Falklands : Phyl Rendell Welcomes Farmers to Farmers' Week Seminar
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 13.07.2007 (Article Archived on 27.07.2007)
Phyl Rendell, with her "Director of Agriculture" hat on has welcomed Farmers to a week of instructional seminars and meetings aimed to help them make efficient use of their assets and a better profit.
Farmers' Week
Department of Agriculture Workshops 10 - 12 July
Introduction: Tuesday Morning 8 am
Welcome everyone
Firstly thank you to the RBA for the continued partnership with the DoA over presentations during Farmers' Week. It is very important for farming in the Islands that this partnership is strong. We at the DoA wish RBA well in its deliberations this week and trust that the organisation will be the stronger for it and attracts additional farm members.
I would like to reflect for a few minutes on previous department presentations in Farmers' Week to illustrate where we have come from and where we are heading. Neil Judd has planned and delivered the last three programmes going back to 2004.
We met in the Argos building that year. The main thrust of the meeting was to launch the Pasture Improvement Programme in its new format of being farm driven with farmers planning work on their farms. There was some uncertainty initially. But I believe this step of putting farmers in charge of planning and budgeting for the improvements to their farms was a sea change and is now well received by the 50 or so farms that participate in the scheme each year. The fourth year of plans have been reviewed recently with some excellent work proposed for next season. The plans reflect much of the sustainable farming methods and animal selection processes that have been promoted at these meetings and I believe they will ultimately make a difference.
During Farmers' Week meetings in 2005, we held our presentations in the FIDF Hall. Among many topics raised that week, including presentations from farmers on managed their own grazing trials, an open discussion was held on marketing Falkland Islands produce. The strengths and weaknesses of our products were debated.
Farmers present that week pressed hard for new wool marketing initiatives to be considered to gain added value and Julian Morris, General Manager of FIDC at the time, took up the challenge. By the following year the Wool Company was established. There remains a wide range of views about this initiative but adding value to Falklands wool quite simply has the support of the Department. The initiative is already making a difference for wool producers and there are opportunities to go further for those that wish to.
Last year we met in this room (the Town Hall) and we learnt from Barry Armstrong from South Africa about establishing group breeding schemes for both cattle and sheep. A group of farmers was inspired to visit Barry and Gill's farm to learn more. Their visit was coordinated by Henry Londt. Many farmers had attended Henry's sheep selection workshops earlier that year. Today a number of group breeding schemes for sheep have been established. This is remarkable progress in under a year.
A premium available for internationally certified organic products, particularly for wool, was highlighted at last year's presentations. The challenge of gaining
international organic status for the farms that wish to participate is being progressed and we are hopeful that before the year end we will be close to achieving this. And just to keep us alert at the meetings and to shake off hangovers, the veterinary section has participated fully each year, informing us in graphic detail about the animal diseases we should look out for and collectively control and eradicate. They have worked closely with FIMCo on disease monitoring and this partnership is not only welcome but vital when growing a meat industry. We have learnt a great deal from all the vets that have worked in the Department and this is reflected on farms all over the Islands.
This year there is another suite of presentations and we particularly welcome Jim Gerrish to the meetings. Jim was here in late April/early May when he presented four workshops on managed grazing. He is back to play an integrated role with our staff (Peter and Andy in particular) to put across a co-ordinated message on whole farm management and sustainable use of land in a challenging economic climate.
These presentations have been successful because of good teamwork by Department of Agriculture staff over the years. But one person has driven the programmes and had the aspiration, vision and foresigtrt to challenge us to consider what is best for our farming industry. That person is Neil Judd.
This is the last Farmers' Week that Neil will organise for a while and it promises to be as engaging as the last three. I pay tribute to Neil and we will all miss his drive and commitment when he leaves at the end of the year.
I hope you will be challenged again this year. Some ideas will not suit every farm and there may be farming solutions that will seem unpractical to some of you, but that is really what workshops are about; giving you ideas and suggestions that you have to decide whether to take forward or not on your farm.
Phyl Rendell
DMA
9 July 2007
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