersand will add value by concentrating on the quality of theproduce and targeting specific markets. While maltingbarley for Scottish Whisky is obviously a prime example ofthis approach to the whole food and drink chain, farmshere also produce the highest quality potatoes, fruit andvegetables as well as cereals and beef and lamb.”

Congress delegates will have an opportunity to see, firsthand, examples of these dynamic agricultural businesseson the Field Scale Vegetables, Specialist Crops and Fruittour, which is sponsored by Massey Ferguson.

“Agriculture in this part of Scotland, is a microcosm offarming in the UK. There are large cereal producers that,in common with field-scale vegetable growers, require highpower, technically advanced tractors and harvesters. Berryand fruit growers also need efficient and high-techequipment but, obviously, in a smaller package. While thelivestock and dairy sectors are looking for compact andmanoeuvrable machines, today’s operators also demandcomfortable, easy to use tractors with the power andfeatures to carry out a wide range of tasks,” adds Mr Scott.

Massey Ferguson is a leading brand in Scotland withcustomers supported by a network of professional dealersthat have been serving in the area for many generations.“These family-owned firms have been working withMassey Ferguson for more than half a century. Their deepunderstanding of our equipment and their customers’businesses means they are ideally placed to help themselect the most appropriate machines.

“Massey Ferguson now has the broadest and bestrange of tractors and machinery we have ever built, whichis designed to meet every specific need. In this area ofScotland one buyer will be looking for the power andproductivity of the 400hp MF 8700 Series, while another –just down the road – could be needing a compact,versatile MF 3600 narrow tractor for working in orchardsor rows of fruit.

“To cater for this diverse range of work MasseyFerguson develops and produces specific machines,which not only excel in each demanding situation, but alsooffer the flexibility to work easily across a range of tasks.Our designs are heavily influenced by customer feedback,and during the Congress tour the journalists from aroundthe world will be able to talk to Scottish farmers about theirexperiences and see how our machines play a vital role intheir businesses,” he concludes.

Massey Ferguson shows how it supports British Farming


by Jane Craigie, Chairman BGAJ

Joe Watson, the 'father' of the 2014IFAJ Congress and Farming Editor

at the Press & Journal, died suddenlyon 6 March 2014 at his home in Turriff,after a period of ill-health. He was 43.He leaves behind his devoted motherMirren, his brothers Fraser and Murdoand a niece and nephew on whom hedoted.

The tributes paid to 'Big Joe' wereboth warm and highly respectful ofhis dedication to his job and to thefarming industry. Words of sorrowand praise came from the highest echelons ofGovernment, the length and breadth of the Scottishfarming industry and from his many friends andcolleagues.

Joe was about to stand down from the British GuildCouncil on which he served for over a decade asChairman and, more latterly, the British IFAJ Rep. Joewas planning to remain very much involved in organisingthe 2014 Congress – an event that is coming toScotland because of him.

The British Guild will hold the 2014 IFAJ Congress inJoe's memory.

My enduring memories of Joe are that he was a manof staunch principle, he was a prolific writer and anoracle on so many things. We didn't always see eye-to-eye - and many have echoed these words; but I neveronce doubted that any issue that he raised with any oneof us wasn't fuelled from his heart and from his deep-rooted sense of what was right. He loved farming andwas an immensely proud Scot; but above all of this hewas an incredibly capable and respected self-titled'hack'.

Some of the tributes: "He was a larger than life character known to everyonein the farming communities of the north east and farbeyond. As befits a man from Turriff, his knowledge ofScottish farming was unsurpassed, and no-one hadbetter contacts in both the agricultural and food sectors.He was never afraid to ask the awkward question and

he put me on the spot on severaloccasions. In September, the Inter -national Feder ation of Agri culturalJournalists annual congress will beheld in Aberdeen for the first timein 40 years - they say that Joe wasthe main reason they agreed tocome to Scotland."Alex Salmond, First Minister ofScotland.

"I'm shocked and sadd ened to hearwe have lost Joe Watson and can'tquite believe that he is no longer withus. I have known and worked with Joefor over 20 years since his days as a

local reporter. He was one of Scotland's most respectedagricultural journalists, who knew the industry and allthe issues inside out. It seemed everywhere I went,there was Joe doing his job. He was a very popular andrespected giant in Scottish farming and his passing willleave a huge hole in our lives. No one who knew himwill ever forget both his inquiring, challenging and directmanner and determination not just to get the story, butto get the truth. Joe was much more than your averagejournalist – he was an institution. And that isirreplaceable. He will be very sadly missed." Richard Lochhead, Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary.

"Joe's untimely death is a great loss to the agriculturalcommunity. No other region of the UK has enjoyed suchin-depth coverage on a daily basis." Graham Baxter, MDof Harbro, sponsor of the Congress Friday afternoonprogramme and evening at Mackies Farm.

"I have always had a huge respect for Joe's honesty,integrity and tenacity. He will be sorely missed." Angus McCall, Scottish Tenant Farmer AssociationDirector.

"Joe was a consummate professional with an amazingability to report complex stories. He will be greatlymissed by those who appreciated his friendship as wellas his expert approach to his subject." Struan Stevenson, MEP.


Joe Watsona Tribute to a great man


IFAJ 2014 Organising Committee

Lord Cameronof DillingtonHon PresidentBGAJ

John CameronHon PresidentIFAJ 2014

Adrian BellChairmanIFAJ 2014Immediate Past ChairmanBGAJ

Jane Craigie ChairmanBGAJCongressDirector

Howard VentersSponsorship,Events SecretaryDeputy ChairmanBGAJ

Caroline Millar Events Manager

Tim PriceTreasurer BGAJ

Clive RainbirdSponsorshipLiaison Officer

Cedric PorterSponsorshipLiaison Officer

NikkiRobertsonSecretary BGAJ

Peter HillCommunicationsManager BGAJ IFAJ 2014

Joe WatsonIn memory

Individual CongressCommittees

Pre Congress (England)Joint ChairsAdrian Bell Howard Venters Committee:Mike GoodingJamie DayCedric Porter

Congress (Scotland)Joint ChairsJohn CameronAdrian BellDirectorJane CraigieCommittee:Eddie GillandersKen RundleAndrew ArbuckleBob DowKenny Fletcher

Post Congress(Wales/England)ChairLiz Snaith Vice ChairNick Bond Committee: John AllanHelen Brothwell Mike BunneyClive Marlow

Simon HaleyIFAJ 1014Treasurer


Registration for Congress opens on March 31, at1300GMT. Be one of the first 70 to sign up and you’llbenefit from our 70th anniversary discount of £70off the standard Congress fee!

Log on to www.ifaj2014.com and click the big red‘Innovation Registration’ button on the front page. You’llbe taken to our easy-to-use registration portal, whereyou’ll be taken through the process step-by-step.

How to book

1Select your delegatetype:

a. Full delegate, singleroom –£795

b. Full delegate, sharedroom –£695

c. Full delegate, budgetaccommodation –£695

d. Spouse or partnerrate –£550

e. MasterClass(sponsored by DuPontPioneer) or AlltechYoung Leader

2Decide whether youwant to take part inthe optional pre-

Congress tour to Londonand the south-east, whereyou’ll visit the MillenniumSeed Bank and theworld’s oldest agriculturalresearch station, meet theSecretary of State forAgriculture, cruise theRiver Thames and enjoy adinner with the City ofLondon’s ancient LiveryCompanies. Travel – bysleeper train – toAberdeen is included inthe fee of £525.

3Do you want tomake an optionalvisit to the Finzean

Estate, a classic Scottishcountry estate, onThursday 4th September?Transport and lunchincluded for £50.

4In which hotelwould you like tostay?

The Thistle or theSpeedbird are the twostandard hotels, withinwalking distance of theairport – if you’re payingthe full fee, you canchoose either hotel. If you’ve opted for thebudget fee, then SRUCSutton Hall will be youraccommodation.MasterClass and YoungLeaders will stay at SRUCfor the Boot Camp, beforemoving to shared roomsat Speedbird for the mainCongress.

There are SEVEN key choices:

www.ifaj2014.com

The Rough Guide to IFAJ 2014Getting there - what you need to know

The main Congress is in Aberdeen, situated on theeast coast of Scotland. Despite being 545 miles

from London, Aberdeen is a most accessibledestination. The city is served by an international airport,a mainline railway station, a coach station with

connections across the UK as well as a world-class portand ferry terminal. To find out about the air hubs toAberdeen and for pre and post Congress travelarrangements see www.ifaj2014.com/getting-here/


5Which of the five tours wouldyou like to see, on each of thetwo tour days? All are

explained in more detail later in thisissue, or on the website. But youcan choose from:

a. Arable andWhisky

b. Market Makers:field-scalevegetables, crops and fruit

c. Beef and Red Meat

d. Potatoes andField Crops

e. Diversification,Forestry andEnergy

If you’ve booked a spouse orpartner place, then they have theoption of participating in the HuntlyHairst tour – this option will appearon their registration form.

6Would you like to go onto thepost-Congress tour, in Walesand the Midlands? You’ll fly

from Aberdeen to Birmingham, visitthe farm and estate belonging tothe Prince of Wales, stay inShakespeare’s home town, enjoy aWelsh Fest and dine at LudlowFood Centre. All inclusive sum of£550. Opt for a limited edition‘Innovations’ jacket, produced byleading British company Musto, andideal for keeping out the Scottishwind (and any rain!) and available ata special price of just £99 (RRP£130). Available to collect atregistration.

7Be sure to fill out as much ofthe registration forminformation as possible. Some

of it is optional, but will help usmake the Congress more successfuland ensure that you – as delegates –get the most from it. Some of it isessential, however; these aremarked by a red star on the form.

Any queries at all about theregistration process? We haveboth an e-mail and a telephonesystem set up for enquiries.

[email protected] is by far the most efficient meansof contacting us - for our time andyours! Please state your query orquestion and we’ll try to answer it asquickly as possible, generally within24 hours.

PhoneCall the Innovations Hotlineon +44 1224 460 360.It’s available 24 hours a day andwhile sometimes you’ll be greetedwith a human, most of the time you’llbe asked to leave a message. Thatmessage will be picked up by theduty roster and we’ll aim to get backto you within 48 hours. We hope youfind the registration process easy andefficient – and look forward to seeing220 of you here in September.

“We hope you find the registration process easy and efficient –

and look forward to seeing 220 of you here in September.

Passports, visas and customsThere are a few rules for coming to Scotland and theUK which depend on where you are travelling from. Ifyou're not from the EU, another European country, orthe US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you willprobably need a Business Visitor visa. Check with theBritish Consulate in your country for the requirements;

some details are online at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/visiting/business

Information is available on regulations concerning thelength of your stay, how much money you can bring andwhat products you can take in and out of the country.You’ll also find a rough travel checklist to help plan yourtrip at www.ifaj2014.com/getting-here/

AGRICULTUREIS

BRITAIN

GREATBritain. A country of Knowledge and Innovation, Cultureand Heritage, Countryside and Green, Technology andCreativity. A country whose 200,000 farms occupythree-quarters of our land area. The country thatinspired and delivered the agricultural revolution.

Britain today remains a nation with agricultural genius, creativity and diversity.We’re a nation of world-leading agricultural innovators, a nation steeped intradition but rarely looking backwards when it comes to something asfundamental as feeding the world.

Join the 58th IFAJ World Congress, Innovations from a Small Island, and see ouragricultural industry for yourself. With the primary focus on Scotland, and itsunique mix of agricultural enterprise and internationally renowned produce, theCongress also takes in the excitement of London and the wild beauty of Waleswith its optional pre- and post-Congress tours.

In this small island, agriculture knows no bounds. The British Guild of AgriculturalJournalists invites you to take part in a Congress to remember.

Innovations from a Small Island1-12 September 2014www.ifaj2014.com

innovations issue 2

Documents

congress delegates

congress circuit

years british congress

usual forthe congress

postcongress tours

hotel forthe main congress

british guild fromrunning

joe laterin