Food for thought at Farming Conference

From recruiting young farmers and the importance of local produce to anaerobic digestion; experts from the world of farming are to share their perspective on the issues currently affecting the industry at the Hampshire Farming Conference 2011

The annual event, organised by Hampshire County Council and supported by Natwest and the Hampshire Economic Partnership, is the largest of its kind. The conference offers farmers the opportunity to listen to keynote speakers give their views on topical issues issues, as well as providing the chance to network and discuss these matters with others in similar industries.

Farming is the largest manufacturing sector of the UK economy employing around four million people -17,000 in Hampshire. The County Council strongly supports its rural communities and has 64 tenant farms, with the objective of providing an introduction to farming and as exemplars of good farming practice.

At the conference, being held at Sparsholt College, delegates will hear addresses by keynote speakers on some of the most pressing issues and industry developments:

o Progress report on the Regulatory Task Force, by Richard MacDonald Chair of the Task Force and previous director of the National Farmers Union

o Update on the activities of the European Food and Farming Partnership, by David Neal Smith Partner of the EEFP

o Are you a consumer? by Helen Bower , president of Womens Food &Farming Union

o Farm scale Anaerobic Digestion, Richard Gueterbock, Chair of HEP Rural Economy Task Group and RASE Trustee

o Anaerobic Digestion in action – Building and operating the UK’s first sweetcorn fuelled power station , by Julian Marks, Managing Director,

Barfoots of Botley

o Recruiting and retaining high calibre young people into the farming workforce of the future, by Tim Jackson, Principal of Sparsholt College

Cllr Ray Ellis, Executive Member for Economic Development and Rural Affairs, said: Farming has, and is continuing to, face tough times with many farmers struggling to make a decent livelihood. This conference is the perfect opportunity for farmers to share their success stories, network with contacts from agriculture and local government, and put their questions directly to them as well.

This years event promises to be every bit as successful as our previous conferences, with a packed and interesting agenda covering a wide variety of topics that are of current interest to the farming world.

For further information please visit www.hants.gov.uk/business