18 January 2019
‘Time to recharge’, the key theme at the next Wales Farming Conference, will be reflected in an address from internationally renowned speaker Chris Moon MBE, a former British army officer who in 1995, lost both an arm and leg in a landmine accident in Africa. He is the first in a speaker line up which also includes a famous Winsonsin based couple acknowledged as being at the forefront of sustainable dairy farming in the USA and one of the UK’s foremost red meat experts.
The conference will be held from 10am (registration from 9.30am) to 4pm on Thursday, 7 February in the Members’ Pavilion at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd.
Described by many as an incredibly brave but also very modest individual, Mr Moon, who studied agriculture in college and worked as a dairy farmer before joining the army, believes that ‘we can all go one step beyond our limits’. This personal mantra, which he has relied upon since his tragic accident, is a message certain to resonate with the agriculture industry as it tries to work out how to move forward while preparing for the uncertain implications surrounding Brexit.
“I have survived some truly remarkable experiences including being blown up in a supposedly safe zone while supervising mine-clearance in Mozambique and I am one of the few people to survive kidnap by the Khmer Rouge.
“I not only lived to tell the tale but ended up running the final stage of the Olympic torch relay to Nagano for the opening of the 18th Winter Olympics in 1998.”
Following his accident, Mr Moon defied all expectations for his own future and just a year after leaving hospital, this ultra-determined hero ran the London Marathon, raising monies for charities assisting the disabled. He has since completed more than 50 marathons, including the punishing Marathon des Sables, a 156 mile race across the Sahara and the Badwater Death Valley 135 mile Ultra.
“My mission is to illustrate the principles people can use in daily life to combat the ‘concept of limitation’ which is faced by many people working in agriculture and many other industries as they prepare for an uncertain future outside the EU.”
“I hope to inspire delegates so that they too will feel able to ‘recharge’ and seek out the positives in whatever situations they face.”
Lloyd and Daphne Holterman and their herd of 1,000 Rosy-Lane Holsteins are at the forefront of sustainable dairy farming in the USA. This Winsconsin based husband and wife team are big believers that when your values, goals and business plans all overlap, you get the maximum satisfaction out of life. Committed to their mission statement, ‘Great people. Great cows. Great returns,’ which they wrote together nearly 40 years ago, this inspirational couple of trail-blazers will tell conference delegates how they’ve created a profitable, sustainable dairy business through careful genetic selection and how they’ve avoided the use of antibiotics for more than five years.
Nuffield scholar and red meat specialist Dr. Jonathan Birnie, who has previously worked at a senior level with the NFU, Sainsbury’s and Dunbia believes that those working in the red meat food chain and science communities could be heading towards a new ‘golden age’! Now running his own successful consultancy. Dr Birnie will address the conference on facilitating change within the red meat chain through the dissemination of new technology, enhanced cooperation and mutual sustainability.
All delegates will be invited to attend one of three interactive sector-specific workshops. Rhys Williams of sheep share company Coed Coch Farms Ltd, Abergele will talk about his aims for a sustainable sheep production system which does not rely on subsidies. Ger Dineen of County Cork, who was Ireland’s ‘Beef Farmer of the Year’ in 2017 will explain how grazing management has been a key driver for the success of the business by prolonging the growing season; reducing feed costs and improving animal performance. Tom Foot and Neil Grigg of ‘Open Air Dairy’ are currently the only dairy farmers in Europe who milk out in the field. Welsh dairy farmers can find out why at their conference workshop!
The programme will also include findings and results from recent Farming Connect demonstration trials and projects as well as a ‘Nuffield Showcase’, when scholars from Perthshire, the Cotswolds and Wales will share their study experiences.
Eirwen Williams, director of rural programmes with Menter a Busnes, which delivers Farming Connect on behalf of the Welsh Government, urges people to take a break from their daily routine, promising a day which will leave you feeling energised, recharged and empowered to face the future head-on!
“There is no doubt that 2019 will be a significant year for our industry as we try to prepare for what currently seems an uncertain future.
“The Wales Farming Conference is a recognised platform for discussion and debate and this year we have again attracted a top line up of internationally recognised expert speakers, who will provide their perspective on agriculture both in the UK and beyond.”